Is Brain Dump private?

Yes. Transcription is on-device; optional AI polish is off by default and can be enabled.

Which platforms are supported?

iOS and iPadOS; notes sync to macOS via iCloud.

Is there a free version?

Yes. Free download with an optional upgrade.

Where do I download Brain Dump?

On the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/braindump-voice-note-journal/id6473446030

Brain Dump has a free tier. You can import a memo and get text without paying.

Does it work offline?

Yes. Brain Dump transcribes on‑device; you can capture and convert without a connection. See /blog/iphone-offline-dictation-airplane-mode.

Will it keep my formatting?

The output is clean Markdown (titles, bullet lists, quotes). You can paste it anywhere.

Transcription is on‑device. Optional AI polish is off by default. Read /blog/privacy-on-device-ai for details.

How to convert iPhone Voice Memos to text (2025)

Quick answer: In Voice Memos, tap ••• → Share → Brain Dump — Import & Transcribe. You’ll get instant, on‑device text in Markdown, ready to copy or export.

Option A — Share to Brain Dump (fastest)

Open Voice Memos and select a recording.
Tap ••• → Share.
Choose Brain Dump — Import & Transcribe.
Get a clean Markdown note you can copy, export to Notes/Obsidian, or sync via iCloud.

Why this is best:

On‑device transcription (private, works on planes/subways).
Clean Markdown structure (titles, lists, quotes).
Optional rewrite prompts (summary, action items, email draft) when you want them.

Option B — 1‑tap Shortcut (hands‑off)

Install the Shortcut “Voice Memo → Text (Brain Dump)” to skip menus:

Download it from our /shortcuts library.
In Voice Memos, tap Share → Voice Memo → Text.
Brain Dump opens with the transcript and a summary.

Tip: Pin the Shortcut in Share Sheet favorites to make it appear at the top.
Learn: /learn/append-to-last-note-shortcuts

Option C — Accessibility Live Captions (free, built‑in)

If you need something without installing an app, Live Captions can provide a quick transcript by captioning playback:

Settings → Accessibility → Live Captions → turn On.
Play your memo; copy text from the caption bubble.

Notes: availability varies by device/region/language; formatting is minimal and punctuation may need cleanup.

Troubleshooting

Don’t see Brain Dump in the Share Sheet? Open your Share Sheet, scroll to Edit Actions…, and add it to Favorites.
Large files? Share works best under a few hundred MB; trim long silences in Voice Memos first.
Names/terms wrong? Add them once to a custom dictionary (/learn/custom-dictionary-jargon) and they’ll stick.

Why Markdown matters for memos

Plain text with lightweight structure moves everywhere — PRDs, Jira tickets, emails. Brain Dump converts your audio into readable Markdown so you can paste and keep moving.

If you want to keep it even simpler, use our 60‑second script: title, three short sentences, optional emotion tag. It keeps ideas tidy under pressure.