Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Castmagic: AI content platform that transcribes podcasts, videos, and recorded meetings with speaker diarization and turns them into show notes, summaries, and other assets. This comparison weighs them on pricing, features, and everyday workflow fit.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Aiko when transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying matters most, and Castmagic when turning recorded interviews and meetings into written content and highlights matters most. Run both through a week of actual calls to see which suits your workflow.
On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately.
AI content platform that transcribes podcasts, videos, and recorded meetings with speaker diarization and turns them into show notes, summaries, and other assets.
Aiko is a native transcription app for macOS, iOS, and visionOS, developed by Sindre Sorhus, that converts speech to text from meetings, lectures, and recordings entirely on-device. It uses OpenAI's Whisper model running locally, so audio never leaves the user's device, which makes it appealing for students and professionals with privacy requirements. Aiko transcribes both audio and video files in common formats such as .m4a, .wav, .mp3, .mp4, and .mov, and supports around 100 languages. Transcriptions can be exported in multiple formats, including JSON, CSV, and SRT subtitles, and the app includes a word-replacement feature to automatically correct recurring errors. It also integrates with Apple Shortcuts for automation workflows. Because Aiko prioritizes accuracy over speed, it does not perform live transcription while recording and currently does not include speaker detection, so it is best for transcribing recorded lectures, interviews, and meetings after the fact. The app is offered as a Universal Purchase with a free trial via TestFlight, making it a low-cost, privacy-first option for turning lecture and meeting recordings into searchable text. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Castmagic is an AI-powered content platform that transforms recorded audio and video into transcripts and a range of derived content. After a file is uploaded or imported, Castmagic transcribes it with speaker diarization and then automatically generates summaries, show notes, timestamps, titles, social media posts, newsletters, and other assets from the same recording. The platform integrates with sources including YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Google Drive, and Zoom, so recorded meetings and interviews can flow directly into a workspace for processing alongside podcast episodes. Castmagic includes semantic search across a media library, brand-voice customization, reusable templates, and commenting and approval workflows aimed at teams and agencies that manage content for multiple brands. While its marketing centers on podcasters and creators, the transcription, speaker labeling, and summary features make it applicable to meeting and interview recordings as well. It is intended for content teams, marketing agencies, podcasters, coaches, and sales organizations that want to convert recorded conversations into transcripts and repurposed written content rather than only a raw transcript. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Castmagic is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Aiko | Castmagic |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | Fully on-device transcription powered by a local Whisper model | Transcription of audio and video with speaker diarization |
| Standout feature | Support for roughly 100 languages | Automatic generation of summaries, show notes, titles, and timestamps |
| Team usage | Transcription of audio and video files in formats like m4a, wav, mp3, mp4, and mov | Repurposing of recordings into social posts, newsletters, and blog content |
| Integrations | Export to multiple formats including JSON, CSV, and SRT subtitles | Direct import from sources including YouTube, Google Drive, and Zoom |
| Languages & capture | Word-replacement feature to auto-correct common errors | Semantic search across a media library of past recordings |
| Best-fit workflow | Apple Shortcuts integration and Universal Purchase across Mac, iOS, and visionOS | Multi-brand workspaces with templates and approval workflows for teams |
Aiko
Choose Aiko if you need transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying — strengths include strong privacy because nothing leaves the device.
Castmagic
Choose Castmagic if you need transcribing podcast episodes and generating show notes and summaries — strengths include goes beyond transcription to produce ready-to-use written content from recordings.
Aiko
Castmagic
It depends on your workflow. Aiko is strong for transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying, while Castmagic is strong for transcribing podcast episodes and generating show notes and summaries. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades and Castmagic is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary.
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