Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Happy Scribe: Transcription/subtitling and GDPR-friendly meeting notes, 150+ languages Below, they line up on price, capture method, and how each fits a real meeting stack.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Aiko when transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying matters most, and Happy Scribe when creating subtitles and captions matters most. Trial each on a few real meetings before you commit — the better fit usually shows fast.
On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately.
Transcription/subtitling and GDPR-friendly meeting notes, 150+ languages
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
Happy Scribe is a transcription and subtitling platform that converts audio and video into accurate text and captions across a wide range of languages. It offers both automatic and human-made transcription and subtitles, letting users balance speed against accuracy depending on the project. Happy Scribe is widely used to transcribe recorded meetings, interviews, podcasts, and videos, and to create subtitles for content, with an in-browser editor for reviewing and correcting transcripts and exporting them in many formats. Its strong language coverage and subtitle tools make it popular with content creators, researchers, and international teams that need reliable text and captions from recordings. Because it focuses on processing recorded audio and video rather than acting as a live meeting bot, it is typically used to handle existing files or recordings. Happy Scribe is valued for its breadth of languages, flexible automatic-versus-human options, and solid subtitle and export capabilities for turning recordings into usable text. Platforms: Web / upload audio and video. Integrations: Zapier. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Happy Scribe is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Aiko | Happy Scribe |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | Fully on-device transcription powered by a local Whisper model | Automatic and human transcription |
| Standout feature | Support for roughly 100 languages | Subtitles and captions |
| Team usage | Transcription of audio and video files in formats like m4a, wav, mp3, mp4, and mov | Wide multi-language support |
| Integrations | Export to multiple formats including JSON, CSV, and SRT subtitles | In-browser transcript editor |
| Languages & capture | Word-replacement feature to auto-correct common errors | Multi-format export |
| Best-fit workflow | Apple Shortcuts integration and Universal Purchase across Mac, iOS, and visionOS | Automatic and human transcription |
Aiko
Choose Aiko if you need transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying — strengths include strong privacy because nothing leaves the device.
Happy Scribe
Choose Happy Scribe if you need transcribing recordings and interviews — strengths include strong language and subtitle support.
Aiko
Happy Scribe
It depends on your workflow. Aiko is strong for transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying, while Happy Scribe is strong for transcribing recordings and interviews. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades and Happy Scribe is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Sure. Running both makes sense when their strengths don't overlap and the budget allows.
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