Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. ownscribe: Local-first command-line tool that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings on macOS entirely on-device, with natural-language search across notes. Here's where each one pulls ahead on pricing, features, and the meetings it suits best.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Aiko when transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying matters most, and ownscribe when keeping fully on-device transcripts and summaries for privacy-sensitive discussions matters most. Test each on your own meetings; the right choice tends to become obvious quickly.
On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately.
Local-first command-line tool that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings on macOS entirely on-device, with natural-language search across notes.
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
ownscribe is a local-first meeting transcription and summarization command-line tool that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings entirely on the user's own machine without sending data to external servers. It is MIT-licensed and actively maintained, with v0.12.0 released in June 2026, and is written primarily in Python with a Swift component for system audio capture. On macOS 14.2 and later it captures system audio through Core Audio, and it transcribes with WhisperX to produce word-level timestamps, with optional speaker diarization via PyAnnote. For summaries it ships with a built-in local model (Phi-4-mini) and can also connect to Ollama or OpenAI-compatible backends, offering multiple templates tailored to meetings, lectures, and brief summaries. A standout feature is its natural-language search: the ask command lets users query across their stored meeting notes to retrieve relevant information. Quality-of-life features include silence-based auto-stop so recordings end cleanly when a meeting goes quiet. Because it is a CLI distributed through GitHub and runs entirely on local hardware, ownscribe targets developers and privacy-focused users who prefer scriptable, terminal-driven workflows over a graphical meeting notetaker while keeping all audio and transcripts on-device. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); ownscribe is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Aiko | ownscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | Fully on-device transcription powered by a local Whisper model | Local-first recording, transcription, and summarization via CLI |
| Standout feature | Support for roughly 100 languages | System audio capture on macOS 14.2+ through Core Audio |
| Team usage | Transcription of audio and video files in formats like m4a, wav, mp3, mp4, and mov | WhisperX transcription with word-level timestamps |
| Integrations | Export to multiple formats including JSON, CSV, and SRT subtitles | Optional speaker diarization via PyAnnote |
| Languages & capture | Word-replacement feature to auto-correct common errors | Local summarization with a built-in Phi-4-mini model, plus Ollama and OpenAI-compatible backends |
| Best-fit workflow | Apple Shortcuts integration and Universal Purchase across Mac, iOS, and visionOS | Natural-language search across meeting notes with the ask command |
Aiko
Choose Aiko if you need transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying — strengths include strong privacy because nothing leaves the device.
ownscribe
Choose ownscribe if you need developers capturing and summarizing meetings from the terminal on a mac — strengths include runs entirely on-device with no data sent to external servers.
Aiko
ownscribe
It depends on your workflow. Aiko is strong for transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying, while ownscribe is strong for developers capturing and summarizing meetings from the terminal on a mac. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades and ownscribe 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.
More head-to-head comparisons involving Aiko and ownscribe.
Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Aircall: Cloud phone and call center platform with built-in AI conversation intelligence: transcription, call summaries, sentiment, and call scoring. This comparison weighs them on pricing, features, and everyday workflow fit.
Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Aircover: Real-time in-call AI sales coach that surfaces answers, battlecards, and CRM updates live during sales meetings. Below, they line up on price, capture method, and how each fits a real meeting stack.
Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Airepoto: Korean AI meeting documentation platform by RSUPPORT that records, transcribes with speaker separation, and summarizes meetings across Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet. Which one wins depends on your platform mix, budget, and how hands-off you want notes to be.
Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Airspeed: Sales conversation intelligence and coaching platform (formerly Glyphic) that records and analyzes calls, scores reps, and keeps CRM data in sync. The right pick comes down to team size, budget, and the workflows you want to automate.
Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Alice Recorder: Privacy-focused iOS and web recorder that transcribes meetings and interviews in 100+ languages with AI summarization. The right pick comes down to team size, budget, and the workflows you want to automate.
Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Allego: Conversation intelligence within a broader sales enablement platform that records, transcribes, and analyzes sales calls for coaching and deal insights. This comparison weighs them on pricing, features, and everyday workflow fit.
Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Allo: Mobile-first AI business phone system that records and transcribes sales calls, writes follow-ups, and syncs everything to your CRM automatically. The right pick comes down to team size, budget, and the workflows you want to automate.
Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Aloware: Sales engagement and contact platform with a power dialer plus AI conversation intelligence that records, transcribes, and analyzes calls for coaching. The right pick comes down to team size, budget, and the workflows you want to automate.
Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Alter: macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required. This comparison weighs them on pricing, features, and everyday workflow fit.
Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Amber Notes: EU-focused AI meeting notetaker by Dutch company Amberscript, with EU-only data hosting, multilingual transcription and an Ask Amber chat. Below, they line up on price, capture method, and how each fits a real meeting stack.
Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Amberscript: Audio and video to text service offering automatic and human-verified transcripts and subtitles. Here's where each one pulls ahead on pricing, features, and the meetings it suits best.
Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. AmpUp: AI sales coaching platform with a native notetaker that records and transcribes calls, then delivers prep briefs, debriefs, and practice scenarios. This comparison weighs them on pricing, features, and everyday workflow fit.