Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Qualtranscribe: Qualtranscribe is a transcription and translation service for research, legal, and business professionals, pairing human-verified transcripts with an AI option that generates fast drafts, summaries, and qualitative insights. 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 Qualtranscribe when producing analysis-ready transcripts for academic, clinical, and market research 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.
Qualtranscribe is a transcription and translation service for research, legal, and business professionals, pairing human-verified transcripts with an AI option that generates fast drafts, summaries, and qualitative insights.
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
Qualtranscribe (QUALTRANSCRIBE LLC) is a transcription and translation service built primarily for qualitative researchers, market research teams, academic, clinical, legal, and business professionals. Users upload audio or video recordings of interviews, focus groups, and calls, and choose between human-verified transcripts produced by trained transcriptionists or faster AI-generated drafts. Transcripts are delivered with speaker labels, timestamps, and a choice of clean verbatim or full verbatim formatting. Its AI layer, branded Smart Insights Studio, turns uploaded recordings into instant summaries, research memos, thematic analysis, sentiment and emotion mapping, and extracted action items, and can export structured CSV files for direct import into qualitative analysis tools. It supports transcription across many languages and emphasizes confidential handling with HIPAA and GDPR compliance. The platform integrates with NVivo and ATLAS.ti to fit existing qualitative research workflows. Capture is upload-based rather than via a live meeting-joining bot, making it best suited to researchers and analysts who record sessions and need analysis-ready transcripts and first-pass insights rather than real-time meeting note-taking.
Best suited for
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Qualtranscribe is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Aiko | Qualtranscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | Fully on-device transcription powered by a local Whisper model | Human-verified transcription with clean or full verbatim options, speaker labels, and timestamps |
| Standout feature | Support for roughly 100 languages | AI transcription drafts via Smart Insights Studio from uploaded recordings |
| Team usage | Transcription of audio and video files in formats like m4a, wav, mp3, mp4, and mov | AI-generated summaries, research memos, thematic analysis, sentiment mapping, and action items |
| Integrations | Export to multiple formats including JSON, CSV, and SRT subtitles | Transcription and translation across many languages |
| Languages & capture | Word-replacement feature to auto-correct common errors | HIPAA- and GDPR-compliant confidential handling |
| Best-fit workflow | Apple Shortcuts integration and Universal Purchase across Mac, iOS, and visionOS | Integrations and CSV exports for NVivo and ATLAS.ti |
Aiko
Choose Aiko if you need transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying — strengths include strong privacy because nothing leaves the device.
Qualtranscribe
Choose Qualtranscribe if you need transcribing and analyzing qualitative research interviews and focus groups — strengths include combines human-verified accuracy with optional faster ai drafts and insights.
Aiko
Qualtranscribe
It depends on your workflow. Aiko is strong for transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying, while Qualtranscribe is strong for transcribing and analyzing qualitative research interviews and focus groups. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades and Qualtranscribe 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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