Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. ScribeBuddy: AI transcription and subtitle tool that converts audio and video to text, generates subtitles, and translates across many languages. 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 ScribeBuddy when generating multilingual subtitles for podcasts and video content 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 transcription and subtitle tool that converts audio and video to text, generates subtitles, and translates across many 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
ScribeBuddy is an AI-powered transcription platform that converts audio and video content into text and subtitles across more than one hundred languages. Users upload recordings or capture live speech, and ScribeBuddy returns a transcript with speaker recognition and timestamps, which can then be summarized, translated, or turned into subtitle files for accessibility and wider reach. The service is positioned for a broad range of source material, including video files, podcasts, meetings and interviews, lectures, voice memos, and YouTube videos, making it relevant to creators as well as professionals who need records of conversations. Beyond core transcription, ScribeBuddy offers AI summaries that distill key information from a recording, real-time live transcription, and translation into a large set of languages so the same content can be repurposed for international audiences. It is available across platforms including iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows. ScribeBuddy provides a free option for short files alongside pay-as-you-go and paid plans, lowering the barrier for individuals to try the tool before committing while still scaling to larger transcription and subtitling workloads for teams handling meetings, interviews, and media content. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); ScribeBuddy is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Aiko | ScribeBuddy |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | Fully on-device transcription powered by a local Whisper model | AI transcription of audio and video with speaker recognition and timestamps |
| Standout feature | Support for roughly 100 languages | Subtitle generation for accessibility and content repurposing |
| Team usage | Transcription of audio and video files in formats like m4a, wav, mp3, mp4, and mov | Translation across a large set of languages |
| Integrations | Export to multiple formats including JSON, CSV, and SRT subtitles | AI summaries that distill key information from recordings |
| Languages & capture | Word-replacement feature to auto-correct common errors | Real-time live transcription of speech |
| Best-fit workflow | Apple Shortcuts integration and Universal Purchase across Mac, iOS, and visionOS | Cross-platform availability on iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows |
Aiko
Choose Aiko if you need transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying — strengths include strong privacy because nothing leaves the device.
ScribeBuddy
Choose ScribeBuddy if you need transcribing meetings and interviews into searchable text — strengths include handles meetings, interviews, podcasts, and lectures in one tool.
Aiko
ScribeBuddy
It depends on your workflow. Aiko is strong for transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying, while ScribeBuddy is strong for transcribing meetings and interviews into searchable text. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades and ScribeBuddy 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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