Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. VoicePen: Apple-native AI app that records and transcribes meetings, lectures, and voice memos, then turns them into summaries and rewritten notes. The right pick comes down to team size, budget, and the workflows you want to automate.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Aiko when transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying matters most, and VoicePen when transcribing lectures and turning them into study notes 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.
Apple-native AI app that records and transcribes meetings, lectures, and voice memos, then turns them into summaries and rewritten 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
VoicePen is a voice-first AI note taker built natively for the Apple ecosystem, running across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. The app records and transcribes spoken audio into text, handling everything from short memos to long lectures, meetings, podcasts, and imported recordings. Once a recording is transcribed, VoicePen uses AI to generate easy-to-read summaries, structured notes, and study materials, and it offers a large set of rewrite options to reformat transcripts into bullet points, professional formats, or more casual styles. It can pull in audio and video from sources such as files, Voice Memos, Zoom recordings, podcasts, and YouTube, and it separates and labels different speakers within a transcript. A chat feature lets users ask questions about the transcribed content to surface key takeaways and action steps. VoicePen supports many languages, includes offline recording, and syncs data through iCloud, positioning itself as a personal second-brain capture tool for individuals who think and work by talking rather than typing. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); VoicePen is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Aiko | VoicePen |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | Fully on-device transcription powered by a local Whisper model | Records and transcribes meetings, lectures, memos, and imported audio/video |
| Standout feature | Support for roughly 100 languages | AI-generated summaries plus 25+ rewrite and reformatting options |
| Team usage | Transcription of audio and video files in formats like m4a, wav, mp3, mp4, and mov | Speaker separation and labeling within transcripts |
| Integrations | Export to multiple formats including JSON, CSV, and SRT subtitles | Chat-with-your-notes Q&A to extract takeaways and action steps |
| Languages & capture | Word-replacement feature to auto-correct common errors | Imports from Voice Memos, Zoom recordings, podcasts, YouTube, and files |
| Best-fit workflow | Apple Shortcuts integration and Universal Purchase across Mac, iOS, and visionOS | Multilingual transcription with offline recording and iCloud sync |
Aiko
Choose Aiko if you need transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying — strengths include strong privacy because nothing leaves the device.
VoicePen
Choose VoicePen if you need capturing and summarizing in-person meetings and 1:1 conversations — strengths include native across iphone, ipad, apple watch, and mac with icloud sync.
Aiko
VoicePen
It depends on your workflow. Aiko is strong for transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying, while VoicePen is strong for capturing and summarizing in-person meetings and 1:1 conversations. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades and VoicePen is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
You can — some teams pair them when each covers a different part of the meeting workflow.
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