Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Way With Words: Way With Words is a transcription and captioning service that converts audio and video recordings, including meetings and interviews, into accurate text using human transcribers and automatic speech recognition. We compare them on cost, capture approach, and day-to-day fit so you can choose faster.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Aiko when transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying matters most, and Way With Words when producing accessible captions and subtitles for recorded 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.
Way With Words is a transcription and captioning service that converts audio and video recordings, including meetings and interviews, into accurate text using human transcribers and automatic speech recognition.
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
Way With Words is an audio-to-text services company, founded in 2002 and registered in the UK and South Africa, that turns recordings into text. Rather than joining calls as a bot, it works from files: users upload audio or video through a secure account portal (supporting formats such as MP3, WAV, MP4, MOV, and M4A, up to 8GB per file) and receive transcripts back as DOCX, with PDF and RTF available on request. Its core offering is human transcription, including verbatim, intelligent verbatim, and time-coded transcripts for multi-speaker interviews, focus groups, corporate meetings, hearings, and media. It also provides automatic (ASR) transcription in 50+ languages, video captioning and subtitles, machine-transcript polishing, and custom speech datasets for AI/ASR training. Turnaround is offered in tiers from express through to roughly eight days, with human quality checks emphasized for complex audio. It targets research and academia, legal and compliance, media production, education, corporate teams, public sector and NGOs, and AI developers needing dependable, confidential text from audio.
Best suited for
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Way With Words is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Aiko | Way With Words |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | Fully on-device transcription powered by a local Whisper model | Human transcription with verbatim, intelligent verbatim, and time-coded options |
| Standout feature | Support for roughly 100 languages | Automatic (ASR) speech-to-text transcription in 50+ languages |
| Team usage | Transcription of audio and video files in formats like m4a, wav, mp3, mp4, and mov | Video captioning and subtitles for accessibility and broadcast |
| Integrations | Export to multiple formats including JSON, CSV, and SRT subtitles | Secure account portal for audio/video upload (up to 8GB per file, batch uploads) |
| Languages & capture | Word-replacement feature to auto-correct common errors | Multiple turnaround tiers from express to several days |
| Best-fit workflow | Apple Shortcuts integration and Universal Purchase across Mac, iOS, and visionOS | Custom speech datasets for AI and ASR training programs |
Aiko
Choose Aiko if you need transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying — strengths include strong privacy because nothing leaves the device.
Way With Words
Choose Way With Words if you need transcribing recorded corporate meetings, interviews, and focus groups into searchable text — strengths include human-reviewed transcripts suited to complex, multi-speaker audio like meetings and focus groups.
Aiko
Way With Words
It depends on your workflow. Aiko is strong for transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying, while Way With Words is strong for transcribing recorded corporate meetings, interviews, and focus groups into searchable text. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades and Way With Words 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.
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