Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Whisper Memos: iPhone and Apple Watch voice recorder that transcribes memos and meetings and emails you a formatted transcript with an AI summary. 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 Whisper Memos when recording meetings and extracting action items via custom summary prompts matters most. Try them side by side on real calls before deciding — needs vary by team.
On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately.
iPhone and Apple Watch voice recorder that transcribes memos and meetings and emails you a formatted transcript with an AI summary.
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
Whisper Memos is an AI voice-recording app for iPhone and Apple Watch, created by independent developer Vojtech Rinik, that records spoken memos and delivers them back as nicely formatted email transcripts within seconds. You can start a recording from a one-tap iPhone lock-screen widget or hands-free from an Apple Watch complication, making it suited to quick capture of rambling thoughts, meeting notes, lectures, or journal entries. Under the hood it offers multiple transcription engines, including OpenAI Whisper, ElevenLabs, and Cohere, and supports many languages with automatic paragraphing. Every voice note can get an automatic AI summary, and you can create custom summary tabs with your own prompts, for example to extract action items from meeting notes or to reorganize thoughts by topic. The app supports importing audio files in formats such as MP3, M4A, WAV, AAC, and FLAC. An Agents system routes different memos to different destinations, and integrations cover Notion, Trello, Things 3, Todoist, Day One, Evernote, Reflect, and Drafts, plus thousands more via Zapier or Mail Drop. It markets itself explicitly as a dictaphone, an audio recorder for meetings, and a voice journaling app, and has been covered by outlets like Six Colors and MacSparky. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Whisper Memos is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Aiko | Whisper Memos |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | Fully on-device transcription powered by a local Whisper model | One-tap iPhone lock-screen and hands-free Apple Watch recording |
| Standout feature | Support for roughly 100 languages | Multiple transcription engines (OpenAI Whisper, ElevenLabs, Cohere) |
| Team usage | Transcription of audio and video files in formats like m4a, wav, mp3, mp4, and mov | Automatic AI summaries with custom prompt-based summary tabs |
| Integrations | Export to multiple formats including JSON, CSV, and SRT subtitles | Transcripts delivered as formatted email with automatic paragraphs |
| Languages & capture | Word-replacement feature to auto-correct common errors | Audio file import (MP3, M4A, WAV, AAC, FLAC) |
| Best-fit workflow | Apple Shortcuts integration and Universal Purchase across Mac, iOS, and visionOS | Integrations with Notion, Things 3, Todoist, Day One, and Zapier |
Aiko
Choose Aiko if you need transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying — strengths include strong privacy because nothing leaves the device.
Whisper Memos
Choose Whisper Memos if you need dictating quick notes or ideas hands-free and receiving them by email — strengths include frictionless capture from lock screen or apple watch.
Aiko
Whisper Memos
It depends on your workflow. Aiko is strong for transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying, while Whisper Memos is strong for dictating quick notes or ideas hands-free and receiving them by email. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades and Whisper Memos 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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