Aiko: On-device AI transcription app for Mac, iOS, and visionOS that converts lecture and meeting audio to text privately. Zell: Berlin-based sales performance intelligence platform that analyzes real sales calls, surfaces skill gaps, and delivers AI coaching and roleplays, using GDPR-compliant on-device transcription. 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 Zell when automating sales-manager coaching with personalized plans and ai roleplays 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.
Berlin-based sales performance intelligence platform that analyzes real sales calls, surfaces skill gaps, and delivers AI coaching and roleplays, using GDPR-compliant on-device transcription.
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
Zell is a Berlin-based AI platform that captures and analyzes real sales calls to give sales teams performance visibility and automated coaching. It works across video calls, phone calls, and in-person meetings, automatically evaluating call behaviors such as talk patterns, objection handling, and discovery depth, and producing scorecards and instant AI call summaries once conversations end. A skill-gaps dashboard helps managers see who is improving and where coaching is needed, while an AI coaching component (named Dave) generates personalized feedback, coaching plans, and roleplay simulations based on each rep's actual performance, then tracks improvement over time. Zell positions itself as a layer that turns conversation insights into action and automates much of the sales manager's manual coaching workload. As a European company founded in 2024, Zell emphasizes GDPR-compliant, on-device transcription that does not require a meeting bot or store customer data. The company has validated its model with clients across the US, Germany, Italy, and Spain and is backed by European pre-seed investors. It is a newer, privacy-focused alternative to large US conversation intelligence platforms. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Zell is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Aiko | Zell |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | Fully on-device transcription powered by a local Whisper model | Captures and analyzes video, phone, and in-person sales calls |
| Standout feature | Support for roughly 100 languages | GDPR-compliant on-device transcription without a meeting bot or stored customer data |
| Team usage | Transcription of audio and video files in formats like m4a, wav, mp3, mp4, and mov | Automated scorecards on talk patterns, objection handling, and discovery depth |
| Integrations | Export to multiple formats including JSON, CSV, and SRT subtitles | Instant AI call summaries after each conversation |
| Languages & capture | Word-replacement feature to auto-correct common errors | Skill-gap dashboard for managers across reps |
| Best-fit workflow | Apple Shortcuts integration and Universal Purchase across Mac, iOS, and visionOS | AI coaching, personalized coaching plans, and roleplay simulations |
Aiko
Choose Aiko if you need transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying — strengths include strong privacy because nothing leaves the device.
Zell
Choose Zell if you need analyzing real sales calls to score rep behaviors and identify skill gaps — strengths include privacy-first design with on-device transcription suited to gdpr-conscious eu teams.
Aiko
Zell
It depends on your workflow. Aiko is strong for transcribing recorded lectures into searchable text for studying, while Zell is strong for analyzing real sales calls to score rep behaviors and identify skill gaps. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Aiko is a free tier with paid upgrades and Zell 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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