Alter: macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required. Close Notetaker: An AI notetaker built into Close CRM that automatically transcribes and summarizes sales calls and meetings inside the CRM. This comparison weighs them on pricing, features, and everyday workflow fit.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Alter when freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot matters most, and Close Notetaker when reps reviewing searchable conversation history attached to deals matters most. Run both through a week of actual calls to see which suits your workflow.
macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required.
An AI notetaker built into Close CRM that automatically transcribes and summarizes sales calls and meetings inside the CRM.
Alter is a native macOS application that records, transcribes, and analyzes meetings directly on the user's Mac without sending a bot into the call. Instead of joining a meeting as a visible participant, Alter captures audio from the system output and microphone, so it works across Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype, Discord, and in-person conversations. Transcription runs through on-device models, with a choice of an optimized Parakeet model for major languages or Whisper for broader language coverage, and speaker identification is performed locally. Because processing happens on the device, recordings and transcripts stay on the Mac and the app can operate without an internet connection. Beyond raw transcripts, Alter generates summaries and action items, lets users chat with their meetings, and connects to tools such as Notion, Slack, Linear, Asana, and Jira. It targets solopreneurs, freelancers, consultants, and other professionals who want private, bot-free meeting capture on macOS. The product is actively developed and operating in 2025 and 2026. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Close Notetaker is an AI notetaking capability built directly into Close, a sales CRM aimed at small and mid-sized teams. It automatically transcribes and summarizes calls and meetings within Close, covering both human-rep conversations and calls handled by Chloe, Close's AI sales teammate. Because it lives inside the CRM, every captured conversation is stored, searchable, and tied to the relevant contacts and deals, so sales reps can review what was discussed without taking manual notes during the call. According to Close, Notetaker is available to all customers and works out of the box with no separate configuration, alongside other Chloe capabilities such as pipeline suggestions and CRM enrichment. Transcription supports calls made in more than twenty languages, which helps teams operating across regions. By keeping recordings, transcripts, and summaries within the same system that holds the pipeline and customer records, Close Notetaker reduces context switching between a standalone notetaker and the CRM, and keeps conversation history attached to the accounts it relates to. It is positioned as a core feature of the Close platform rather than a separate purchase. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Close Notetaker is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Alter | Close Notetaker |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | On-device transcription using built-in Whisper and Parakeet models | Automatic transcription and summarization of calls and meetings inside Close CRM |
| Standout feature | Bot-free capture of system audio and microphone across any meeting or call app | Captures both rep calls and AI-handled (Chloe) calls |
| Team usage | Automatic speaker identification performed locally | Searchable conversation records tied to contacts and deals |
| Integrations | AI summaries, action items, and chat-with-your-meeting Q&A | Transcription across more than twenty languages |
| Languages & capture | Integrations with Notion, Slack, Linear, Asana, Jira and other tools | Works out of the box with no separate configuration |
| Best-fit workflow | Offline operation with recordings and transcripts stored locally | Part of the broader Chloe AI assistant within Close |
Alter
Choose Alter if you need freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot — strengths include local processing keeps recordings and transcripts on the user's own mac.
Close Notetaker
Choose Close Notetaker if you need close crm sales teams capturing call and meeting summaries automatically — strengths include lives natively inside close crm, keeping notes attached to records.
Alter
Close Notetaker
It depends on your workflow. Alter is strong for freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot, while Close Notetaker is strong for close crm sales teams capturing call and meeting summaries automatically. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades and Close Notetaker 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.
More head-to-head comparisons involving Alter and Close Notetaker.
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