Alter: macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required. Lyrebird Health: Lyrebird Health is an AI medical scribe that listens during clinical consultations and automatically generates transcribed, structured clinical notes and documents. 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 Alter when freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot matters most, and Lyrebird Health when generating referral letters, medical certificates, and other clinical documents from consultation audio matters most. Trial each on a few real meetings before you commit — the better fit usually shows fast.
macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required.
Lyrebird Health is an AI medical scribe that listens during clinical consultations and automatically generates transcribed, structured clinical notes and documents.
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
Lyrebird Health is an AI medical scribe built for healthcare practitioners. It listens in the background during a consultation, transcribes the conversation into text in real time, and then generates a structured clinical note (such as SOAP format or a custom template) within seconds of the consultation ending. Beyond notes, it can draft documents like referral letters and medical certificates ready for review. The product runs in the browser (Chrome recommended) on desktop and mobile, supports terminal-server and remote-desktop environments, and is compatible with in-person and telehealth (phone and video) consultations. It offers direct dictation and AI-driven "smart dictate" modes, learns each clinician's documentation style, and includes a translation feature for non-English consults. Lyrebird integrates with electronic medical record systems including Best Practice, Genie/Gentu, and FHIR-compliant systems for one-click note transfer. It is aimed at doctors, specialists, nurses, allied health professionals, dentists, psychologists, and other clinical roles across solo practices, clinics, and enterprise healthcare organizations.
Best suited for
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Lyrebird Health is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Alter | Lyrebird Health |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | On-device transcription using built-in Whisper and Parakeet models | Background listening with real-time voice-to-text transcription during consultations |
| Standout feature | Bot-free capture of system audio and microphone across any meeting or call app | Automatic generation of structured clinical notes (SOAP and customizable templates) |
| Team usage | Automatic speaker identification performed locally | Drafting of clinical documents such as referral letters and medical certificates |
| Integrations | AI summaries, action items, and chat-with-your-meeting Q&A | EMR integrations including Best Practice, Genie/Gentu, and FHIR-compliant systems for one-click transfer |
| Languages & capture | Integrations with Notion, Slack, Linear, Asana, Jira and other tools | Direct dictate and AI-powered smart dictate modes |
| Best-fit workflow | Offline operation with recordings and transcripts stored locally | Telehealth-compatible and browser-based with desktop and mobile support |
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.
Lyrebird Health
Choose Lyrebird Health if you need automating clinical note-taking for doctors and specialists during in-person or telehealth consultations — strengths include purpose-built for clinical documentation and adapts to each clinician's note-taking style.
Alter
Lyrebird Health
It depends on your workflow. Alter is strong for freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot, while Lyrebird Health is strong for automating clinical note-taking for doctors and specialists during in-person or telehealth consultations. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades and Lyrebird Health 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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