Alter: macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required. Olovka AI: AI lecture recorder for students that captures, transcribes, and summarizes classes into organized notes. The right pick comes down to team size, budget, and the workflows you want to automate.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Alter when freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot matters most, and Olovka AI when converting youtube and online-course videos into organized notes matters most. Test each on your own meetings; the right choice tends to become obvious quickly.
macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required.
AI lecture recorder for students that captures, transcribes, and summarizes classes into organized notes.
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
Olovka AI is an AI lecture note-taking tool aimed at students who want to focus on listening rather than writing during class. The app records lectures with the goal of high transcription accuracy, provides real-time transcript conversion while recording, and then automatically produces structured, organized notes from the session. It accepts multiple input formats, including live classroom recordings, YouTube videos, and uploaded audio or PDF documents, so students can process both in-person lectures and online course material in one place. A notable capability is assignment detection, where the tool flags homework and tasks mentioned during a lecture so they are not missed. Generated notes are editable and printable, allowing students to refine them and study offline. The service offers free sign-up via Google authentication and runs on AI from OpenAI, with a flashcard feature listed as planned. Olovka positions itself squarely in the education niche for note capture and study, and is marketed toward students at a range of universities. It is best suited to individual learners rather than professional meeting documentation. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Olovka AI is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Alter | Olovka AI |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | On-device transcription using built-in Whisper and Parakeet models | Google sign-in for quick onboarding |
| Standout feature | Bot-free capture of system audio and microphone across any meeting or call app | Live lecture recording with real-time transcription |
| Team usage | Automatic speaker identification performed locally | Automatic AI-generated structured notes from lectures |
| Integrations | AI summaries, action items, and chat-with-your-meeting Q&A | Multiple inputs: live recordings, YouTube links, and uploaded audio or PDFs |
| Languages & capture | Integrations with Notion, Slack, Linear, Asana, Jira and other tools | Assignment and homework detection from lecture audio |
| Best-fit workflow | Offline operation with recordings and transcripts stored locally | Editable and printable notes for offline study |
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.
Olovka AI
Choose Olovka AI if you need recording and transcribing in-person university lectures — strengths include purpose-built for student lecture capture and study.
Alter
Olovka AI
It depends on your workflow. Alter is strong for freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot, while Olovka AI is strong for recording and transcribing in-person university lectures. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades and Olovka AI 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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