Alter: macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required. Rev: Human and AI transcription, captions and meeting 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 Rev when captioning video content 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.
Human and AI transcription, captions and meeting 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
Rev is a well-known transcription and captioning service that offers both automated (AI) and human-generated transcripts, giving users a choice between speed and maximum accuracy. It is widely used to transcribe recorded meetings, interviews, podcasts, and videos, and it also provides captions and subtitles for video content. In addition to file-based transcription, Rev offers an AI notetaker that can join and summarize meetings, extending its core transcription expertise into the live meeting-assistant space. Users can edit transcripts, search content, and export in various formats, and the human-transcription option is valued when near-perfect accuracy is required, such as for legal, media, or research use. Because it spans automated and human services, Rev appeals to a broad audience — from individuals needing a quick transcript to organizations that require verified, high-accuracy text. It is often chosen when transcription quality and reliable turnaround matter as much as automation. Platforms: Web / upload audio and video / meeting notetaker. Integrations: Zapier. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Rev is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Alter | Rev |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | On-device transcription using built-in Whisper and Parakeet models | AI and human transcription |
| Standout feature | Bot-free capture of system audio and microphone across any meeting or call app | Captions and subtitles |
| Team usage | Automatic speaker identification performed locally | AI meeting notetaker |
| Integrations | AI summaries, action items, and chat-with-your-meeting Q&A | Transcript editing and export |
| Languages & capture | Integrations with Notion, Slack, Linear, Asana, Jira and other tools | Multi-format output |
| Best-fit workflow | Offline operation with recordings and transcripts stored locally | AI and human transcription |
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.
Rev
Choose Rev if you need high-accuracy transcripts — strengths include choice of ai or human accuracy.
Alter
Rev
It depends on your workflow. Alter is strong for freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot, while Rev is strong for high-accuracy transcripts. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades and Rev 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.
More head-to-head comparisons involving Alter and Rev.
Alter: macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required. Amber Notes: EU-focused AI meeting notetaker by Dutch company Amberscript, with EU-only data hosting, multilingual transcription and an Ask Amber chat. The right pick comes down to team size, budget, and the workflows you want to automate.
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