Alter: macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required. Sonix: High-accuracy automated transcription in 50+ languages Below, they line up on price, capture method, and how each fits a real meeting stack.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Alter when freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot matters most, and Sonix when interview and podcast transcription 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.
High-accuracy automated transcription in 50+ languages
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
Sonix is an automated transcription service that converts audio and video into accurate, searchable text across a wide range of languages. While not a meeting bot in the traditional sense, it is widely used to transcribe recorded meetings, interviews, podcasts, and videos, making it a core AI-transcription tool for teams that work with recorded conversations. Sonix provides an in-browser editor where users can review and correct transcripts, add timestamps and speaker labels, and search across content quickly. It also offers translation and subtitle features, which helps multilingual teams and content creators repurpose recordings. Because it focuses on high-quality transcription rather than live meeting assistance, Sonix is often paired with recording tools or used to process existing audio and video files. It is popular with researchers, journalists, podcasters, and businesses that need reliable transcripts they can edit, search, and translate, with an emphasis on accuracy and language coverage. Platforms: Web / upload audio and video. Integrations: Zapier, Google Drive. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Sonix is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Alter | Sonix |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | On-device transcription using built-in Whisper and Parakeet models | Automated transcription |
| Standout feature | Bot-free capture of system audio and microphone across any meeting or call app | In-browser transcript editor |
| Team usage | Automatic speaker identification performed locally | Multi-language support |
| Integrations | AI summaries, action items, and chat-with-your-meeting Q&A | Translation and subtitles |
| Languages & capture | Integrations with Notion, Slack, Linear, Asana, Jira and other tools | Search across transcripts |
| Best-fit workflow | Offline operation with recordings and transcripts stored locally | Automated 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.
Sonix
Choose Sonix if you need transcribing recorded meetings — strengths include accurate transcription with strong editing.
Alter
Sonix
It depends on your workflow. Alter is strong for freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot, while Sonix is strong for transcribing recorded meetings. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades and Sonix 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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