Alter: macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required. Viaim RecDot: AI recording earbuds paired with the viaim app that capture meetings and calls and turn them into transcripts, translations, summaries, and action items in 78 languages. 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 Viaim RecDot when transcribing and translating multilingual or cross-border conversations in real time matters most. Try them side by side on real calls before deciding — needs vary by team.
macOS-native AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes calls locally with built-in Whisper and Parakeet models, no bots required.
AI recording earbuds paired with the viaim app that capture meetings and calls and turn them into transcripts, translations, summaries, and action items in 78 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
Viaim RecDot is a pair of AI note-taking true-wireless earbuds combined with the viaim companion app, built to capture and document meetings, calls, interviews, and lectures hands-free. Recording can be triggered by pinching an earbud, tapping the charging case, or capturing phone and internet calls, so audio is captured whether the conversation is in person or remote. The viaim app then provides live transcription with accent recognition across 78 languages, real-time translation with audio playback that shows original and translated text together, and structured outputs including smart summaries, key takeaways, extracted action items, and automatically generated mind maps. Industry and scenario templates let users shape how notes are formatted. A built-in assistant called Vitana answers questions grounded in the user's own recordings and organized Spaces rather than the open web. It is aimed at professionals who attend frequent meetings, client calls, and interviews, as well as students and researchers who want a single wearable device that both plays audio and captures structured notes.
Best suited for
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Viaim RecDot is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Alter | Viaim RecDot |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | On-device transcription using built-in Whisper and Parakeet models | Real-time transcription in 78 languages with accent recognition |
| Standout feature | Bot-free capture of system audio and microphone across any meeting or call app | Real-time translation showing original and translated text with audio playback |
| Team usage | Automatic speaker identification performed locally | Automatic summaries, key takeaways, action items, and mind maps |
| Integrations | AI summaries, action items, and chat-with-your-meeting Q&A | Speaker labeling and editable transcripts in the viaim app |
| Languages & capture | Integrations with Notion, Slack, Linear, Asana, Jira and other tools | Recording of in-person conversations plus phone and internet calls via earbud, case, or app |
| Best-fit workflow | Offline operation with recordings and transcripts stored locally | Vitana AI assistant that answers questions grounded in your own recordings and Spaces |
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.
Viaim RecDot
Choose Viaim RecDot if you need capturing and summarizing in-person and online work meetings, client calls, and interviews — strengths include single wearable device handles both audio playback and structured note capture, no separate recorder needed.
Alter
Viaim RecDot
It depends on your workflow. Alter is strong for freelancers and consultants privately capturing client calls without a visible bot, while Viaim RecDot is strong for capturing and summarizing in-person and online work meetings, client calls, and interviews. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Alter is a free tier with paid upgrades and Viaim RecDot 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 Viaim RecDot.
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