Basil AI: On-device AI note taker for Apple devices that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely offline, with no cloud upload. Kai for Chrome: A Chrome extension that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely on-device in the browser, with no bot, no account, and no upload. Here's where each one pulls ahead on pricing, features, and the meetings it suits best.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Basil AI when transcribing confidential client meetings where data must stay on-device matters most, and Kai for Chrome when generating quick meeting summaries and action items without any setup matters most. Run both through a week of actual calls to see which suits your workflow.
On-device AI note taker for Apple devices that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely offline, with no cloud upload.
A Chrome extension that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely on-device in the browser, with no bot, no account, and no upload.
Basil AI (Basil Private AI Note Taker) is a privacy-first AI transcription and note-taking application that processes all audio locally on Apple devices using Apple's on-device speech and machine-learning frameworks. Because recordings, transcripts, and summaries never leave the device and no cloud servers are involved, Basil is positioned for privacy-conscious professionals handling sensitive conversations, including lawyers conducting client meetings and other client-services practitioners where confidentiality matters. The app records live meetings and can also process uploaded audio and DRM-free video files, then generates transcripts with speaker diarization plus AI summaries and key takeaways. It supports a large set of languages and can work offline, including in airplane mode. Outputs can be exported to formats such as text, PDF, CSV, and JSON, and integrated with Apple's ecosystem (Apple Notes, iCloud Drive, Files). Basil is distributed on the Apple App Store by TONSOR LLC and is available as a universal app across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision, with recent iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS versions required. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Kai is a Chrome extension that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely within the browser, running the full pipeline on the user's own device. Built by Morgen, the team behind the Morgen calendar app, it captures audio from any meeting or audio tab in Chrome, including Google Meet, the Zoom web client, and Microsoft Teams, without sending a bot into the call and without requiring an account or sign-up. Recording is triggered with a keyboard shortcut from the meeting tab. Audio capture happens in an offscreen document inside the extension and is transcribed locally using a Whisper speech-to-text model running via WebGPU or WebAssembly, so the audio never leaves the machine. At the end of a call, a local language model produces a clean summary with decisions, topics, and action items, including who is responsible. A side-panel interface lets users follow the transcript live during the meeting, and notes can optionally be emailed to a team in one click, at which point only the final text is shared. This makes Kai well suited to individuals who want fast, private, browser-based meeting notes without installing a desktop app or adding a visible bot, with an initial focus on English-language meetings. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Basil AI is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Kai for Chrome is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Basil AI | Kai for Chrome |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | 100% on-device transcription with no cloud upload | Fully on-device transcription in the browser via Whisper on WebGPU or WebAssembly |
| Standout feature | Speaker diarization to separate participants automatically | Bot-free capture from Google Meet, Zoom web, Teams, and any Chrome audio tab |
| Team usage | AI-generated summaries, minutes, and key takeaways | No account or sign-up required to start transcribing |
| Integrations | Support for recording live meetings and uploading audio/video files | Keyboard-shortcut recording with a live transcript side panel |
| Languages & capture | Multi-language support and offline (airplane-mode) operation | Local summaries with decisions, topics, and assigned action items |
| Best-fit workflow | Export to text, PDF, CSV, and JSON, plus Apple Notes/iCloud/Files | One-click optional email sharing of finished notes |
Basil AI
Choose Basil AI if you need transcribing confidential client meetings where data must stay on-device — strengths include strong privacy posture since data never leaves the device.
Kai for Chrome
Choose Kai for Chrome if you need privately transcribing google meet, zoom web, or teams calls inside chrome — strengths include audio and transcription stay on-device for strong privacy.
Basil AI
Kai for Chrome
It depends on your workflow. Basil AI is strong for transcribing confidential client meetings where data must stay on-device, while Kai for Chrome is strong for privately transcribing google meet, zoom web, or teams calls inside chrome. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Basil AI is a free tier with paid upgrades and Kai for Chrome is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Often yes: teams combine tools when one handles capture and another handles analysis.
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