Basil AI: On-device AI note taker for Apple devices that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely offline, with no cloud upload. Pocket: MagSafe-attached AI recorder that turns meetings and ideas into transcripts, summaries, and action items. This comparison weighs them on pricing, features, and everyday workflow fit.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Basil AI when transcribing confidential client meetings where data must stay on-device matters most, and Pocket when capturing fleeting ideas on the move without typing 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.
MagSafe-attached AI recorder that turns meetings and ideas into transcripts, summaries, and action items.
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
Pocket is an AI hardware device, built by a Y Combinator-backed team, that captures meetings, ideas, and conversations and converts them into clear notes without requiring the user to interact with a phone during the session. The device attaches magnetically to a phone via MagSafe and includes dual studio microphones plus a contact microphone for capturing phone calls, with onboard storage and cloud sync. A single press starts a recording, and the accompanying AI then produces transcripts, summaries, action items, and mind maps from the captured audio. Pocket supports processing in well over 100 languages and is positioned for people who talk and move quickly and want to record thoughts or discussions on the go rather than typing notes. Captured content is managed through a companion mobile app on iOS, where users can read summaries, recall meeting details without replaying audio, and organize their notes. It targets professionals, founders, and knowledge workers who attend frequent in-person meetings or want a low-friction way to capture spoken information and review it later in structured form. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Basil AI is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Pocket is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Basil AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | 100% on-device transcription with no cloud upload | MagSafe-compatible wearable recorder with onboard storage |
| Standout feature | Speaker diarization to separate participants automatically | Dual studio microphones plus a contact mic for phone calls |
| Team usage | AI-generated summaries, minutes, and key takeaways | AI transcripts, summaries, action items, and mind maps |
| Integrations | Support for recording live meetings and uploading audio/video files | Support for 120+ languages |
| Languages & capture | Multi-language support and offline (airplane-mode) operation | Companion iOS app with cloud sync |
| Best-fit workflow | Export to text, PDF, CSV, and JSON, plus Apple Notes/iCloud/Files | One-press recording with multi-day battery |
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.
Choose Pocket if you need recording in-person meetings and getting action items automatically — strengths include low-friction, hands-free capture that attaches to your phone.
Basil AI
It depends on your workflow. Basil AI is strong for transcribing confidential client meetings where data must stay on-device, while Pocket is strong for recording in-person meetings and getting action items automatically. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Basil AI is a free tier with paid upgrades and Pocket 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.
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