Basil AI: On-device AI note taker for Apple devices that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely offline, with no cloud upload. Spellar AI: A bot-free AI meeting note taker for Mac, iOS, and web that records on-device and produces transcripts, summaries, and action items. We compare them on cost, capture approach, and day-to-day fit so you can choose faster.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Basil AI when transcribing confidential client meetings where data must stay on-device matters most, and Spellar AI when consultants generating templated summaries and action items per meeting 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 bot-free AI meeting note taker for Mac, iOS, and web that records on-device and produces 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
Spellar AI is a bot-free meeting note taker built by Spellar LTD for professionals who want their conversations captured without a bot joining the call. The app records directly on the user's Mac, iPhone, or iPad, so no participant appears in the meeting, and it produces transcripts in many languages with intelligent language detection. At the end of each meeting Spellar generates a structured summary that highlights key points and action items, and it offers customizable summary templates so the output can match different meeting types. A distinguishing feature is its model flexibility: users can switch between AI models such as different GPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity options per meeting, per template, or per question, and a real-time copilot can assist during the conversation. Privacy is configurable: server-side transcription is opt-in rather than default, and users can run transcription on-device or bring their own AI key to keep calls private. Spellar syncs across macOS, iOS, and the web, and supports one-click export to tools like Notion, Jira, Linear, and Google Docs. It suits sales reps, consultants, and professionals who want discreet capture plus flexible, exportable meeting notes. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Basil AI is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Spellar AI is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Basil AI | Spellar AI |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | 100% on-device transcription with no cloud upload | Bot-free recording on Mac, iPhone, and iPad |
| Standout feature | Speaker diarization to separate participants automatically | Transcription in 100+ languages with automatic language detection |
| Team usage | AI-generated summaries, minutes, and key takeaways | Per-meeting model switching across multiple AI providers |
| Integrations | Support for recording live meetings and uploading audio/video files | Customizable summary templates with action item extraction |
| Languages & capture | Multi-language support and offline (airplane-mode) operation | On-device transcription or bring-your-own-key options; server-side AI is opt-in |
| Best-fit workflow | Export to text, PDF, CSV, and JSON, plus Apple Notes/iCloud/Files | One-click export to Notion, Jira, Linear, and Google Docs |
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.
Spellar AI
Choose Spellar AI if you need sales reps capturing client calls without a visible bot — strengths include no bot joins the call, keeping capture discreet across platforms.
Basil AI
Spellar AI
It depends on your workflow. Basil AI is strong for transcribing confidential client meetings where data must stay on-device, while Spellar AI is strong for sales reps capturing client calls without a visible bot. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Basil AI is a free tier with paid upgrades and Spellar AI is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary.
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