Basil AI: On-device AI note taker for Apple devices that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely offline, with no cloud upload. Thoth: Privacy-first macOS app that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings entirely on-device with no cloud or data leaving the Mac. Below, they line up on price, capture method, and how each fits a real meeting stack.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Basil AI when transcribing confidential client meetings where data must stay on-device matters most, and Thoth when users who want offline, private meeting notes on a mac 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.
Privacy-first macOS app that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings entirely on-device with no cloud or data leaving the Mac.
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
Thoth is a native macOS application, created by Matthieu Veinhard, that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings entirely on the user's device. It captures both microphone and system audio so it can record both sides of online meetings on platforms such as Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet, and it provides live transcription with on-device speech-to-text. An on-device engine detects and color-codes individual speakers in the transcript, and the app supports a large number of languages via Whisper-based transcription. After a meeting, Thoth extracts notes, action items, and key decisions, and lets users choose between several on-device models or supply their own cloud API key, with an on-device anonymization step that can redact sensitive information before any optional cloud processing. Output can be exported to formats including PDF, Word, Markdown, and timestamped JSON. Because the app has no server and no user database, the company emphasizes that there is nothing to breach or hand over. Thoth requires Apple Silicon and is aimed at privacy-conscious professionals, those handling confidential information, and neurodivergent users who benefit from automatic capture, and it is available on the Mac App Store with an iOS beta in progress. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Basil AI is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Thoth is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Basil AI | Thoth |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | 100% on-device transcription with no cloud upload | 100% local, on-device recording, transcription, and summarization |
| Standout feature | Speaker diarization to separate participants automatically | Dual-channel capture of microphone and system audio |
| Team usage | AI-generated summaries, minutes, and key takeaways | On-device speaker detection with color-coded transcripts |
| Integrations | Support for recording live meetings and uploading audio/video files | Whisper-based transcription supporting many languages |
| Languages & capture | Multi-language support and offline (airplane-mode) operation | On-device anonymization to redact sensitive content |
| Best-fit workflow | Export to text, PDF, CSV, and JSON, plus Apple Notes/iCloud/Files | Export to PDF, Word, Markdown, and timestamped JSON |
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.
Thoth
Choose Thoth if you need professionals handling confidential or regulated information — strengths include fully local processing with no cloud requirement and no user database.
Basil AI
Thoth
It depends on your workflow. Basil AI is strong for transcribing confidential client meetings where data must stay on-device, while Thoth is strong for professionals handling confidential or regulated information. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Basil AI is a free tier with paid upgrades and Thoth 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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