Basil AI: On-device AI note taker for Apple devices that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely offline, with no cloud upload. Willow Voice: Willow Voice is a system-wide AI dictation app for Mac, Windows, and iPhone that converts speech into cleaned-up, formatted text and inserts it at the cursor in any application. Which one wins depends on your platform mix, budget, and how hands-off you want notes to be.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Basil AI when transcribing confidential client meetings where data must stay on-device matters most, and Willow Voice when writing documents and notes in apps like notion with automatic formatting matters most. Test each on your own meetings; the right choice tends to become obvious quickly.
On-device AI note taker for Apple devices that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely offline, with no cloud upload.
Willow Voice is a system-wide AI dictation app for Mac, Windows, and iPhone that converts speech into cleaned-up, formatted text and inserts it at the cursor in any application.
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
Willow Voice is an AI dictation tool that turns spoken words into polished written text inside any application. Instead of recording meetings, it works at the cursor: you place your cursor in a text field (such as Gmail, Slack, Notion, iMessage, or a code editor), hold a hotkey, speak naturally, and formatted text appears in place. As it transcribes, Willow automatically removes filler words, fixes punctuation, and applies formatting, and it can learn your writing style to adapt tone across different apps. The product is built for professionals who want to write messages, emails, and documents faster than typing. It runs on Mac, Windows, and iPhone, supports voice commands for inserting line breaks and bullet points, handles many languages, and offers an auto-learning dictionary for names and terminology. Willow advertises low-latency transcription and an AI mode that expands brief spoken notes into complete messages. For organizations, it markets SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance, zero data retention, and admin controls. It is a dictation tool rather than a meeting or call recorder.
Best suited for
Basil AI is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Willow Voice is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Basil AI | Willow Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | 100% on-device transcription with no cloud upload | System-wide dictation that inserts transcribed text at the cursor in any app via a hotkey |
| Standout feature | Speaker diarization to separate participants automatically | Automatic cleanup that removes filler words, fixes punctuation, and applies formatting |
| Team usage | AI-generated summaries, minutes, and key takeaways | Style and tone matching that learns and adapts to your writing across apps |
| Integrations | Support for recording live meetings and uploading audio/video files | AI mode that expands brief spoken notes into complete, polished messages |
| Languages & capture | Multi-language support and offline (airplane-mode) operation | Voice commands for formatting (e.g. new line, bullet point) and an auto-learning dictionary for names and terms |
| Best-fit workflow | Export to text, PDF, CSV, and JSON, plus Apple Notes/iCloud/Files | Cross-platform availability on Mac, Windows, and iPhone with support for many languages |
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.
Willow Voice
Choose Willow Voice if you need drafting emails, slack messages, and chat replies by speaking instead of typing — strengths include works everywhere you type instead of being locked to a single app or note interface.
Basil AI
Willow Voice
It depends on your workflow. Basil AI is strong for transcribing confidential client meetings where data must stay on-device, while Willow Voice is strong for drafting emails, slack messages, and chat replies by speaking instead of typing. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Basil AI is a free tier with paid upgrades and Willow Voice is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Sure. Running both makes sense when their strengths don't overlap and the budget allows.
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