BetterDictation: A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application. Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown: An iOS/iPadOS/Mac app that records voice and transcribes it on-device into editable Markdown notes saved as plain-text files in iCloud or an Obsidian vault. Below, they line up on price, capture method, and how each fits a real meeting stack.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist BetterDictation when dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps matters most, and Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown when voice journaling and quick idea capture for obsidian or note-taking workflows matters most. Try them side by side on real calls before deciding — needs vary by team.
A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application.
An iOS/iPadOS/Mac app that records voice and transcribes it on-device into editable Markdown notes saved as plain-text files in iCloud or an Obsidian vault.
BetterDictation is a system-wide dictation tool for macOS that converts speech into typed text inside any application. Users trigger it with a keyboard shortcut (Option+Space) and can choose push-to-talk or toggle-to-talk modes; the transcribed text is then inserted directly where the cursor sits. It runs OpenAI's Whisper model locally on Apple's Neural Engine, so basic transcription works fully offline and, per the vendor, no audio recordings or transcripts are stored. It supports 100+ languages and applies automatic punctuation. The app requires Apple Silicon (M1 or newer); Intel Macs are not supported. An optional Pro add-on adds stammer correction, automatic formatting, and post-processing of dictations. It is aimed at people who write or capture text frequently, such as founders, engineers, and writers, who want to dictate emails, documents, notes, and messages rather than type them. Because it works across all apps, it can be used to capture spoken notes alongside meetings, though it is a general dictation utility rather than a dedicated meeting-recording assistant.
Best suited for
Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown is a voice-first note-taking app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that captures spoken thoughts and transcribes them into editable text. Transcription runs on-device using Apple's speech engine, so it works offline and audio never leaves the device. Each note is stored as a standard plain-text or Markdown (.md) file synced through iCloud, which lets it work with Obsidian, iA Writer, and other text editors rather than locking notes inside a proprietary cloud. The app supports background recording, silence detection, and Siri shortcuts for hands-free capture, and it can transcribe Apple Voice Memos or other local audio and video files. An optional paid AI tier adds cleanup, summaries, and action-item extraction, plus template-based rewriting. Core recording, transcription, editing, iCloud sync, Siri, and offline mode are free. It is aimed at journalers, Obsidian users, and people capturing meeting notes, ideas, or quick thoughts when speaking is faster than typing. Developed by Saravanan Pitchaimani; listed in the App Store Productivity category.
Best suited for
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid); Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | BetterDictation | Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | System-wide dictation that inserts text into any macOS application | On-device voice transcription that works offline (audio stays on the device) |
| Standout feature | On-device transcription using OpenAI's Whisper on Apple's Neural Engine | Notes saved as plain-text/Markdown files synced via iCloud |
| Team usage | Offline operation for basic dictation with no cloud round-trips | Works with Obsidian, iA Writer, and other text editors |
| Integrations | Support for 100+ languages with automatic punctuation | Background recording, silence detection, and Siri shortcuts |
| Languages & capture | Push-to-talk and toggle-to-talk recording modes | Can transcribe Apple Voice Memos and other local audio/video files |
| Best-fit workflow | Optional Pro post-processing: stammer correction and automatic formatting | Optional AI cleanup, summaries, and action-item extraction |
BetterDictation
Choose BetterDictation if you need dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps — strengths include runs locally on-device for privacy; vendor states no audio or transcripts are stored.
Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown
Choose Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown if you need capturing and transcribing meeting notes hands-free into a markdown file — strengths include privacy-focused: transcription happens on-device and notes are stored as files you own.
BetterDictation
Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown
It depends on your workflow. BetterDictation is strong for dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps, while Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown is strong for capturing and transcribing meeting notes hands-free into a markdown file. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades and Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown 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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