BetterDictation: A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application. Equal Time: Meeting notes with speaking-time and inclusion analytics The right pick comes down to team size, budget, and the workflows you want to automate.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist BetterDictation when dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps matters most, and Equal Time when tracking speaking balance matters most. Run both through a week of actual calls to see which suits your workflow.
A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application.
Meeting notes with speaking-time and inclusion analytics
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
Equal Time is an AI meeting assistant that combines standard transcription and notes with a distinctive focus on participation and inclusion analytics. It records and transcribes meetings, generates summaries and action items, and additionally tracks talk-time and speaking balance so teams can see how participation is distributed across a call. This inclusion-oriented angle makes it useful for managers and facilitators who want more equitable meetings, in addition to the usual benefits of automatic notes. Equal Time works across common video platforms, makes notes searchable, and can share recaps with attendees. It also offers prompts and metrics intended to encourage balanced participation during meetings. Equal Time is typically adopted by teams and organizations that care about meeting culture and inclusion alongside documentation, and it differentiates itself from general notetakers by reporting on how people participate, not just what was said, which appeals to leaders trying to improve how their meetings run. Platforms: Zoom / Google Meet / Microsoft Teams. Integrations: Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid); Equal Time is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | BetterDictation | Equal Time |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | System-wide dictation that inserts text into any macOS application | Recording and transcription |
| Standout feature | On-device transcription using OpenAI's Whisper on Apple's Neural Engine | AI summaries and action items |
| Team usage | Offline operation for basic dictation with no cloud round-trips | Talk-time and participation analytics |
| Integrations | Support for 100+ languages with automatic punctuation | Inclusion prompts and metrics |
| Languages & capture | Push-to-talk and toggle-to-talk recording modes | Searchable notes |
| Best-fit workflow | Optional Pro post-processing: stammer correction and automatic formatting | Recording and transcription |
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.
Equal Time
Choose Equal Time if you need improving meeting inclusion — strengths include unique focus on participation and inclusion.
BetterDictation
Equal Time
It depends on your workflow. BetterDictation is strong for dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps, while Equal Time is strong for improving meeting inclusion. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades and Equal Time 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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