BetterDictation: A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application. Kai for Chrome: A Chrome extension that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely on-device in the browser, with no bot, no account, and no upload. 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 Kai for Chrome when generating quick meeting summaries and action items without any setup matters most. Test each on your own meetings; the right choice tends to become obvious quickly.
A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application.
A Chrome extension that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely on-device in the browser, with no bot, no account, and no upload.
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
Kai is a Chrome extension that transcribes and summarizes meetings entirely within the browser, running the full pipeline on the user's own device. Built by Morgen, the team behind the Morgen calendar app, it captures audio from any meeting or audio tab in Chrome, including Google Meet, the Zoom web client, and Microsoft Teams, without sending a bot into the call and without requiring an account or sign-up. Recording is triggered with a keyboard shortcut from the meeting tab. Audio capture happens in an offscreen document inside the extension and is transcribed locally using a Whisper speech-to-text model running via WebGPU or WebAssembly, so the audio never leaves the machine. At the end of a call, a local language model produces a clean summary with decisions, topics, and action items, including who is responsible. A side-panel interface lets users follow the transcript live during the meeting, and notes can optionally be emailed to a team in one click, at which point only the final text is shared. This makes Kai well suited to individuals who want fast, private, browser-based meeting notes without installing a desktop app or adding a visible bot, with an initial focus on English-language meetings. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid); Kai for Chrome is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | BetterDictation | Kai for Chrome |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | System-wide dictation that inserts text into any macOS application | Fully on-device transcription in the browser via Whisper on WebGPU or WebAssembly |
| Standout feature | On-device transcription using OpenAI's Whisper on Apple's Neural Engine | Bot-free capture from Google Meet, Zoom web, Teams, and any Chrome audio tab |
| Team usage | Offline operation for basic dictation with no cloud round-trips | No account or sign-up required to start transcribing |
| Integrations | Support for 100+ languages with automatic punctuation | Keyboard-shortcut recording with a live transcript side panel |
| Languages & capture | Push-to-talk and toggle-to-talk recording modes | Local summaries with decisions, topics, and assigned action items |
| Best-fit workflow | Optional Pro post-processing: stammer correction and automatic formatting | One-click optional email sharing of finished notes |
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.
Kai for Chrome
Choose Kai for Chrome if you need privately transcribing google meet, zoom web, or teams calls inside chrome — strengths include audio and transcription stay on-device for strong privacy.
BetterDictation
Kai for Chrome
It depends on your workflow. BetterDictation is strong for dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps, while Kai for Chrome is strong for privately transcribing google meet, zoom web, or teams calls inside chrome. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades and Kai for Chrome 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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