BetterDictation: A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application. Olovka AI: AI lecture recorder for students that captures, transcribes, and summarizes classes into organized notes. Here's where each one pulls ahead on pricing, features, and the meetings it suits best.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist BetterDictation when dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps matters most, and Olovka AI when converting youtube and online-course videos into organized notes matters most. Trial each on a few real meetings before you commit — the better fit usually shows fast.
A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application.
AI lecture recorder for students that captures, transcribes, and summarizes classes into organized notes.
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
Olovka AI is an AI lecture note-taking tool aimed at students who want to focus on listening rather than writing during class. The app records lectures with the goal of high transcription accuracy, provides real-time transcript conversion while recording, and then automatically produces structured, organized notes from the session. It accepts multiple input formats, including live classroom recordings, YouTube videos, and uploaded audio or PDF documents, so students can process both in-person lectures and online course material in one place. A notable capability is assignment detection, where the tool flags homework and tasks mentioned during a lecture so they are not missed. Generated notes are editable and printable, allowing students to refine them and study offline. The service offers free sign-up via Google authentication and runs on AI from OpenAI, with a flashcard feature listed as planned. Olovka positions itself squarely in the education niche for note capture and study, and is marketed toward students at a range of universities. It is best suited to individual learners rather than professional meeting documentation. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid); Olovka AI is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | BetterDictation | Olovka AI |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | System-wide dictation that inserts text into any macOS application | Google sign-in for quick onboarding |
| Standout feature | On-device transcription using OpenAI's Whisper on Apple's Neural Engine | Live lecture recording with real-time transcription |
| Team usage | Offline operation for basic dictation with no cloud round-trips | Automatic AI-generated structured notes from lectures |
| Integrations | Support for 100+ languages with automatic punctuation | Multiple inputs: live recordings, YouTube links, and uploaded audio or PDFs |
| Languages & capture | Push-to-talk and toggle-to-talk recording modes | Assignment and homework detection from lecture audio |
| Best-fit workflow | Optional Pro post-processing: stammer correction and automatic formatting | Editable and printable notes for offline study |
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.
Olovka AI
Choose Olovka AI if you need recording and transcribing in-person university lectures — strengths include purpose-built for student lecture capture and study.
BetterDictation
Olovka AI
It depends on your workflow. BetterDictation is strong for dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps, while Olovka AI is strong for recording and transcribing in-person university lectures. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades and Olovka AI 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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