BetterDictation: A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application. Pocket: MagSafe-attached AI recorder that turns meetings and ideas into transcripts, summaries, and action items. 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 Pocket when capturing fleeting ideas on the move without typing 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.
MagSafe-attached AI recorder that turns meetings and ideas into transcripts, summaries, and action items.
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
Pocket is an AI hardware device, built by a Y Combinator-backed team, that captures meetings, ideas, and conversations and converts them into clear notes without requiring the user to interact with a phone during the session. The device attaches magnetically to a phone via MagSafe and includes dual studio microphones plus a contact microphone for capturing phone calls, with onboard storage and cloud sync. A single press starts a recording, and the accompanying AI then produces transcripts, summaries, action items, and mind maps from the captured audio. Pocket supports processing in well over 100 languages and is positioned for people who talk and move quickly and want to record thoughts or discussions on the go rather than typing notes. Captured content is managed through a companion mobile app on iOS, where users can read summaries, recall meeting details without replaying audio, and organize their notes. It targets professionals, founders, and knowledge workers who attend frequent in-person meetings or want a low-friction way to capture spoken information and review it later in structured form. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid); Pocket is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | BetterDictation | |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | System-wide dictation that inserts text into any macOS application | MagSafe-compatible wearable recorder with onboard storage |
| Standout feature | On-device transcription using OpenAI's Whisper on Apple's Neural Engine | Dual studio microphones plus a contact mic for phone calls |
| Team usage | Offline operation for basic dictation with no cloud round-trips | AI transcripts, summaries, action items, and mind maps |
| Integrations | Support for 100+ languages with automatic punctuation | Support for 120+ languages |
| Languages & capture | Push-to-talk and toggle-to-talk recording modes | Companion iOS app with cloud sync |
| Best-fit workflow | Optional Pro post-processing: stammer correction and automatic formatting | One-press recording with multi-day battery |
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.
Choose Pocket if you need recording in-person meetings and getting action items automatically — strengths include low-friction, hands-free capture that attaches to your phone.
BetterDictation
It depends on your workflow. BetterDictation is strong for dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps, while Pocket is strong for recording in-person meetings and getting action items automatically. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades and Pocket 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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