BetterDictation: A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application. Prismical: Open-source AI note taker that transcribes meetings, lectures, and voice notes locally without bots, then organizes them into structured, actionable notes. 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 Prismical when capturing voice notes and turning them into structured, searchable 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.
Open-source AI note taker that transcribes meetings, lectures, and voice notes locally without bots, then organizes them into structured, actionable 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
Prismical is an open-source AI note taker, from the Amical project, that transcribes meetings, lectures, and voice notes using local AI and without an invasive bot joining the call. It captures system audio in the background and processes it locally with Whisper and Parakeet models, while optionally connecting to cloud providers such as OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini using the user's own API keys. The project is MIT-licensed and actively maintained, with a Prismical Desktop v0.1.0 release in May 2026 and beta mobile apps for iOS and Android. Built with Electron, Next.js, TailwindCSS, and Ollama integration, it provides real-time meeting transcription via system audio capture and a floating widget that shows live transcripts as a conversation happens. Beyond capture, Prismical generates AI-powered summaries and extracts action items, and it keeps notes organized, structured, and searchable with full-text search across captured content. It also exposes an MCP server integration for connecting the tool into broader AI workflows. The combination of bot-free local capture, structured summaries, and free-forever positioning makes it a privacy-oriented alternative to cloud meeting notetakers for individuals who want their recordings to stay on their own devices. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid); Prismical is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | BetterDictation | Prismical |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | System-wide dictation that inserts text into any macOS application | Bot-free real-time meeting transcription via system audio capture |
| Standout feature | On-device transcription using OpenAI's Whisper on Apple's Neural Engine | Local-first processing using Whisper and Parakeet models |
| Team usage | Offline operation for basic dictation with no cloud round-trips | AI-powered summaries and action-item extraction |
| Integrations | Support for 100+ languages with automatic punctuation | Floating widget for live transcripts during a conversation |
| Languages & capture | Push-to-talk and toggle-to-talk recording modes | Full-text search across captured notes |
| Best-fit workflow | Optional Pro post-processing: stammer correction and automatic formatting | Optional cloud providers (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini) with user API keys |
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.
Prismical
Choose Prismical if you need individuals transcribing and summarizing meetings or lectures without inviting a bot — strengths include captures meetings and voice notes locally without a bot joining calls.
BetterDictation
Prismical
It depends on your workflow. BetterDictation is strong for dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps, while Prismical is strong for individuals transcribing and summarizing meetings or lectures without inviting a bot. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades and Prismical is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Often yes: teams combine tools when one handles capture and another handles analysis.
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