BetterDictation: A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application. SmartDepo: AI deposition summary platform for litigators that produces cited summaries with page-line citations. This comparison weighs them on pricing, features, and everyday workflow fit.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist BetterDictation when dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps matters most, and SmartDepo when extracting key admissions from testimony for case preparation matters most. Try them side by side on real calls before deciding — needs vary by team.
A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application.
AI deposition summary platform for litigators that produces cited summaries with page-line citations.
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
SmartDepo is an AI-powered deposition summary platform built for litigation attorneys that analyzes deposition transcripts and generates comprehensive summaries with precise citations. It offers several summary products, including page/line summaries, key admissions analysis, deposition abstracts, and deposition memos, allowing legal teams to choose the format that fits a given task. SmartDepo emphasizes accurate page-line citations that can be carried directly into court filings, and it uses topic detection to organize information in a way that mirrors how attorneys structure case materials. The platform is designed to analyze entire transcripts without omissions and pairs its AI output with human review by legal professionals, and it reports producing summaries within minutes. SmartDepo is part of Rev, a speech-to-text company, which provides established backing for its operations. Because it is focused specifically on deposition summarization rather than general meeting notes, it is most useful to litigators, paralegals, and litigation support staff who need to quickly extract admissions, build chronologies of testimony, and prepare filings from lengthy deposition records. Its citation-first approach is tailored to the accuracy and traceability demands of legal work. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid); SmartDepo is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | BetterDictation | SmartDepo |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | System-wide dictation that inserts text into any macOS application | AI deposition summaries with page-line citations |
| Standout feature | On-device transcription using OpenAI's Whisper on Apple's Neural Engine | Multiple summary formats: page/line summaries, key admissions, abstracts, and memos |
| Team usage | Offline operation for basic dictation with no cloud round-trips | Topic detection that organizes content like attorney case materials |
| Integrations | Support for 100+ languages with automatic punctuation | Full-transcript analysis without omissions |
| Languages & capture | Push-to-talk and toggle-to-talk recording modes | Human review of AI-generated summaries by legal professionals |
| Best-fit workflow | Optional Pro post-processing: stammer correction and automatic formatting | Fast turnaround, with summaries produced in minutes |
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.
SmartDepo
Choose SmartDepo if you need generating cited page-line summaries of deposition transcripts — strengths include citation-focused output suitable for court filings.
BetterDictation
SmartDepo
It depends on your workflow. BetterDictation is strong for dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps, while SmartDepo is strong for generating cited page-line summaries of deposition transcripts. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades and SmartDepo is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Sure. Running both makes sense when their strengths don't overlap and the budget allows.
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