BetterDictation: A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application. Spellar AI: A bot-free AI meeting note taker for Mac, iOS, and web that records on-device and produces 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 Spellar AI when consultants generating templated summaries and action items per meeting 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.
A bot-free AI meeting note taker for Mac, iOS, and web that records on-device and produces 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
Spellar AI is a bot-free meeting note taker built by Spellar LTD for professionals who want their conversations captured without a bot joining the call. The app records directly on the user's Mac, iPhone, or iPad, so no participant appears in the meeting, and it produces transcripts in many languages with intelligent language detection. At the end of each meeting Spellar generates a structured summary that highlights key points and action items, and it offers customizable summary templates so the output can match different meeting types. A distinguishing feature is its model flexibility: users can switch between AI models such as different GPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity options per meeting, per template, or per question, and a real-time copilot can assist during the conversation. Privacy is configurable: server-side transcription is opt-in rather than default, and users can run transcription on-device or bring their own AI key to keep calls private. Spellar syncs across macOS, iOS, and the web, and supports one-click export to tools like Notion, Jira, Linear, and Google Docs. It suits sales reps, consultants, and professionals who want discreet capture plus flexible, exportable meeting notes. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid); Spellar AI is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | BetterDictation | Spellar AI |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | System-wide dictation that inserts text into any macOS application | Bot-free recording on Mac, iPhone, and iPad |
| Standout feature | On-device transcription using OpenAI's Whisper on Apple's Neural Engine | Transcription in 100+ languages with automatic language detection |
| Team usage | Offline operation for basic dictation with no cloud round-trips | Per-meeting model switching across multiple AI providers |
| Integrations | Support for 100+ languages with automatic punctuation | Customizable summary templates with action item extraction |
| Languages & capture | Push-to-talk and toggle-to-talk recording modes | On-device transcription or bring-your-own-key options; server-side AI is opt-in |
| Best-fit workflow | Optional Pro post-processing: stammer correction and automatic formatting | One-click export to Notion, Jira, Linear, and Google Docs |
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.
Spellar AI
Choose Spellar AI if you need sales reps capturing client calls without a visible bot — strengths include no bot joins the call, keeping capture discreet across platforms.
BetterDictation
Spellar AI
It depends on your workflow. BetterDictation is strong for dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps, while Spellar AI is strong for sales reps capturing client calls without a visible bot. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades and Spellar AI 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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