BetterDictation: A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application. Subanana: Hong Kong AI transcription and subtitling platform with meeting transcription, summaries, and multilingual support. 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 Subanana when generating and exporting subtitles for video content matters most. Test each on your own meetings; the right choice tends to become obvious quickly.
A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application.
Hong Kong AI transcription and subtitling platform with meeting transcription, summaries, and multilingual support.
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
Subanana is an AI transcription and subtitling platform based in Hong Kong and operated by Datax AI Solutions. It positions itself as an AI subtitling and transcription tool for the Hong Kong market, handling mixed Cantonese-and-English content as well as more than 80 languages including Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, and Thai. The platform automatically transcribes audio and video, generates and embeds subtitles, and exports results in multiple formats such as .srt, .docx, .csv, and .txt, making it useful for content creators and marketers in addition to meeting documentation. Its meeting transcription capabilities include real-time voice transcription with live translation, automatic speaker identification, automated summaries, and action items, along with support for recording Google Meet and Microsoft Teams meetings. Subanana offers a freemium model with a short free allowance before paid plans, and it is frequently presented as a local alternative to international tools and to Korean services like Clova Note for users who need strong Cantonese and code-switching handling. The product serves a broad base of individual users and teams across content, business, and remote-work scenarios. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid); Subanana is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | BetterDictation | Subanana |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | System-wide dictation that inserts text into any macOS application | AI transcription and subtitle generation across 80+ languages |
| Standout feature | On-device transcription using OpenAI's Whisper on Apple's Neural Engine | Strong handling of mixed Cantonese-and-English (code-switching) audio |
| Team usage | Offline operation for basic dictation with no cloud round-trips | Meeting transcription with automated summaries and action items |
| Integrations | Support for 100+ languages with automatic punctuation | Real-time voice transcription with live translation |
| Languages & capture | Push-to-talk and toggle-to-talk recording modes | Automatic speaker identification |
| Best-fit workflow | Optional Pro post-processing: stammer correction and automatic formatting | Subtitle embedding and export to .srt, .docx, .csv, and .txt |
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.
Subanana
Choose Subanana if you need transcribing and summarizing cantonese-english meetings for hong kong teams — strengths include built for the hong kong market with strong cantonese and code-switching support.
BetterDictation
Subanana
It depends on your workflow. BetterDictation is strong for dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps, while Subanana is strong for transcribing and summarizing cantonese-english meetings for hong kong teams. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades and Subanana is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
You can — some teams pair them when each covers a different part of the meeting workflow.
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