BetterDictation: A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application. TranscribeAudio: A Chrome extension that transcribes any browser tab's audio into a live, floating real-time caption overlay using OpenAI's Whisper-based speech recognition. Here's where each one pulls ahead on pricing, features, and the meetings it suits best.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist BetterDictation when dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps matters most, and TranscribeAudio when transcribing online lectures, courses, and webinars for study notes 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 Chrome extension that transcribes any browser tab's audio into a live, floating real-time caption overlay using OpenAI's Whisper-based speech recognition.
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
TranscribeAudio is a Chrome browser extension that captures the audio playing in any browser tab and turns it into real-time text, displayed in a repositionable floating caption overlay while you keep working. It is aimed at people who want live captions and transcripts for online meetings, lectures, courses, podcasts, webinars, and videos. Because it works from tab audio rather than joining calls as a meeting bot, it can transcribe Zoom, Google Meet, YouTube, Vimeo, and essentially any site with audio or video without sending notifications into the call. Transcription is powered by OpenAI's Whisper-based speech recognition, which the company says handles accents, background noise, and specialized terminology, and supports over 50 languages. Setup is a three-step flow: install from the Chrome Web Store, sign in, then click Start Transcribing on a tab. Finished transcripts can be exported as text files for notes, summaries, or sharing, with cloud storage listed as an upcoming feature. The product offers a free tier with paid upgrades for more usage, languages, and faster transcription.
Best suited for
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid); TranscribeAudio is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | BetterDictation | TranscribeAudio |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | System-wide dictation that inserts text into any macOS application | Real-time, live transcription of any browser tab's audio |
| Standout feature | On-device transcription using OpenAI's Whisper on Apple's Neural Engine | Repositionable floating caption overlay that stays on screen while you work |
| Team usage | Offline operation for basic dictation with no cloud round-trips | Tab-audio capture that works without joining meetings as a bot |
| Integrations | Support for 100+ languages with automatic punctuation | OpenAI Whisper-based speech recognition across 50+ languages |
| Languages & capture | Push-to-talk and toggle-to-talk recording modes | Compatibility with YouTube, Zoom, Google Meet, Vimeo, and any audio/video site |
| Best-fit workflow | Optional Pro post-processing: stammer correction and automatic formatting | Export of transcripts as TXT files for notes and sharing |
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.
TranscribeAudio
Choose TranscribeAudio if you need generating live captions and transcripts for zoom and google meet calls without a bot — strengths include captures meeting and video audio without a visible bot joining the call.
BetterDictation
TranscribeAudio
It depends on your workflow. BetterDictation is strong for dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps, while TranscribeAudio is strong for generating live captions and transcripts for zoom and google meet calls without a bot. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades and TranscribeAudio 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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