Bold: Bot-free AI notetaker by Bold App Studios that records meetings on-device, transcribes with speaker detection, and writes summaries with action items. MacWhisper: Native macOS transcription app from Amsterdam-based Goodsnooze that records and transcribes meetings locally using Whisper, with no cloud upload. We compare them on cost, capture approach, and day-to-day fit so you can choose faster.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Bold when capturing in-person meetings without sending a meeting bot matters most, and MacWhisper when journalists and researchers transcribing recorded interviews matters most. Test each on your own meetings; the right choice tends to become obvious quickly.
Bot-free AI notetaker by Bold App Studios that records meetings on-device, transcribes with speaker detection, and writes summaries with action items.
Native macOS transcription app from Amsterdam-based Goodsnooze that records and transcribes meetings locally using Whisper, with no cloud upload.
Bold (Bold: AI Meeting Note Taker) is an AI meeting assistant from Bold App Studios that records conversations directly on the user's device and then automatically transcribes and summarizes them rather than sending a bot into the call. It offers one-tap recording with real-time transcription, can capture audio in the background whether the screen is on or off, and supports uploading existing audio files for transcription. The app performs speaker detection and diarization across multiple participants, and its AI writes concise summaries that surface action items, decisions, and key insights. Notes are searchable and can be filtered by date, speaker, topic, or keyword, and recordings include replay with smart navigation. Bold supports shareable web links and integrations including Google Meet calendar connection, Notion, Slack, email, and PDF export, with customizable templates for organizing notes. The vendor states the app supports several languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Japanese, and offers end-to-end encryption and privacy controls. Bold is available across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro, with a free tier plus premium subscription options, and is actively maintained in 2025/2026. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
MacWhisper is a native macOS (and iOS) transcription app built by indie developer Jordi Bruin under his Amsterdam-based studio Goodsnooze. It uses OpenAI's Whisper models (and NVIDIA Parakeet) to turn audio and video into editable text directly on the user's device, so recordings never need to be sent to the cloud. Beyond transcribing existing files, MacWhisper can record and transcribe meetings from conferencing apps such as Zoom, Teams, Webex, Skype, Chime, and Discord, as well as system audio and microphone input, making it practical as a meeting transcription tool. It supports more than 100 languages and offers features like batch transcription, speaker grouping, search, and real-time dictation. Because all processing happens locally, it appeals to users with privacy and confidentiality requirements who prefer not to route sensitive conversations through third-party servers. The company is independently funded and has not been acquired. MacWhisper is distributed through its own website and the Mac App Store, with a free tier for basic offline transcription and paid options for advanced capabilities. It is best for Mac users who want a fast, private, on-device way to transcribe meetings and recordings. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Bold is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); MacWhisper is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Bold | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | One-tap on-device recording with real-time transcription | On-device transcription using Whisper and NVIDIA Parakeet |
| Standout feature | Speaker detection and diarization for multiple participants | Records system audio from Zoom, Teams, Webex, and other apps |
| Team usage | AI summaries highlighting action items and decisions | Supports 100+ languages |
| Integrations | Background recording with screen on or off, plus audio-file upload | Batch transcription and speaker grouping |
| Languages & capture | Searchable, filterable notes with shareable web links | Real-time dictation |
| Best-fit workflow | Integrations with Google Meet, Notion, Slack, email, and PDF export | Available on macOS and iOS |
Bold
Choose Bold if you need capturing in-person meetings without sending a meeting bot — strengths include bot-free, on-device capture for in-person and virtual meetings.
MacWhisper
Choose MacWhisper if you need mac users transcribing zoom or teams meetings privately on-device — strengths include all processing stays local, supporting privacy and confidentiality.
Bold
MacWhisper
It depends on your workflow. Bold is strong for capturing in-person meetings without sending a meeting bot, while MacWhisper is strong for mac users transcribing zoom or teams meetings privately on-device. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Bold is a free tier with paid upgrades and MacWhisper 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.
More head-to-head comparisons involving Bold and MacWhisper.
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