Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown: An iOS/iPadOS/Mac app that records voice and transcribes it on-device into editable Markdown notes saved as plain-text files in iCloud or an Obsidian vault. StenoAI: Open-source desktop app that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings entirely on-device with no bots, subscriptions, or cloud processing. The right pick comes down to team size, budget, and the workflows you want to automate.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown when capturing and transcribing meeting notes hands-free into a markdown file matters most, and StenoAI when generating diarized live transcripts during zoom, teams, or meet calls on a mac matters most. Try them side by side on real calls before deciding — needs vary by team.
An iOS/iPadOS/Mac app that records voice and transcribes it on-device into editable Markdown notes saved as plain-text files in iCloud or an Obsidian vault.
Open-source desktop app that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings entirely on-device with no bots, subscriptions, or cloud processing.
Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown is a voice-first note-taking app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that captures spoken thoughts and transcribes them into editable text. Transcription runs on-device using Apple's speech engine, so it works offline and audio never leaves the device. Each note is stored as a standard plain-text or Markdown (.md) file synced through iCloud, which lets it work with Obsidian, iA Writer, and other text editors rather than locking notes inside a proprietary cloud. The app supports background recording, silence detection, and Siri shortcuts for hands-free capture, and it can transcribe Apple Voice Memos or other local audio and video files. An optional paid AI tier adds cleanup, summaries, and action-item extraction, plus template-based rewriting. Core recording, transcription, editing, iCloud sync, Siri, and offline mode are free. It is aimed at journalers, Obsidian users, and people capturing meeting notes, ideas, or quick thoughts when speaking is faster than typing. Developed by Saravanan Pitchaimani; listed in the App Store Productivity category.
Best suited for
StenoAI (Steno) is an open-source desktop application that records meetings, transcribes them in real time, and generates AI-powered summaries while keeping all data local on the user's device. It positions itself as a privacy-first meeting notes tool with no cloud processing, no subscriptions, and no bots joining calls, and it is distributed under the MIT license with an actively maintained release history (v0.5.4 in June 2026). On Apple Silicon it can use the Parakeet TDT v3 model for live transcription, and it also supports Whisper models, capturing both system audio and microphone input via a native Core Audio Tap on recent macOS versions so it works across platforms like Zoom, Teams, Meet, Discord, and phone calls without OAuth integrations. During recording it shows live speaker labels distinguishing the user from others, and it supports 25 European languages for live transcription with up to 99 languages available via Whisper after recording. Summaries are produced with local LLMs through Ollama (for example Llama 3.2, Gemma, or Qwen), with optional remote Ollama server support to run larger models on a separate machine, and both transcripts and summaries can be exported as editable Markdown. A Windows build is in alpha alongside the primary macOS app. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); StenoAI is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown | StenoAI |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | On-device voice transcription that works offline (audio stays on the device) | On-device transcription with Parakeet TDT v3 (Apple Silicon) or Whisper models |
| Standout feature | Notes saved as plain-text/Markdown files synced via iCloud | System audio and microphone capture via native Core Audio Tap (no bots) |
| Team usage | Works with Obsidian, iA Writer, and other text editors | Real-time on-screen speaker labels distinguishing you from others |
| Integrations | Background recording, silence detection, and Siri shortcuts | Local LLM summaries through Ollama, with remote Ollama server support |
| Languages & capture | Can transcribe Apple Voice Memos and other local audio/video files | 25 European languages live, up to 99 languages via Whisper after recording |
| Best-fit workflow | Optional AI cleanup, summaries, and action-item extraction | Markdown export of transcripts and summaries |
Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown
Choose Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown if you need capturing and transcribing meeting notes hands-free into a markdown file — strengths include privacy-focused: transcription happens on-device and notes are stored as files you own.
StenoAI
Choose StenoAI if you need capturing and summarizing confidential meetings without sending audio to the cloud — strengths include fully local, bot-free capture with no cloud processing or subscriptions for core use.
Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown
StenoAI
It depends on your workflow. Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown is strong for capturing and transcribing meeting notes hands-free into a markdown file, while StenoAI is strong for capturing and summarizing confidential meetings without sending audio to the cloud. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Brain Dump: Voice to Markdown is a free tier with paid upgrades and StenoAI 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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