Cleft Notes: AI voice-note app that turns spoken thoughts and meeting audio into structured, organized notes. MacWhisper: Native macOS transcription app from Amsterdam-based Goodsnooze that records and transcribes meetings locally using Whisper, with no cloud upload. Below, they line up on price, capture method, and how each fits a real meeting stack.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Cleft Notes when capturing post-meeting recaps and action items by voice matters most, and MacWhisper when journalists and researchers transcribing recorded interviews matters most. Trial each on a few real meetings before you commit — the better fit usually shows fast.
AI voice-note app that turns spoken thoughts and meeting audio into structured, organized notes.
Native macOS transcription app from Amsterdam-based Goodsnooze that records and transcribes meetings locally using Whisper, with no cloud upload.
Cleft Notes is an AI-powered voice-note app that captures spoken thoughts, meeting recaps, and other audio and converts them into structured, readable notes. Users record by speaking, and the app transcribes the audio and reshapes it into organized output, offering formats such as bulleted and headed notes, flowing paragraphs without bullets, or a cleaned-up verbatim transcript. It performs transcription on-device, which allows it to work offline and supports a privacy-focused approach, with encrypted cloud sync and local file storage that users control. Cleft integrates with a range of productivity tools, including Notion, Apple Notes, Obsidian, Todoist, and automation via Zapier, so notes can flow into existing workflows. The app is available across the Apple ecosystem, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and CarPlay, making it convenient to capture thoughts hands-free. While it is broadly a voice-to-notes tool, it is commonly used to capture meeting summaries and post-meeting recaps, and it is aimed at professionals and individuals who think out loud and want spoken input turned into well-formatted notes rather than raw recordings. 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
Cleft Notes 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 | Cleft Notes | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | On-device transcription that works offline | On-device transcription using Whisper and NVIDIA Parakeet |
| Standout feature | Multiple output formats: organized, no-bullets, or verbatim | Records system audio from Zoom, Teams, Webex, and other apps |
| Team usage | Encrypted cloud sync with user-controlled local storage | Supports 100+ languages |
| Integrations | Integrations with Notion, Apple Notes, Obsidian, Todoist, and Zapier | Batch transcription and speaker grouping |
| Languages & capture | Available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and CarPlay | Real-time dictation |
| Best-fit workflow | Hands-free voice capture of thoughts and meeting recaps | Available on macOS and iOS |
Cleft Notes
Choose Cleft Notes if you need capturing post-meeting recaps and action items by voice — strengths include on-device transcription enables offline use and privacy.
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.
Cleft Notes
MacWhisper
It depends on your workflow. Cleft Notes is strong for capturing post-meeting recaps and action items by voice, while MacWhisper is strong for mac users transcribing zoom or teams meetings privately on-device. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Cleft Notes 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.
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