Cluely: Cluely is a real-time AI meeting assistant that runs as a desktop overlay to provide live transcription, automatic meeting notes, and on-demand AI answers during calls. 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 Cluely when getting live transcripts and notes of sales, client, or team calls matters most, and MacWhisper when journalists and researchers transcribing recorded interviews matters most. Run both through a week of actual calls to see which suits your workflow.
Cluely is a real-time AI meeting assistant that runs as a desktop overlay to provide live transcription, automatic meeting notes, and on-demand AI answers during calls.
Native macOS transcription app from Amsterdam-based Goodsnooze that records and transcribes meetings locally using Whisper, with no cloud upload.
Cluely is a real-time AI meeting assistant that runs as a desktop overlay (plus an iOS app) rather than joining calls as a visible bot. During a meeting it provides live transcription, automatically generates meeting notes and summaries, and surfaces on-demand AI answers when you press Cmd/Ctrl+Enter (for example, suggesting what to say or follow-up questions). It works across common conferencing tools including Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex, and Slack, and supports more than 12 languages such as English, Chinese, and Spanish. Cluely lets users add custom prompting and keybinds and upload reference files. A free Starter plan offers limited AI responses, limited notetaking, and up to three custom files. A notable positioning point is that the app is marketed as "undetectable" and designed to stay invisible to screen sharing and not appear in screen shares, a capability fully unlocked on its top tier.
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
Cluely is from $0/mo (freemium); MacWhisper is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Cluely | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | Live transcription | On-device transcription using Whisper and NVIDIA Parakeet |
| Standout feature | Real-time meeting notes | Records system audio from Zoom, Teams, Webex, and other apps |
| Team usage | On-demand AI answers | Supports 100+ languages |
| Integrations | Multi-language support | Batch transcription and speaker grouping |
| Languages & capture | Custom prompting and keybinds | Real-time dictation |
| Best-fit workflow | Live transcription | Available on macOS and iOS |
Cluely
Choose Cluely if you need getting live transcripts and notes of sales, client, or team calls — strengths include works across major conferencing tools (zoom, google meet, microsoft teams, webex, slack).
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.
Cluely
MacWhisper
It depends on your workflow. Cluely is strong for getting live transcripts and notes of sales, client, or team calls, while MacWhisper is strong for mac users transcribing zoom or teams meetings privately on-device. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Cluely is from $0/mo and MacWhisper 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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