Is Descript or StenoAI better for AI meeting notes?

It depends on your workflow. Descript is strong for editing podcasts and videos by editing the transcript, while StenoAI is strong for capturing and summarizing confidential meetings without sending audio to the cloud. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.

How do Descript and StenoAI compare on price?

Descript 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.

Can I use both Descript and StenoAI?

You can — some teams pair them when each covers a different part of the meeting workflow.

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Descript vs StenoAI

Descript: Video/podcast editor with transcription and meeting recording 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 tools

Final recommendation

Shortlist Descript when editing podcasts and videos by editing the transcript matters most, and StenoAI when generating diarized live transcripts during zoom, teams, or meet calls on a mac matters most. Run both through a week of actual calls to see which suits your workflow.

Descript

CustomAI Meeting Assistants

Video/podcast editor with transcription and meeting recording

Automatic transcription of imported or recorded audio and videoMultitrack audio and video editingOne-click caption and subtitle generation

Details Visit

StenoAI

CustomAI Meeting Assistants

Open-source desktop app that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings entirely on-device with no bots, subscriptions, or cloud processing.

25 European languages live, up to 99 languages via Whisper after recording

About Descript

Descript is an audio and video editing platform built around text-based editing, where the spoken content of a recording is automatically transcribed and the resulting transcript becomes the primary way to edit the media. When users import or record audio and video, Descript generates a transcript that they can read, search, and edit, with changes to the text reflected in the underlying recording. The platform also offers one-click caption and subtitle generation so the transcribed words can be displayed on screen and styled to match a project. In addition to transcription and captions, Descript provides features for podcast and video production, including multitrack editing, screen recording, and AI-assisted tools. Because editing the transcript edits the media, it is especially useful for podcasters, video creators, and teams who want to cut filler, rearrange segments, or repurpose content without working frame by frame. Descript is aimed at content creators, marketers, educators, and teams who want transcription, captions, and editing combined in a single workflow. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.

Best suited for

Editing podcasts and videos by editing the transcript
Generating captions and subtitles for published content
Producing searchable transcripts from recorded sessions

About StenoAI

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

Capturing and summarizing confidential meetings without sending audio to the cloud
Generating diarized live transcripts during Zoom, Teams, or Meet calls on a Mac
Producing Markdown meeting notes summarized by a locally hosted LLM

Feature	Descript	StenoAI
Core capability	Automatic transcription of imported or recorded audio and video	On-device transcription with Parakeet TDT v3 (Apple Silicon) or Whisper models
Standout feature	Text-based editing where editing the transcript edits the media	System audio and microphone capture via native Core Audio Tap (no bots)
Team usage	One-click caption and subtitle generation	Real-time on-screen speaker labels distinguishing you from others
Integrations	Multitrack audio and video editing	Local LLM summaries through Ollama, with remote Ollama server support
Languages & capture	Screen and audio recording built in	25 European languages live, up to 99 languages via Whisper after recording
Best-fit workflow	Automatic transcription of imported or recorded audio and video	Markdown export of transcripts and summaries

Descript vs StenoAI

About Descript

About StenoAI

Pricing comparison

Feature table

Best for

Pros & cons

FAQ

Is Descript or StenoAI better for AI meeting notes?

How do Descript and StenoAI compare on price?

Can I use both Descript and StenoAI?

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