Natively and Wave are both AI meeting assistants for recording, transcription, and summaries, compared here on pricing, features, and workflow fit. Natively: A free, open-source desktop AI meeting assistant offering real-time transcription, structured notes, and on-call answers with local processing and bring-your-own-key support. Wave: Cross-platform AI note taker that records and transcribes meetings, calls, and voice memos into summaries. They overlap on ai-meeting-assistants, so the right pick depends on team size, budget, and which meeting workflows you automate.
For ai-meeting-assistants workflows, shortlist Natively when capturing real-time transcripts and structured notes from calls without a visible bot matters most, and Wave when recording browser-based meetings without a bot joining matters most. Both record across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams; trial each on real meetings before committing.
A free, open-source desktop AI meeting assistant offering real-time transcription, structured notes, and on-call answers with local processing and bring-your-own-key support.
Bring-your-own-key support for Gemini, OpenAI, Claude, and GroqFully local/offline option through Ollama with local data storage by defaultOn-demand AI assist via keyboard shortcut during calls
Cross-platform AI note taker that records and transcribes meetings, calls, and voice memos into summaries.
Apps for iOS, Android, web, Mac, Windows, and ChromeBot-free tab audio capture plus combined tab and mic modeEncrypted cloud storage with no model training on user data
Natively is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Wave is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
Real-time transcription with a low-latency Rust-based audio pipeline
Records meetings, calls, lectures, and voice memos
Standout feature
Structured, searchable meeting notes with action items and decisions
Bot-free tab audio capture plus combined tab and mic mode
Team usage
On-demand AI assist via keyboard shortcut during calls
Speaker-labeled transcripts with summaries and action items
Integrations
Bring-your-own-key support for Gemini, OpenAI, Claude, and Groq
Apps for iOS, Android, web, Mac, Windows, and Chrome
Languages & capture
Fully local/offline option through Ollama with local data storage by default
Support for dozens of languages
Best-fit workflow
Works alongside Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams without a visible bot
Encrypted cloud storage with no model training on user data
Best for
Natively
Choose Natively if you need capturing real-time transcripts and structured notes from calls without a visible bot — strengths include free and open source with active development.
Wave
Choose Wave if you need recording browser-based meetings without a bot joining — strengths include bot-free capture across many platforms and devices.
Pros & cons
Natively
+ Free and open source with active development
+ Can run entirely offline and store data locally for privacy
- Cloud models require user-supplied API keys and incur external usage costs
Wave
+ Bot-free capture across many platforms and devices
+ Handles both online meetings and in-person voice memos
- Feature set may differ between mobile, web, and extension
FAQ
Is Natively or Wave better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. Natively is strong for capturing real-time transcripts and structured notes from calls without a visible bot, while Wave is strong for recording browser-based meetings without a bot joining. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do Natively and Wave compare on price?
Natively is a free tier with paid upgrades and Wave 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 Natively and Wave?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.