Simon Says and Whisper Notes are both AI meeting assistants for recording, transcription, and summaries, compared here on pricing, features, and workflow fit. Simon Says: AI transcription, captioning, and translation built for professional video and audio workflows. Whisper Notes: Offline, on-device speech-to-text app for Mac and iPhone that records and transcribes meetings locally using Whisper, with auto meeting detection and summaries on Mac. They overlap on ai-meeting-assistants, ai-transcription, so the right pick depends on team size, budget, and which meeting workflows you automate.
For ai-meeting-assistants, ai-transcription workflows, shortlist Simon Says when transcribing and captioning footage for video editing projects matters most, and Whisper Notes when recording and transcribing confidential meetings without cloud uploads matters most. Both record across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams; trial each on real meetings before committing.
AI transcription, captioning, and translation built for professional video and audio workflows.
AI transcription with speaker identificationIntegrations with Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and AvidSubtitle and caption generation with visual editing
Offline, on-device speech-to-text app for Mac and iPhone that records and transcribes meetings locally using Whisper, with auto meeting detection and summaries on Mac.
100% offline, on-device transcription with Whisper-based modelsAuto-generated summaries and titles for recordings on MacAutomatic meeting detection for Teams, Google Meet, and Zoom on Mac
Simon Says is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Whisper Notes is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
100% offline, on-device transcription with Whisper-based models
Standout feature
Subtitle and caption generation with visual editing
Automatic meeting detection for Teams, Google Meet, and Zoom on Mac
Team usage
Translation across many languages
Auto-generated summaries and titles for recordings on Mac
Integrations
Integrations with Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Avid
On-device AI chat with longer transcripts
Languages & capture
Support for professional audio and video formats
Import of MP3, M4A, and WAV audio files for transcription
Best-fit workflow
AI transcription with speaker identification
System-wide dictation via the function key on Mac
Best for
Simon Says
Choose Simon Says if you need transcribing and captioning footage for video editing projects — strengths include integrates directly with professional video editing software.
Whisper Notes
Choose Whisper Notes if you need recording and transcribing confidential meetings without cloud uploads — strengths include audio and transcripts never leave the device.
Pros & cons
Simon Says
+ Integrates directly with professional video editing software
+ Strong multilingual transcription and translation coverage
- Built for video production rather than meeting note-taking
Whisper Notes
+ Audio and transcripts never leave the device
+ Works without an internet connection once installed
- Mac version requires Apple Silicon (M-series) hardware
FAQ
Is Simon Says or Whisper Notes better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. Simon Says is strong for transcribing and captioning footage for video editing projects, while Whisper Notes is strong for recording and transcribing confidential meetings without cloud uploads. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do Simon Says and Whisper Notes compare on price?
Simon Says is a free tier with paid upgrades and Whisper Notes 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 Simon Says and Whisper Notes?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.