StenoAI and Tana are both AI meeting assistants for recording, transcription, and summaries, compared here on pricing, features, and workflow fit. StenoAI: Open-source desktop app that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings entirely on-device with no bots, subscriptions, or cloud processing. Tana: AI workspace with a bot-less meeting notetaker that transcribes and summarizes meetings directly into a connected knowledge base. 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 StenoAI when capturing and summarizing confidential meetings without sending audio to the cloud matters most, and Tana when transcribing and summarizing meetings without a bot in the call matters most. Both record across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams; trial each on real meetings before committing.
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 recordingLocal LLM summaries through Ollama, with remote Ollama server supportMarkdown export of transcripts and summaries
StenoAI is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Tana is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
On-device transcription with Parakeet TDT v3 (Apple Silicon) or Whisper models
Bot-less meeting capture using computer system audio
Standout feature
System audio and microphone capture via native Core Audio Tap (no bots)
Transcription and AI summaries for online and in-person meetings
Team usage
Real-time on-screen speaker labels distinguishing you from others
Action items pushed directly to task boards in the workspace
Integrations
Local LLM summaries through Ollama, with remote Ollama server support
Links meeting notes to relevant people and projects
Languages & capture
25 European languages live, up to 99 languages via Whisper after recording
Automatic meeting detection on Mac
Best-fit workflow
Markdown export of transcripts and summaries
60+ language support with automatic detection
Best for
StenoAI
Choose StenoAI if you need capturing and summarizing confidential meetings without sending audio to the cloud — strengths include fully local, bot-free capture with no cloud processing or subscriptions for core use.
Tana
Choose Tana if you need transcribing and summarizing meetings without a bot in the call — strengths include captures meetings without adding a bot to the call.
Pros & cons
StenoAI
+ Fully local, bot-free capture with no cloud processing or subscriptions for core use
+ MIT-licensed and open source, with active 2026 releases
- Primary support is macOS on Apple Silicon; Windows build is alpha and Intel Mac support ended at v0.3.8
Tana
+ Captures meetings without adding a bot to the call
+ Meeting notes flow into a connected, structured knowledge base
- Requires the Tana desktop app and adopting its outliner workflow
FAQ
Is StenoAI or Tana better for AI meeting notes?
It depends on your workflow. StenoAI is strong for capturing and summarizing confidential meetings without sending audio to the cloud, while Tana is strong for transcribing and summarizing meetings without a bot in the call. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do StenoAI and Tana compare on price?
StenoAI is a free tier with paid upgrades and Tana 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 StenoAI and Tana?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.