StenoAI and Thoth 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. Thoth: Privacy-first macOS app that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings entirely on-device with no cloud or data leaving the Mac. 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 Thoth when professionals handling confidential or regulated information 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
Privacy-first macOS app that records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings entirely on-device with no cloud or data leaving the Mac.
100% local, on-device recording, transcription, and summarizationDual-channel capture of microphone and system audioExport to PDF, Word, Markdown, and timestamped JSON
StenoAI is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Thoth 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
100% local, on-device recording, transcription, and summarization
Standout feature
System audio and microphone capture via native Core Audio Tap (no bots)
Dual-channel capture of microphone and system audio
Team usage
Real-time on-screen speaker labels distinguishing you from others
On-device speaker detection with color-coded transcripts
Integrations
Local LLM summaries through Ollama, with remote Ollama server support
Whisper-based transcription supporting many languages
Languages & capture
25 European languages live, up to 99 languages via Whisper after recording
On-device anonymization to redact sensitive content
Best-fit workflow
Markdown export of transcripts and summaries
Export to PDF, Word, Markdown, and timestamped JSON
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.
Thoth
Choose Thoth if you need professionals handling confidential or regulated information — strengths include fully local processing with no cloud requirement and no user database.
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
Thoth
+ Fully local processing with no cloud requirement and no user database
+ Captures both sides of online meetings and works offline
- Requires a Mac with Apple Silicon and sufficient unified memory
FAQ
Is StenoAI or Thoth 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 Thoth is strong for professionals handling confidential or regulated information. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
How do StenoAI and Thoth compare on price?
StenoAI is a free tier with paid upgrades and Thoth 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 Thoth?
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary and the budget is justified.