Vibe: Open-source, cross-platform desktop app that transcribes meeting and interview recordings offline using Whisper, keeping all data on your device. Whisperstream: Whisperstream is a privacy-focused Windows dictation app that turns speech into text entirely on-device, with no cloud upload. We compare them on cost, capture approach, and day-to-day fit so you can choose faster.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Vibe when transcribing recorded meetings or interviews privately on a laptop matters most, and Whisperstream when transcribing imported audio recordings privately on-device matters most. Run both through a week of actual calls to see which suits your workflow.
Open-source, cross-platform desktop app that transcribes meeting and interview recordings offline using Whisper, keeping all data on your device.
Whisperstream is a privacy-focused Windows dictation app that turns speech into text entirely on-device, with no cloud upload.
Vibe is a free, open-source transcription application created by the developer thewh1teagle and distributed under the MIT license. It lets users transcribe audio and video files entirely offline on their own machine using OpenAI's Whisper models, so recordings of meetings, interviews, lectures, and calls never have to leave the device. Vibe runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, with GPU acceleration available for NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel hardware, and it supports a very wide range of languages. It includes speaker diarization so different participants can be separated in the transcript, and it can export results in multiple formats including SRT, VTT, TXT, HTML, PDF, JSON, and DOCX. For automation and integration, Vibe also exposes a command-line interface and an HTTP API with Swagger documentation, making it usable inside larger pipelines. Built with the Tauri framework on top of whisper.cpp, it is actively maintained with frequent releases. Vibe is best suited to privacy-conscious individuals, developers, and teams who want a no-subscription, local-first way to turn recorded conversations into editable text. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Whisperstream is a downloadable Windows desktop application from Lanreal Technologies Inc. that converts speech to text using push-to-talk dictation. Transcription runs entirely locally on the user's PC via the NVIDIA Parakeet model, so audio is never uploaded to the cloud and no account is tied to the user's voice. It works across any application without add-ins or setup, inserting dictated text directly into tools such as Outlook, Gmail, Slack, VS Code, browsers, and Claude Code. Beyond live dictation, it can import and transcribe existing audio recordings, and it keeps a searchable transcript history with audio replay, encrypted on the device. Additional features include AI cleanup that tidies spoken input, a custom vocabulary for names, jargon, and acronyms, per-app custom AI prompts, support for 25 languages, global keyboard shortcuts, and full offline operation. It requires Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) with at least 8GB RAM. It targets professionals and privacy-conscious knowledge workers who want fast, local voice input rather than typing.
Best suited for
Vibe is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Whisperstream is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Vibe | Whisperstream |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | Offline transcription powered by OpenAI Whisper (whisper.cpp) | Local, on-device speech-to-text using the NVIDIA Parakeet model (no cloud upload) |
| Standout feature | Cross-platform: macOS, Windows, and Linux | Push-to-talk dictation that inserts text into any application |
| Team usage | Speaker diarization to separate participants | Audio file import for transcribing existing recordings |
| Integrations | Multiple export formats (SRT, VTT, TXT, HTML, PDF, JSON, DOCX) | Searchable, encrypted transcript history with audio replay |
| Languages & capture | Command-line interface and HTTP API for automation | AI cleanup plus per-app custom AI prompts and custom vocabulary |
| Best-fit workflow | GPU acceleration for NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel | 25-language support with full offline operation |
Vibe
Choose Vibe if you need transcribing recorded meetings or interviews privately on a laptop — strengths include free and open source under the mit license.
Whisperstream
Choose Whisperstream if you need dictating emails, messages, and documents faster than typing — strengths include fully local processing keeps audio private and works offline.
Vibe
Whisperstream
It depends on your workflow. Vibe is strong for transcribing recorded meetings or interviews privately on a laptop, while Whisperstream is strong for dictating emails, messages, and documents faster than typing. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Vibe is a free tier with paid upgrades and Whisperstream is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary.
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