Best note taker for in-person meetings and interviews
Pocket recorders and on-device apps for meetings in a room, interviews and phone calls, with the device price, what the free plan that comes with it covers, and where the audio goes.
Plaud
A $159 pocket recorder for rooms and phone calls. Starter, with 300 minutes a month, is free once you activate a device; Pro is $8.33 a month billed yearly. With Cloud Sync off, recordings stay on the device, and Plaud says it doesn't train on your data.
All Plaud facts- Cheapest paid option
- $8.33/month per seat, billed yearly
- Device price
- $159
- Free plan
- Yes300 minutes a month
Notta Memo
A $152.39 recorder that picks up rooms and, in call mode, a phone's vibrations. Binding it gives a free Hardware Plan of 600 minutes a month (the product page says 300), and it can transcribe two languages in one recording.
All Notta Memo facts- Cheapest paid option
- $8.17/month per seat, billed yearly
- Device price
- $152.39
- Free plan
- Yes600 minutes a month
HiDock
The P1 ($199) records calls through Bluetooth earphones and rooms with its microphones. Core transcription is unlimited and free with the device, up to 4 hours a recording; speaker identification uses paid minutes.
All HiDock facts- Cheapest paid option
- $16.58/month, billed yearly
- Device price
- $199
- Free plan
- YesUnlimited minutes
Whisper Notes
No device to buy: the iPhone app is $7.99 once and transcribes on the phone, and the maker says nothing leaves your device. The Mac download is $14 once, with a free tier of 5,000 words a week.
All Whisper Notes facts- Cheapest paid option
- $14 once
- Device price
- No device
- Free plan
- YesFree plan, with limits
Every app that could fit, checked
9 apps, grouped by how they listen. Picks are outlined.
| App | Cheapest paid option | Device price | Free plan | AI training on recordings | Transcribes on your device |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Only on your device | |||||
 Aiko | $24 once | No device | No free planNo free plan | Says it doesn't train on themSays it doesn't train on them | On your deviceOn your device |
 MacWhisper | €64 once | No device | Free plan, with limitsFree plan, with limits | Says it doesn't train on themSays it doesn't train on them | On device or in the cloudOn device or in the cloud |
 Superwhisper | $7.08/month per seat, billed yearly | No device | Unlimited minutesUnlimited minutes | Says it doesn't train on themSays it doesn't train on them | On device or in the cloudOn device or in the cloud |
| Whisper Notes | $14 once | No device | Free plan, with limitsFree plan, with limits | Says it doesn't train on themSays it doesn't train on them | On your deviceOn your device |
| A pocket recorder | |||||
| HiDock | $16.58/month, billed yearly | $199 | Unlimited minutesUnlimited minutes | Says it doesn't train on themSays it doesn't train on them | In the cloudIn the cloud |
| Notta Memo | $8.17/month per seat, billed yearly | $152.39 | 600 minutes a month600 minutes a month | Only if you opt inOnly if you opt in | In the cloudIn the cloud |
| Plaud | $8.33/month per seat, billed yearly | $159 | 300 minutes a month300 minutes a month | Says it doesn't train on themSays it doesn't train on them | In the cloudIn the cloud |
 soundcore Work | $8.33/month, billed yearly | $159 | 300 minutes a month300 minutes a month | Says it doesn't train on themSays it doesn't train on them | In the cloudIn the cloud |
 TicNote | $16.58/month, billed yearly | $159.99 | 300 minutes a month300 minutes a month | Says it doesn't train on themSays it doesn't train on them | In the cloudIn the cloud |
Worth knowing. A recorder's price is for the device; the transcription plan is separate. Check what the free plan that comes with it covers each month before you buy a paid one.
