HearingScribeOn-device or cloud transcription?
Cloud services upload your audio and transcribe it on their servers. On-device apps like HearingScribe do the work on your Mac. Both can be good; here's how they differ, so you can pick what fits your recordings.
Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later) · macOS 13 or later · Free for recordings up to 30 minutesChoose on-device when
Recordings are confidential (clients, patients, sources, employees), you don't want a subscription, or you work offline.
Choose cloud when
You need transcripts on a phone or Windows PC, live captions shared with a team, or a certified human transcript.
What stays the same
Recording-consent rules apply either way. Automated transcripts from any tool can contain mistakes and need checking.
| HearingScribe (on your Mac) | Typical cloud service | |
|---|---|---|
| Where your audio goes | Stays on your Mac | Uploaded to the provider's servers |
| Account needed | No | Yes |
| Works offline | Yes | No |
| Price | Free, or $29 once for Pro | Usually a monthly or yearly subscription per person |
| Length of one recording | Unlimited with Pro | Often capped per recording on cheaper plans |
| Joins your calls | No bot; records on your Mac | Some services send a bot into the meeting |
| Speed | Depends on your Mac (Apple silicon) | Depends on the queue and your upload speed |
| Phone and Windows | No: Mac with Apple silicon only | Often yes, in a browser |
A general comparison; individual services differ, so check their current plans.
Confidential recordings stay confidential.
HearingScribe has no servers to send your audio to. Recording, transcription, speaker detection and AI summaries all happen on your Mac, even with Wi-Fi off.
- No uploads, ever
- No account or sign-in
- Works offline (Pro activates once online)
- You decide what's kept and deleted
Questions
Is on-device transcription as accurate as the cloud?
Modern open speech models running on Apple silicon are close to cloud services on clear audio. Noisy rooms and crosstalk are hard for every tool.
Does HearingScribe use the internet at all?
Only to activate Pro (once per Mac), to check for updates if you allow it, and to open links. Recordings and transcripts never leave your Mac.
Can I get a certified transcript?
Not from HearingScribe. Where an official or certified transcript is required, use a certified transcriber.
More ways to use HearingScribe