WhisperDirect vs HillNote

WhisperDirect is an audio transcription and summarization app built around the high accuracy of the Whisper API. In addition to the Whisper API using your own API key, it includes on-device features such as Apple Speech, Speaker Diarization (NVIDIA Nemotron 3), and OCR. For summaries and meeting minutes, choose from OpenAI / Gemini / OpenAI-compatible LLMs, using APIs only as much as you need. One-time purchase — no subscription. Pricing & Experience ・7-day free trial included ・On-device features (Apple Speech / Speaker Diarization / OCR) are free, no API key required ・Whisper API and LLM (Summary / Minutes) are billed by each provider on a usage basis 　(The app does not charge for API usage) Cost Estimates ・Whisper API: ~$0.006/min (1 hour ≈ $0.36) ・Segment re-transcription (gpt-transcribe): ~$0.0045/min ・On-device features incur no API fees ・Actual costs vary with audio length and settings ・OpenAI API pricing: https://openai.com/api/pricing ・Gemini / custom providers follow each service's pricing ・Locally-run custom providers (e.g. Ollama) incur no API fees Transcription Engines ・Whisper API (OpenAI): high accuracy with your own API key ・Apple Speech (On-device): no API key, iOS 26+ ・Switchable from settings Models for Summary & Minutes ・Choose from OpenAI / Gemini / Custom 　- OpenAI: GPT-6 Luna / GPT-5 nano / GPT-5 mini / GPT-4.1 nano / GPT-4.1 mini 　- Gemini: requires Google AI Studio API key (gemini-*-pro / flash / gemma) 　- Custom: OpenAI-compatible APIs (Ollama / LM Studio / self-hosted) ・Processing costs only a few cents even for several-thousand-character text Key Features ・Record with the mic button and transcribe on the spot ・Live Preview: real-time transcription while recording (on-device) ・Recording display mode switch (Waveform / Simple) ・Import audio files → transcribe (Share Sheet) ・Video import (audio extracted and compressed) ・Transcript auto-highlights with playback position ・Insert timeline markers at any interval (5-sec steps) ・Generate summaries from transcripts ・OCR from images (batch supported, no API fees) ・Generate meeting minutes (prompts editable) ・Re-transcribe misrecognized segments in the editor 　(Uses OpenAI gpt-transcribe; billed by usage) ・Re-transcribe specific items with Whisper API, even while using Apple Speech ・Speaker diarization (NVIDIA Nemotron 3, on-device) ・Export: Audio / Text / Summary / Minutes / VTT / SRT ・Auto-post to Slack ・Webhook integration (Discord, Slack, n8n, etc.) ・Google Drive auto-backup ・Estimated cost display ・Fine-grained settings (LLM model, timeline interval, prompts) Supported Formats Audio: mp3, m4a, aac, wav, flac, ogg, opus, wma, amr, mpga, webm, aiff, caf Video: mp4, mov, m4v, webm, mkv, avi, mpeg, mpg Notes ・Whisper API requires an OpenAI API key ・On-device features work without an API key ・Prices, specs, and models may change per provider

Hillnote is where you think. A local-first, markdown-native workspace that captures your work in AI-native formats - notes, plans, drafts, ideas, decisions. Built on plain markdown, stored on your device, paired with your desktop, and ready for the AI tools you already use. Built for builders, makers, writers, and small teams who think on the move and want their workspace to come with them. Write as you think, the way you think. A clean markdown editor designed for capture, not arrangement. A floating toolbar above the keyboard handles formatting; standard markdown shortcuts work out of the box. Quicknotes for everything in between. Tap + to capture an idea the moment it lands. Save and it's in your workspace; keep typing if you want to expand it. No friction between a thought and a file. Your thinking stays on your device. Every file lives locally as plain markdown. No rented database, no required account, no lock-in. Your work is yours from day one, and yours if you cancel. Free sync across iPhone, iPad, and desktop. The first 100MB syncs free -more than enough for years of notes. Capture on your phone, expand on your desktop, review anywhere. Talk to your knowledge base. Built-in chat reads your own files, edits them, creates new ones, and pulls context from your workspace. Upload images and have them read aloud. Auto mode picks the right model; switch manually when you want to. Supercharge your writing with Apple Intelligence. Native integration with Apple Intelligence writing tools - proofread, rewrite, reformat -via the AI button or text selection. Workspaces with all the context AI models need. Hillnote automatically generates context files (AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, document registries) so any AI tool you connect can navigate your workspace immediately - no setup, no plugins. Pairs with the agents you already work with. Claude, ChatGPT, Codex, Cursor, Cowork, Claude Code - connect via local or cloud MCP, or point them at the workspace folder directly. Plain markdown means no exports, no conversions. They read and edit the same files you do. Carry your tools, not just your notes. Build small HTML tools - pomodoro timers, day counters, focus checklists, anything else - that travel inside your workspace. Pin them as widgets. Your tools live next to the work they support. A different model. We separate what's a service from what's yours. You subscribe to the workspace and pay for cloud features (expanded sync, frontier AI, publishing, routines, BYO key) only when you need them. Free accounts include limited premium model usage. Your data stays on your device as plain markdown, always canonical, always portable. Start free. Sync free. Stay local. Add cloud when you outgrow it. Download Hillnote and bring your thinking with you.