Comparison

OffNote vs Shimau

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

OffNote

Record voicenotes and transcribe speech to text entirely offline on your device. This app prioritizes privacy by keeping all audio and transcripts local, never uploading or analyzing your data. It supports multiple languages and importing existing audio/video files for transcription.

Highlights
  • 100% offline and private
  • Voice to text transcription on device
  • Import audio and video files
  • Multilingual speech-to-text (25+ languages)
  • Long recordings supported
  • No sign-ups or subscriptions
Features
Read full description

OffNote is the most secure, offline voice-to-text app for iPhone. Record voicenotes, transcribe speech to text, and keep everything stored only on your device — never uploaded, never analyzed, never shared. If you’re looking for an alternative to cloud-based tools like speech-to-text AI notes, lecture recorders, or online transcription apps, OffNote is built for privacy first. Perfect for ideas, journaling, ai meeting notes, interviews, lecture recorder, and sensitive notes. Works anywhere — even on flights or with no signal. Why OffNote Is Different 100% Offline & Private Your audio and transcripts never leave your iPhone No servers, no analytics, no tracking Works completely offline — remote areas, airplane mode, anywhere Voice Notes → Text (On Device) Record clear voice memos optimized for transcription Convert voice to text free, without uploading audio Long recordings supported — record for minutes or hours Import Audio & Video Files Transcribe existing files offline: MP3, M4A, WAV MP4, MOV Multilingual Speech-to-Text Accurate transcription in 25+ languages Ideal for international record meetings, study notes, and travel Free to Download and Use No sign-ups. No subscriptions. Common Questions Can I use OffNote without an internet connection? Yes. OffNote works completely offline. Your audio never leaves your device, so it works on flights, in remote areas, and without a data connection. Is there a maximum length for recordings? No. You can record for as long as you want. Longer recordings simply take more time to transcribe on your device. When does transcription happen—during recording or after? Transcription begins after you finish recording. You’ll see the text appear as it’s being generated. Where are my recordings and transcripts kept? Everything is stored locally on your device. We don’t have access to your data. What happens to my data if I delete the app? All recordings and transcripts are deleted. Since OffNote doesn’t use cloud storage, there are no backups—be sure to export anything important. Why doesn’t OffNote generate AI summaries? To protect your privacy. OffNote doesn’t send data to external AI services. You’re free to copy your transcripts and use any AI tool you trust. Can I transcribe audio or video files I already have? Yes. You can import existing audio or video files and transcribe them completely offline. What file formats are supported for import? MP3, M4A, WAV, MP4, and MOV files are supported. Does OffNote work while traveling or in airplane mode? Yes. OffNote is fully functional in airplane mode and while traveling.

About

Shimau

Features
Read full description

Things to keep, things to do — one home for your everyday. Shimau is one place for the scattered stuff of daily life: notes, to-dos, links, and photos. Videos from social media, half-read articles, screenshots, passing thoughts — just toss them in. No folders. No tagging. No filing. ◆ Zero-effort saving Pick "Shimau" in the share menu — you don't even need to open the app. For quick thoughts, tap the center "+". Shimau tells links from notes automatically as you type. ◆ AI understands what you saved Links and screenshots get automatic summaries and tags. Screenshots become searchable through on-device text recognition. Notes you write yourself are never sent to AI. ◆ Find things the way you remember them "That ramen video from last week" — search in your own words and it shows up. ◆ To-dos live on sticky notes Stick a note on a box, peel it off when it's done. The small satisfaction of an empty box keeps you going. Checklist notes open in a focused to-do mode. ◆ A one-line daily journal Once a day, log your mood and a single line — and look back with a little bear at your side. History, calendar, and stats grow the longer you keep going. ◆ Make it your own Choose a theme — Cozy or Lovely Pink, plus Calm Blue and Mono with Pro — and dress up box covers with theme art, photos, or colors and emoji. ◆ Only deadlines, gently When a saved booking or coupon has a date, Shimau offers a reminder. Choose how it speaks up: quiet, standard, or strong. No other notifications, ever. ◆ On iPhone and on iPad On iPad the screen splits in two, so you can see the list and what's in it at once. It also works alongside other apps in Split View and Slide Over. ◆ You can take it with you Back up everything in one file, or export to Markdown or JSON. It's free. Being able to leave without losing anything is part of what makes a place worth putting things in. ◆ Private by design What you save stays on your device. Nothing is stored on our servers or used to train AI. If you turn on iCloud sync, it is kept in your own iCloud. Things to keep, things to do, and how today felt — all in one place you'll always find again. That's Shimau. ―――――― Shimau Pro (auto-renewable subscription) Includes iCloud sync and backup, Face ID lock, and extra themes. ・$1.99 per month, renewing monthly ・$14.99 per year, renewing yearly Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. You can cancel in Settings → your Apple ID → Subscriptions. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://shimau.io/en/privacy/

Screenshots

OffNote4 screens
Shimau4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Shimau at Free against OffNote's $2.99. Shimau also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Shimau is free to download; OffNote costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OffNote ships an update weekly, Shimau every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
OffNote versus Shimau: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOffNoteShimau
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB48 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperShraddha SojitraTECH MOON, K.K.

In-app purchases

None

OffNote

No in-app purchases

None

Shimau

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is OffNote free?
OffNote costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shimau free?
Shimau is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do OffNote or Shimau have ads?
Neither OffNote nor Shimau shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OffNote or Shimau?
OffNote ships an update weekly, and Shimau every 4 days. Most recently, OffNote was updated on October 30, 2026 and Shimau on October 25, 2026.

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