Comparison

TranscribeApp vs Cipher

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

Head to head
About

TranscribeApp

Features
Read full description

Import recordings, meetings, lectures, podcasts, interviews, or voice notes and instantly get a transcript and an AI-powered summary. Designed for speed, privacy, and simplicity, Transcribe supports the most common audio and video formats. KEY FEATURES • Transcribe audio and video files to text • Supported formats: MP3, MP4, M4A, WAV • Transcription runs on device • Automatic summaries of transcripts • Works on iPhone, iPad, and macOS • Siri / Shortcuts support for fast transcription • Export or copy transcripts anywhere • Clean, distraction-free interface PERFECT FOR • Meetings and interviews • Students and lectures • Journalists and researchers • Content creators and podcasters • Voice notes and personal recordings

About

Cipher

Features
Read full description

Cipher turns your voice into organized notes — and now into reminders and calendar events too. 100% free. 100% on-device. Speak freely, AI does the rest. No account. No cloud. No subscription. Open the app and talk. WHAT IT DOES Tap record and speak. Cipher transcribes you in real time, then AI structures everything automatically: • A clean title and short summary • A project tag (Personal, Work, Health, Finance, or your own) • Searchable keywords NEW: AI THAT ACTUALLY DOES THINGS Cipher's AI doesn't just read your notes — it acts on them. • "Remind me to call Mom on Friday" → real reminder, on your iPhone • "Schedule a call with Sarah next Tuesday at 3pm" → calendar event, created • "Find me a free hour this week" → AI checks your calendar and suggests slots • Todos with deadlines can become reminders automatically Every action asks for your confirmation first. Nothing happens behind your back. ASK FLOW — CHAT WITH YOUR NOTES A built-in AI chat that already knows what you've recorded. • Ask anything about your past notes — "what did I say about Q3?" • Summarize a day, a week, or a project in one tap • Brainstorm with an AI that builds on your own ideas PRIVATE BY DESIGN • 100% on-device AI — works offline, on a plane, anywhere • No login, no sign-up, no tracking, no analytics • Your voice and notes never leave your phone • Stored in your iPhone's secure storage FREE FOREVER No subscription. No paywall. No in-app purchases. Use every feature, forever, without paying. CHOOSE YOUR AI Pick from a wide range of free open-source AI models that run entirely on your device — from lightweight options that work on any iPhone to larger, higher-quality models for newer devices. Cipher recommends the right one for your phone. Prefer cloud AI? Bring your own key from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Groq, DeepSeek, or OpenRouter. Your key, direct to the provider — no middleman, no markup. SMART TODO EXTRACTION AI catches action items from natural speech — "I need to," "remember to," "should," "have to" — and pulls out deadlines automatically. View every todo across every note in one place. PROJECT ORGANIZATION Notes auto-sort into projects. Create your own. See note counts and todo progress at a glance. WHO IT'S FOR • Students capturing lecture thoughts • Founders dumping ideas between meetings • Writers thinking through drafts out loud • Anyone whose best ideas show up while walking, driving, or in the shower Cipher is for people who think out loud. Capture the thought — let AI do the organizing, and now, the scheduling too.

Screenshots

TranscribeApp4 screens
Cipher4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Cipher at 16.0 against TranscribeApp's 26.2. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 5 level
TranscribeApp versus Cipher: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTranscribeAppCipher
PriceFreeFree
Update frequency—Every 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.216.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThomas KauschAgrima Pandey

In-app purchases

None

TranscribeApp

No in-app purchases

None

Cipher

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TranscribeApp free?
TranscribeApp is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cipher free?
Cipher is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do TranscribeApp or Cipher have ads?
Neither TranscribeApp nor Cipher shows ads.

Other comparisons