Comparison
Echosy vs built-in macOS dictation
Apple ships solid free tools — dictation, Voice Memos transcription, and Live Captions — all on-device on Apple Silicon. They're great until you need a saved meeting transcript, file transcription, summaries, or model choice. That's the gap Echosy fills.
Free download · macOS 14+ · Apple Silicon · Pro is a one-time $49.80
What macOS already gives you (use it!)
If you occasionally dictate a short message, built-in dictation is free and decent. Voice Memos can transcribe its own recordings on Apple Silicon, and Live Captions shows real-time captions for system audio in several languages, including Mandarin and Cantonese. For light, occasional use, you may not need anything else.
Where the built-in tools stop
The catch: these are three separate features that don't add up to a transcription workflow. Live Captions can't be saved or exported — the text vanishes. Voice Memos only transcribes its own mic recordings in a limited set of languages, not your meeting's system audio and not arbitrary files. There's no general audio/video file transcription, no timestamps, no summaries, no export to SRT or DOCX, and no way to pick a stronger model when accuracy matters.
| Feature | Echosy | macOS built-in |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier + $49.80 Pro (one-time) | Free with macOS |
| On-device / offline | Yes (Apple Silicon) | |
| System-wide dictation | Yes — choice of 10 models | Yes — one fixed system model |
| Saved transcript of system audio (meetings) | Yes — live, timestamped, exportable | No — Live Captions can't be saved |
| Transcribe audio/video files | Pro — 25+ formats | No general file transcription |
| Timestamps & searchable history | ||
| AI summaries & transcript chat | Built-in (cloud key or local Ollama) | Limited (Apple Intelligence in specific apps) |
| Custom vocabulary | Pro | |
| Export (SRT, VTT, DOCX, PDF…) | Yes | |
| Cantonese support | Yes — recognition + saved transcripts | Dictation & Live Captions only (not saved) |
| Model choice (speed vs accuracy) | 10 models, 75 MB–3 GB |
When to upgrade to a dedicated app
The moment you need a record of what was said — a client call you can search next week, a lecture turned into study notes, an interview exported as a document, subtitles for a video — the built-in tools can't do it. Echosy keeps Apple's on-device privacy model but adds the workflow: capture system audio + mic, live timestamped transcripts, AI summaries, Ask AI, file transcription, and proper exports. The free tier (15-minute recordings, unlimited dictation) is enough to feel the difference.
Frequently asked questions
Isn't Apple's dictation good enough?+
For short messages, often yes. For long-form recording it isn't designed to help: there's no saved transcript of meetings or system audio, no timestamps, no file transcription, and no exports. Echosy covers those while staying fully on-device.
Can macOS transcribe my meetings?+
Not into a saved transcript. Live Captions can display real-time captions for system audio, but the text cannot be saved or exported. Echosy records system audio + mic and produces a permanent, timestamped, exportable transcript.
Both run on-device — what's actually different?+
The workflow on top. Echosy adds saved sessions with history, AI summaries and chat, custom vocabulary, 10 selectable models including Qwen3-ASR for Chinese dialects, file transcription, and SRT/VTT/DOCX/PDF export.
Is Echosy free to try?+
Yes. The free tier includes unlimited dictation and 15-minute recordings with live transcription. Pro is a one-time $49.80 — no subscription.
Try Echosy on your Mac
Free to download. Your audio never leaves your Mac — no account, no upload, no subscription.
Free download · macOS 14+ · Apple Silicon · Pro is a one-time $49.80
Comparison based on publicly available information about Apple (macOS) as of June 2026. Features and pricing may change — always confirm details on the official Apple (macOS) website. Apple (macOS) is a trademark of its respective owner; Echosy is not affiliated with it.