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Kekoso vs SoundWise.ai
On-device dictation for macOS only, not a web service with unlimited free use
Short answer: Pick Kekoso if you want local, no-cloud dictation and transcription; pick SoundWise.ai if you want unlimited free browser transcription. Kekoso is paid, with a free trial; SoundWise.ai has a free plan.
KekosoOn-device dictation and transcription for your Mac
SoundWise.aiTransform Speech to Text, Instantly and FreelyWhich to pick
Pick Kekoso if you want…
- Local, no-cloud dictation and transcription
- Mac-only offline transcription
Pick SoundWise.ai if you want…
- Unlimited free browser transcription
- A free plan to start with
Side by side
- What it is
- Kekoso:Kekoso provides on-device dictation, audio/video transcription and call recording for macOS, running locally on the Neural Engine.
- SoundWise.ai:SoundWise.ai is a free, browser-based tool that transcribes unlimited audio and video files to text.
- Best for
- Kekoso:Local, no-cloud dictation and transcription
- SoundWise.ai:Unlimited free browser transcription
- Who it’s for
- Kekoso:Mac users who need private, offline speech-to-text for apps, files, calls and AI agents.
- SoundWise.ai:Students, creators, professionals needing quick transcription without installing software.
- Pricing
- Kekoso:Paid
- SoundWise.ai:Freemium
- Free plan or trial
- Kekoso:Free trial
- SoundWise.ai:Free plan (Free) · Free trial
- Plans
- Kekoso:—
- SoundWise.ai:Free Free · Pro US$10 per month (billed annually)
- Works with
- Kekoso:Claude Code, Claude Desktop
- SoundWise.ai:—
Kekoso features
- Hotkey dictation. Press a shortcut to dictate into any active app; text appears where the cursor is.
- File & YouTube transcription. Drop audio/video files or paste YouTube links to get local transcripts with timestamps.
- Call recording with speaker separation. Record calls locally, split your microphone and the other side, and export labeled transcripts.
- Local MCP transcription server. Runs a socket server so Claude, Codex and other agents can transcribe without API keys.
- Custom vocabulary. Add or import word lists to enforce your terminology across all transcriptions.
- Multiple model families. Choose between Parakeet, Whisper and SenseVoice models for speed, language coverage or CJK support.
SoundWise.ai features
- Unlimited Free Transcription. Convert unlimited audio/video files to text at no cost.
- Wide Format Support. Handles MP3, WAV, MP4, MOV, MKV, FLAC, AAC and more.
- Browser-Based Access. No installation required; works directly in the web browser.
- Drag-and-Drop Interface. Simple UI lets users drop files to start transcription.
- Fast Processing (Local). Transcribes about 1 hour of audio in ~10 minutes on a typical PC.
- Pro Cloud Transcription. Cloud models transcribe 1 hour of audio in ~30 seconds (10x faster).
Kekoso vs SoundWise.ai FAQ
What is the difference between Kekoso and SoundWise.ai?+
Kekoso: On-device dictation for macOS only, not a web service with unlimited free use.
Should I use Kekoso or SoundWise.ai?+
Pick Kekoso if you want local, no-cloud dictation and transcription or mac-only offline transcription. Pick SoundWise.ai if you want unlimited free browser transcription or a free plan to start with.
Is Kekoso or SoundWise.ai free?+
Kekoso is paid, with a free trial. SoundWise.ai has a free plan and paid plans.
On DevHunt
Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.