Meeting transcripts and summaries — your keys, your data, no middleman.
Local-first desktop app for Windows and macOS. Bring your own API keys. No subscription.
Not sure which Mac? Apple Silicon = M1–M4; Intel = pre-2021. Check via the Apple menu → About This Mac.
Requires two API keys (STT + LLM). Setup takes ~5 minutes. Often free for light use, ~$15–20/month if you record 40 hrs/month.
macOS macOS first launch says “MeetScribe is damaged”? It isn't — here's the one-time fix.
The macOS app isn't notarized by Apple yet, so Gatekeeper blocks it on first open. The app is fine — macOS just won't vouch for an app without a Developer ID certificate. Clear the quarantine flag once and it opens normally from then on.
Terminal — fastest
Drag MeetScribe.app to /Applications, then run:
xattr -cr /Applications/MeetScribe.appRemoves the quarantine flag for good.
No Terminal — System Settings
- Drag MeetScribe.app to /Applications, double-click it, click OK at the error.
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security.
- Scroll down, click Open Anyway, then confirm. macOS remembers the choice.
MeetScribe
Recent Meetings
TOTAL: 21 MEETINGSThe short version.
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01
Captures both sides of your meeting. System audio (Zoom / Meet / Teams output) and your microphone, mixed locally. No bot joins the call.
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02
Streams to a transcription provider you choose. Gladia or AssemblyAI — your key, your bill, your data.
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03
Summarizes with the LLM you choose. Gemini (default, best cost/performance), DeepSeek (cheapest), or OpenAI — your key, your bill.
Specific claims, with the proof attached.
Why two API keys?
MeetScribe is a desktop app, not a hosted service. To transcribe audio it needs a transcription provider. To summarize text it needs an LLM. We don't run our own — we'd need a backend, your data would pass through our infrastructure, and we'd be on the hook for someone else's bill. Instead, you sign up for the providers you trust (or already use), paste two keys, and the app talks directly to them.
Trade-off: ~5 minutes of setup vs. one-click.
Upside: no middleman, no markup, no "we promise not to look," and you can switch providers any time without asking us.
STT transcription
- Gladia RECOMMENDED Free 10 hrs/month, then ~$0.61/hr. Best for occasional use.
- AssemblyAI $50 signup credit (~138 hrs free). Best if you have heavy months.
LLM summary
- Google Gemini DEFAULT Best cost/performance balance. Free tier covers typical use; ~$1.69/mo after.
- OpenAI Pay-as-you-go, ~$1.39/mo at typical use. Strongest English / European-language quality.
- DeepSeek CHEAPEST $5 signup credit ≈ 3 months free, ~$0.31/mo after.
What you'll actually pay.
| Usage | Typical monthly cost |
|---|---|
| A few meetings a week | $0 |
| ~10 hrs/month | $0–$1 |
| ~40 hrs/month | ~$15–$20 |
You pay providers directly. We never bill you. There is no MeetScribe subscription.
Your machine talks to providers. Nothing in the middle.
From download to first transcript in ~5 minutes.
- Download for Windows or macOS.
- Get a free STT key from Gladia or AssemblyAI.
- Get a free LLM key from Gemini (recommended for balance) or DeepSeek (cheapest).
- Paste both keys. Start recording.
If we're not your fit, here's who is.
You'll like MeetScribe yes
- You want your meeting data on your machine, not in a SaaS.
- You're comfortable signing up for two API providers.
- You want to pay only for what you use.
- You like desktop apps you can audit at the network level.
You'll be happier elsewhere try others
- You want one-click setup with no API keys.
- You want shared team workspaces and Notion / Slack / calendar integrations.
- You'd rather pay a flat ~$19/mo and not think about it.
- You need an SLA, account management, or support contract.