# Aiko

On-device Whisper transcription for Mac from Sindre Sorhus, a well-known indie developer behind dozens of Mac and open-source tools — no cloud upload, and support for 100 languages.

- **Category:** [Meetings](https://notchlist.vercel.app/category/calendar-apps/)
- **Price:** $24.00 one-time (Mac App Store; 14-day free trial via TestFlight)
- **Open source:** no
- **Official site:** https://sindresorhus.com/aiko
- **Available via:** Mac App Store
- **Requirements:** macOS 26 or newer for the current version; older builds for macOS 13–15 remain available as free direct downloads from the developer’s site but won’t receive updates
- **Maker:** Sindre Sorhus

## Kitsmith's take

The privacy pitch is structural, not marketing copy: transcription runs OpenAI’s Whisper model locally, so audio never leaves your device. A $24 one-time purchase (14-day free trial via TestFlight) rather than a subscription — the honest tradeoff is that it transcribes recordings you already have (dropped-in files, Voice Memos), not a live meeting in real time.

## Features

- **On-device transcription:** Runs OpenAI’s Whisper model locally — audio never leaves your device.
- **100 languages:** Transcribes audio in 100 languages, with quality that varies by language, per the developer.
- **Shortcuts integration:** Supports Apple Shortcuts for workflows like right-click-to-transcribe in Finder or recording from the iPhone Action Button.

## FAQ

**Does Aiko record live meetings?**

No — it transcribes audio files you provide (drag-and-drop, Voice Memos, or its own recorder), not a live call in real time.

**Is my audio sent to a server?**

No — transcription runs entirely on-device using a local Whisper model, per the developer.

**Who makes Aiko?**

Sindre Sorhus, an independent developer known for a wide catalog of Mac, iOS, and open-source software.


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Hand-verified listing on Kitsmith: https://notchlist.vercel.app/apps/aiko/