6 Best Plaud Note Alternatives in 2025 [Software & Devices]

The rise of artificial intelligence has completely changed the software world, and now it's coming for physical devices. The Plaud Note offers automated AI-powered note-taking in a portable hardware device, but like many new hardware releases, it still has a few issues. 

In this post, I'll show you six of the best Plaud alternatives for different use cases, including hardware and software options, so you can be sure you're getting the best AI notes for your needs.

Plaud Note competitor breakdown

To get started, here's a quick overview of the competition. 

An overview of Plaud Note

The Plaud Note is a compact portable device that records phone calls, personal dictation, and in-person meetings for AI-powered transcription. The hardware design is sleek and minimalist, with only one button to start recording. It uses a companion app for managing the transcription process and costs $135 USD plus an optional monthly subscription. 

What does Plaud Note do well?

Plaud Note checks many essential boxes for an AI-powered recording and transcription tool, including high-quality recording, long battery life, AI-powered summaries, and an impressive 112 supported languages. As a hardware device, it has an attractive, lightweight design that uses the MagSafe standard for magnetically attaching to an iPhone. 

All customers receive 300 minutes of free transcription per month, although this can be supplemented with an ongoing monthly or annual subscription. AI-powered summaries with 

Where does Plaud Note fall short?

While the Plaud Note is a promising device, it does have a few issues. The primary concern is that Plaud does not publish any statistics or details about transcription accuracy. They mention that the service was trained using a combination of ChatGPT 4o and Anthropic's competing Claude 3.5 model but not any specific metrics. 

Because the Plaud Note functions as a physical recorder, it does not provide real-time transcription. Instead, users must connect the device to the mobile app, upload recordings, and then wait for the transcription process to complete.

The other major issue is the ongoing cost of transcription. You can use an entire month's free transcription in a single afternoon, and then you'll need to purchase an add-on package to continue using the device until your monthly quota resets. An annual subscription costs $79 for 1200 transcription minutes per month, with additional time available in 6000-minute packages for $89 USD. 

Additionally, many users on Reddit have reported issues when contacting Plaud customer service, so be prepared for potential delays if you need support. 

3 AI-powered meeting notetaker software

1. Notta: Best for high-precision transcription

Notta offers a software-based multi-platform approach to AI-powered meeting notes. The ability to record anywhere using a laptop, tablet, or smartphone makes Notta perfect for in-person meetings, and its integration with popular online meeting tools makes it highly convenient for remote work, virtual meetings, and other online discussions. 

Features:

• Excellent transcription accuracy. Notta provides up to 98% accuracy for real-time and pre-recorded transcription, one of the highest published ratings of any AI note-taker. 

• Wide language support. Notta transcribes in 58 languages, including English, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish, and French. 

• AI-powered summaries. Generate AI-powered summaries of your transcripts using an extensive library of pre-made templates, or create your own custom templates. 

• Translation support. Translate your transcripts into 42 languages, and get real-time translation for multi-lingual meetings. 

• Multi-platform support. Notta is available on the web, Android, iOS, iPad, and as a Chrome extension. 

Use cases: Hybrid/remote workers, small to medium-sized businesses, medical professionals, project managers, and freelancers.

Pricing: Paid plans start at $9 USD per month. A free plan is available, as well as a free trial of the advanced features included in paid plans. 

Notta vs. Plaud Note

The most significant advantage that the Plaud Note has over Notta comes from its built-in high-quality microphones. Notta can also record through external microphones, but they must be purchased separately. However, Notta's software strengths, such as multi-platform support, integration with virtual meeting software, and custom AI templates, make it a more flexible and capable choice overall. 

Capture every detail with AI meeting notes

Notta offers the most integrated AI meeting notes, summaries, and action items so nothing gets missed.

Start for Free

2. Avoma - Best for large sales teams

Avoma is a software-based AI transcription tool that integrates with online meeting software, telephone dialing systems, and CRMs. Avoma also offers advanced plans for team-based organizations using specialized tools to analyze conversations, train staff, and provide revenue intelligence. 

Features: 

• Accurate AI transcription. Avoma provides real-time transcription with a 95% accuracy rate.

• Good language support. Recently expanded language support now includes over 50 languages. 

• AI-powered summaries. Select from several pre-made summary templates or create custom templates. 

• Integrated scheduling. Automate the process of connecting new leads to the next available team member. 

• Data analytics. Conversation intelligence analyzes discussions for overall tone, key topics, and custom keywords, while revenue intelligence helps analyze sales progress to improve revenue forecast accuracy. 

Use cases: Sales teams, project management, team training, large organizations.

Pricing: Paid plans start at $19 USD per user per month. 

Avoma vs. Plaud Note

Avoma provides an impressive degree of data analysis that is lacking in the Plaud Note platform. They are both excellent transcribing tools, but Avoma is better suited to large organizations with multiple team members, while Plaud Note is a better choice for individuals. 

3. AudioPen - Best for personal dictation

AudioPen is a much simpler tool than the previous two software alternatives, but that simplicity is also its biggest selling point. It allows you to record freeform voice notes and automatically transcribes them into coherent, structured sentences using AI. The AudioPen interface is also extremely user-friendly, which makes it easy to open and use instantly. 

Features: 

• Broad language support. AudioPen supports 58 input languages and offers translated output in 64 languages. 

• Automatic AI summaries. Voice notes are automatically summarized into a more coherent format, and 'SuperSummaries' allow you to cross-reference between multiple notes on the same topic. 

• Extremely simple interface. The AudioPen user interface is extremely simple to use, which makes it far easier to develop the habit of recording notes. 

• Multiple supported platforms. Recording and transcription are available via a web-based interface, iOS, Android, and Chrome extension. 

Use cases: Personal dictation, brainstorming, ideation, lecture notes

Pricing: $99 USD per year or $159 for two years. A limited free plan is also available. 

AudioPen vs. Plaud Note

Plaud Note offers more advanced AI features like summaries and mind maps, thanks to its use of ChatGPT-4o and Claude. AudioPen offers a recording process that's almost as fast as the Plaud Note and even faster when it comes to transcription and summarization. Unless you need Plaud Notes' ability to record phone calls, AudioPen provides a compelling alternative. 

3 AI voice recorder devices

The market for AI-powered voice recorders is still in its early days, but these options may suit you better than the Plaud Note. 

4. iFLYTECH Smart Recorder Pro - Best for secure transcription

For those of you who want to ensure that your transcripts stay private, the Smart Recorder Pro offers completely offline transcription that processes all your data on the device itself. This device is actually one of the few AI voice recorders released before the Plaud Note, so its language support is much more limited, but it also doesn't require any ongoing subscription. 

Features:

• High-quality microphones. Two directional microphones and four omnidirectional mics provide excellent recording quality when handheld or recording an entire conference room. 

• On-device transcription. Your voice transcription is processed entirely on the recorder itself, ensuring that your transcript data is completely secure. 

• Multi-language support. While it doesn't offer extensive language support, it can transcribe in English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Russian.

Use cases: Personal dictation, in-person meetings, lectures, speeches.

Pricing: $199 USD.

iFLYTECH Smart Recorder Pro vs. Plaud Note

The Plaud Note has much more extensive language support and the ability to record phone calls, but it requires an ongoing monthly subscription that processes and stores your data in the cloud. If you value privacy and security or you just don't want to pay for a monthly subscription, then the Smart Recorder Pro is a better choice -- as long as your desired language is one of the five it supports. 

5. HiDock - Best for hybrid/remote work

Most voice note recorders are portable, but the HiDock is designed for your desk, not your hand. This device is crafted with hybrid work in mind, offering standard laptop docking functions plus integrated call recording via Bluetooth to capture any voice call or virtual meeting platform on your portable devices. Despite that excellent platform support, if you're not in the market for laptop dock features, then you may prefer one of the other choices on this list.

Features:

• Bluetooth recording. Connect your laptop or other mobile device using Bluetooth to record and transcribe voice chats and virtual meetings. 

• Free AI transcription. All HiDock owners receive a free lifetime membership with unlimited transcription, although this plan limits you to 10-minute recordings. 

• Wide language support. HiDock can transcribe speech in 57 languages. 

• AI-powered summaries. The HiNotes companion app handles the transcription process and provides summaries using ChatGPT4o. 

Use cases: Hybrid/remote work

Pricing: $269 USD

HiDock vs. Plaud Note

Plaud Note is a much more affordable device, but its portable design also has fewer physical controls for quick access. Both devices can record phone calls and other spoken audio, but the HiDock also has the ability to record any other voice chat or virtual meeting software. 

6. FoCase REC - Best for smartphone call recording

The FoCase REC is very similar to the Plaud Note, which may make it the best alternative option for many users. It uses the Magsafe standard to attach to the back of any modern iPhone to record calls or other voice chats, although it can also be used on an Android phone with a Magsafe-compatible case or as a standalone recorder. While it does offer AI transcript summaries, it's less focused on meetings and may be better suited to personal use. 

Features:

• Excellent transcription language support. FoCase REC supports transcription in 102 languages, with an accuracy rate of up to 92%. 

• AI-powered summaries. ChatGPT4o is used to generate AI-powered summaries of your transcripts, including your choice of summary templates. 

• Streamlined operation. A single physical button starts and stops the recording process, making it extremely easy to use. 

• Free AI transcription. All customers receive a lifetime membership plan offering 600 minutes of AI transcription per month, with more time available on a pay-per-minute basis. 

Use cases: Call recording, in-person meetings, lectures, personal dictation

Pricing: $79 USD

FoCase REC vs Plaud Note

The Plaud Note has a more streamlined design and slightly better language support, but the FoCase REC is a more affordable device with a higher free monthly usage limit. However, the Plaud Note also has more advanced microphones, which may provide better recording quality when used in challenging conditions. 

Say goodbye to manual transcription

Use Notta's AI transcription tool to quickly and easily transcribe audio and videos. We guarantee accuracy and ease of use.

Start for Free

Choose the best alternative for your needs

Many AI-powered hardware devices still have issues, but the software platforms are far more advanced and capable. For most people considering Plaud alternatives, Notta provides the best balance of price, accuracy, and ease of use, especially since it can be used on almost any device. You'll never have to worry about leaving your Notta account at home!