Open Source Alternatives to Otter AI and Fireflies

Looking for meeting transcription tools that you can fork, fix, and make your own? Then this article is for you. 

We’ll review the only three open-source meeting transcription software that give you complete control over your meeting data. Inspect every line of code, modify any component, own your data forever.

What Are the Best Open-Source Meeting Transcription Software? 

Top Open-Source Meeting Transcription Software: Detailed Reviews

1. Hyprnote

Hyprnote is a local-first AI notepad that combines manual note-taking with real-time transcription. 

The interface feels like Apple Notes, which is intentional. You open it and immediately start typing. No list of past meetings to navigate, no calendar integration to set up. Just a blank canvas that's ready when you are.

While you're writing, Hyprnote is listening to both your microphone and system audio. Once the meeting ends, it enhances your manual notes into actionable AI summaries based on your chpsen template. 

Available as: Native Mac app (desktop application, Windows coming soon)

Top Features

• Local-first transcription with Whisper models: Choose from Tiny, Base, or V3 Large Turbo models that run entirely on your device. No cloud processing required for transcription.

• Custom HyperLLM-V1 for meeting summaries: Open source, 1.1GB model specifically trained for meeting summarization. Runs locally and outperforms generic cloud models.

• Bot-free meeting capture: Records system audio and microphone directly without joining as a participant. Works with any platform—Zoom, Teams, Meet, or in-person meetings.

• Open source transparency (GPL-3.0:) Full code available on GitHub for security audits and customization. Verify exactly how your data is processed.

• Manual notes + AI transcription: Combines what you type during meetings with full transcript for context-aware summaries. Your judgment guides the AI.

• Self-hosting capability: Enterprise deployments can run entirely on-premises with complete infrastructure control for compliance requirements.

• Bring your own AI provider: Connect OpenAI, Gemini, Claude, or local models via Ollama. Not locked into a single vendor's API.

• Offline capable: Transcribe and summarize meetings with zero internet connectivity. Models run locally on your Mac.

• Export without lock-in: Save transcripts and summaries as Markdown, PDF, or Rich Text. Your data in open formats you control.

• Source-level verification: Hover over AI summaries to see exact transcript quotes. Trace every claim back to what was actually said.

Pros

• Only tool that combines your typed notes with transcripts 

• HyperLLM-V1 built specifically for summarization, not generic AI 

• Cleanest interface, no security warnings, simplest setup 

• Offers autonomy controls to adjust how much AI modifies your notes vs sticking to what you wrote 

• Purpose-built for meeting transcription, not adapted from dictation 

Cons

• macOS only (requires Sonoma 14.2+, Windows coming soon) 

• No mobile app currently available

Pricing

Core features (unlimited transcription, AI summaries) free forever. Pro adds advanced search and unlimited AI chat at $8/month. Enterprise offers on-premises deployment.

2. Meetily

Meetily is a privacy-first AI meeting assistant that runs entirely on your local machine. Unlike Hyprnote's notepad approach, Meetily focuses purely on recording, transcribing, and summarizing meetings without any manual note-taking interface.

Available as: Native apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux

Top Features

• Real-time transcription with Whisper.cpp: Optimized implementation that runs significantly faster than standard Python-based Whisper.

• AI-powered meeting summaries: Generate summaries using local LLMs through Ollama or connect to cloud providers (Claude, Groq, OpenAI).

• Dual audio capture: Records both microphone and system audio simultaneously with intelligent ducking and clipping prevention.

• GPU acceleration support: Automatically detects and uses hardware acceleration: Metal/CoreML on macOS, CUDA for NVIDIA, Vulkan for AMD/Intel.

• Semantic search via ChromaDB: Vector database enables searching by concepts and related discussions, not just exact keywords.

• Universal meeting platform support: Works with Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Webex, and any platform without requiring bots.

• SQLite local storage: All data stores locally in a lightweight database that's easy to back up and migrate.

• REST API access: Expose endpoints for integrating with other tools and workflows.

Pros

• Runs on all major operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) 

• Focused, straightforward approach to transcription without extra complexity 

• Permissive MIT license for maximum flexibility 

Cons

• Initial setup can be complex (requires C++, CMake, and other dev tools) 

• Pre-built releases aren't notarized, causing security warnings 

• Summarization quality inconsistent with small local models 

• No manual note-taking integration 

• Lacks pricing transparency for organizational tiers 

• Steeper learning curve than consumer-focused alternatives

Pricing

Free for individuals under MIT license. 

Pricing details for organizational and enterprise tiers aren't publicly disclosed, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious teams.

3. Amical

Amical is an open-source AI dictation tool that transforms how you type across your computer. While it supports meeting transcription, its primary focus is hands-free typing with context-aware formatting that adapts to whatever application you're using.

Available as: Mac app (desktop application, Windows support in progress)

Top Features

• Context-aware intelligent formatting: Automatically adjusts tone and style based on the application—professional for Gmail, casual for Instagram, conversational for Slack.

• Floating desktop widget: Small, positioned-anywhere widget for quick dictation access without leaving your active application.

• Custom hotkeys configuration: Create keyboard shortcuts for starting/stopping dictation and executing commands hands-free.

• Multi-language native support: Transcribe in 50+ languages with native-level accuracy, including seamless mixed-language dictation.

• Custom vocabulary training: Teach Amical industry-specific terms, proper nouns, project names, and technical jargon for improved accuracy.

• Voice commands and shortcuts: Create personalized voice commands to automate repetitive tasks completely hands-free.

• Meeting transcription capability: Record live meetings with both mic and system audio, though this feature is still in development.

• Automatic grammar correction: AI fixes pronouns, adds contextual elements like emojis, and corrects grammar in real-time.

• Works system-wide: Dictate in any text field across all applications without switching tools.

• Transcription history: Searchable archive of all dictated text with export options (in development).

Pros

• Excellent multi-language support with seamless language switching 

• Completely free with no paid tiers or subscriptions 

• Custom vocabulary dramatically improves accuracy for specialized work

• Hands-free workflow with voice commands and shortcuts 

• MIT licensed for maximum flexibility

Cons

• In active development toward first stable release - expect bugs 

• Meeting transcription features less mature than Hyprnote or Meetily 

• macOS is primary focus; Windows support exists but less polished 

• App not notarized, causing security warnings 

• Smaller community and contributor base (96 GitHub stars vs 6k-8k for others)

Pricing

Completely free with no paid tiers, which may limit its use for organizations requiring dedicated assistance.

Final Verdict: Which Open-Source Transcription Tool Should You Choose?

For most developers and privacy-conscious professionals, Hyprnote is the clear choice. It delivers local-first architecture without sacrificing usability. The custom HyperLLM-V1 model outperforms generic cloud APIs for meeting summarization, and the manual note integration gives you control over what the AI focuses on.

The code is open source (GPL-3.0), so you can verify exactly how your data is processed. Need enterprise deployment? Self-host it on your own infrastructure. Want to modify the summarization logic? Fork it and make it yours.

Most importantly, it just works. No complex setup, no security warnings to bypass, no dependencies. 

Ready to try it? Download Hyprnote for macOS or check out the source code on GitHub.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are open-source transcription tools really free?

Yes, all three are open source. Hyprnote and Amical are free for all users. Hyprnote has an optional Pro tier ($8/month) and Enterprise tier (custom pricing), but core transcription and summarization remain free forever.

Meetily is free for individual users under the MIT license. For organizations (2-100 users) and enterprises (100+ users), they offer custom paid plans, but pricing isn't publicly disclosed.

2. Do I need a powerful computer to run local transcription software?

You need a reasonably modern machine. For Hyprnote, an M-series Mac is ideal, though Intel Macs work with reduced performance. Meetily and Amical have similar requirements—at least 8GB RAM (16GB recommended) and a decent CPU. GPU acceleration helps but isn't required for basic functionality.

3. Can I use these tools offline?

Yes, that's the whole point. All three can transcribe meetings completely offline using local AI models. You only need internet if you choose to use cloud AI providers for enhanced summaries.

4. How accurate is the transcription?

With larger Whisper models, accuracy is typically 90-95% for clear English audio. Accuracy drops with background noise, heavy accents, or specialized terminology. Custom vocabulary features (where available) can improve accuracy for industry-specific terms.

5. What about HIPAA, GDPR, and compliance?

Because processing happens locally by default, these tools dramatically simplify compliance. Your data doesn't leave your device, which means you're not transmitting protected information to third-party processors. This makes HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2, and other frameworks much easier to satisfy.

For organizations needing formal compliance documentation, both Hyprnote and Meetily offer enterprise plans with dedicated support.