tl;dv covers the video-call basics well, but the bot is the sticking point: it joins uninvited, which reviewers call embarrassing in front of clients, and the per-seat subscription gets expensive fast.
| tl;dv | TinyScribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Bot joins your call | Joins your call | None — never joins your call |
| Processing | Cloud transcription, bot-based | Transcription on-device, summaries via Apple Private Cloud Compute |
| Account required | required | None |
| Training on your data | opt-out | None |
| Price | $18/user/mo (limited free tier free) | $49.99 one-time (Free for 30 meetings) |
| Cost over 3 years | $648 | $49.99 |
| Platforms | Web, Desktop | macOS 27+, Apple silicon |
Prices checked August 2026.
Transcription happens on your Mac using Apple's SpeechAnalyzer — fully on-device, fully offline. Summaries are the one thing that leaves your Mac: they go through Apple's Private Cloud Compute, where Apple states nothing is stored and nothing is used for training.
There is no bot. TinyScribe only captures what happens on your own Mac — no meeting invite, no third party joining your call to listen in.
TinyScribe is a one-time purchase, not a subscription: $49.99 once, free for the first 30 meetings, no recurring bill.
When tl;dv is the better choice: you need a shared team library of call recordings across a sales org, or cross-platform web access without installing anything. TinyScribe is a single Mac app, not a team tool, and it never joins a call as a visible participant.
See how TinyScribe stacks up against other tl;dv alternatives: Best tl;dv alternatives for Mac