Compare Retext and Apple Notes & Voice Memos side-by-side. See which AI note taker is the best fit for your workflow.
Choose Retext if you want bot-free notes transcribed on your Mac that turn into snippets, alongside dictation and autocomplete in one app.
Choose Apple Notes & Voice Memos if you need quick voice notes and lectures on Apple devices.
Apple Notes and Voice Memos are free, mostly on-device, and can record phone calls on iPhone, which Retext doesn't do. Retext adds action items, Save as Snippet and Markdown export, and it deletes audio after transcribing unless you keep it. Neither labels speakers or connects to a calendar.
Native Mac app that records a note, transcribes it on your Mac, writes a summary and action items, and turns the useful parts into snippets. No bot joins your call.
Pricing:
Recording, on-device transcription and summaries come with every plan. See the pricing page.
Free tier: Notes on your Mac, plus 5 snippets
Runs on: Mac
Best for:
Recording and transcription built into Apple Notes and Voice Memos, with Apple Intelligence summaries and phone call recording
Pricing:
Free, built into macOS and iOS
Free tier: Included with your Mac and iPhone; transcription needs Apple silicon on Mac
Runs on: Mac and iPhone
Best for:
| Feature | Retext | Apple Notes & Voice Memos |
|---|---|---|
| Transcripts & Summaries | ||
| Bot-Free Recording | ||
| Both Sides of a Call | ||
| Calendar & Auto-Start | Not available | Not available |
| Speaker Labels | Not available | Not available |
| CRM & App Integrations | ||
| Privacy & Local Storage | ||
| Snippet Expansion | ||
| Cross-Platform |
| Product | Pricing Model | Price | Free Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retext | Freemium | Recording, on-device transcription and summaries come with every plan. See the pricing page. | Notes on your Mac, plus 5 snippets |
| Apple Notes & Voice Memos | Free | Free, built into macOS and iOS | Included with your Mac and iPhone; transcription needs Apple silicon on Mac |
You can save each recording, share the audio or copy its transcript. Retext doesn't import notes, and there's no need: your recordings stay in Apple Notes. Start fresh in Retext and save the bits you reuse as snippets.
Export format: Audio file or copied transcript
Apple Notes and Voice Memos are free, mostly on-device, and can record phone calls on iPhone, which Retext doesn't do. Retext adds action items, Save as Snippet and Markdown export, and it deletes audio after transcribing unless you keep it. Neither labels speakers or connects to a calendar.
Yes. Apple Notes & Voice Memos's free option: included with your Mac and iPhone; transcription needs Apple silicon on Mac. Paid: Free, built into macOS and iOS.
Yes. Retext's free plan includes notes on your Mac, plus 5 snippets. Recording, on-device transcription and summaries come with every plan. See the pricing page.
Apple Notes & Voice Memos runs on Mac and iPhone. Retext runs on Mac.
Apple Notes & Voice Memos is the better fit for quick voice notes and lectures on Apple devices, recording phone calls on iPhone and people who don't want another app. Choose Retext if you want notes transcribed and summarized on your Mac.
You can save each recording, share the audio or copy its transcript. Retext doesn't import notes, and there's no need: your recordings stay in Apple Notes. Start fresh in Retext and save the bits you reuse as snippets.
Download Retext, turn on Notes in Settings, and click Record Note. Your transcript and summary are written on your Mac.
Sources
Apple Notes & Voice Memos, checked October 28, 2026: Record and transcribe audio in Notes on Mac · Voice Memos transcriptions on Mac · Record and transcribe a call on iPhone · Apple Intelligence
Prices and features change. Check each vendor's site before you buy.