Why consider Willow Voice alternatives?
Privacy-first comes with trade-offs
Willow Voice takes a privacy-first approach to voice notes: everything processes on-device, nothing goes to the cloud. For privacy-conscious users, this is the whole point. For everyone else, it creates limitations.
The transcription quality is good but not great. On-device processing means it can't match cloud-based models like Whisper or Otter's AI. I tested it for a few weeks and found myself re-reading transcripts more often to catch errors. Not terrible, but noticeable compared to alternatives that use more powerful cloud models like Otter.
Meeting transcription isn't really supported. Willow Voice is designed for personal voice notes, not recording and transcribing meetings. If you need to capture team discussions or client calls, you'll need a separate tool. Otter.ai or Fellow handle this better. Check out our guide to the best AI meeting apps for more options.
The mobile experience is Mac-only, which drives me nuts. iOS app exists, but the full experience is really built for Mac. If you're on Windows or need cross-platform support, Willow Voice isn't an option. Superwhisper has similar limitations (Apple-focused), but Otter works everywhere.
Integrations are minimal. Willow Voice is a standalone app: you record, transcribe, and manage notes locally. There's no export to task managers, note apps, or CRM systems. If your workflow involves moving voice notes into other tools, you're doing it manually.
Pricing is around $10/month, which feels steep for what you get. You're paying for privacy (no cloud processing), but alternatives like Otter offer way more features for free or similar pricing. The value proposition only makes sense if privacy is your top priority.
Look, if on-device privacy is non-negotiable, Willow Voice delivers. But for most people, the trade-offs (limited features, Mac-only, decent but not great transcription) make alternatives worth exploring.
What makes a good Willow Voice alternative?
When hunting for a Willow Voice replacement, think about what matters most in your workflow.
Privacy vs Features Trade-Off
Willow Voice prioritizes privacy (on-device processing). Most alternatives use cloud processing for better accuracy and features. Decide if privacy is worth the feature limitations. Superwhisper does on-device too (Mac-only). Otter and Fellow use cloud but offer way more functionality for meeting notes.
Transcription Accuracy
On-device models can't match cloud-based AI for accuracy. If you need reliable transcripts (especially with accents, technical terms, or multiple speakers), cloud alternatives usually win. Test accuracy with your actual use case before committing. Otter is particularly strong with technical jargon.
Meeting vs Personal Notes
Willow Voice is for personal voice notes. If you need meeting transcription (recording Zoom calls, in-person discussions), look at Otter or Fellow. They integrate with meeting platforms and handle multiple speakers. For more options, see our best AI meeting apps guide.
Platform Support
Willow Voice is Mac/iOS only. If you need Windows, Android, or web access, this is a dealbreaker. Otter works everywhere. Superwhisper is also Apple-only. Aqua Voice focuses on iPhone.
Integration Needs
Do you need voice notes to flow into task managers, note apps, or CRM? Willow Voice doesn't integrate with much. Otter exports to various formats. Fellow connects to productivity tools like Asana and Jira. Standalone apps require manual copying.
Pricing Reality
Willow Voice is around $10/month. Otter has a generous free tier and Pro at $10/month with more features. Superwhisper is around $8-10/month. Fellow starts $7/user/month for teams. Compare what you get for similar pricing.
Top Willow Voice Alternatives
Let's break down the best options.
1. Superwhisper
Superwhisper is the closest alternative to Willow Voice's privacy approach. It's Mac-only, processes on-device, and focuses on voice-to-text capture without sending data to the cloud.
The transcription uses Whisper (OpenAI's model) running locally on your Mac. This is the same tech powering many cloud services, but running on your device. Accuracy is good, better than Willow Voice in my testing, though still not quite matching cloud-based services with more powerful models.
The interface is minimal and fast. Global hotkey triggers recording, speak your note, release to transcribe. Results appear in seconds. You can copy to clipboard, save to files, or send to other apps. It's designed for quick capture, not long transcriptions.
Privacy is the whole point. Nothing leaves your device, no account required, no cloud dependency. If this matters to you (and you're on Mac), Superwhisper delivers. The trade-off is you need a reasonably powerful Mac: older machines struggle with on-device processing.
Pricing is around $8-10/month or a one-time purchase option (I think around $30-40, though pricing seems to change). Comparable to Willow Voice but with better transcription quality in my experience.
Downsides? Mac-only, so Windows and Android users are out. No meeting transcription: it's for personal quick notes only. No collaboration features. And the on-device processing drains battery faster than cloud alternatives.
If you loved Willow Voice's privacy approach but wanted better accuracy, Superwhisper is the upgrade. If you need cross-platform or meeting features, look elsewhere.
Superwhisper is an AI transcription tool for capturing voice into text using AI.
Otter.ai
Otter.ai is the full-featured alternative that trades privacy for capability. It's cloud-based, works everywhere, and handles both personal notes and meetings.
The transcription accuracy is excellent. Otter uses powerful cloud models that handle accents, technical jargon, and multiple speakers better than on-device alternatives. I've used it for over a year and the error rate is noticeably lower than Willow Voice or Superwhisper.
Meeting integration is where Otter shines. Join Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams calls and Otter transcribes automatically. It identifies speakers, creates summaries, and lets you search transcripts afterward. Willow Voice can't do any of this: it's purely for personal voice notes.
The free tier is generous. 300 monthly transcription minutes, basic features, and web/mobile access. This alone makes it a better starting point than Willow Voice's paid-only model. Pro plan is $10/month for 1200 minutes and advanced features.
Collaboration works well. Share transcripts with teammates, comment on specific moments, and create shared highlights. If your use case involves any teamwork, Otter handles it. Willow Voice is strictly solo.
Downsides? Privacy is the obvious one. Everything goes to Otter's cloud for processing. They claim to protect your data, but you're trusting a third party. If privacy is your main concern, this is a dealbreaker.
Also, the mobile app pushes you to upgrade. The free tier works but with annoying limitations and prompts. Not as bad as some freemium apps, but noticeable.
Otter makes sense if you need reliable transcription for both personal notes and meetings, and you're okay with cloud processing. If privacy is non-negotiable, stick with on-device alternatives like Superwhisper.
Otter AI transcribes meetings, chats, collaboration via meeting recording software.
Aqua Voice
Aqua Voice is the iPhone-focused alternative that prioritizes speed and simplicity. If Willow Voice felt too Mac-centric, Aqua puts mobile first.
The capture flow is fast. Open app, tap to record, speak, done. Transcription happens quickly and results are clean. It's designed for quick voice notes throughout the day, not long recordings or meetings.
Privacy is solid but not as extreme as Willow Voice. Aqua processes in the cloud (like Otter) but the company emphasizes data protection. Not on-device like Willow, but not as big-tech as Google or Apple's voice services.
The interface is beautiful. Clean, minimal, and thoughtfully designed. If you care about aesthetics (and honestly, who doesn't when using an app daily), Aqua feels nicer than Willow Voice's functional but plain interface.
Integration with iOS features is good. Share transcripts to other apps, use Shortcuts for automation, and widgets for quick access. Willow Voice has some of this, but Aqua feels more native to iOS.
Downsides? It's iPhone-only. No Mac app, no iPad optimization, no Android. If you need cross-platform or desktop-focused workflow, Aqua doesn't fit. Also, meeting transcription isn't the focus: it's for personal quick notes.
Pricing is around $5-8/month depending on plan, which is cheaper than Willow Voice with comparable features. If you're primarily capturing notes on iPhone, the savings add up.
Aqua Voice makes sense if you want a mobile-first voice note app with better design than Willow and don't need on-device processing. It's the middle ground between Willow's privacy and Otter's full features.
Fellow
Fellow is a different beast: meeting management software with built-in transcription. If Willow Voice felt limited for meetings, Fellow is purpose-built for them.
The meeting workflow is comprehensive. Create agendas before meetings, take collaborative notes during, get AI transcription automatically, and assign action items after. Willow Voice only handles the transcription part (and not even for meetings).
Transcription integrates with Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams. Fellow joins calls automatically, transcribes, and links transcripts to meeting notes. The accuracy is solid, comparable to Otter. You can search transcripts and jump to specific moments.
Collaboration is the core. Share agendas, co-edit notes in real-time, assign tasks to teammates, and track follow-ups. If you're doing team meetings regularly, Fellow's structure helps keep things organized. Willow Voice is strictly personal, so this is a major difference.
Action item tracking connects to task managers. Export to Asana, Jira, Trello, or other tools. This closes the loop from meeting discussion to actual work. With Willow Voice, you'd manually copy text to your task manager.
Downsides? Fellow is overkill if you just want quick personal voice notes. It's designed for structured team meetings, not casual voice capture. Also, pricing is higher: starts $7/user/month for teams. The free tier is limited to basic features.
Also, Fellow requires buy-in from your team. If you're the only one using it, you lose most benefits. Willow Voice works great solo; Fellow's value comes from team adoption.
Fellow makes sense if your use case is actually meeting transcription and collaboration, not personal voice notes. Different tool for different needs. If you thought Willow Voice would handle meetings and were disappointed, Fellow is what you actually wanted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which alternative offers the best privacy?
Superwhisper, hands down. Like Willow Voice, it processes everything on-device (Mac-only). Nothing goes to the cloud, no account required. Aqua Voice and Otter both use cloud processing, which is less private but enables better features. If privacy is your top concern, Superwhisper is the only real alternative to Willow.
What's the best free alternative?
Otter.ai. The free tier includes 300 monthly minutes of transcription, which covers most personal use. Willow Voice doesn't have a free tier at all. Superwhisper and Aqua Voice are paid-only too. If you want to test voice transcription without paying, Otter is the obvious choice.
Which alternative has better transcription accuracy?
Otter.ai, because it uses powerful cloud models. Willow Voice and Superwhisper do on-device processing, which is less accurate (especially with accents or technical terms). In my testing, Otter had noticeably fewer errors. The trade-off is privacy: Otter processes in the cloud.
Can any alternative transcribe meetings like Zoom calls?
Yeah, Otter.ai and Fellow both do this well. They join meeting platforms automatically, transcribe in real-time, and identify speakers. Willow Voice can't do this: it's for personal voice notes only. Superwhisper and Aqua Voice are also personal-note focused, not meeting tools.
Which alternative works on Windows or Android?
Otter.ai is the only cross-platform option. Works on web, iOS, Android, and has decent integrations everywhere. Willow Voice, Superwhisper, and Aqua Voice are all Apple-ecosystem only. If you need Windows or Android support, Otter is your only choice from this list.
What if I just want quick voice-to-text on iPhone?
Aqua Voice is built specifically for this. Fast capture, clean interface, designed for mobile-first workflow. Cheaper than Willow Voice too (around $5-8/month vs $10/month). Otter works on iPhone but feels more desktop-focused. Superwhisper is Mac-only.
Do any alternatives integrate with task managers or note apps?
Fellow integrates with task managers (Asana, Jira, Trello) for action items from meetings. Otter lets you export transcripts in various formats. Willow Voice, Superwhisper, and Aqua Voice are more standalone: you'd copy/paste text to other apps manually. If integration is key, Fellow is your best bet for meetings, or just use Otter and export.