# Caddie > Caddie is a Mac app (and a web app for notes, tasks and calendar) that puts notes, tasks, calendar, booking links, meeting notes, dictation and AI agents in one place. Meetings are recorded on the Mac with no bot on the call, and every promise made in the meeting becomes a task on your day. It is free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything. Website: https://usecaddie.app. Download: https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg. Web app: https://usecaddie.app/app. ## What Caddie does - Notes: notes sort themselves into smart folders, search finds any word, and a journal zooms from a year to a day. Imports from Notion, Obsidian, Mem, Evernote and Apple Notes. - Tasks and calendar: one day view with tasks and Google Calendar events together. A Planner in the Mac's notch plans your morning with you and nudges you back when you drift. - Meetings: records Zoom, Google Meet, Teams and other calls on your Mac with no bot joining. Notes are ready when the call ends, and every action item ("I'll send that over") becomes a task. It can create Linear issues live on the call, and coach user interviews with the next question to ask (by The Mom Test). - Dictation: hold fn in any Mac app and talk. It learns names and jargon from your notes and calendar, and keeps Hinglish (Hindi words in Roman letters). Caddie measured itself as the most accurate of six Mac dictation setups on real-world speech (7.0% word errors in Scribe mode, against 25.5% for Apple dictation): https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy - Booking links: share one link; guests pick a time in their time zone and your focus time stays protected. Replaces Calendly for most people. - Agents: give an agent tasks and routines. It runs on your own Claude Code or Codex account, with your MCP tools, its own browser and your Mac's apps, and asks you only when it needs you: https://usecaddie.app/blog/agents - Video notes: paste a YouTube or X link to get chapter-by-chapter notes with visuals, and share them as a page. - Teams: a shared workspace, calls filed to a team knowledge base, and a Monday catch-up on what shipped and who's stuck. - iPhone app: tasks, notes and calendar, synced live (beta on TestFlight). - MCP server: https://usecaddie.app/mcp lets Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and other agents read and write your Caddie notes, tasks and calendar (personal agent key from Settings › AI). ## Requirements and pricing - macOS 13.3 or later on Apple silicon. Dictation and meeting recording need macOS 26. - Notes, tasks and calendar also work in any browser at https://usecaddie.app/app. - Free while in beta. Then $10 a month for everything; team pricing is per seat. ## Feature pages - [All features](https://usecaddie.app/features/) - [Notes that organize themselves, with imports](https://usecaddie.app/notes/) - [AI meeting notes for Mac, with no bot](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/) - [Dictation for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/mac-dictation/) - [Daily planner: tasks and Google Calendar in one day](https://usecaddie.app/daily-planner/) - [Booking links](https://usecaddie.app/booking-links/) - [Agents on your own Claude Code or Codex](https://usecaddie.app/agents/) - [A personal AI agent on your Mac, from Slack and iPhone](https://usecaddie.app/personal-ai-agent/) - [Caddie's MCP server](https://usecaddie.app/mcp-server/) - [YouTube summarizer that makes visual notes](https://usecaddie.app/youtube-summarizer/) - [Narrated explainers of your notes](https://usecaddie.app/explainers/) - [Habit tracker](https://usecaddie.app/habit-tracker/) - [Journal](https://usecaddie.app/journal/) - [Team workspaces](https://usecaddie.app/teams/) ## Guides - [All comparisons and guides](https://usecaddie.app/compare/) - [The best AI note takers in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/best-ai-note-takers) - [The best dictation apps for Mac in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/mac-dictation/best-dictation-apps) - [The best daily planner apps in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/daily-planner/best-daily-planner-apps) - [The best habit tracker apps in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/habit-tracker/best-habit-tracker-apps) - [The best journal apps in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/journal/best-journal-apps) - [The best MCP servers in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/mcp-server/best-mcp-servers) - [Alternatives to Granola, Otter, Wispr Flow, Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Calendly, Sunsama and OpenClaw](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/) ## Comparisons - [Caddie vs Granola](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola): meeting notes that become tasks, plus notes, calendar and dictation - [Caddie vs Notion](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion): a personal Mac workspace vs a team wiki - [Caddie vs Wispr Flow](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow): dictation that already knows your words - [Caddie vs Otter](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter): no-bot meeting notes with tasks, vs a meeting bot - [Caddie vs Superwhisper](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper): dictation inside your notes vs a stand-alone dictation app - [Caddie vs Calendly](https://usecaddie.app/vs/calendly): free booking links that protect your focus time - [Caddie vs Sunsama](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama): daily planning with notes and meetings built in - [Caddie vs NotebookLM](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notebooklm): notes and explainers from your own material - [All comparisons](https://usecaddie.app/vs/) ## Research and free tools - [Dictation accuracy benchmark](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy): six Mac dictation setups on the same eight clips of Indian English and Hinglish, with the data as CSV - [Speaking vs typing calculator](https://usecaddie.app/tools/speaking-vs-typing-calculator): the time dictation saves, counting the time to fix its mistakes - [Meeting cost calculator](https://usecaddie.app/tools/meeting-cost-calculator): what a recurring meeting costs a week, a month and a year - [Dictation accuracy checker](https://usecaddie.app/tools/dictation-accuracy-checker): the word error rate of any dictation or transcript ## Blog - [Why Caddie is the most accurate dictation in the real world](https://usecaddie.app/blog/dictation) - [Practical principles for building with agents](https://usecaddie.app/blog/agents) ## For agents - [Full text of the site's main pages](https://usecaddie.app/llms-full.txt) - [API catalog](https://usecaddie.app/.well-known/api-catalog) - [MCP server card](https://usecaddie.app/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json) - [Agent skills](https://usecaddie.app/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) - Any page here is also available as Markdown: request it with `Accept: text/markdown`. ## Optional - [Privacy](https://usecaddie.app/privacy) - [Terms](https://usecaddie.app/terms) --- > The best AI note takers for meetings, compared on bots, free plans, price and what happens to action items: Caddie, Granola, Fathom, Otter, Fireflies, Notion, Jamie and tl;dv. # The best AI note takers in 2026 The best AI note takers are Caddie (no bot, and every promise becomes a task on your Mac's calendar), Granola (a polished no-bot notepad on Mac and Windows), Fathom (the best free plan), Otter (a bot that attends for you), Fireflies (integrations and task creation), Notion AI Meeting Notes (for Notion teams), Jamie (bot-free in 99+ languages) and tl;dv (unlimited free recording). Zoom, Google Meet and Teams also have built-in notes on paid plans. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 8 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best for turning meetings into tasks, on a Mac | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Granola | Best no-bot notepad on Mac and Windows | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | Unlimited meetings; only the last 30 days of notes visible | Business $14 per user a month | | 3. Fathom | Best free AI note taker | Zoom, Meet, Teams on Mac and Windows; iPhone for in person | Unlimited recordings, transcripts and summaries | Premium $20 a month, or $16 a month billed yearly | | 4. Otter.ai | Best bot that attends for you | Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | 300 minutes a month, 30 minutes per conversation | Pro $16.99 a month, or $8.33 a month billed yearly | | 5. Fireflies.ai | Best integrations | Web, Mac, Windows | Unlimited transcription, 400 minutes of storage per team | Pro $18 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly | | 6. Notion AI Meeting Notes | Best for Notion teams | Notion's desktop apps (microphone only on web and phone) | A limited trial on Free and Plus | Business $20 per member a month | | 7. Jamie | Best for many languages | Mac, Windows, iPhone, web | 10 AI notes a month, 30 minutes each | Plus €21 a month | | 8. tl;dv | Best for unlimited free recording | Web and Chrome extension | Unlimited recordings; AI notes for 10 meetings; kept 3 months | Pro €29 a month, or €18 a month billed yearly | ## Why people look for something better Every AI note taker now writes a decent summary. They differ in whether a bot joins the call, how much the free plan allows, and whether the action items actually get done. ## How we picked We compared recording method, free limits, the cheapest paid plan and what each does after the call, from each product's pricing page on 31 October 2026. ## 1. Caddie Best for turning meetings into tasks, on a Mac Records any call your Mac plays (Zoom, Meet, Teams, Slack) with no bot, writes the notes when it ends, and puts every promise on your day as a task. Notes, calendar, booking links and dictation are in the same app. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Granola Best no-bot notepad on Mac and Windows A polished notepad: your own notes during the call, filled in by AI after. No bot. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android **Free plan** Unlimited meetings; only the last 30 days of notes visible **Paid from** Business $14 per user a month **Watch out for** The free plan hides notes after 30 days, and there's no task list. **Source** [www.granola.ai/pricing](https://www.granola.ai/pricing) ## 3. Fathom Best free AI note taker The most generous free plan of the meeting note takers. **Platforms** Zoom, Meet, Teams on Mac and Windows; iPhone for in person **Free plan** Unlimited recordings, transcripts and summaries **Paid from** Premium $20 a month, or $16 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** A bot by default; bot-free recording is Mac-only and in beta. **Source** [fathom.ai/pricing](https://fathom.ai/pricing) ## 4. Otter.ai Best bot that attends for you A bot that can attend calls for you, or a desktop recorder with no bot. **Platforms** Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android **Free plan** 300 minutes a month, 30 minutes per conversation **Paid from** Pro $16.99 a month, or $8.33 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** Tight free limits: 30 minutes a conversation, the last 25 conversations. **Source** [otter.ai/pricing](https://otter.ai/pricing) ## 5. Fireflies.ai Best integrations Wide integrations, and it can create tasks in Asana and Jira. **Platforms** Web, Mac, Windows **Free plan** Unlimited transcription, 400 minutes of storage per team **Paid from** Pro $18 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** A bot by default; recording without one is a paid feature. **Source** [fireflies.ai/pricing](https://fireflies.ai/pricing) ## 6. Notion AI Meeting Notes Best for Notion teams Notes land in the Notion workspace where your docs and tasks already are. **Platforms** Notion's desktop apps (microphone only on web and phone) **Free plan** A limited trial on Free and Plus **Paid from** Business $20 per member a month **Watch out for** Needs the Business plan, and meeting notes use AI credits. **Source** [www.notion.com/pricing](https://www.notion.com/pricing) ## 7. Jamie Best for many languages Bot-free, works with any meeting app or in person, in 99+ languages. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone, web **Free plan** 10 AI notes a month, 30 minutes each **Paid from** Plus €21 a month **Watch out for** A small free plan, and Asana sync needs the €39 Pro plan. **Source** [www.meetjamie.ai/pricing](https://www.meetjamie.ai/pricing) ## 8. tl;dv Best for unlimited free recording Unlimited recording on the free plan. **Platforms** Web and Chrome extension **Free plan** Unlimited recordings; AI notes for 10 meetings; kept 3 months **Paid from** Pro €29 a month, or €18 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** Free recordings are deleted after 3 months. **Source** [tldv.io/pricing](https://tldv.io/pricing/) ## What about the note takers built into Zoom, Meet and Teams? Built in to your meeting app: Zoom AI Companion writes summaries on paid Zoom Workplace plans; Google Meet's "Take notes for me" needs an eligible Google Workspace plan; Microsoft Teams recaps come with Microsoft 365 Copilot. They're convenient, but the notes stay inside that one meeting app. ## How to choose - Free: Fathom, or Caddie while in beta. - No bot: Caddie, Granola or Jamie. - Action items done, not just listed: Caddie (tasks on your calendar) or Fireflies (Asana, Jira). - You're on Windows: Granola, Otter, Fireflies or Jamie. ## Questions people ask ### What is the best free AI note taker? Fathom has the most generous free plan (unlimited recordings, with a bot). Caddie is free while in beta and records with no bot. tl;dv records free but keeps free recordings for 3 months. ### Which AI note takers don't use a bot? Caddie, Granola, Jamie and Notion's desktop app record your computer's audio. Otter, Fireflies and Fathom can also record without a bot in their desktop apps. ### What's the best AI note taker for Mac? Caddie and Granola are both built for the Mac and record with no bot. Caddie also puts every action item on your calendar. ## Related [AI meeting notes for Mac, with no bot on the call](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/)[The best Granola alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/granola)[The best Otter.ai alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/otter)[Caddie vs Granola](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > Caddie records Zoom, Meet and Teams calls on your Mac with no bot, writes the notes when the call ends, and turns every promise into a task on your day. Free in beta. # AI meeting notes for Mac, with no bot on the call Caddie is a meeting recorder and AI note taker for the Mac. It records any call your Mac plays, Zoom, Google Meet, Teams or Slack, with no bot joining, shows a live transcript in the notch, and has the notes ready a few seconds after you hang up. Then it does what other note takers don't: every promise from the call ("I'll send the pricing sheet") becomes a task on your day. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ## How it works - **Say yes to recording.** When a call starts, Caddie asks "Record this call?" One click, or ⌃⌘R. - **Read along if you want.** Hover the notch to see the live transcript. - **Get notes and tasks.** When the call ends: a summary, the action items, and each promise as a task on your calendar. ## What you get after every call A summary, the decisions and the action items, filed into the right folder (customer calls, hiring, team syncs) on its own. Search finds any word anyone said, and you can ask Caddie about a meeting later. ## Tasks, not just notes Most note takers stop at a list of action items. Caddie puts each one on your day as a task, next to your calendar, so the follow-up actually happens. If someone takes something on during the call, the notch offers to create the Linear issue for them, with the quote from the call. ## Works with every meeting app Caddie records what your Mac hears, so it works with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack huddles and anything else, and in the room for in-person meetings. Nobody on the call sees a bot. ## Better user interviews While you talk to a customer, Caddie suggests the next question to ask, using The Mom Test, so you learn what's true instead of what's polite. ## For teams In a team workspace, calls are filed to a shared knowledge base, and Monday's catch-up says what shipped and who's stuck. ## What it needs A Mac with Apple silicon on macOS 26 to record. Your notes and tasks are also in the browser at usecaddie.app/app and on iPhone (beta). ## Questions people ask ### Does Caddie join my meetings as a bot? No. It records your Mac's audio, so no bot appears in the participant list. ### Is Caddie's meeting recorder free? Yes, while Caddie is in beta. Then it's $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ### Which meeting apps does it work with? Any call your Mac plays: Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack huddles and others, plus in-person meetings. ### Can my AI agents read my meetings? Yes. Caddie's MCP server lets Claude, ChatGPT and other agents list meetings and search transcripts, with your permission. ## Compare [The best AI note takers in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/best-ai-note-takers)[Meeting cost calculator](https://usecaddie.app/tools/meeting-cost-calculator)[Granola alternatives](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/granola)[Otter.ai alternatives](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/otter)[Caddie vs Granola](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola)[Caddie vs Otter](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > The best dictation and speech-to-text apps for Mac, compared on accuracy, offline use and price: Caddie, Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Aqua Voice, Spokenly, VoiceInk, MacWhisper and Apple Dictation. # The best dictation apps for Mac in 2026 The best dictation apps for Mac are Caddie (the most accurate in our real-speech test, and it learns your names from your notes), Wispr Flow (polished cleanup on every platform), Superwhisper (offline, with a lifetime licence), Aqua Voice (technical terms), Spokenly (free with local models), VoiceInk (open source, $25 once), MacWhisper (transcribing files) and Apple Dictation (free and built in). Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 8 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best accuracy on your own words | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Wispr Flow | Best on every platform | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | 2,000 words a week on Mac and Windows | Pro $15 a month, or $144 a year | | 3. Superwhisper | Best offline | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | Unlimited dictation with local models | Pro $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 once | | 4. Aqua Voice | Best for technical terms | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | 1,000 words in total | Pro $12 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly | | 5. Spokenly | Best free | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Chrome | Unlimited with local models or your own API keys | Local+ $29 once; Pro $15 a month ($12 billed yearly) | | 6. VoiceInk | Best open source | Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 14.4+), iPhone | A free trial | $25 once for one Mac | | 7. MacWhisper | Best for files | Mac | Transcribe audio and video files on your Mac | Pro €64 once, with lifetime updates | | 8. Apple Dictation | Best built in | Built into Mac, iPhone and iPad | Free, built in | Free | ## Why people look for something better Mac's built-in dictation is free but leaves you fixing names, jargon and punctuation. AI dictation apps clean that up; they differ on accuracy, offline use and how you pay. ## How we picked Caddie tested six Mac dictation setups on the same eight clips of everyday speech (Indian English, Hinglish, names, tech terms) and counted the wrong words; the method is on our blog. Prices and offline support are from each product's own site on 31 October 2026. ## 1. Caddie Best accuracy on your own words Hold fn in any app and talk. It learns the names and jargon in your notes and calendar, keeps Hinglish, and made the fewest mistakes in our test of six Mac dictation setups. Notes, tasks and meeting notes come with it. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Wispr Flow Best on every platform Polished AI cleanup of what you say, on every major platform. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android **Free plan** 2,000 words a week on Mac and Windows **Paid from** Pro $15 a month, or $144 a year **Watch out for** The free plan is capped by words per week, and it's subscription only. **Source** [wisprflow.ai/pricing](https://wisprflow.ai/pricing) ## 3. Superwhisper Best offline Local Whisper models that work offline, custom modes, and a lifetime licence. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android **Free plan** Unlimited dictation with local models **Paid from** Pro $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 once **Watch out for** AI cleanup and cloud models need Pro; local models run best on Apple silicon. **Source** [superwhisper.com/docs/billing/plans.md](https://superwhisper.com/docs/billing/plans.md) ## 4. Aqua Voice Best for technical terms Strong on technical and coding terms, with text in about half a second. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android **Free plan** 1,000 words in total **Paid from** Pro $12 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** A tiny free allowance, and it only works in the cloud. **Source** [aquavoice.com/pricing](https://aquavoice.com/pricing) ## 5. Spokenly Best free The most generous free plan, on the most platforms. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Chrome **Free plan** Unlimited with local models or your own API keys **Paid from** Local+ $29 once; Pro $15 a month ($12 billed yearly) **Watch out for** Cloud quality costs a subscription or your own API keys. **Source** [spokenly.app](https://spokenly.app) ## 6. VoiceInk Best open source Open source and fully local, at the lowest one-time price. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 14.4+), iPhone **Free plan** A free trial **Paid from** $25 once for one Mac **Watch out for** No Intel Macs, Windows or Android. **Source** [tryvoiceink.com](https://tryvoiceink.com) ## 7. MacWhisper Best for files Private, local transcription of files, bought once. **Platforms** Mac **Free plan** Transcribe audio and video files on your Mac **Paid from** Pro €64 once, with lifetime updates **Watch out for** Dictation into other apps is a secondary feature and needs Pro. **Source** [macwhisper.com](https://macwhisper.com) ## 8. Apple Dictation Best built in Already on your Mac, free and private. **Platforms** Built into Mac, iPhone and iPad **Free plan** Free, built in **Paid from** Free **Watch out for** No AI cleanup, and it stumbles on names and jargon. **Source** [support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac) ## How to choose - Accuracy on names and jargon: Caddie. - Offline: Superwhisper, VoiceInk or Spokenly. - Pay once: VoiceInk, Spokenly Local+, MacWhisper or Superwhisper's lifetime licence. - Also on Windows and phones: Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Aqua or Spokenly. ## Questions people ask ### What is the most accurate dictation app for Mac? In Caddie's test of six setups on everyday speech, Caddie's Scribe mode made the fewest mistakes and Wispr Flow was close behind. Apple Dictation made about one mistake in every four words. ### Is there free dictation software for Mac? Apple Dictation is built in. Spokenly and Superwhisper are free with local models, and Caddie is free while in beta. ### What's the best offline dictation app for Mac? Superwhisper and VoiceInk run local Whisper models, so they work without internet. ## Related [Dictation for Mac that already knows your words](https://usecaddie.app/mac-dictation/)[The best Wispr Flow alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs Wispr Flow](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[Our dictation accuracy test](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > Caddie is AI dictation and speech to text for Mac: hold fn in any app and talk. It learns names and jargon from your notes and calendar, keeps Hinglish, and was most accurate in our test. # Dictation for Mac that already knows your words Caddie is AI dictation for the Mac: hold fn in any app, talk, and let go, and the text appears where your cursor is, cleaned up. Because it lives inside your notes, meetings and calendar, it already knows the names, products and jargon you say. In our test of six Mac dictation setups on everyday speech, Caddie made the fewest mistakes. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ## How it works - **Hold fn.** In Slack, Gmail, your editor, anywhere your cursor is. - **Talk.** Names, numbers, an email address, half in Hindi: say it how you'd say it. - **Let go.** Your words appear, spelled right and punctuated, in about half a second. ## Why it gets your names right A stand-alone dictation app starts with an empty dictionary. Caddie listens for the words in your notes, journal, meeting notes and calendar invites from the first day, so Meera stays Meera and Kestrel Labs doesn't become Castrol. Correct a word once and it remembers; add your own words in Settings. ## Three modes Scribe is the most accurate and types in about a second. Default answers in about half a second with a few more mistakes. Turbo is for people who'd rather fix a word than wait. ## English and Hinglish Caddie keeps Hindi words in Roman letters, the way people actually type them: "kal tak bhej dena, it's for the Datadog review." ## Better than Mac's built-in dictation Apple Dictation is free and starts typing fastest, but in our test it made about one mistake in every four words. Caddie's Scribe left you about a third as much to fix. ## Where your voice goes Caddie transcribes in the cloud (Groq or ElevenLabs) for accuracy, and your Mac transcribes on its own if the cloud is slow. The clip isn't kept on Caddie's servers. ## What it needs A Mac with Apple silicon on macOS 26. Dictation is free while Caddie is in beta. ## Questions people ask ### How do I dictate on a Mac with Caddie? Install Caddie, then hold fn in any app, talk, and let go. ### Is Caddie's dictation free? Yes, while Caddie is in beta. Then it's $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ### Does it work in every app? Yes, wherever you can type: Slack, Gmail, Notes, your code editor, the browser. ### Does it support Hindi or Hinglish? It keeps Hinglish (Hindi words in Roman letters) alongside English. ## Compare [The best dictation apps for Mac in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/mac-dictation/best-dictation-apps)[Wispr Flow alternatives](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs Wispr Flow](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs Superwhisper](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper)[Our dictation accuracy test](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy)[Speaking vs typing calculator](https://usecaddie.app/tools/speaking-vs-typing-calculator)[Check your dictation's accuracy](https://usecaddie.app/tools/dictation-accuracy-checker) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > Paste a YouTube or X link into Caddie and get chapter-by-chapter notes with visuals, a transcript that follows along, and answers to your questions. Share it as a page. Free in beta. # Turn any YouTube video into visual notes Caddie is a YouTube video summarizer that gives you notes, not just a summary. Paste a YouTube or X link and you get notes chapter by chapter, with a visual that explains each idea, while you watch with the transcript following along. Zoom from the gist to every detail, ask it anything about the video, and share the notes as a page. It works in your browser and in the Mac app. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ## How it works - **Paste a link.** Any YouTube or X video, in a new note. - **Watch, or don't.** The transcript follows along as the video plays. - **Read the notes.** Chapter by chapter, with visuals, from the gist down to every detail; ask anything; share it as a page. [See a real example: an 86-minute podcast on finding product-market fit, as Caddie notes →](https://usecaddie.app/s/an-86-minute-guide-to-finding-pmf) ## Notes you can zoom Start with the gist in a few lines, then zoom into notes per chapter, then every detail with timestamps. Each chapter gets a visual that explains its idea, so you can skim a two-hour podcast in five minutes. ## Ask the video anything Ask a question about the video and get an answer from what was said. ## Keep it with your other notes Video notes are ordinary Caddie notes: searchable, in your folders, next to your meeting notes and tasks, and readable by your AI agents through Caddie's MCP server. ## Share as a page Send anyone a link to the notes; they don't need Caddie to read them. Our growth library is hundreds of podcast episodes shared this way. ## Other ways to summarize a YouTube video YouTube's own "Ask" answers questions on some videos in some countries; NotebookLM can add a public video with captions as a source; extensions like Glasp and Eightify put a summary beside the video. Caddie is for when you want notes you keep, with visuals, from YouTube and X. ## Questions people ask ### Is Caddie's YouTube summarizer free? Yes, while Caddie is in beta. ### Does it work with X (Twitter) videos? Yes. Paste a YouTube or X link. ### Do I need the Mac app? No. Video notes work in your browser at usecaddie.app/app and in the Mac app. ### Can I get the transcript too? Yes. The transcript follows the video as it plays, and the detailed notes carry timestamps. ## Related [Caddie's growth library: podcasts as visual notes](https://usecaddie.app/growth/)[AI meeting notes for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/)[Notion alternatives](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/notion)[Narrated explainers of your notes](https://usecaddie.app/explainers/) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > Caddie is a notes app for Mac and the web where AI sorts notes into folders for you, search finds any word, and you can bring everything over from Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Mem and Apple Notes. # A notes app that organizes itself Caddie is an AI notes app for the Mac and the browser. You write; Caddie's AI reads what each note is about and groups it into folders inside its collection (a customer, a kind of meeting, a project), so you never file anything. Search finds any word, the journal and your meeting notes live beside your notes, and you can bring your notes from Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Mem or Apple Notes in a few minutes. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ## How it works - **Write, or bring your notes.** Start typing, or import a Notion, Obsidian, Evernote or Mem export, or your Apple Notes. - **Let it sort.** Ask a collection to organize itself and the AI groups its notes into folders by person, company, meeting type or project. - **Find anything.** Search any word, or ask Caddie (⌘J) about what's in your notes. ## Notes in Caddie, at a glance | Imports | Notion, Obsidian (any Markdown folder), Evernote, Mem and Apple Notes; files are read on your device | | --- | --- | | Where | Mac app and any browser (usecaddie.app/app); iPhone in beta | | Organizing | AI folders inside each collection; you can still make folders yourself | | Sharing | Any note as a public page | | Agents | Read and write notes from Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor through Caddie's MCP server | ## How the folders make themselves Each collection can organize itself: Caddie's AI reads what every note is about and groups notes that belong together, the same person or company ("Acme Corp"), the same kind of meeting ("User interviews", "Investor calls") or the same project. It needs an AI provider set up in Settings; without one you make folders yourself. ## Moving from Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Mem or Apple Notes Drop the export in (zips are opened for you, nested ones too) and Caddie shows a preview before saving: notes, their folders and tags, and images. The unzipping and reading happen on your device; only the finished notes reach your account. On the Mac it reads Apple Notes straight from the Notes app. ## Notes next to your day Notes sit in the same app as your tasks, calendar, meeting notes and journal, so a note can become a task, and a meeting's notes land in the right folder without you. ## Share a note as a page Any note can be a public page that anyone can read without Caddie: the growth library on this site is hundreds of notes shared that way. ## What it doesn't do yet - No Windows or Android app: notes work in any browser there. - Databases and wikis with permissions per page are Notion's strength, not Caddie's. - Organizing with AI needs an AI provider set up (Settings › AI providers). ## Questions people ask ### Can I import my Notion workspace into Caddie? Yes. Export from Notion (Markdown and CSV), drop the zip into Caddie › Import, check the preview and save. Sub-pages and database rows keep their place. ### Is there an Obsidian importer? Yes. Caddie reads an Obsidian vault like any folder of Markdown files, with front matter and #tags kept as tags. ### Is it free? Yes, while Caddie is in beta. ## Related [Notion alternatives](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/notion)[Obsidian alternatives](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/obsidian)[Evernote alternatives](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/evernote)[Caddie vs Notion](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion)[Journal](https://usecaddie.app/journal/) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > The best daily planner apps that put tasks on your calendar: Caddie, Sunsama, Akiflow, Motion, Reclaim, Todoist and Notion Calendar, compared on price, platforms and how they plan the day. # The best daily planner apps in 2026 The best daily planner apps are Caddie (tasks, Google Calendar and habits in one day on a Mac, with a Planner that plans the morning with you), Sunsama (a guided daily ritual), Akiflow (a keyboard-first task inbox), Motion (AI auto-scheduling), Reclaim.ai (focus time and habits on your calendar), Todoist (a fast to-do list) and Notion Calendar (a free calendar). A daily planner is worth it when tasks and meetings are in one view; pick by how much of the planning you want done for you. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 7 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best on a Mac, with notes, meetings and habits in the same day | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Sunsama | Best guided daily ritual | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android, web | No free plan; a 14-day trial | Pro $22 a month, or $17 a month billed yearly | | 3. Akiflow | Best task inbox | Desktop, mobile and web; Google and Outlook calendars | No free plan; a 7-day trial that needs a card | Pro $34 a month, or $19 a month billed yearly | | 4. Motion | Best automatic scheduling | Web, desktop, iPhone and Android | A free trial; no free plan | Pro AI from $19 per seat a month | | 5. Reclaim.ai | Best for protecting focus time | Google Calendar and Outlook (web) | Lite: 1 scheduling link, habits and focus time, a 1-week planning range | Starter $10 per seat a month billed yearly ($12 monthly) | | 6. Todoist | Best simple to-do list | Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android | 5 projects; no calendar layout | Pro $5 a month billed yearly ($7 monthly) | | 7. Notion Calendar | Best free calendar app | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, web | Scheduling links included | Free | ## Why people look for something better A to-do list doesn't know you have six meetings today. Daily planners put tasks next to the calendar so you plan what actually fits. ## How we picked We compared how each puts tasks on the calendar, how much it plans for you, the platforms and the price, from each product's site on 31 October 2026. ## 1. Caddie Best on a Mac, with notes, meetings and habits in the same day Tasks, Google Calendar, habits and meeting follow-ups in one day on your Mac. Each morning the Planner proposes a plan and fits the tasks that aren't on the calendar yet. Free while in beta. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Sunsama Best guided daily ritual A calm guided ritual: plan each morning, timebox tasks on your calendar, and review the day at night. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android, web **Free plan** No free plan; a 14-day trial **Paid from** Pro $22 a month, or $17 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** No free plan, and at $17 to $22 a month it's one of the priciest planners. **Source** [www.sunsama.com/pricing](https://www.sunsama.com/pricing) ## 3. Akiflow Best task inbox Pulls tasks from your other tools into one inbox you clear with the keyboard, then time-block. **Platforms** Desktop, mobile and web; Google and Outlook calendars **Free plan** No free plan; a 7-day trial that needs a card **Paid from** Pro $34 a month, or $19 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** No free plan, the trial needs a card, and its meeting assistant is another $19 a month. **Source** [akiflow.com/pricing](https://akiflow.com/pricing) ## 4. Motion Best automatic scheduling AI that schedules your tasks into the calendar for you and re-plans when things move, plus projects for teams. **Platforms** Web, desktop, iPhone and Android **Free plan** A free trial; no free plan **Paid from** Pro AI from $19 per seat a month **Watch out for** No free plan, and a full project tool is more than most people need for a daily plan. **Source** [www.usemotion.com/pricing](https://www.usemotion.com/pricing) ## 5. Reclaim.ai Best for protecting focus time Defends focus time and habits on the calendar you already use, with a free plan. **Platforms** Google Calendar and Outlook (web) **Free plan** Lite: 1 scheduling link, habits and focus time, a 1-week planning range **Paid from** Starter $10 per seat a month billed yearly ($12 monthly) **Watch out for** It plans your calendar but isn't a task list or notes app of its own. **Source** [reclaim.ai/pricing](https://reclaim.ai/pricing) ## 6. Todoist Best simple to-do list A fast, mature to-do list with natural-language dates, at a low price. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android **Free plan** 5 projects; no calendar layout **Paid from** Pro $5 a month billed yearly ($7 monthly) **Watch out for** Seeing tasks on a calendar needs Pro, and planning the day around meetings is up to you. **Source** [todoist.com/pricing](https://todoist.com/pricing) ## 7. Notion Calendar Best free calendar app Free scheduling links in a good calendar app. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, web **Free plan** Scheduling links included **Paid from** Free **Watch out for** Basic: no payments, routing or round-robin. **Source** [www.notion.com/help/availability-blocking-and-time-zones](https://www.notion.com/help/availability-blocking-and-time-zones) ## How to choose - You want a plan proposed each morning, on a Mac: Caddie. - You want a ritual that slows you down: Sunsama. - You want it fully automatic: Motion. - You only need a list: Todoist. ## Questions people ask ### What's the best free daily planner app? Caddie is free while in beta; Reclaim, Todoist and Notion Calendar have free plans. ### What's the best daily planner for Mac? Caddie is built for the Mac (with the Planner in the notch); Sunsama, Akiflow and Todoist also have Mac apps. ### Do I need AI in a planner? Not necessarily. AI helps most when your day changes a lot: Motion re-plans for you, and Caddie proposes a plan you accept or change. ## Related [A daily planner that plans the day with you](https://usecaddie.app/daily-planner/)[The best Sunsama alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/sunsama)[The best habit tracker apps in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/habit-tracker/best-habit-tracker-apps) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > Caddie puts your tasks, Google Calendar, habits and meeting follow-ups in one day view on your Mac, and its Planner plans the morning with you and nudges you back when you drift. Free in beta. # A daily planner that plans the day with you Caddie is a daily planner for the Mac where your tasks and your Google Calendar are one day: tasks sit next to your meetings, habits and routines hold their time, and promises from your calls arrive as tasks on their own. Each morning the Planner, a small assistant in your Mac's notch, says what's on today and offers to fit the tasks that aren't on the calendar yet. Say yes and it plans the day, or the week, with you. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ## How it works - **Connect Google Calendar.** Events sync every five minutes, next to your tasks. - **Say yes to the morning plan.** "Morning. Today: 3 meetings. 2 tasks aren't on the calendar yet. Want me to plan them in?" - **Do the day.** The Planner nudges you back when you drift, in the voice you pick: friend, coach, calm or hype. ## Daily planner in Caddie, at a glance | Calendar | Google Calendar, synced every 5 minutes | | --- | --- | | Planning | Plan my day and Plan my week with the Planner | | Tasks from | Notes, meeting promises, Linear tickets, and anything you type | | Habits and routines | Hold their time on the calendar every day they run | | Where | Mac app; browser; iPhone app (beta) for tasks and calendar | ## Tasks and calendar in one day Most planners show tasks in one place and the calendar in another. In Caddie the day is one view: meetings from Google Calendar, your tasks, and the blocks your habits and routines hold (lunch, gym, sleep). Pinch on the trackpad to zoom the day; move a habit's block and it moves on every day it runs. ## Plan my day, Plan my week The Planner is a built-in agent. It looks at what's due, what's on the calendar and how much time is free, then proposes a plan, asks you anything it needs to know, and puts tasks into the free time. After the evening it plans tomorrow instead. ## Where the tasks come from From your notes (a line becomes a task), from your meetings (each promise on the call becomes a task), from Linear (the Tickets tab shows your team's open issues), and from you. Later weeks keep things you won't do this week out of today. ## Firm when you drift The Planner lives in the notch. It starts focus time, says when you're off plan, and cheers when you finish: you pick its voice. ## What it doesn't do yet - Google Calendar only: no Outlook or iCloud calendar yet. - The Planner and notch are in the Mac app; the browser and iPhone show tasks and calendar. - No Windows or Android app. ## Questions people ask ### Is Caddie a good Sunsama alternative? If you're on a Mac and use Google Calendar, yes: one day view, a morning plan, and it's free while in beta. Sunsama has a more guided daily ritual and works on Windows, Linux and Outlook. ### Does it auto-schedule my tasks like Motion? It proposes a plan with you each morning (Plan my day) rather than moving everything on its own. You say yes, change it, or ask it to fit something else. ### Does it work with Outlook? Not yet: Google Calendar only. ### Is it free? Yes, while Caddie is in beta. ## Compare [The best daily planner apps in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/daily-planner/best-daily-planner-apps)[Caddie vs Sunsama](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama)[Sunsama alternatives](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/sunsama)[Habits on your calendar](https://usecaddie.app/habit-tracker/)[Booking links](https://usecaddie.app/booking-links/) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > Share a Caddie booking link and guests pick a time in their own time zone. Google Calendar and Meet are set up for them, both sides get emails, and your habits and routines stay booked off. Free in beta. # Booking links that keep your day yours Caddie booking links work like Calendly: share one link, and guests pick a free time in their own time zone. The booking goes on your Google Calendar with a Google Meet link, Google invites the guest, and both of you get an email when it's booked, moved or cancelled. What's different: your habits and routines (lunch, gym, deep work) count as busy, so nobody books over them, and the link lives next to your tasks and notes. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ## How it works - **Make a link.** Pick its length, your weekly hours and where the call happens: Google Meet, a place or a phone call. - **Share it.** Guests see free times in their own time zone, in 12- or 24-hour time. - **It books itself.** A Google Calendar event with a Meet link, an invite for the guest, and reminders a day and an hour before. ## Booking links in Caddie, at a glance | Where calls happen | Google Meet (link made for you), a place, or a phone call | | --- | --- | | Rules | Weekly hours, minimum notice, a booking window of up to 60 days, buffers, a cap per day, an end date | | Questions | Your own: short or long text, a choice, a phone number | | Changes | Guests reschedule from their booking page; both sides get an email | | Teams | Book any one of a team, or a time when everyone is free | ## Your focus time stays yours Busy time comes from your Google Calendar (a second work calendar too) and from your Caddie habits and routines, so lunch, the gym and deep work aren't offered. You can let a link book over a routine you're happy to move. ## Checked against Google when it books Free times are worked out ahead so the page is fast, and the exact time is checked live against your calendar at the moment someone books, so two people can't take the same slot. A booking you delete in Google is cancelled in Caddie too, and one you move there follows. ## Team links In a team workspace a link can book any one of several people, or only times when everyone (and optional extras) is free. ## Questions before the call Ask what you need to know: short or long answers, a choice, a phone number, each required or not. The answers are on the booking. ## What it doesn't do yet - Google Calendar only: no Outlook calendars. - No payments, routing forms or Zoom links yet. - Reminder emails need Caddie's email sender set up for your account. ## Questions people ask ### Is it a free Calendly alternative? Yes. Caddie's booking links are free while Caddie is in beta, with as many links as you want. Calendly's free plan allows one event type. ### Can guests reschedule? Yes, from the page in their confirmation email. Both of you get an email. ### Does it work with Zoom? Not yet. Calls happen on Google Meet, at a place, or by phone. ### Can teammates share a link? Yes, in a team workspace: book any one of them, or a time that suits everyone. ## Related [Caddie vs Calendly](https://usecaddie.app/vs/calendly)[Free Calendly alternatives](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/calendly)[Daily planner](https://usecaddie.app/daily-planner/)[Teams](https://usecaddie.app/teams/) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > Caddie runs your own Claude Code and Codex as agents on your Mac: give them tasks and routines, let them use your tools and your Chrome, and see who needs you in one inbox, also on your iPhone. # Agents that work while you don't, on your own Claude Code or Codex Caddie turns your own Claude Code and Codex accounts into agents that work for you on your Mac. Give an agent a task or a routine ("every Monday, send me last week's signups"); it uses your MCP tools, your Chrome or its own browser, and your notes, and it asks you only when it needs you. The Agents inbox sorts every agent by who needs you, and the iPhone app lets you answer, stop or approve from anywhere. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ## How it works - **Make an agent.** Name it, give it a job, pick Claude Code or Codex and which tools it can use. - **Hand it work.** A task, a routine on a schedule, or a Linear ticket assigned to it. - **Answer when asked.** It asks before anything that sends, pays, deletes or posts, in the notch or on your phone. ## Agents in Caddie, at a glance | Runs on | Your own Claude Code or Codex, on your Mac | | --- | --- | | Tools | Your MCP servers, Caddie's own tools, your Chrome (through Caddie's extension) or its own browser | | Routines | Tasks on a schedule, with results as cards | | From your phone | Read, reply, stop and approve, through the iPhone app | | Memory | One note of facts about you, plus skills it can keep and reuse | ## Your account, not ours Agents run on the Claude Code or Codex you already pay for, on your Mac, so there's no second AI bill and your code and files stay where they are. ## One inbox for every agent Every agent's threads in one list, sorted by who needs you, each with a short line on what it needs: an answer, an OK on a draft, a review. ## Agents that remember and learn A pinned note, "What Caddie knows about you", gives every agent the same facts about you, and agents can save a job they did as a skill to reuse. They can ask each other for help and hand out up to ten pieces of work at once. ## Asks before it acts The first time an agent wants your Chrome, and before a click that sends, pays, deletes or posts, it asks you in the notch. Phone tools (your location, a photo) need a tap on the phone. ## Drive it from outside Caddie Through Caddie's MCP server, your own Claude Code, Codex or T3 Code can start an agent's task, follow it, reply in it or stop it. ## What it doesn't do yet - Agents run in the Mac app and need Claude Code or Codex set up on that Mac. - When the Mac is asleep or off, agents wait; there's no cloud runner yet. - Using the Mac's other apps by itself (computer use) is still an experiment. ## Questions people ask ### Do I need a Claude or ChatGPT subscription? You need Claude Code or Codex set up on your Mac, on the plan you already have. Caddie doesn't charge for the AI. ### Can agents run on a schedule? Yes. Routines run an agent's task on a schedule and show the results as cards. ### Can I approve things from my phone? Yes. The iPhone app shows your agents, their chats and what they're waiting on. ### Is this the same as OpenClaw? Similar idea, different shape: Caddie's agents live next to your notes, tasks and calendar and run on your Claude Code or Codex. OpenClaw is open source and reached from many chat apps. ## Related [A personal AI agent on your Mac](https://usecaddie.app/personal-ai-agent/)[Caddie's MCP server](https://usecaddie.app/mcp-server/)[OpenClaw alternatives](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/openclaw)[Practical principles for building with agents](https://usecaddie.app/blog/agents) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > Caddie is a personal AI agent that runs on your own Mac with your Claude Code or Codex: message it from your iPhone, let it handle your Slack DMs, and it knows your notes, tasks and calendar. # A personal AI agent that runs on your own Mac Caddie is a personal AI agent that runs on your own Mac, on your Claude Code or Codex account, and already knows your notes, tasks, calendar and meetings. Message it from the iPhone app from anywhere, and connect Slack so your DMs and @mentions are sorted for you: seen, answered in the thread, handed to one of your agents, or asked about in your Mac's notch. It asks before anything that sends, pays, deletes or posts. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ## How it works - **Install Caddie on your Mac.** Set up Claude Code or Codex once. - **Reach it from anywhere.** The iPhone app talks to the agent running on your Mac, over the internet, not only on your Wi-Fi. - **Let it handle Slack.** Connect Slack and new DMs and mentions are triaged; you OK the replies. ## Personal AI agent in Caddie, at a glance | Runs on | Your Mac, with your Claude Code or Codex | | --- | --- | | Reach it from | The iPhone app, Slack (DMs and @mentions), and your Mac | | Knows | Your notes, tasks, calendar, meeting transcripts and a memory note about you | | Asks first | Before sending, paying, deleting or posting | | Not yet | WhatsApp, Telegram and iMessage | ## Why on your own Mac Your files, your signed-in Chrome and your apps are on your Mac, so that's where the agent works. Nothing runs in someone else's cloud except the AI model you already use. ## Slack, handled Caddie reads new Slack DMs and @mentions as they arrive (no polling), sorts them in batches with a small model, and acts: marks them seen, drafts a reply in the thread for your OK, hands them to the right agent, or asks you in the notch. Your Slack token is sealed on the server and never leaves it. ## From your phone The iPhone app shows every agent and its chats. A message, Stop, Mark done or an OK you give there goes to the Mac that runs the agent and happens as if you were there. ## Compared with OpenClaw OpenClaw (the open-source agent once called Clawdbot) is free, runs on Mac, Windows or Linux, and answers in 29 chat apps; you set it up and pick its model. Caddie is a Mac app that comes set up, uses your Claude Code or Codex, and sits next to your notes, tasks and calendar; today you reach it from the iPhone app and Slack. ## What it doesn't do yet - WhatsApp, Telegram and iMessage aren't supported yet. - It works while your Mac is awake; there's no cloud runner yet. - Mac only (Apple silicon). ## Questions people ask ### What is a personal AI agent? An AI that does tasks for you, not just chats: it reads and writes your notes and calendar, drafts replies, runs routines and asks you when it needs a decision. ### Is my data sent to Caddie's servers? Your notes and tasks sync through Caddie's servers like any notes app. The agent itself runs on your Mac with your own AI account. ### Can I message it on WhatsApp? Not yet. Today it's the iPhone app and Slack. ### How is it different from ChatGPT? It runs on your Mac with your tools and knows your own notes, calendar and meetings, and it can work on a schedule without you. ## Related [OpenClaw alternatives](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/openclaw)[Agents and routines](https://usecaddie.app/agents/)[Caddie's MCP server](https://usecaddie.app/mcp-server/) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > The MCP servers worth connecting to Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor: Caddie (notes, tasks, calendar), GitHub, Playwright, Context7, Notion and Linear, with what each does and how it connects. # The best MCP servers in 2026 The MCP servers most worth connecting are the official ones for tools you already use: Caddie (your notes, tasks, calendar and meeting transcripts), GitHub (issues, pull requests and code), Playwright (a browser your agent can drive), Context7 (current docs for the libraries you code with), Notion (your pages and databases) and Linear (issues and projects). Start with two or three; every server you add is more your agent can read, and more to keep scoped. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 6 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best for your notes, tasks, calendar and meetings | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. GitHub MCP server | Best for code and pull requests | Hosted by GitHub, or run locally | Free; your GitHub plan applies | Free | | 3. Playwright MCP | Best for browsing | Runs on your computer (npx @playwright/mcp) | Free and open source | Free | | 4. Context7 | Best for coding with current docs | Hosted (mcp.context7.com/mcp) or local | A free tier | Free to start | | 5. Notion MCP | Best for a Notion workspace | Hosted (mcp.notion.com/mcp), sign in with Notion | Works on Notion's free plan | Free; your Notion plan applies | | 6. Linear MCP | Best for issue tracking | Hosted (mcp.linear.app/mcp) | Works on Linear's free plan | Free; your Linear plan applies | ## Why people look for something better An agent is only as useful as what it can reach. MCP servers give Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and coding agents your real tools and data, safely and with your permission. ## How we picked We picked official servers from each tool's maker (or the most used open-source one), checked how each connects (hosted or local) and its sign-in, from each project's own docs on 31 October 2026. ## 1. Caddie Best for your notes, tasks, calendar and meetings https://usecaddie.app/mcp gives any MCP client your notes, tasks, calendar, habits, booking links and meeting transcripts, with a personal key. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. GitHub MCP server Best for code and pull requests Issues, pull requests, code search and Actions for your agent, from GitHub itself. **Platforms** Hosted by GitHub, or run locally **Free plan** Free; your GitHub plan applies **Paid from** Free **Watch out for** Broad write access: give it a token scoped to what the agent needs. **Source** [github.com/github/github-mcp-server](https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server) ## 3. Playwright MCP Best for browsing A real browser your agent can open, read and click through, from Microsoft. **Platforms** Runs on your computer (npx @playwright/mcp) **Free plan** Free and open source **Paid from** Free **Watch out for** Its own browser, not yours: sites you're signed in to need signing in again. **Source** [github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp](https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp) ## 4. Context7 Best for coding with current docs Current documentation for the libraries you code with, so the agent doesn't guess old APIs. **Platforms** Hosted (mcp.context7.com/mcp) or local **Free plan** A free tier **Paid from** Free to start **Watch out for** For coding only. **Source** [github.com/upstash/context7](https://github.com/upstash/context7) ## 5. Notion MCP Best for a Notion workspace Search, read and write your Notion pages and databases from any agent. **Platforms** Hosted (mcp.notion.com/mcp), sign in with Notion **Free plan** Works on Notion's free plan **Paid from** Free; your Notion plan applies **Watch out for** Only as good as your Notion workspace's structure. **Source** [developers.notion.com/docs/mcp](https://developers.notion.com/docs/mcp) ## 6. Linear MCP Best for issue tracking Find, create and update issues, projects and comments, with a read-only option. **Platforms** Hosted (mcp.linear.app/mcp) **Free plan** Works on Linear's free plan **Paid from** Free; your Linear plan applies **Watch out for** Linear only. **Source** [linear.app/docs/mcp](https://linear.app/docs/mcp) ## How to choose - Your own day and notes in your agent: Caddie. - Coding: GitHub, Context7 and Playwright. - Team docs: Notion; issues: Linear. - Keep tokens scoped to what each agent needs. ## Questions people ask ### What is an MCP server? A server that gives AI apps (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, coding agents) tools and data through the Model Context Protocol, so they can read and act in your apps with your permission. ### Are MCP servers free? Most are free; you need an account with the app they connect to. ### How do I add one to Claude Code? claude mcp add --transport http , with a header for its key if it needs one. ## Related [Your notes, tasks and calendar in any AI, through one MCP server](https://usecaddie.app/mcp-server/)[Agents that work while you don't, on your own Claude Code or Codex](https://usecaddie.app/agents/)[The best OpenClaw alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/openclaw) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > Connect https://usecaddie.app/mcp to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any MCP client and your agent can read and change your Caddie notes, tasks, calendar, habits, booking links and meeting transcripts. # Your notes, tasks and calendar in any AI, through one MCP server Caddie's MCP server (https://usecaddie.app/mcp) gives any MCP client, Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Claude Code or Codex, access to your Caddie: search and write notes, add and plan tasks, find free time and create events, log habits, make booking links, and search what was said on your calls. You connect it with a personal agent key from Caddie's settings, and you can remove the key at any time. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ## How it works - **Make a key.** Caddie › Settings › AI › Your agents › new key (it starts with cad_). - **Add the server.** In your client, add https://usecaddie.app/mcp with the key as a Bearer token (or ?key=cad_… where headers aren't possible). - **Ask.** "What did Priya say about pricing on Tuesday's call?" "Find 30 minutes with no meetings tomorrow and block it for the deck." `claude mcp add --transport http caddie https://usecaddie.app/mcp \ --header "Authorization: Bearer cad_…"` ## MCP server in Caddie, at a glance | Address | https://usecaddie.app/mcp (streamable HTTP) | | --- | --- | | Sign-in | A personal agent key, sent as a Bearer token | | Notes | Search, read, create, update, move, pin and share notes; read and write the journal | | Day | Tasks, events, free time, habits and routines, booking links | | Meetings and teams | List meetings, search transcripts, team workspaces and members, data tables | ## What an agent can do with it Search your notes and read one in full; create a note or append to one; add, update and finish tasks; list events and create one in a free slot it found; log a habit; make or change a booking link; list your recorded meetings and search their transcripts; read and update data tables; work in a team workspace. ## Why your notes belong in your agent An agent is only as useful as what it knows. With Caddie connected, Claude or ChatGPT can answer from your own meetings and notes, and put the follow-up on your calendar, instead of you copying context into a chat. ## For your agents in Caddie too The same server is how Caddie's own agents (and yours from outside, in Claude Code, Codex or T3 Code) start tasks, follow them and reply, so one key works everywhere. ## Discoverable by agents The server is described at usecaddie.app/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json, with an agent skill that explains how to use it. ## What it doesn't do yet - It reads and writes your Caddie only; it isn't a general web or file tool. - Each key is personal: teammates make their own. ## Questions people ask ### Which apps work with Caddie's MCP server? Any MCP client: Claude (desktop and Claude Code), ChatGPT, Cursor, Codex, and others that support remote MCP servers over HTTP. ### How do I authenticate? With a personal agent key from Caddie › Settings › AI › Your agents, sent as "Authorization: Bearer cad_…". ### Is it free? Yes, while Caddie is in beta. ### Can it read my meeting transcripts? Yes: list_meetings, search_transcripts and get_transcript, with the key's permission. ## Compare [The best MCP servers in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/mcp-server/best-mcp-servers)[Agents in Caddie](https://usecaddie.app/agents/)[Meeting notes](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > Caddie turns a note, a video's notes or a meeting into a short narrated explainer with drawn visuals, that plays on the note and on its shared page. A NotebookLM-style overview for your own notes. # Turn a note into a narrated explainer Caddie can turn any note into a short explainer: a narrated walk through its ideas with visuals drawn for each one, played right on the note and on its shared page. It's for when you'd rather listen and watch than read, or want to send someone the idea of a long note in two minutes. Your first explainer is voiced on Caddie; after that you add your own ElevenLabs key, and any explainer can play with captions instead of a voice. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ## How it works - **Open a note.** Your own, a meeting's notes, or notes Caddie made from a video. - **Make the explainer.** Caddie writes the narration and draws a visual for each idea. - **Play or share.** It plays on the note; share the note and visitors can play it too. ## Explainers in Caddie, at a glance | From | Any note, meeting notes or video notes | | --- | --- | | Voice | ElevenLabs: your first explainer on Caddie, then your own key; captions without a voice | | Visuals | Drawn for each idea, in a few styles | | Sharing | Plays on the note's shared page | ## Like an audio overview, for your own notes NotebookLM made audio overviews popular for documents you upload. Caddie's explainers come from the notes you already have, and they show visuals with the narration instead of only audio. ## Made from your notes, not the web The narration follows what's in the note, so an explainer of a meeting says what was actually decided, and one of a podcast's notes follows its chapters. ## Shared pages play it When you share a note as a page, its explainer plays for visitors too, voiced on your terms. ## What it doesn't do yet - Narration uses ElevenLabs: after the first explainer, you need your own key (or play it with captions). - There's a daily limit on narration with Caddie's key. ## Questions people ask ### Is it like NotebookLM's Audio Overviews? It's similar: a spoken overview of your material. Caddie's is made from your own notes, shows visuals as it narrates, and plays on a shared page. ### Do I need an ElevenLabs account? Not for your first explainer. After that, add your own key, or play explainers with captions. ### Can I explain a YouTube video? Yes: make notes of the video first, then make an explainer of the notes. ## Related [Caddie vs NotebookLM](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notebooklm)[Video notes](https://usecaddie.app/youtube-summarizer/)[Notes](https://usecaddie.app/notes/) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > The best habit tracker apps: Caddie, Streaks, Habitify, HabitKit, Habitica and Loop, compared on platforms, free plans and how they keep you going. # The best habit tracker apps in 2026 The best habit tracker apps are Caddie (habits with a time on your calendar, on Mac, iPhone and the web), Streaks (pay once, Apple only, with Apple Health), Habitify (every platform, with good stats), HabitKit (a beautiful history grid on Apple devices), Habitica (habits as a role-playing game) and Loop Habit Tracker (free and open source on Android). The best one is the one you'll open every day: pick by your phone and how you like to be motivated. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 6 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best for habits on your calendar, with your tasks | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Streaks | Best on iPhone, paid once | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch | No free version | One purchase on the App Store | | 3. Habitify | Best on every platform | iPhone, Android, Mac, web | Up to 3 habits | Premium by subscription, or once for life | | 4. HabitKit | Best-looking history | iPhone, iPad, Mac | Free to start | A Pro upgrade in the app | | 5. Habitica | Best if games motivate you | iPhone, Android, web | Everything that matters is free | An optional subscription (cosmetic) | | 6. Loop Habit Tracker | Best free app on Android | Android | Free and open source | Free | ## Why people look for something better Most people abandon a habit tracker within weeks. The trackers that last fit how you already work: on your phone, on your calendar, or as a game. ## How we picked We compared platforms, what's free and how each app keeps you going, from each app's own site on 31 October 2026. Prices vary by country and store, so we say how you pay rather than a number. ## 1. Caddie Best for habits on your calendar, with your tasks Every habit gets a time on your calendar, streaks count only the days it's due, and a 30-week grid shows how it's going. On Mac, iPhone (beta) and the web, next to your tasks. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Streaks Best on iPhone, paid once Pay once, track up to 24 habits, and let Apple Health tick off activity goals for you. **Platforms** iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch **Free plan** No free version **Paid from** One purchase on the App Store **Watch out for** Apple only, and it's a tracker: habits don't get a time on your calendar. **Source** [streaksapp.com](https://streaksapp.com) ## 3. Habitify Best on every platform The best-known habit tracker on every platform, with good stats. **Platforms** iPhone, Android, Mac, web **Free plan** Up to 3 habits **Paid from** Premium by subscription, or once for life **Watch out for** The free plan stops at three habits. **Source** [www.habitify.me](https://www.habitify.me) ## 4. HabitKit Best-looking history A clean grid of every habit's history that makes streaks satisfying to look at. **Platforms** iPhone, iPad, Mac **Free plan** Free to start **Paid from** A Pro upgrade in the app **Watch out for** Apple only, and nothing connects habits to your day's plan. **Source** [www.habitkit.app](https://www.habitkit.app) ## 5. Habitica Best if games motivate you Turns habits into a role-playing game, with parties and quests to keep you honest. **Platforms** iPhone, Android, web **Free plan** Everything that matters is free **Paid from** An optional subscription (cosmetic) **Watch out for** The game is the point: if that's not your thing, it gets in the way. **Source** [habitica.com](https://habitica.com) ## 6. Loop Habit Tracker Best free app on Android Free, open source, private, and with a habit-strength score that forgives a missed day. **Platforms** Android **Free plan** Free and open source **Paid from** Free **Watch out for** Android only. **Source** [github.com/iSoron/uhabits](https://github.com/iSoron/uhabits) ## How to choose - You plan your day on a calendar: Caddie. - iPhone and Apple Watch, no subscription: Streaks. - Android, free: Loop. - You need fun to stick with it: Habitica. ## Questions people ask ### What's the best free habit tracker? Loop (Android) and Habitica are free; Habitify is free for three habits; Caddie is free while in beta. ### Is there a habit tracker for Mac? Caddie, Streaks, HabitKit and Habitify all run on the Mac. ### How long does it take to build a habit? In one study it took 66 days on average for a daily habit to feel automatic, and missing a day didn't set people back (Lally et al., 2010). ## Related [A habit tracker that gives every habit a time](https://usecaddie.app/habit-tracker/)[The best journal apps in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/journal/best-journal-apps)[The best daily planner apps in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/daily-planner/best-daily-planner-apps) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > Caddie's habit tracker gives every habit a time on your calendar, counts streaks without punishing rest days, and keeps your routines from being booked over. On Mac, iPhone and the web. # A habit tracker that gives every habit a time Caddie is a habit tracker where every habit gets a time on your calendar, because deciding when and where you'll do something makes you far more likely to do it. Habits can repeat on chosen days or several times a day, streaks count only the days a habit is due (a rest day doesn't break one), and a 30-week history shows how it's going. Routines like lunch or the gym hold their time too, so meetings and booking links don't land on them. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ## How it works - **Add a habit.** Pick the days, the time and how many sessions a day (three writing sessions, say). - **See it on your day.** Each session is a block on your calendar, next to tasks and meetings. - **Tick it off.** On the Mac, the iPhone app or the web; the streak counts due days only. ## Habits in Caddie, at a glance | Schedule | Chosen days, a time, and one or more sessions a day | | --- | --- | | Streaks | Count due days only; rest days and days before the habit existed don't break them | | History | A 30-week grid for each habit | | Calendar | Habits and routines hold their time, and booking links won't book over them | | Where | Mac, iPhone (beta) and any browser | ## Why habits get a time Across 94 studies, deciding when and where you'll do something made people noticeably more likely to follow through (Gollwitzer and Sheeran, 2006). So in Caddie a habit isn't a checkbox floating in a list: it's on your calendar. ## Missing a day is fine On average a daily habit took 66 days to feel automatic, and missing a single day didn't set people back (Lally et al., 2010). Caddie's streaks follow that: change a habit's days and the past is judged by the days it had then. ## Tracking helps, written down Tracking progress helps people reach goals, more so when it's written down (Harkin et al., 2016, 138 studies). Each habit's grid is that record. ## Habits versus routines A habit is a goal you track (read, run). A routine just holds time (lunch, dinner). Neither is a task, so nothing rolls over to tomorrow when you skip it. ## What it doesn't do yet - No Android app (use the browser). - No Apple Watch app, and the iPhone widgets don't show habits yet. ## Questions people ask ### Is there a habit tracker for Mac? Yes: Caddie runs on the Mac, with habits on your calendar, and syncs to its iPhone app and the web. ### Does missing a day reset my streak? Only on a day the habit was due. Rest days, and changes to which days it runs, are taken into account. ### Can a habit happen several times a day? Yes. Set how many sessions; each gets its block. ### Is it free? Yes, while Caddie is in beta. ## Compare [The best habit tracker apps in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/habit-tracker/best-habit-tracker-apps)[Daily planner](https://usecaddie.app/daily-planner/)[Journal](https://usecaddie.app/journal/) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > The best journaling apps: Caddie, Day One, Apple Journal, Notion and Obsidian, compared on platforms, privacy, price and how easy it is to look back. # The best journal apps in 2026 The best journal apps are Caddie (a journal you zoom from a year to a day, with summaries, next to your notes and tasks), Day One (the most complete journal, with photos, places and encryption), Apple Journal (free and built in on iPhone, iPad and Mac), Notion (if your journal is a database) and Obsidian (daily notes as files you own). Pick Day One for a rich life record, Apple Journal for free, and Caddie if you want to look back across months easily. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 5 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best for looking back across weeks, months and years | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Day One | Best full-featured journal | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, web | Basic, on one device | Paid plans by the year (Silver and Gold) | | 3. Apple Journal | Best free journal on Apple devices | iPhone, iPad, and Mac on macOS 26 | Free, built in | Free | | 4. Notion | Best if you want a journal database | Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android | Unlimited pages for one person; AI only as a trial | Plus $10, Business $20 per member a month (up to 20% less yearly) | | 5. Obsidian | Best for daily notes as files | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android | The app is free, including for work | Sync $4 a month billed yearly ($5 monthly) | ## Why people look for something better Writing is the easy part; looking back is what makes a journal worth keeping, and most apps make that hard. ## How we picked We compared platforms, privacy, price and how each helps you look back, from each product's site on 31 October 2026. ## 1. Caddie Best for looking back across weeks, months and years Write each day, then zoom out to the week, month and year, each summarized from your entries. Dictate by holding fn. Next to your notes and tasks; never shared with a team. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Day One Best full-featured journal The most complete journal: photos, places, templates, many journals and end-to-end encryption. **Platforms** iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, web **Free plan** Basic, on one device **Paid from** Paid plans by the year (Silver and Gold) **Watch out for** Syncing across devices needs a paid plan. **Source** [dayoneapp.com](https://dayoneapp.com) ## 3. Apple Journal Best free journal on Apple devices Free, private and built in, with prompts drawn from your photos and places. **Platforms** iPhone, iPad, and Mac on macOS 26 **Free plan** Free, built in **Paid from** Free **Watch out for** Apple only, and no way to look back across a month or a year at a glance. **Source** [support.apple.com/guide/journal/welcome/ios](https://support.apple.com/guide/journal/welcome/ios) ## 4. Notion Best if you want a journal database Docs, databases and wikis in one flexible place, with a huge template library. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android **Free plan** Unlimited pages for one person; AI only as a trial **Paid from** Plus $10, Business $20 per member a month (up to 20% less yearly) **Watch out for** Full AI needs the $20 Business plan, and you build the system yourself. **Source** [www.notion.com/pricing](https://www.notion.com/pricing) ## 5. Obsidian Best for daily notes as files Your notes are plain Markdown files you own, with thousands of plugins. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android **Free plan** The app is free, including for work **Paid from** Sync $4 a month billed yearly ($5 monthly) **Watch out for** Sync costs extra, there's no built-in AI, and no real-time collaboration. **Source** [obsidian.md/pricing](https://obsidian.md/pricing) ## How to choose - Photos, places and many journals: Day One. - Free on iPhone and Mac: Apple Journal. - Easy look-backs and your tasks nearby: Caddie. - Plain files you own forever: Obsidian. ## Questions people ask ### What's the best free journal app? Apple Journal on Apple devices; Day One's Basic plan on one device; Obsidian anywhere; Caddie while it's in beta. ### What's the best journal app for Mac? Day One, Apple Journal (macOS 26) and Caddie all run on the Mac. ### Can I dictate journal entries? In Caddie, hold fn and talk. Day One and Apple Journal support dictation on iPhone. ## Related [A journal you can zoom from a year to a day](https://usecaddie.app/journal/)[The best habit tracker apps in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/habit-tracker/best-habit-tracker-apps)[The best Notion alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/notion) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > Caddie's journal lets you write each day, then zoom out to the week, month and year, each summarized from what you wrote. Next to your notes and tasks, on Mac, iPhone and the web. # A journal you can zoom from a year to a day Caddie's journal is a daily journal you can zoom: write today's entry, then zoom out to the week, the month and the year, each with a summary of what you wrote, and back in to any day. It sits next to your notes, tasks and calendar, so you can see what you did beside what you wrote, and you can dictate entries by holding fn on your Mac. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ## How it works - **Write today.** Type, or hold fn on your Mac and talk. - **Zoom out.** Week, month and year views summarize your entries. - **Zoom back in.** Open any day from the year in two clicks. ## Journal in Caddie, at a glance | Levels | Year, month, week, day and entry | | --- | --- | | Summaries | Each week, month and year summarized from your entries | | Write by voice | Hold fn on your Mac | | Where | Mac, iPhone (beta) and any browser | | Private | Stays personal even if you're in a team workspace | ## Zoom, don't scroll Most journal apps are a long list of entries. Caddie's journal is a zoom: a year of summaries, then a month, a week, a day. Looking back is a few clicks, not an evening of scrolling. ## Next to the rest of your day Your journal is pinned beside your notes, with tasks and calendar a click away, so writing about the day starts from what actually happened. ## Stays yours In a team workspace, notes and tasks can be shared; the journal never is. ## What it doesn't do yet - No photos, places or weather attached automatically, as Day One does. - Summaries need an AI provider set up. ## Questions people ask ### Is there a journal app for Mac with AI summaries? Yes. Caddie summarizes each week, month and year from what you wrote. ### Can I dictate entries? Yes: hold fn in the journal and talk. ### Is my journal shared with my team? No. The journal always stays personal. ## Compare [The best journal apps in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/journal/best-journal-apps)[Habits](https://usecaddie.app/habit-tracker/)[Notes](https://usecaddie.app/notes/) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > A Caddie team workspace shares notes, tasks and collections, files everyone's calls into one knowledge base, and keeps journals, habits and private notes personal. Invite by email or let your company domain join. # A shared workspace for your team's notes, tasks and calls A Caddie team workspace is a shared place for your team's notes, tasks and collections, with everyone's meeting notes filed in one knowledge base. When two teammates record the same call, it becomes one note. Anything can still be private to its writer, and what's personal (journal, habits, settings) never enters the workspace. Invite people by email, or let anyone with a confirmed address at your company's domain join on their own. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. ## How it works - **Make a workspace.** Name it and invite teammates by email. - **Work in it.** Notes, tasks and collections are shared and sync live. - **Record calls.** Meeting notes land in the team's knowledge base; one note per call. ## Teams in Caddie, at a glance | Roles | Owner, admins and members | | --- | --- | | Joining | Invites by email (good for 14 days), or anyone with a confirmed address at your company's domain | | Private | Any note or task can be private to its writer | | Calls | Two people recording the same call make one note | | Booking | Team links: book any one of you, or a time everyone is free | ## Shared, with a private corner Everything in the workspace is shared by default, and a note's writer can make it private. A workspace can also start new notes private. Journals, habits and settings stay in each person's own Caddie. ## One note per call When two teammates record the same call, Caddie merges them into one note, so the knowledge base has one record of each meeting. ## Join by domain, safely A workspace can let anyone whose confirmed email is at your company's domain join on their own. Free email providers never count, and only someone with a confirmed address at the domain can turn it on. ## Team booking links Book any one of several teammates, or only times when everyone is free, with optional extras. ## What it doesn't do yet - Team pricing after the beta is per seat; it's free while in beta. - No guest access or per-page permissions. ## Questions people ask ### How do I invite my team? By email from the workspace's settings (invites last 14 days), or turn on joining by your company's email domain. ### Can I keep some notes private? Yes. The writer of a note can make it private; nobody else sees it. ### Is my journal shared? No. Journals, habits and settings stay personal. ### What does it cost? Free while Caddie is in beta; team pricing will be per seat. ## Related [Meeting notes](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/)[Booking links](https://usecaddie.app/booking-links/)[Caddie vs Notion](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > Everything Caddie does on your Mac and the web: notes that organize themselves, meeting notes with no bot, dictation, a daily planner, booking links, agents, an MCP server, video notes, explainers, habits, a journal and team workspaces. # Everything Caddie does Caddie is one Mac app (and a web app) for your notes, tasks, calendar, meetings, dictation and agents, so what's said in a meeting ends up on your day without you copying it anywhere. Each feature has its own page, with what it does, how it works and what it doesn't do yet. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie. [NotesNotes that sort themselves](https://usecaddie.app/notes/)[Meeting notesNo bot; promises become tasks](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/)[DictationHold fn and talk, in any app](https://usecaddie.app/mac-dictation/)[Daily plannerTasks and calendar in one day](https://usecaddie.app/daily-planner/)[Booking linksLet people book you, keep focus time](https://usecaddie.app/booking-links/)[AgentsClaude Code and Codex, from your notes](https://usecaddie.app/agents/)[Personal AI agentOn your Mac, from Slack and iPhone](https://usecaddie.app/personal-ai-agent/)[MCP serverYour notes and tasks in any AI](https://usecaddie.app/mcp-server/)[Video notesYouTube and X to visual notes](https://usecaddie.app/youtube-summarizer/)[ExplainersA narrated explainer of any note](https://usecaddie.app/explainers/)[HabitsHabits with a time on your calendar](https://usecaddie.app/habit-tracker/)[JournalZoom from a year to a day](https://usecaddie.app/journal/)[TeamsA shared workspace for your team](https://usecaddie.app/teams/) ## What it needs A Mac with Apple silicon on macOS 13.3 or later; meeting recording and dictation need macOS 26. Notes, tasks, calendar and video notes also work in any browser at usecaddie.app/app, and the iPhone app is in beta. ## Compare Caddie [Caddie vs Granola](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola)[Caddie vs Otter](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter)[Caddie vs Notion](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion)[Caddie vs Wispr Flow](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs Superwhisper](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper)[Caddie vs Calendly](https://usecaddie.app/vs/calendly)[Caddie vs Sunsama](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama)[Caddie vs NotebookLM](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notebooklm) --- > Every comparison and guide in one place: Caddie vs Granola, Notion, Calendly, Sunsama and more; the best alternatives to popular apps; and the best note takers, planners, habit trackers, journals and MCP servers of 2026. # Comparisons and guides Head-to-head comparisons of Caddie with the apps it replaces, honest lists of alternatives, and the best apps of 2026 by category. We make Caddie and list it first; every other pick says what it's best at, with prices from its own site. Updated 31 October 2026. ## Caddie vs [Caddie vs Granola](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola)[Caddie vs Otter](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter)[Caddie vs Notion](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion)[Caddie vs Wispr Flow](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs Superwhisper](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper)[Caddie vs Calendly](https://usecaddie.app/vs/calendly)[Caddie vs Sunsama](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama)[Caddie vs NotebookLM](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notebooklm) ## The best apps of 2026 [The best AI note takers8 picks](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/best-ai-note-takers)[The best dictation apps for Mac8 picks](https://usecaddie.app/mac-dictation/best-dictation-apps)[The best daily planner apps7 picks](https://usecaddie.app/daily-planner/best-daily-planner-apps)[The best habit tracker apps6 picks](https://usecaddie.app/habit-tracker/best-habit-tracker-apps)[The best journal apps5 picks](https://usecaddie.app/journal/best-journal-apps)[The best MCP servers6 picks](https://usecaddie.app/mcp-server/best-mcp-servers) ## Alternatives [The best Granola alternatives7 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/granola)[The best Otter.ai alternatives7 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/otter)[The best Wispr Flow alternatives8 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/wispr-flow)[The best Notion alternatives7 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/notion)[The best Obsidian alternatives7 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/obsidian)[The best Evernote alternatives7 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/evernote)[The best free Calendly alternatives7 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/calendly)[The best OpenClaw alternatives4 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/openclaw)[The best Sunsama alternatives6 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/sunsama) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > The best Calendly alternatives with a real free plan: Caddie, Cal.com, zcal, Google Calendar appointment schedules, Notion Calendar, TidyCal and SavvyCal, compared on limits and price. # The best free Calendly alternatives in 2026 The best free Calendly alternatives are Caddie (booking links that protect your focus time, inside your notes and tasks app), Cal.com (unlimited event types free for one person), zcal (almost everything free), Google Calendar appointment schedules (already in Google Calendar), Notion Calendar (free scheduling links) and TidyCal ($29 once). SavvyCal has no free plan but the nicest booking experience for guests. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 7 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best for protecting your focus time, free in beta | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Cal.com | Best free plan for one person | Web; open source, can be self-hosted | Unlimited event types and calendars for one person | Teams $12 per user a month billed yearly | | 3. zcal | Best free plan with group events and polls | Web | Unlimited links and calendars | Pro $7 per user a month billed yearly | | 4. Google Calendar appointment schedules | Best if you live in Google Calendar | Google Calendar (web) | One booking page with a personal Google account | More schedules with Google Workspace or Google One plans | | 5. Notion Calendar | Best free option for Notion users | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, web | Scheduling links included | Free | | 6. TidyCal | Best one-time price | Web | Unlimited booking types, 1 calendar | $29 once (lifetime) | | 7. SavvyCal | Best guest experience (paid) | Web | Try free; pay to share links | Basic $12 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly | ## Why people look for a Calendly alternative Calendly's free plan allows one event type and one calendar, and the next plan is $12 a month. ## How we picked We compared what each free plan really allows, the cheapest paid plan and team features, from each product's site on 31 October 2026. ## 1. Caddie Best for protecting your focus time, free in beta Share one link; guests pick a time in their own time zone, and your lunch and focus time stay yours. It sits next to your tasks and Google Calendar. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Cal.com Best free plan for one person The most generous free plan for one person, and you can host it yourself. **Platforms** Web; open source, can be self-hosted **Free plan** Unlimited event types and calendars for one person **Paid from** Teams $12 per user a month billed yearly **Watch out for** Team features cost per seat; self-hosting takes engineering work. **Source** [cal.com/pricing](https://cal.com/pricing) ## 3. zcal Best free plan with group events and polls A free plan with almost everything, including group events and polls. **Platforms** Web **Free plan** Unlimited links and calendars **Paid from** Pro $7 per user a month billed yearly **Watch out for** Takes a commission on payments on the free plan. **Source** [zcal.co/pricing](https://zcal.co/pricing) ## 4. Google Calendar appointment schedules Best if you live in Google Calendar Already in Google Calendar: nothing new to set up. **Platforms** Google Calendar (web) **Free plan** One booking page with a personal Google account **Paid from** More schedules with Google Workspace or Google One plans **Watch out for** One booking page on the free version, made on a computer. **Source** [support.google.com/calendar/answer/10729749](https://support.google.com/calendar/answer/10729749) ## 5. Notion Calendar Best free option for Notion users Free scheduling links in a good calendar app. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, web **Free plan** Scheduling links included **Paid from** Free **Watch out for** Basic: no payments, routing or round-robin. **Source** [www.notion.com/help/availability-blocking-and-time-zones](https://www.notion.com/help/availability-blocking-and-time-zones) ## 6. TidyCal Best one-time price A lifetime price, with payments and packages. **Platforms** Web **Free plan** Unlimited booking types, 1 calendar **Paid from** $29 once (lifetime) **Watch out for** The free plan connects only one calendar. **Source** [tidycal.com/pricing](https://tidycal.com/pricing) ## 7. SavvyCal Best guest experience (paid) The nicest experience for the guest, who can overlay their own calendar. **Platforms** Web **Free plan** Try free; pay to share links **Paid from** Basic $12 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** No free plan for actually using it. **Source** [savvycal.com/pricing](https://savvycal.com/pricing) ## How to choose - Free with many event types: Cal.com or zcal. - Nothing new to set up: Google Calendar's appointment schedules. - Pay once: TidyCal. - Booking links next to your tasks and notes, guarding your focus time: Caddie. ## Questions people ask ### Is there a completely free Calendly alternative? Cal.com and zcal have free plans with unlimited event types; Google Calendar gives one free booking page; Caddie's booking links are free while it's in beta. ### What's the best Calendly alternative for teams? Cal.com and SavvyCal have strong team plans; Calendly Teams is $20 a month billed monthly. ## Related [All alternatives](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/)[Caddie](https://usecaddie.app/) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > The best Evernote alternatives after its price rises and small free plan: Caddie, Apple Notes, Notion, Obsidian, Bear, Craft and Capacities, compared on price, AI and import. # The best Evernote alternatives in 2026 The best Evernote alternatives are Caddie (notes, tasks, calendar and meeting notes on a Mac, free in beta), Apple Notes (free and built in), Notion (docs and databases), Obsidian (free, with notes as files), Bear (a cheap, beautiful Markdown app), Craft (the most refined design) and Capacities (a generous free plan). Most of them import an Evernote export. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 7 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best all-in-one replacement on a Mac | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Apple Notes | Best free option on Apple devices | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Free with your Apple devices | Free | | 3. Notion | Best for docs and databases | Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android | Unlimited pages for one person; AI only as a trial | Plus $10, Business $20 per member a month (up to 20% less yearly) | | 4. Obsidian | Best free app with notes as files | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android | The app is free, including for work | Sync $4 a month billed yearly ($5 monthly) | | 5. Bear | Best cheap writing app | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Notes on one device, no sync | Pro $2.99 a month, or $29.99 a year | | 6. Craft | Best design | Mac, iPhone, iPad, web | 1,500 blocks, 1 GB | Plus (price varies by country); Team $5 per user a month | | 7. Capacities | Best free plan | Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android | Unlimited notes and objects | Pro $11.99 a month, or $9.99 a month billed yearly | ## Why people look for a Evernote alternative Evernote's free plan is now 50 notes, 1 notebook and 1 device, and its paid plans start at $14.99 a month, more than most notes apps. ## How we picked We compared the free plan, the cheapest paid plan, AI and whether you can import from Evernote, from each product's site on 31 October 2026. ## 1. Caddie Best all-in-one replacement on a Mac Notes sort themselves into smart folders, search finds any word, and a journal zooms from a year to a day. Tasks, calendar, meeting notes and dictation are in the same app, with AI throughout. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Apple Notes Best free option on Apple devices Free, fast, built in, with audio transcripts in recent versions. **Platforms** Mac, iPhone, iPad **Free plan** Free with your Apple devices **Paid from** Free **Watch out for** Apple devices only, and weak export. **Source** [support.apple.com/guide/notes/welcome/mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/notes/welcome/mac) ## 3. Notion Best for docs and databases Docs, databases and wikis in one flexible place, with a huge template library. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android **Free plan** Unlimited pages for one person; AI only as a trial **Paid from** Plus $10, Business $20 per member a month (up to 20% less yearly) **Watch out for** Full AI needs the $20 Business plan, and you build the system yourself. **Source** [www.notion.com/pricing](https://www.notion.com/pricing) ## 4. Obsidian Best free app with notes as files Your notes are plain Markdown files you own, with thousands of plugins. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android **Free plan** The app is free, including for work **Paid from** Sync $4 a month billed yearly ($5 monthly) **Watch out for** Sync costs extra, there's no built-in AI, and no real-time collaboration. **Source** [obsidian.md/pricing](https://obsidian.md/pricing) ## 5. Bear Best cheap writing app A beautiful, fast Markdown writing app at a low price. **Platforms** Mac, iPhone, iPad **Free plan** Notes on one device, no sync **Paid from** Pro $2.99 a month, or $29.99 a year **Watch out for** Apple only, no AI, and sync needs Pro. **Source** [bear.app](https://bear.app) ## 6. Craft Best design The most refined design of any notes app, with AI built in. **Platforms** Mac, iPhone, iPad, web **Free plan** 1,500 blocks, 1 GB **Paid from** Plus (price varies by country); Team $5 per user a month **Watch out for** The free plan fills quickly, and there's no Windows or Android app. **Source** [www.craft.do/pricing](https://www.craft.do/pricing) ## 7. Capacities Best free plan A generous free plan, and structure (people, books, ideas) without building databases. **Platforms** Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android **Free plan** Unlimited notes and objects **Paid from** Pro $11.99 a month, or $9.99 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** The object model takes learning, and AI is limited on Pro. **Source** [capacities.io/pricing](https://capacities.io/pricing) ## How to choose - Free on Apple devices: Apple Notes. - Free everywhere: Obsidian or Capacities. - Notes plus tasks, calendar and meetings: Caddie. - Docs and databases for a team: Notion. ## Questions people ask ### What's the best free alternative to Evernote? Apple Notes (on Apple devices), Obsidian, Capacities, and Caddie while it's in beta. ### Can I import my Evernote notes? Yes, most do. Caddie imports Evernote, Notion, Obsidian, Mem and Apple Notes. ## Related [The best Notion alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/notion)[The best Obsidian alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/obsidian) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > The best Granola AI alternatives for meeting notes, compared on bots, free plans, price and what happens after the call: Caddie, Fathom, Otter, Fireflies, Jamie, Notion and tl;dv. # The best Granola alternatives in 2026 The best Granola alternatives are Caddie (meeting notes that become tasks on your calendar, on a Mac, free in beta), Fathom (the most generous free plan), Otter (a bot that can attend calls for you), Fireflies (tasks in Asana and Jira), Jamie (bot-free in 99+ languages), Notion AI Meeting Notes (if your team lives in Notion) and tl;dv (unlimited free recording). Pick by whether you want a bot on the call and where the notes need to end up. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 7 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best for turning meetings into tasks on a Mac | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Fathom | Best free plan | Zoom, Meet, Teams on Mac and Windows; iPhone for in person | Unlimited recordings, transcripts and summaries | Premium $20 a month, or $16 a month billed yearly | | 3. Otter.ai | Best if you want a bot to attend calls for you | Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | 300 minutes a month, 30 minutes per conversation | Pro $16.99 a month, or $8.33 a month billed yearly | | 4. Fireflies.ai | Best for teams on Asana or Jira | Web, Mac, Windows | Unlimited transcription, 400 minutes of storage per team | Pro $18 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly | | 5. Jamie | Best bot-free option in many languages | Mac, Windows, iPhone, web | 10 AI notes a month, 30 minutes each | Plus €21 a month | | 6. Notion AI Meeting Notes | Best if your team already lives in Notion | Notion's desktop apps (microphone only on web and phone) | A limited trial on Free and Plus | Business $20 per member a month | | 7. tl;dv | Best for unlimited free recording | Web and Chrome extension | Unlimited recordings; AI notes for 10 meetings; kept 3 months | Pro €29 a month, or €18 a month billed yearly | ## Why people look for a Granola alternative People leave Granola for three reasons: the free plan only shows the last 30 days of notes, there's no task list, so action items stay inside the notes, and they want everything after the call (tasks, calendar, follow-ups) in one place. ## How we picked We looked at how each app records (bot or no bot), what the free plan really allows, the cheapest paid plan, and what happens to action items after the call. Prices are from each product's pricing page on 31 October 2026. ## 1. Caddie Best for turning meetings into tasks on a Mac Records any call your Mac plays (Zoom, Meet, Teams, Slack) with no bot, writes the notes when it ends, and puts every promise on your day as a task. Notes, calendar, booking links and dictation are in the same app. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Fathom Best free plan The most generous free plan of the meeting note takers. **Platforms** Zoom, Meet, Teams on Mac and Windows; iPhone for in person **Free plan** Unlimited recordings, transcripts and summaries **Paid from** Premium $20 a month, or $16 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** A bot by default; bot-free recording is Mac-only and in beta. **Source** [fathom.ai/pricing](https://fathom.ai/pricing) ## 3. Otter.ai Best if you want a bot to attend calls for you A bot that can attend calls for you, or a desktop recorder with no bot. **Platforms** Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android **Free plan** 300 minutes a month, 30 minutes per conversation **Paid from** Pro $16.99 a month, or $8.33 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** Tight free limits: 30 minutes a conversation, the last 25 conversations. **Source** [otter.ai/pricing](https://otter.ai/pricing) ## 4. Fireflies.ai Best for teams on Asana or Jira Wide integrations, and it can create tasks in Asana and Jira. **Platforms** Web, Mac, Windows **Free plan** Unlimited transcription, 400 minutes of storage per team **Paid from** Pro $18 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** A bot by default; recording without one is a paid feature. **Source** [fireflies.ai/pricing](https://fireflies.ai/pricing) ## 5. Jamie Best bot-free option in many languages Bot-free, works with any meeting app or in person, in 99+ languages. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone, web **Free plan** 10 AI notes a month, 30 minutes each **Paid from** Plus €21 a month **Watch out for** A small free plan, and Asana sync needs the €39 Pro plan. **Source** [www.meetjamie.ai/pricing](https://www.meetjamie.ai/pricing) ## 6. Notion AI Meeting Notes Best if your team already lives in Notion Notes land in the Notion workspace where your docs and tasks already are. **Platforms** Notion's desktop apps (microphone only on web and phone) **Free plan** A limited trial on Free and Plus **Paid from** Business $20 per member a month **Watch out for** Needs the Business plan, and meeting notes use AI credits. **Source** [www.notion.com/pricing](https://www.notion.com/pricing) ## 7. tl;dv Best for unlimited free recording Unlimited recording on the free plan. **Platforms** Web and Chrome extension **Free plan** Unlimited recordings; AI notes for 10 meetings; kept 3 months **Paid from** Pro €29 a month, or €18 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** Free recordings are deleted after 3 months. **Source** [tldv.io/pricing](https://tldv.io/pricing/) ## How to choose - You don't want a bot on the call: Caddie, Jamie, or Notion's desktop app. - You want it free: Fathom, or Caddie while it's in beta. - You need Windows or Android: Otter, Fireflies or Jamie. - You want the action items done, not just listed: Caddie puts them on your calendar; Fireflies sends them to Asana or Jira. ## Questions people ask ### Is there a free alternative to Granola? Fathom has the most generous free plan (unlimited recordings and summaries, with a bot by default), and Caddie is free while in beta with no bot. tl;dv records for free but deletes free recordings after 3 months. ### What is the best bot-free Granola alternative? Caddie, Jamie and Notion AI Meeting Notes all record from your computer without a bot joining. Caddie also turns every promise into a task on your day. ### Is there a Granola alternative for Windows? Otter, Fireflies and Jamie run on Windows. Caddie and Granola's Mac strengths don't help there; Granola itself also has a Windows app. ## Related [Caddie vs Granola](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola)[The best AI note takers in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/best-ai-note-takers)[The best Otter.ai alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/otter)[AI meeting notes for Mac, with no bot on the call](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > Honest lists of the best alternatives to the meeting-notes, dictation, notes, scheduling, planning and AI agent apps people use, with prices from each product's own site, plus head-to-head comparisons. # Alternatives and comparisons Lists of the best alternatives to popular meeting-notes, dictation, notes, scheduling, planning and AI agent apps, and head-to-head comparisons with Caddie. We make Caddie and list it first; every other pick says what it's best at, with prices from its own site. Updated 31 October 2026. ## Meeting notes [The best Granola alternatives7 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/granola)[The best Otter.ai alternatives7 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/otter) ## Dictation [The best Wispr Flow alternatives8 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/wispr-flow) ## Notes [The best Notion alternatives7 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/notion)[The best Obsidian alternatives7 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/obsidian)[The best Evernote alternatives7 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/evernote) ## Booking links [The best free Calendly alternatives7 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/calendly) ## AI agents [The best OpenClaw alternatives4 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/openclaw) ## Daily planners [The best Sunsama alternatives6 picks](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/sunsama) ## Caddie vs [Caddie vs Granola](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola)[Caddie vs Otter](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter)[Caddie vs Notion](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion)[Caddie vs Wispr Flow](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs Superwhisper](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper)[Caddie vs Calendly](https://usecaddie.app/vs/calendly)[Caddie vs Sunsama](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama)[Caddie vs NotebookLM](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notebooklm) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > The best Notion alternatives for your own notes and tasks, compared on AI, offline use and price: Caddie, Obsidian, Capacities, Anytype, Craft, Evernote and Apple Notes. # The best Notion alternatives in 2026 For personal notes and tasks, the best Notion alternatives are Caddie (notes that sort themselves plus tasks, calendar and meeting notes on a Mac), Obsidian (your notes as files you own), Capacities (structure without databases), Anytype (open source and encrypted), Craft (the most refined design), Evernote (mature capture and scanning) and Apple Notes (free and built in). If you need a team wiki with databases, Notion is still the strongest choice. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 7 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best for notes, tasks, calendar and meetings in one app | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Obsidian | Best for owning your notes as files | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android | The app is free, including for work | Sync $4 a month billed yearly ($5 monthly) | | 3. Capacities | Best for structure without databases | Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android | Unlimited notes and objects | Pro $11.99 a month, or $9.99 a month billed yearly | | 4. Anytype | Best for privacy and open source | Desktop and mobile | 100 MB of sync storage; self-hosting free | Plus from $4 a month | | 5. Craft | Best design | Mac, iPhone, iPad, web | 1,500 blocks, 1 GB | Plus (price varies by country); Team $5 per user a month | | 6. Evernote | Best for clipping and scanning | Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android | 50 notes, 1 notebook, 1 device | Starter $14.99 a month, or $99 a year | | 7. Apple Notes | Best free option on Apple devices | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Free with your Apple devices | Free | ## Why people look for a Notion alternative People leave Notion for personal use because it's a system you have to build and keep up, Notion AI's full features need the $20 Business plan, and it's cloud-first. ## How we picked We looked at how much setup each app needs, whether it works offline, what AI is included, and the price, from each product's site on 31 October 2026. ## 1. Caddie Best for notes, tasks, calendar and meetings in one app Notes sort themselves into smart folders, search finds any word, and a journal zooms from a year to a day. Tasks, calendar, meeting notes and dictation are in the same app, with AI throughout. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Obsidian Best for owning your notes as files Your notes are plain Markdown files you own, with thousands of plugins. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android **Free plan** The app is free, including for work **Paid from** Sync $4 a month billed yearly ($5 monthly) **Watch out for** Sync costs extra, there's no built-in AI, and no real-time collaboration. **Source** [obsidian.md/pricing](https://obsidian.md/pricing) ## 3. Capacities Best for structure without databases A generous free plan, and structure (people, books, ideas) without building databases. **Platforms** Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android **Free plan** Unlimited notes and objects **Paid from** Pro $11.99 a month, or $9.99 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** The object model takes learning, and AI is limited on Pro. **Source** [capacities.io/pricing](https://capacities.io/pricing) ## 4. Anytype Best for privacy and open source Open source, local-first and end-to-end encrypted. **Platforms** Desktop and mobile **Free plan** 100 MB of sync storage; self-hosting free **Paid from** Plus from $4 a month **Watch out for** Little free sync storage, and a steeper learning curve. **Source** [anytype.io/pricing](https://anytype.io/pricing) ## 5. Craft Best design The most refined design of any notes app, with AI built in. **Platforms** Mac, iPhone, iPad, web **Free plan** 1,500 blocks, 1 GB **Paid from** Plus (price varies by country); Team $5 per user a month **Watch out for** The free plan fills quickly, and there's no Windows or Android app. **Source** [www.craft.do/pricing](https://www.craft.do/pricing) ## 6. Evernote Best for clipping and scanning Mature capture: web clipper, document scanning and search. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android **Free plan** 50 notes, 1 notebook, 1 device **Paid from** Starter $14.99 a month, or $99 a year **Watch out for** A very small free plan, and paid plans cost more than most. **Source** [evernote.com/compare-plans](https://evernote.com/compare-plans) ## 7. Apple Notes Best free option on Apple devices Free, fast, built in, with audio transcripts in recent versions. **Platforms** Mac, iPhone, iPad **Free plan** Free with your Apple devices **Paid from** Free **Watch out for** Apple devices only, and weak export. **Source** [support.apple.com/guide/notes/welcome/mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/notes/welcome/mac) ## How to choose - You want it to organise itself: Caddie. - You want plain files and plugins: Obsidian. - Privacy and self-hosting matter most: Anytype. - Your team needs a shared wiki with permissions: stay on Notion. ## Questions people ask ### What is the best free Notion alternative? Obsidian (free, local files), Capacities (a generous free plan), Apple Notes (built in) and Caddie (free while in beta). ### Is there a Notion alternative with AI built in? Caddie, Craft and Capacities include AI. Obsidian relies on community plugins for AI. ### Can I move my notes from Notion? Most apps here import a Notion export. Caddie imports from Notion, Obsidian, Mem, Evernote and Apple Notes. ## Related [Caddie vs Notion](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion)[The best Obsidian alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/obsidian)[The best Evernote alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/evernote) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > The best Obsidian alternatives if you want sync, AI or less setup: Caddie, Logseq, Capacities, Anytype, Reflect, Notion and Bear, compared on price, local files and AI. # The best Obsidian alternatives in 2026 The best Obsidian alternatives are Caddie (AI, tasks, calendar and meeting notes built in, with no plugins to manage), Logseq (a free, open-source outliner), Capacities (structured notes without setup), Anytype (local-first and encrypted, with sync), Reflect (daily notes and backlinks, free on Mac), Notion (for teams) and Bear (simple Markdown writing). Stay on Obsidian if owning plain Markdown files is what matters most. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 7 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best for AI and tasks built in, no plugins | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Logseq | Best free outliner | Mac, Windows, Linux, web (mobile in alpha) | Free and open source | Free | | 3. Capacities | Best structure without setup | Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android | Unlimited notes and objects | Pro $11.99 a month, or $9.99 a month billed yearly | | 4. Anytype | Best local-first with sync | Desktop and mobile | 100 MB of sync storage; self-hosting free | Plus from $4 a month | | 5. Reflect | Best for daily notes on a Mac | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Free on Mac | Free on Mac; iPhone and iPad by subscription | | 6. Notion | Best for teams | Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android | Unlimited pages for one person; AI only as a trial | Plus $10, Business $20 per member a month (up to 20% less yearly) | | 7. Bear | Best for simple writing | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Notes on one device, no sync | Pro $2.99 a month, or $29.99 a year | ## Why people look for a Obsidian alternative People look past Obsidian when they're tired of maintaining plugins, want sync without paying or setting it up, or want AI built in rather than added. ## How we picked We compared setup, sync, AI and price, from each product's site on 31 October 2026. ## 1. Caddie Best for AI and tasks built in, no plugins Notes sort themselves into smart folders, search finds any word, and a journal zooms from a year to a day. Tasks, calendar, meeting notes and dictation are in the same app, with AI throughout. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Logseq Best free outliner A free, open-source outliner with strong linking. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, Linux, web (mobile in alpha) **Free plan** Free and open source **Paid from** Free **Watch out for** Its new database version and sync are still in beta and alpha. **Source** [github.com/logseq/logseq](https://github.com/logseq/logseq) ## 3. Capacities Best structure without setup A generous free plan, and structure (people, books, ideas) without building databases. **Platforms** Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android **Free plan** Unlimited notes and objects **Paid from** Pro $11.99 a month, or $9.99 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** The object model takes learning, and AI is limited on Pro. **Source** [capacities.io/pricing](https://capacities.io/pricing) ## 4. Anytype Best local-first with sync Open source, local-first and end-to-end encrypted. **Platforms** Desktop and mobile **Free plan** 100 MB of sync storage; self-hosting free **Paid from** Plus from $4 a month **Watch out for** Little free sync storage, and a steeper learning curve. **Source** [anytype.io/pricing](https://anytype.io/pricing) ## 5. Reflect Best for daily notes on a Mac Daily notes and backlinks on local Markdown files, free on the Mac. **Platforms** Mac, iPhone, iPad **Free plan** Free on Mac **Paid from** Free on Mac; iPhone and iPad by subscription **Watch out for** Apple only, and AI needs your own API key. **Source** [reflect.app](https://reflect.app) ## 6. Notion Best for teams Docs, databases and wikis in one flexible place, with a huge template library. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android **Free plan** Unlimited pages for one person; AI only as a trial **Paid from** Plus $10, Business $20 per member a month (up to 20% less yearly) **Watch out for** Full AI needs the $20 Business plan, and you build the system yourself. **Source** [www.notion.com/pricing](https://www.notion.com/pricing) ## 7. Bear Best for simple writing A beautiful, fast Markdown writing app at a low price. **Platforms** Mac, iPhone, iPad **Free plan** Notes on one device, no sync **Paid from** Pro $2.99 a month, or $29.99 a year **Watch out for** Apple only, no AI, and sync needs Pro. **Source** [bear.app](https://bear.app) ## How to choose - You want AI, tasks and calendar without plugins: Caddie. - You want free and open source: Logseq or Anytype. - You mainly write: Bear. - Your team needs to share: Notion. ## Questions people ask ### What's the best free Obsidian alternative? Logseq is free and open source; Reflect is free on Mac; Capacities has a generous free plan; Caddie is free while in beta. ### Is there an Obsidian alternative with built-in AI? Caddie has AI throughout: notes that sort themselves, Ask Caddie (⌘J), and agents on your own Claude Code or Codex. Capacities and Notion include AI on paid plans. ### Can I bring my Obsidian vault to Caddie? Yes. Caddie imports from Obsidian, as well as Notion, Mem, Evernote and Apple Notes. ## Related [The best Notion alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/notion)[The best Evernote alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/evernote)[Caddie vs Notion](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > The best OpenClaw alternatives for a personal AI agent: Caddie, Claude Cowork and Manus, compared with OpenClaw on where they run, how you reach them, which AI they use and what they cost. # The best OpenClaw alternatives in 2026 The best OpenClaw alternatives are Caddie (a personal agent on your Mac that runs on your Claude Code or Codex and knows your notes, tasks and calendar), Claude Cowork (Anthropic's agent in the Claude desktop app, with computer use in beta) and Manus (a general agent with a desktop app, on credits). Stay with OpenClaw if you want it free, open source, on Windows or Linux, and reachable from WhatsApp or Telegram. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 4 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best for an agent that knows your notes, tasks and calendar, on a Mac | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Claude Cowork | Best if you already pay for Claude | Claude's desktop app for Mac and Windows | Not on the free plan | With a Claude Pro plan or above | | 3. Manus | Best for long general tasks without setup | Web, and a desktop agent for Mac and Windows | A daily allowance of credits | Paid plans from $19 a month | | 4. OpenClaw | Best free and open source (the original) | Mac, Windows, Linux; chat from WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, iMessage and more | Everything | Free (MIT licence); you pay for the AI model | ## Why people look for a OpenClaw alternative OpenClaw is free and powerful, but you install it, keep it running, choose its model and decide how much of your machine to give it. People look for something that comes set up, or that already knows their own work. ## How we picked We compared where each agent runs, how you reach it, which AI it uses, what it can touch on your computer, and the price, from each product's own site on 31 October 2026. ## 1. Caddie Best for an agent that knows your notes, tasks and calendar, on a Mac A personal agent on your Mac, on your own Claude Code or Codex, that knows your notes, tasks, calendar and meetings. Reach it from the iPhone app and Slack; it asks before anything that sends, pays, deletes or posts. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Claude Cowork Best if you already pay for Claude Anthropic's own agent in the Claude app; it can use your computer (in beta) to finish tasks. **Platforms** Claude's desktop app for Mac and Windows **Free plan** Not on the free plan **Paid from** With a Claude Pro plan or above **Watch out for** It lives in the Claude app: no notes, tasks or calendar of yours around it. **Source** [support.claude.com/en/articles/14128542-let-claude-use-your-computer-in-cowork](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/14128542-let-claude-use-your-computer-in-cowork) ## 3. Manus Best for long general tasks without setup A general agent that works through long tasks, with a desktop app that reaches your files and apps. **Platforms** Web, and a desktop agent for Mac and Windows **Free plan** A daily allowance of credits **Paid from** Paid plans from $19 a month **Watch out for** Credits run out on big tasks, and it uses its own models, not your Claude or Codex account. **Source** [manus.im/pricing](https://manus.im/pricing) ## 4. OpenClaw Best free and open source (the original) Open source and runs on your own machine; you message it from 29 chat apps, and it browses, fills forms and runs commands. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, Linux; chat from WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, iMessage and more **Free plan** Everything **Paid from** Free (MIT licence); you pay for the AI model **Watch out for** You set it up and keep it running yourself, and choose how much access to give it. **Source** [openclaw.ai](https://openclaw.ai) ## How to choose - Free, open source, any OS, many chat apps: stay on OpenClaw. - Your notes, calendar and meetings as the agent's context, on a Mac: Caddie. - You already pay for Claude and want it to use your computer: Claude Cowork. - No setup at all, pay as you go: Manus. ## Questions people ask ### Is there an OpenClaw alternative for Mac? Caddie runs on the Mac with your Claude Code or Codex and comes set up; Claude Cowork runs in Claude's desktop app on Mac and Windows. ### Was OpenClaw called Clawdbot? Yes, the project was earlier known as Clawdbot (and briefly Moltbot) before becoming OpenClaw. ### Is OpenClaw free? Yes. It's MIT licensed with no paid version; you pay for whichever AI model it uses. ## Related [A personal AI agent that runs on your own Mac](https://usecaddie.app/personal-ai-agent/)[Agents that work while you don't, on your own Claude Code or Codex](https://usecaddie.app/agents/)[The best MCP servers in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/mcp-server/best-mcp-servers) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > The best Otter.ai alternatives for meeting transcription and notes, compared on bots, free limits and price: Caddie, Granola, Fathom, Fireflies, Jamie, tl;dv and Read.ai. # The best Otter.ai alternatives in 2026 The best Otter.ai alternatives are Caddie (no bot, and every promise becomes a task on your Mac's calendar), Granola (a polished no-bot notepad), Fathom (unlimited free recordings), Fireflies (integrations and task creation), Jamie (bot-free in 99+ languages), tl;dv (unlimited free recording) and Read.ai (meeting analytics). If Otter's 30-minute free limit or its bot is the problem, start with Caddie, Granola or Fathom. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 7 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best for no-bot notes that become tasks, on a Mac | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Granola | Best no-bot notepad on Mac and Windows | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | Unlimited meetings; only the last 30 days of notes visible | Business $14 per user a month | | 3. Fathom | Best free plan | Zoom, Meet, Teams on Mac and Windows; iPhone for in person | Unlimited recordings, transcripts and summaries | Premium $20 a month, or $16 a month billed yearly | | 4. Fireflies.ai | Best integrations | Web, Mac, Windows | Unlimited transcription, 400 minutes of storage per team | Pro $18 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly | | 5. Jamie | Best for many languages | Mac, Windows, iPhone, web | 10 AI notes a month, 30 minutes each | Plus €21 a month | | 6. tl;dv | Best for unlimited free recording | Web and Chrome extension | Unlimited recordings; AI notes for 10 meetings; kept 3 months | Pro €29 a month, or €18 a month billed yearly | | 7. Read.ai | Best for meeting analytics | Zoom, Teams, Meet; Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Chrome | 5 meetings a month, 1 hour each | Pro $19.75 a month, or $15 a month billed yearly | ## Why people look for a Otter alternative Otter's free plan stops at 30 minutes a conversation and 300 minutes a month, keeps only your last 25 conversations, and its Notetaker joins calls as a bot, which some guests don't like. ## How we picked We compared recording method (bot or not), free limits, the cheapest paid plan and what each does with action items. Prices are from each product's pricing page on 31 October 2026. ## 1. Caddie Best for no-bot notes that become tasks, on a Mac Records any call your Mac plays (Zoom, Meet, Teams, Slack) with no bot, writes the notes when it ends, and puts every promise on your day as a task. Notes, calendar, booking links and dictation are in the same app. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Granola Best no-bot notepad on Mac and Windows A polished notepad: your own notes during the call, filled in by AI after. No bot. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android **Free plan** Unlimited meetings; only the last 30 days of notes visible **Paid from** Business $14 per user a month **Watch out for** The free plan hides notes after 30 days, and there's no task list. **Source** [www.granola.ai/pricing](https://www.granola.ai/pricing) ## 3. Fathom Best free plan The most generous free plan of the meeting note takers. **Platforms** Zoom, Meet, Teams on Mac and Windows; iPhone for in person **Free plan** Unlimited recordings, transcripts and summaries **Paid from** Premium $20 a month, or $16 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** A bot by default; bot-free recording is Mac-only and in beta. **Source** [fathom.ai/pricing](https://fathom.ai/pricing) ## 4. Fireflies.ai Best integrations Wide integrations, and it can create tasks in Asana and Jira. **Platforms** Web, Mac, Windows **Free plan** Unlimited transcription, 400 minutes of storage per team **Paid from** Pro $18 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** A bot by default; recording without one is a paid feature. **Source** [fireflies.ai/pricing](https://fireflies.ai/pricing) ## 5. Jamie Best for many languages Bot-free, works with any meeting app or in person, in 99+ languages. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone, web **Free plan** 10 AI notes a month, 30 minutes each **Paid from** Plus €21 a month **Watch out for** A small free plan, and Asana sync needs the €39 Pro plan. **Source** [www.meetjamie.ai/pricing](https://www.meetjamie.ai/pricing) ## 6. tl;dv Best for unlimited free recording Unlimited recording on the free plan. **Platforms** Web and Chrome extension **Free plan** Unlimited recordings; AI notes for 10 meetings; kept 3 months **Paid from** Pro €29 a month, or €18 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** Free recordings are deleted after 3 months. **Source** [tldv.io/pricing](https://tldv.io/pricing/) ## 7. Read.ai Best for meeting analytics Meeting analytics (talk time, engagement) on top of the notes. **Platforms** Zoom, Teams, Meet; Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Chrome **Free plan** 5 meetings a month, 1 hour each **Paid from** Pro $19.75 a month, or $15 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** Joins as a bot, and the free plan covers only 5 meetings a month. **Source** [www.read.ai/plans-pricing](https://www.read.ai/plans-pricing) ## How to choose - No bot on the call: Caddie, Granola or Jamie. - Longer free meetings: Fathom, or Caddie while in beta. - Your CRM or Jira needs the notes: Fireflies. - You want talk-time and engagement stats: Read.ai. ## Questions people ask ### What's better than Otter.ai for meeting notes? It depends on what bothers you about Otter. For no bot and tasks on your calendar, Caddie. For a polished notepad on Windows too, Granola. For a bigger free plan, Fathom. ### Is there a free Otter alternative without minute limits? Fathom's free plan has unlimited recordings. Caddie doesn't meter recording minutes while in beta. ### Can I record meetings on a Mac without a bot? Yes. Caddie, Granola and Jamie record your Mac's audio, so no bot joins the call. ## Related [Caddie vs Otter](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter)[The best AI note takers in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/best-ai-note-takers)[The best Granola alternatives in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/alternatives/granola)[AI meeting notes for Mac, with no bot on the call](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > The best Sunsama alternatives for planning your day: Caddie, Akiflow, Motion, Reclaim, Todoist and Notion Calendar, compared on price, free plans and how they plan your day. # The best Sunsama alternatives in 2026 The best Sunsama alternatives are Caddie (tasks and Google Calendar in one day on a Mac, with a morning plan, free in beta), Akiflow (a keyboard-first inbox for tasks from every tool), Motion (AI that schedules tasks for you), Reclaim.ai (focus time and habits on your calendar, with a free plan), Todoist (a cheap, mature to-do list) and Notion Calendar (a free calendar). Pick by whether you want a guided ritual, automatic scheduling, or just a cheaper plan. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 6 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best free option on a Mac, with notes and meetings built in | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Akiflow | Best for pulling tasks from many tools | Desktop, mobile and web; Google and Outlook calendars | No free plan; a 7-day trial that needs a card | Pro $34 a month, or $19 a month billed yearly | | 3. Motion | Best fully automatic scheduling | Web, desktop, iPhone and Android | A free trial; no free plan | Pro AI from $19 per seat a month | | 4. Reclaim.ai | Best free plan for focus time | Google Calendar and Outlook (web) | Lite: 1 scheduling link, habits and focus time, a 1-week planning range | Starter $10 per seat a month billed yearly ($12 monthly) | | 5. Todoist | Best cheap to-do list | Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android | 5 projects; no calendar layout | Pro $5 a month billed yearly ($7 monthly) | | 6. Notion Calendar | Best free calendar | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, web | Scheduling links included | Free | ## Why people look for a Sunsama alternative Sunsama has no free plan and costs $17 to $22 a month. People also look elsewhere when they want AI to do more of the planning, or their notes and meetings in the same place. ## How we picked We compared price, free plans, which calendars each connects to and how much of the planning it does for you, from each product's pricing page on 31 October 2026. ## 1. Caddie Best free option on a Mac, with notes and meetings built in Tasks, Google Calendar, habits and meeting follow-ups in one day on your Mac. Each morning the Planner proposes a plan and fits the tasks that aren't on the calendar yet. Free while in beta. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Akiflow Best for pulling tasks from many tools Pulls tasks from your other tools into one inbox you clear with the keyboard, then time-block. **Platforms** Desktop, mobile and web; Google and Outlook calendars **Free plan** No free plan; a 7-day trial that needs a card **Paid from** Pro $34 a month, or $19 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** No free plan, the trial needs a card, and its meeting assistant is another $19 a month. **Source** [akiflow.com/pricing](https://akiflow.com/pricing) ## 3. Motion Best fully automatic scheduling AI that schedules your tasks into the calendar for you and re-plans when things move, plus projects for teams. **Platforms** Web, desktop, iPhone and Android **Free plan** A free trial; no free plan **Paid from** Pro AI from $19 per seat a month **Watch out for** No free plan, and a full project tool is more than most people need for a daily plan. **Source** [www.usemotion.com/pricing](https://www.usemotion.com/pricing) ## 4. Reclaim.ai Best free plan for focus time Defends focus time and habits on the calendar you already use, with a free plan. **Platforms** Google Calendar and Outlook (web) **Free plan** Lite: 1 scheduling link, habits and focus time, a 1-week planning range **Paid from** Starter $10 per seat a month billed yearly ($12 monthly) **Watch out for** It plans your calendar but isn't a task list or notes app of its own. **Source** [reclaim.ai/pricing](https://reclaim.ai/pricing) ## 5. Todoist Best cheap to-do list A fast, mature to-do list with natural-language dates, at a low price. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android **Free plan** 5 projects; no calendar layout **Paid from** Pro $5 a month billed yearly ($7 monthly) **Watch out for** Seeing tasks on a calendar needs Pro, and planning the day around meetings is up to you. **Source** [todoist.com/pricing](https://todoist.com/pricing) ## 6. Notion Calendar Best free calendar Free scheduling links in a good calendar app. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, web **Free plan** Scheduling links included **Paid from** Free **Watch out for** Basic: no payments, routing or round-robin. **Source** [www.notion.com/help/availability-blocking-and-time-zones](https://www.notion.com/help/availability-blocking-and-time-zones) ## How to choose - Free: Caddie (in beta), Reclaim's Lite plan, or Todoist's free plan. - AI schedules everything: Motion. - Tasks arrive from Slack, email and other tools: Akiflow. - Outlook calendar: Akiflow, Motion or Reclaim (Caddie is Google only). ## Questions people ask ### Is there a free Sunsama alternative? Caddie is free while in beta; Reclaim and Todoist have free plans. ### What's cheaper than Sunsama? Todoist Pro ($5 a month billed yearly) and Reclaim Starter ($10) cost less; Caddie is free in beta. ### Which Sunsama alternative works with Outlook? Akiflow, Motion and Reclaim. Caddie works with Google Calendar. ## Related [Caddie vs Sunsama](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama)[The best daily planner apps in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/daily-planner/best-daily-planner-apps)[A daily planner that plans the day with you](https://usecaddie.app/daily-planner/) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > The best Wispr Flow alternatives for dictation on a Mac, compared on accuracy, offline use and price: Caddie, Superwhisper, Aqua Voice, Willow, Spokenly, VoiceInk, MacWhisper and Apple Dictation. # The best Wispr Flow alternatives in 2026 The best Wispr Flow alternatives are Caddie (dictation that learns your names from your notes, plus notes, tasks and meetings, free in beta), Superwhisper (offline local models and a lifetime licence), Aqua Voice (strong on technical terms), Willow Voice (an unlimited free plan), Spokenly (free with local models, on the most platforms), VoiceInk (open source, $25 once), MacWhisper (files, bought once) and Apple Dictation (free and built in). For offline use pick Superwhisper or VoiceInk; for accuracy on your own words, Caddie. Updated 31 October 2026. We make Caddie, so it's listed first. Everything else here is picked for what it's best at, and every price links to that product's own pricing page. ## The 8 picks at a glance | App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Caddie | Best for accuracy on your own names and jargon | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | | 2. Superwhisper | Best offline, and best lifetime licence | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | Unlimited dictation with local models | Pro $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 once | | 3. Aqua Voice | Best for technical and coding terms | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | 1,000 words in total | Pro $12 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly | | 4. Willow Voice | Best unlimited free plan | Mac, Windows, iPhone | Unlimited dictation with a lighter model | Pro $15 a month (less billed yearly) | | 5. Spokenly | Best free option on the most platforms | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Chrome | Unlimited with local models or your own API keys | Local+ $29 once; Pro $15 a month ($12 billed yearly) | | 6. VoiceInk | Best open-source, one-time price | Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 14.4+), iPhone | A free trial | $25 once for one Mac | | 7. MacWhisper | Best for transcribing files | Mac | Transcribe audio and video files on your Mac | Pro €64 once, with lifetime updates | | 8. Apple Dictation | Best if you want nothing to install | Built into Mac, iPhone and iPad | Free, built in | Free | ## Why people look for a Wispr Flow alternative People look past Wispr Flow because the free plan stops at 2,000 words a week, it's subscription only, and it transcribes in the cloud. ## How we picked We compared accuracy on everyday speech where we could measure it, offline use, the free plan and the cheapest way to pay, from each product's own site on 31 October 2026. Caddie ran a test of six Mac dictation setups; the method is on our blog. ## 1. Caddie Best for accuracy on your own names and jargon Hold fn in any app and talk. It learns the names and jargon in your notes and calendar, keeps Hinglish, and made the fewest mistakes in our test of six Mac dictation setups. Notes, tasks and meeting notes come with it. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta **Free plan** Everything, while in beta **Paid from** Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything **Watch out for** Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app. **Source** [usecaddie.app](https://usecaddie.app) [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) ## 2. Superwhisper Best offline, and best lifetime licence Local Whisper models that work offline, custom modes, and a lifetime licence. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android **Free plan** Unlimited dictation with local models **Paid from** Pro $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 once **Watch out for** AI cleanup and cloud models need Pro; local models run best on Apple silicon. **Source** [superwhisper.com/docs/billing/plans.md](https://superwhisper.com/docs/billing/plans.md) ## 3. Aqua Voice Best for technical and coding terms Strong on technical and coding terms, with text in about half a second. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android **Free plan** 1,000 words in total **Paid from** Pro $12 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly **Watch out for** A tiny free allowance, and it only works in the cloud. **Source** [aquavoice.com/pricing](https://aquavoice.com/pricing) ## 4. Willow Voice Best unlimited free plan An unlimited free plan, plus a writing mode that turns rough notes into polished text. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, iPhone **Free plan** Unlimited dictation with a lighter model **Paid from** Pro $15 a month (less billed yearly) **Watch out for** The free model is weaker, and the pricing page is vague about limits. **Source** [willowvoice.com/pricing](https://willowvoice.com/pricing) ## 5. Spokenly Best free option on the most platforms The most generous free plan, on the most platforms. **Platforms** Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Chrome **Free plan** Unlimited with local models or your own API keys **Paid from** Local+ $29 once; Pro $15 a month ($12 billed yearly) **Watch out for** Cloud quality costs a subscription or your own API keys. **Source** [spokenly.app](https://spokenly.app) ## 6. VoiceInk Best open-source, one-time price Open source and fully local, at the lowest one-time price. **Platforms** Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 14.4+), iPhone **Free plan** A free trial **Paid from** $25 once for one Mac **Watch out for** No Intel Macs, Windows or Android. **Source** [tryvoiceink.com](https://tryvoiceink.com) ## 7. MacWhisper Best for transcribing files Private, local transcription of files, bought once. **Platforms** Mac **Free plan** Transcribe audio and video files on your Mac **Paid from** Pro €64 once, with lifetime updates **Watch out for** Dictation into other apps is a secondary feature and needs Pro. **Source** [macwhisper.com](https://macwhisper.com) ## 8. Apple Dictation Best if you want nothing to install Already on your Mac, free and private. **Platforms** Built into Mac, iPhone and iPad **Free plan** Free, built in **Paid from** Free **Watch out for** No AI cleanup, and it stumbles on names and jargon. **Source** [support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac) ## How to choose - It must work offline: Superwhisper, VoiceInk or Spokenly's local models. - You'd rather pay once: VoiceInk ($25), Spokenly Local+ ($29), MacWhisper (€64) or Superwhisper ($249.99). - You say a lot of names, products and jargon: Caddie, which learns them from your notes and calendar. - You need Windows or Android too: Superwhisper, Aqua or Spokenly. ## Questions people ask ### Is there a free Wispr Flow alternative? Yes. Spokenly and Superwhisper are free and unlimited with local models, Willow has an unlimited free plan with a lighter model, Apple Dictation is built in, and Caddie is free while in beta. ### What is the best offline Wispr Flow alternative? Superwhisper and VoiceInk run local models on your Mac, so they work without internet. ### Which dictation app is most accurate? In Caddie's test of six Mac dictation setups on everyday speech (names, tech terms, Indian English and Hinglish), Caddie made the fewest mistakes and Wispr Flow was close behind. Accuracy depends on how you speak, so try two on your own voice. ## Related [Caddie vs Wispr Flow](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[The best dictation apps for Mac in 2026](https://usecaddie.app/mac-dictation/best-dictation-apps)[Caddie vs Superwhisper](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper)[Dictation for Mac that already knows your words](https://usecaddie.app/mac-dictation/) Checked 31 October 2026 against each product's own site. Prices change; if something is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. --- > Calendly is the standard for booking links. Caddie's are free in beta, guard your habits and routines, and live next to your tasks, notes and meetings on your Mac. # Caddie vs Calendly Calendly and Caddie both give you a booking link where guests pick a time in their own time zone. Calendly is the specialist: payments, routing forms, round robin and deep integrations, with one event type on its free plan. Caddie's booking links are one part of a Mac app for your whole day: unlimited links free while in beta, your habits and routines count as busy, and every booking lands next to your tasks and notes. Pick Calendly for sales teams and payments; Caddie if you want your own time protected without another subscription. Updated 31 October 2026. Facts about Calendly come from its own website (sources at the end); Caddie is free while in beta. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) ## Caddie vs Calendly at a glance | | Caddie | Calendly | | --- | --- | --- | | Platforms | Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 13.3+); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Web, with apps and a browser extension | | Price | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | Standard $10 per seat a month billed yearly; Teams $16 | | Free plan | Everything, while in beta | 1 event type, 1 calendar | | Meeting notes | Records on your Mac, no bot on the call; live transcript in the notch; notes when the call ends | Notetaker as a paid add-on | | Meeting promises become tasks | Yes: every promise becomes a task on your day; Linear issues created live on the call | No | | Dictation in any app | Yes: hold fn in any app; learns names from your notes and calendar; English and Hinglish | No | | Notes | Yes: notes that sort themselves, search, journal; imports from Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Apple Notes | No | | Tasks and calendar | Yes: tasks and Google Calendar in one day view, with a Planner that plans your morning | No | | Booking links | Yes | Yes: payments (Stripe, PayPal), workflows; round robin and routing on Teams | | AI agents | Yes: agents with routines, running on your own Claude Code or Codex | Callie (beta), a paid add-on | | MCP server for agents | Yes: usecaddie.app/mcp | Not listed on its pricing page | ## Which should you choose? ### Choose Calendly if - You take payments when people book. - Your sales team needs routing forms and round robin by rules. - You use Outlook or many integrations (CRMs). ### Choose Caddie if - You want more than one link without paying. - Your lunch, gym and focus blocks should never be offered. - You'd like bookings beside your tasks, notes and meeting notes on your Mac. - You use Google Calendar and Meet. ## Does Caddie do everything Calendly does? No. Caddie covers what most people use: weekly hours, notice, a booking window, buffers, a daily cap, questions, reminders, rescheduling and team links. It doesn't take payments, route with forms, or connect Outlook or Zoom. ## How does each protect your time? Calendly reads your connected calendars. Caddie does too (Google), and also treats your Caddie habits and routines (lunch, gym, deep work) as busy, so nobody books over them unless you allow it for that routine. ## What happens after a booking? Both put an event on your calendar and email both sides. In Caddie the call is then recorded with no bot, and its promises become tasks on your day. ## How much do Caddie and Calendly cost? Calendly's free plan has one event type and one calendar; Standard is $10 per seat a month billed yearly, Teams $16. Caddie is free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything in Caddie, booking links included. ## Questions people ask ### Is Caddie a free Calendly alternative? Yes: unlimited booking links, free while Caddie is in beta. ### Can Caddie take payments for bookings? Not yet. Calendly takes payments through Stripe and PayPal on paid plans. ### Does Caddie work with Zoom? Not yet: Google Meet, a place, or a phone call. ## Sources - [Calendly pricing](https://calendly.com/pricing) - [Caddie booking links](https://usecaddie.app/booking-links/) - [Caddie features and pricing](https://usecaddie.app/) Checked 31 October 2026. Prices and features change; if something here is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. ## More comparisons [Caddie vs GranolaAI meeting notes](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola)[Caddie vs Notionworkspace and wiki](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion)[Caddie vs Wispr FlowAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs Ottermeeting transcription](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter)[Caddie vs SuperwhisperAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper)[Caddie vs Sunsamadaily planner](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama)[Caddie vs NotebookLMAI notebook](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notebooklm) --- > Granola writes great meeting notes. Caddie writes them too, then puts every promise on your calendar as a task, with notes, dictation and booking links in the same Mac app. # Caddie vs Granola Granola and Caddie both record meetings on your computer with no bot joining the call. Granola is a dedicated meeting notepad that runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. Caddie is a Mac app where meeting notes are one part of your day: every promise from the call becomes a task, next to your notes, calendar, booking links and dictation. Pick Granola if meetings are all you need and you use Windows or Android. Pick Caddie if you want the follow-ups done, not just written down. Updated 31 October 2026. Facts about Granola come from its own website (sources at the end); Caddie is free while in beta. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) ## Caddie vs Granola at a glance | | Caddie | Granola | | --- | --- | --- | | Platforms | Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 13.3+); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | | Price | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | Business $14 per user a month; Enterprise from $35 per user a month | | Free plan | Everything, while in beta | Basic: unlimited meetings, but only the last 30 days of notes are visible | | Meeting notes | Records on your Mac, no bot on the call; live transcript in the notch; notes when the call ends | Records computer audio, no bot; Zoom, Meet, Teams, Slack huddles, in person | | Meeting promises become tasks | Yes: every promise becomes a task on your day; Linear issues created live on the call | Action items in the notes; no task list or calendar of its own | | Dictation in any app | Yes: hold fn in any app; learns names from your notes and calendar; English and Hinglish | Voice Typing on Mac, in beta | | Notes | Yes: notes that sort themselves, search, journal; imports from Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Apple Notes | Meeting notes only | | Tasks and calendar | Yes: tasks and Google Calendar in one day view, with a Planner that plans your morning | No (reads your calendar to find meetings) | | Booking links | Yes | No | | AI agents | Yes: agents with routines, running on your own Claude Code or Codex | Chat over your meeting notes | | MCP server for agents | Yes: usecaddie.app/mcp | Yes (Basic: your last 30 days of notes) | ## Which should you choose? ### Choose Granola if - You use Windows or Android, or record meetings on your phone. - Meetings are the only thing you want an app for. - Your team needs CRM sync (HubSpot, Attio, Affinity, Salesforce). ### Choose Caddie if - You want each promise from a call to land on your day as a task, without copying it over. - You'd rather have notes, tasks, calendar, booking links and dictation in one app than five. - You want to read old meeting notes without paying: Caddie doesn't hide notes after 30 days. - You want agents that act on what was said, on your own Claude Code or Codex. ## Does Granola turn meeting notes into tasks? Granola lists action items inside each meeting's notes. It doesn't have a task list or a calendar, so you copy them into your to-do app yourself. Caddie writes the same notes, then puts every promise ("I'll send the pricing sheet") on your day as a task with a time, and can open a Linear issue for a teammate while you're still on the call. ## Do both record without a bot? Yes. Both record your Mac's audio, so nobody sees a bot join. Caddie asks "Record this call?" when a meeting starts, shows a live transcript in the notch, and has the notes ready a few seconds after you hang up. Caddie's recording needs macOS 26. ## What about meetings older than 30 days? On Granola's free Basic plan only the last 30 days of notes are visible; older ones need Business. Caddie doesn't hide older notes, and files calls to folders (customer calls, hiring, team syncs) on its own. ## Which is better for dictation? Granola added Voice Typing on the Mac in beta. Caddie's dictation is a core feature: hold fn in any app, and it learns the names and jargon in your notes and calendar. In Caddie's own test of six Mac dictation setups, Caddie made the fewest mistakes. ## How much do Caddie and Granola cost? Granola's Business plan is $14 per user a month, billed monthly, and its free Basic plan shows the last 30 days of notes. Caddie is free while in beta, then $10 a month, and that covers notes, tasks, calendar, booking links, meetings, dictation and agents. ## Questions people ask ### Is Caddie a good Granola alternative? Yes, if you're on a Mac. Caddie records meetings without a bot like Granola does, and adds what happens after the call: tasks on your calendar, notes, booking links and dictation. If you need Windows or Android, Granola covers them and Caddie doesn't yet. ### Is there a Granola alternative with no 30-day note limit? Caddie doesn't hide meeting notes after 30 days, and it's free while in beta. ### Does Caddie work on Windows? Not as an app. Notes, tasks and calendar work in any browser at usecaddie.app/app; meetings, dictation and agents need the Mac app. ### Can I use Caddie and Granola together? Yes, but you'd be recording twice. Most people pick one recorder; Caddie's notes link straight to the tasks they created. ## Sources - [Granola pricing](https://www.granola.ai/pricing) - [Granola: languages](https://docs.granola.ai/help-center/customising-granola/multi-language) - [Granola: Voice Typing](https://docs.granola.ai/help-center/voice-typing/intro) - [Caddie features and pricing](https://usecaddie.app/) Checked 31 October 2026. Prices and features change; if something here is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. ## More comparisons [Caddie vs Notionworkspace and wiki](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion)[Caddie vs Wispr FlowAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs Ottermeeting transcription](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter)[Caddie vs SuperwhisperAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper)[Caddie vs Calendlybooking links](https://usecaddie.app/vs/calendly)[Caddie vs Sunsamadaily planner](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama)[Caddie vs NotebookLMAI notebook](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notebooklm) --- > How Caddie compares with the meeting-notes, notes and dictation apps it replaces: features, platforms and prices side by side, checked against each product's own site. # Caddie compared Caddie is one Mac app for notes, tasks, calendar, booking links, meeting notes, dictation, habits, a journal and agents. These pages compare it, fairly, with the apps people use for each of those jobs, including when the other app is the better pick. Updated 31 October 2026. [Caddie vs GranolaAI meeting notes](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola)[Caddie vs Notionworkspace and wiki](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion)[Caddie vs Wispr FlowAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs Ottermeeting transcription](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter)[Caddie vs SuperwhisperAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper)[Caddie vs Calendlybooking links](https://usecaddie.app/vs/calendly)[Caddie vs Sunsamadaily planner](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama)[Caddie vs NotebookLMAI notebook](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notebooklm) ## What Caddie replaces - Meeting notes: Granola, Otter, Fireflies. Caddie records with no bot and turns promises into tasks. - Notes: Notion, Apple Notes, Evernote, Obsidian, Mem. Caddie imports from all of them. - Dictation: Wispr Flow, Superwhisper. Hold fn in any app. - Booking links: Calendly, Cal.com, SavvyCal. - Daily planning: Sunsama, Akiflow, Motion. - Notes from videos and narrated explainers: NotebookLM. - Personal agents: OpenClaw. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) --- > NotebookLM answers questions over sources you upload and makes Audio Overviews. Caddie makes notes from your meetings and videos, explains them with narrated visuals, and keeps them with your day. # Caddie vs NotebookLM NotebookLM (Google's research notebook, now also called Gemini Notebook) is built for studying a set of sources: upload documents, links and videos, ask questions with citations, and generate Audio Overviews and study aids. Caddie is built for your own work: it makes notes from your meetings and from YouTube or X videos, turns any note into a narrated explainer with visuals, and keeps everything beside your tasks and calendar. Pick NotebookLM for research over many documents; Caddie for notes you'll act on. Updated 31 October 2026. Facts about NotebookLM come from its own website (sources at the end); Caddie is free while in beta. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) ## Caddie vs NotebookLM at a glance | | Caddie | NotebookLM | | --- | --- | --- | | Platforms | Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 13.3+); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Web, iPhone, Android | | Price | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | Free; more with Google AI plans | | Free plan | Everything, while in beta | 100 notebooks, 50 sources each | | Meeting notes | Records on your Mac, no bot on the call; live transcript in the notch; notes when the call ends | No | | Meeting promises become tasks | Yes: every promise becomes a task on your day; Linear issues created live on the call | No | | Dictation in any app | Yes: hold fn in any app; learns names from your notes and calendar; English and Hinglish | No | | Notes | Yes: notes that sort themselves, search, journal; imports from Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Apple Notes | Notebooks of sources, with notes and chat | | Tasks and calendar | Yes: tasks and Google Calendar in one day view, with a Planner that plans your morning | No | | Booking links | Yes | No | | AI agents | Yes: agents with routines, running on your own Claude Code or Codex | Chat over your sources | | MCP server for agents | Yes: usecaddie.app/mcp | Not listed | ## Which should you choose? ### Choose NotebookLM if - You research across many PDFs, docs and links at once. - You want quizzes, flashcards and audio overviews to study. - You're on Windows, Android or a Chromebook. ### Choose Caddie if - Your material is meetings and videos you want as notes. - You want visuals with the narration, on a page you can share. - Notes should turn into tasks on your calendar. - You're on a Mac. ## What goes in? NotebookLM takes uploaded sources: PDFs, docs, websites, YouTube videos with captions. Caddie makes notes from what you already have: calls it records with no bot, YouTube and X links, your own notes. ## Audio Overviews vs explainers NotebookLM's Audio Overviews are a spoken conversation about your sources. Caddie's explainers narrate one note with a visual drawn for each idea, and play on the note's shared page. ## What happens after? In NotebookLM you read, ask and study. In Caddie a note's promises become tasks, and your agents can read the notes through Caddie's MCP server. ## How much do Caddie and NotebookLM cost? NotebookLM is free with limits (100 notebooks, 50 sources each), with more through Google's AI plans. Caddie is free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything; explainer narration after your first one uses your own ElevenLabs key. ## Questions people ask ### Is Caddie a NotebookLM alternative? For notes from videos and meetings, and narrated explainers, yes. For research across dozens of uploaded documents, NotebookLM is stronger. ### Can Caddie make audio overviews? It makes narrated explainers of a note, with visuals. They're shorter and visual rather than a two-host conversation. ### Does Caddie work with YouTube? Yes: paste a YouTube or X link for notes chapter by chapter, with a transcript that follows the video. ## Sources - [NotebookLM](https://notebooklm.google) - [Caddie explainers](https://usecaddie.app/explainers/) - [Caddie video notes](https://usecaddie.app/youtube-summarizer/) - [Caddie features and pricing](https://usecaddie.app/) Checked 31 October 2026. Prices and features change; if something here is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. ## More comparisons [Caddie vs GranolaAI meeting notes](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola)[Caddie vs Notionworkspace and wiki](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion)[Caddie vs Wispr FlowAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs Ottermeeting transcription](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter)[Caddie vs SuperwhisperAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper)[Caddie vs Calendlybooking links](https://usecaddie.app/vs/calendly)[Caddie vs Sunsamadaily planner](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama) --- > Notion is a team wiki and database tool. Caddie is a calmer Mac app for your notes, tasks, calendar and meetings, with dictation and agents built in. Here's how to choose. # Caddie vs Notion Notion is a flexible workspace for teams: docs, databases and wikis on every platform, with AI meeting notes on its Business plan. Caddie is built for one person's day on a Mac: notes that sort themselves, tasks and calendar in one view, meetings recorded with no bot and turned into tasks, dictation in any app, and agents. Pick Notion for a big shared wiki or custom databases. Pick Caddie if you want your own notes, day and meetings in one place without building the system yourself. Updated 31 October 2026. Facts about Notion come from its own website (sources at the end); Caddie is free while in beta. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) ## Caddie vs Notion at a glance | | Caddie | Notion | | --- | --- | --- | | Platforms | Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 13.3+); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android | | Price | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | Plus $10 and Business $20 per member a month (up to 20% less yearly) | | Free plan | Everything, while in beta | Yes, with limits (AI and meeting notes only as a trial) | | Meeting notes | Records on your Mac, no bot on the call; live transcript in the notch; notes when the call ends | AI Meeting Notes on Business and Enterprise; desktop app captures mic and system audio | | Meeting promises become tasks | Yes: every promise becomes a task on your day; Linear issues created live on the call | Summaries and action items in the page | | Dictation in any app | Yes: hold fn in any app; learns names from your notes and calendar; English and Hinglish | No system-wide dictation found | | Notes | Yes: notes that sort themselves, search, journal; imports from Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Apple Notes | Yes: docs, databases, wikis | | Tasks and calendar | Yes: tasks and Google Calendar in one day view, with a Planner that plans your morning | Tasks as databases; Notion Calendar is a separate app | | Booking links | Yes | Yes, through Notion Calendar | | AI agents | Yes: agents with routines, running on your own Claude Code or Codex | Notion AI, Notion Agent, Custom Agents (credits) | | MCP server for agents | Yes: usecaddie.app/mcp | Yes | ## Which should you choose? ### Choose Notion if - Your team needs a shared wiki, project databases and fine-grained permissions. - You use Windows, Android or Linux (in a browser). - You like building your own system from templates. ### Choose Caddie if - You want notes that organise themselves instead of a system you maintain. - You want meeting notes on any plan, not only Business, with the promises turned into tasks on your day. - You want tasks and calendar in one app, not two. - You want to dictate into any Mac app, and agents that run on your own Claude Code or Codex. ## Do I need to set Caddie up like Notion? No. Notion gives you blocks and databases and you design the system. Caddie has one: notes go into smart folders on their own, tasks and calendar share a day view, and the Planner in your notch plans the morning with you. ## Which has better meeting notes? Notion's AI Meeting Notes are on the Business and Enterprise plans and run in its desktop app, or with the microphone only on the web and phone. Caddie records any call on your Mac with no bot, shows a live transcript in the notch, and turns every promise into a task, free while in beta. Caddie's recording needs macOS 26. ## Can I move my notes from Notion to Caddie? Yes. Caddie imports a Notion export, and also notes from Obsidian, Mem, Evernote and Apple Notes. ## Is Caddie good for teams? Caddie has team workspaces: shared notes edited live, calls filed to a team knowledge base, and a Monday catch-up on what shipped and who's stuck. For a large company wiki with complex permissions, Notion is the more complete tool today. ## How much do Caddie and Notion cost? Notion's Plus plan is $10 and Business is $20 per member a month (Notion says yearly billing saves up to 20%); AI Meeting Notes and Notion Agent come with Business. Caddie is free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything, meetings and agents included. ## Questions people ask ### Is Caddie a good Notion alternative? For personal notes, tasks, calendar and meetings on a Mac, yes. For a company wiki with custom databases, Notion is still the stronger choice. ### Does Caddie work offline? Caddie keeps a local copy of your notes, so they open instantly, and syncs changes when you're back online. ### Can I use Caddie in a browser like Notion? Notes, tasks and calendar work in any browser at usecaddie.app/app. Meetings, dictation and agents need the Mac app. ### Does Caddie have an MCP server like Notion? Yes, at usecaddie.app/mcp, so Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and other agents can read and write your notes, tasks and calendar. ## Sources - [Notion pricing](https://www.notion.com/pricing) - [Notion: AI Meeting Notes](https://www.notion.com/help/ai-meeting-notes) - [Notion Calendar](https://www.notion.com/product/calendar) - [Notion MCP](https://developers.notion.com/docs/mcp) - [Caddie features and pricing](https://usecaddie.app/) Checked 31 October 2026. Prices and features change; if something here is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. ## More comparisons [Caddie vs GranolaAI meeting notes](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola)[Caddie vs Wispr FlowAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs Ottermeeting transcription](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter)[Caddie vs SuperwhisperAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper)[Caddie vs Calendlybooking links](https://usecaddie.app/vs/calendly)[Caddie vs Sunsamadaily planner](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama)[Caddie vs NotebookLMAI notebook](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notebooklm) --- > Otter sends a bot to your calls and caps minutes on cheaper plans. Caddie records on your Mac with no bot, then turns every promise into a task on your calendar. Compared. # Caddie vs Otter Otter is a meeting transcription service whose Notetaker bot can join Zoom, Teams and Meet calls, even ones you miss, and it also has a desktop recorder. Caddie records calls on your Mac with no bot, and turns every promise from the call into a task on your day, inside an app that also holds your notes, calendar, booking links and dictation. Pick Otter if you want a bot to attend calls for you or need Windows and Android. Pick Caddie for a quieter call and the follow-ups done on a Mac. Updated 31 October 2026. Facts about Otter come from its own website (sources at the end); Caddie is free while in beta. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) ## Caddie vs Otter at a glance | | Caddie | Otter | | --- | --- | --- | | Platforms | Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 13.3+); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, Android, Chrome | | Price | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | Pro and Business plans per user (prices vary by region and billing) | | Free plan | Everything, while in beta | Basic: 300 minutes a month, 30 minutes per conversation | | Meeting notes | Records on your Mac, no bot on the call; live transcript in the notch; notes when the call ends | Notetaker bot joins Zoom, Teams, Meet; desktop app records without a bot | | Meeting promises become tasks | Yes: every promise becomes a task on your day; Linear issues created live on the call | Action items in the notes | | Dictation in any app | Yes: hold fn in any app; learns names from your notes and calendar; English and Hinglish | No system-wide dictation found | | Notes | Yes: notes that sort themselves, search, journal; imports from Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Apple Notes | Meeting notes only | | Tasks and calendar | Yes: tasks and Google Calendar in one day view, with a Planner that plans your morning | No (connects your calendar to join meetings) | | Booking links | Yes | No | | AI agents | Yes: agents with routines, running on your own Claude Code or Codex | AI Chat over meetings | | MCP server for agents | Yes: usecaddie.app/mcp | Yes | ## Which should you choose? ### Choose Otter if - You want a bot to join and record calls you can't attend. - You need Windows, Android or a Chrome extension. - You transcribe a lot of uploaded audio files, or want Salesforce and HubSpot sync. ### Choose Caddie if - You don't want a bot in the participant list. - You don't want to count minutes: Caddie doesn't meter recording time while in beta. - You want every promise to land on your day as a task, next to your notes and calendar. ## Does Caddie send a bot to meetings like Otter? No. Caddie records your Mac's audio, so the other people on the call don't see a bot join. Otter's Notetaker joins as a participant; its desktop app can also record without a bot. Caddie's recording needs macOS 26. ## Are there minute limits? Otter's free Basic plan has 300 minutes a month and 30 minutes per conversation, and paid plans raise the caps. Caddie doesn't meter recording minutes while in beta. ## What happens after the call? Otter gives you a transcript, a summary and action items. Caddie gives you those too, then puts each promise on your calendar as a task, can create Linear issues while you're on the call, and files the call into the right folder. ## How much do Caddie and Otter cost? Otter's free Basic plan has 300 minutes a month; Pro and Business cost more per user and their prices vary by region and billing period, so check Otter's pricing page for yours. Caddie is free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything. ## Questions people ask ### Is Caddie a good Otter alternative? On a Mac, yes, especially if you don't want a bot on your calls. If you need a bot to attend calls without you, or Windows and Android apps, Otter does that and Caddie doesn't. ### Can Caddie record in-person meetings? Yes. It records what your Mac hears, on a call or in the room. ### Does Caddie work with Zoom, Google Meet and Teams? Yes. It records any call your Mac plays, and asks "Record this call?" when one starts. ## Sources - [Otter pricing](https://otter.ai/pricing) - [Otter desktop app](https://otter.ai/desktop) - [Caddie features and pricing](https://usecaddie.app/) Checked 31 October 2026. Prices and features change; if something here is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. ## More comparisons [Caddie vs GranolaAI meeting notes](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola)[Caddie vs Notionworkspace and wiki](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion)[Caddie vs Wispr FlowAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs SuperwhisperAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper)[Caddie vs Calendlybooking links](https://usecaddie.app/vs/calendly)[Caddie vs Sunsamadaily planner](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama)[Caddie vs NotebookLMAI notebook](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notebooklm) --- > Sunsama is a calm, guided daily planner at $17 to $22 a month. Caddie plans your day on a Mac with tasks, Google Calendar, habits and meeting notes in one place, free in beta. # Caddie vs Sunsama Sunsama and Caddie both put your tasks and calendar in one day and help you plan it each morning. Sunsama is a dedicated planner with a guided ritual (plan in the morning, shut down at night) on every platform, from $17 a month with no free plan. Caddie is a Mac app where the planner is one part: tasks, Google Calendar, habits, notes, meeting notes and booking links in one place, with the Planner proposing your day from the notch, free while in beta. Updated 31 October 2026. Facts about Sunsama come from its own website (sources at the end); Caddie is free while in beta. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) ## Caddie vs Sunsama at a glance | | Caddie | Sunsama | | --- | --- | --- | | Platforms | Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 13.3+); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android, web | | Price | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | Pro $22 a month, or $17 a month billed yearly | | Free plan | Everything, while in beta | No free plan; a 14-day trial | | Meeting notes | Records on your Mac, no bot on the call; live transcript in the notch; notes when the call ends | No | | Meeting promises become tasks | Yes: every promise becomes a task on your day; Linear issues created live on the call | No | | Dictation in any app | Yes: hold fn in any app; learns names from your notes and calendar; English and Hinglish | No | | Notes | Yes: notes that sort themselves, search, journal; imports from Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Apple Notes | Notes on tasks | | Tasks and calendar | Yes: tasks and Google Calendar in one day view, with a Planner that plans your morning | Yes: guided daily planning and timeboxing | | Booking links | Yes | No | | AI agents | Yes: agents with routines, running on your own Claude Code or Codex | AI, MCP and Zapier on Pro | | MCP server for agents | Yes: usecaddie.app/mcp | Yes (Pro) | ## Which should you choose? ### Choose Sunsama if - You want a guided ritual every morning and evening. - You're on Windows, Linux or Android, or use Outlook. - You pull tasks from many tools into your plan. ### Choose Caddie if - You want it free, on a Mac. - Your meetings should turn into tasks on the same day view. - You want notes, habits and booking links in the same app. - You'd like an assistant that proposes the plan for you. ## How does each plan your day? Sunsama walks you through a ritual: pick today's tasks, timebox them, review at night. Caddie's Planner looks at what's due and how much time is free, proposes a plan, asks what it needs, and puts tasks in the free time when you say yes. ## Where do tasks come from? Sunsama brings in tasks from many tools. Caddie's tasks come from your notes, your meetings (every promise on a call), Linear tickets, and what you type. ## What about habits and routines? In Caddie habits and routines hold time on the calendar every day they run, and booking links won't book over them. ## How much do Caddie and Sunsama cost? Sunsama has no free plan: Pro is $22 a month, or $17 a month billed yearly, after a 14-day trial. Caddie is free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything. ## Questions people ask ### Is Caddie a free Sunsama alternative? Yes, while it's in beta, if you're on a Mac with Google Calendar. ### Does Caddie have a shutdown ritual? Not as a guided step. The Planner checks in during the day and plans tomorrow after the evening. ### Does Caddie support Outlook? Not yet: Google Calendar only. ## Sources - [Sunsama pricing](https://www.sunsama.com/pricing) - [Caddie's daily planner](https://usecaddie.app/daily-planner/) - [Caddie features and pricing](https://usecaddie.app/) Checked 31 October 2026. Prices and features change; if something here is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. ## More comparisons [Caddie vs GranolaAI meeting notes](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola)[Caddie vs Notionworkspace and wiki](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion)[Caddie vs Wispr FlowAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs Ottermeeting transcription](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter)[Caddie vs SuperwhisperAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper)[Caddie vs Calendlybooking links](https://usecaddie.app/vs/calendly)[Caddie vs NotebookLMAI notebook](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notebooklm) --- > Superwhisper is a powerful offline dictation app with custom modes. Caddie's dictation knows your names from your notes and calendar, inside an app for notes, tasks and meetings. # Caddie vs Superwhisper Superwhisper is a dictation app for power users: local Whisper models that work offline, custom AI modes, your own API keys, and a lifetime licence, on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. Caddie's dictation is part of a Mac app that also holds your notes, calendar and meetings, so it learns your names and jargon from what you've already written. Pick Superwhisper for offline dictation and deep customisation. Pick Caddie if you want accurate dictation plus notes, tasks and meeting notes in one app. Updated 31 October 2026. Facts about Superwhisper come from its own website (sources at the end); Caddie is free while in beta. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) ## Caddie vs Superwhisper at a glance | | Caddie | Superwhisper | | --- | --- | --- | | Platforms | Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 13.3+); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | | Price | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | Pro $8.49 a month or $84.99 a year; a lifetime licence is also sold | | Free plan | Everything, while in beta | Yes: unlimited dictation with local models | | Meeting notes | Records on your Mac, no bot on the call; live transcript in the notch; notes when the call ends | Mac only, no bot | | Meeting promises become tasks | Yes: every promise becomes a task on your day; Linear issues created live on the call | No | | Dictation in any app | Yes: hold fn in any app; learns names from your notes and calendar; English and Hinglish | Yes: ⌥Space by default; local and cloud models; custom modes | | Notes | Yes: notes that sort themselves, search, journal; imports from Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Apple Notes | No | | Tasks and calendar | Yes: tasks and Google Calendar in one day view, with a Planner that plans your morning | No | | Booking links | Yes | No | | AI agents | Yes: agents with routines, running on your own Claude Code or Codex | Custom AI modes; bring your own API keys | | MCP server for agents | Yes: usecaddie.app/mcp | None found | ## Which should you choose? ### Choose Superwhisper if - You want dictation that works fully offline with local models. - You want to build custom AI modes and use your own API keys. - You'd rather pay once than every month. ### Choose Caddie if - You want names and jargon from your notes and calendar spelled right without adding them by hand. - You speak Hinglish. - You want dictation plus notes, tasks, calendar and meeting notes in one app. ## Which is more accurate on real speech? Caddie's test of six Mac dictation setups put Caddie's Scribe mode first on everyday speech with names, tech terms and Hinglish. Superwhisper wasn't in that test, and its accuracy depends a lot on the model you pick. ## Can Caddie work offline? Caddie transcribes in the cloud for accuracy and falls back to your Mac's own recogniser when the cloud is slow. If fully offline dictation is a must, Superwhisper's local models are the stronger choice. ## What does Caddie do that a dictation app doesn't? It keeps your notes, journal, tasks and calendar, records meetings with no bot and turns promises into tasks, and runs agents on your own Claude Code or Codex. Dictation is one part of it. ## How much do Caddie and Superwhisper cost? Superwhisper Pro is $8.49 a month or $84.99 a year, with a free plan for local models and a lifetime licence. Caddie is free while in beta, then $10 a month for dictation, notes, tasks, calendar, meetings and agents together. ## Questions people ask ### Is Caddie a good Superwhisper alternative? If you want dictation inside an app for notes, tasks and meetings on a Mac, yes. If you want offline-only dictation with custom modes, Superwhisper is built for that. ### What shortcut does Caddie use? Hold fn, talk, and let go. It types wherever your cursor is. ### What does Caddie need to run dictation? A Mac with Apple silicon on macOS 26. ## Sources - [Superwhisper](https://superwhisper.com) - [Superwhisper plans](https://superwhisper.com/docs/billing/plans.md) - [Superwhisper meeting transcription](https://superwhisper.com/meeting-transcription) - [Caddie's dictation accuracy test](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy) - [Caddie features and pricing](https://usecaddie.app/) Checked 31 October 2026. Prices and features change; if something here is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. ## More comparisons [Caddie vs GranolaAI meeting notes](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola)[Caddie vs Notionworkspace and wiki](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion)[Caddie vs Wispr FlowAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[Caddie vs Ottermeeting transcription](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter)[Caddie vs Calendlybooking links](https://usecaddie.app/vs/calendly)[Caddie vs Sunsamadaily planner](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama)[Caddie vs NotebookLMAI notebook](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notebooklm) --- > Wispr Flow is dictation on every device. Caddie's dictation lives inside your notes and calendar, so it knows your names and jargon from day one. Accuracy, price and features compared. # Caddie vs Wispr Flow Both let you hold fn on a Mac and talk into any app. Wispr Flow is a dedicated dictation app on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, with 100+ languages and a meeting notetaker. Caddie's dictation is part of an app that already holds your notes, meetings and calendar, so it knows the names and jargon you say from the first day; in Caddie's own test it made the fewest mistakes of six Mac setups. Pick Wispr Flow for dictation on every device or in many languages. Pick Caddie on a Mac if you want accuracy on your own words, plus notes, tasks and meetings. Updated 31 October 2026. Facts about Wispr Flow come from its own website (sources at the end); Caddie is free while in beta. [Download Caddie for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) [Open in your browser](https://usecaddie.app/app) ## Caddie vs Wispr Flow at a glance | | Caddie | Wispr Flow | | --- | --- | --- | | Platforms | Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 13.3+); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | | Price | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything | Pro $15 a month ($12 a month yearly); Growth $23 a month | | Free plan | Everything, while in beta | Yes, a limited number of words a week | | Meeting notes | Records on your Mac, no bot on the call; live transcript in the notch; notes when the call ends | Notetaker on Mac and Windows, no bot | | Meeting promises become tasks | Yes: every promise becomes a task on your day; Linear issues created live on the call | Summaries with next steps | | Dictation in any app | Yes: hold fn in any app; learns names from your notes and calendar; English and Hinglish | Yes: hold fn on Mac; 100+ languages; transcribed in the cloud | | Notes | Yes: notes that sort themselves, search, journal; imports from Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Apple Notes | No | | Tasks and calendar | Yes: tasks and Google Calendar in one day view, with a Planner that plans your morning | No | | Booking links | Yes | No | | AI agents | Yes: agents with routines, running on your own Claude Code or Codex | AI rewriting and formatting | | MCP server for agents | Yes: usecaddie.app/mcp | None found | ## Which should you choose? ### Choose Wispr Flow if - You dictate on Windows, iPhone or Android, not just a Mac. - You dictate in languages other than English and Hindi. - Your team needs HIPAA with a signed BAA, or SSO and SCIM. ### Choose Caddie if - You say a lot of names, products and jargon, and want them spelled right on the first day. - You speak Hinglish and want Hindi words kept in Roman letters. - You want dictation, notes, tasks, calendar and meeting notes for the price of one app. ## Which is more accurate? In Caddie's test of six Mac dictation setups on the same eight clips of everyday speech (Indian English, Hinglish, names, tech terms), Caddie's Scribe mode made the fewest mistakes and Wispr Flow was close behind. Caddie ran the test, so read the method and judge for yourself. ## Why would dictation inside a notes app be more accurate? A stand-alone dictation app starts with an empty dictionary and learns when you correct it. Caddie already has your notes, journal, meeting notes and calendar, which are full of the names and jargon you say, so it listens for them from day one and keeps learning from new notes. ## How fast is each? Caddie's Default mode types in about half a second after you let go of fn; Scribe, the most accurate, takes about a second. Caddie's test counts the time to fix wrong words too, because one wrong word costs more than the whole wait. ## Where does the audio go? Wispr Flow transcribes in the cloud, and lets you turn off model training and audio storage. Caddie also transcribes in the cloud (Groq or ElevenLabs) for accuracy, falls back to your Mac's own recogniser if the cloud is slow, and doesn't keep the clip on Caddie's servers. ## How much do Caddie and Wispr Flow cost? Wispr Flow Pro is $15 a month, or $12 a month billed yearly, and the free plan has a weekly word limit. Caddie is free while in beta, then $10 a month, and that includes notes, tasks, calendar, meetings and agents as well as dictation. ## Questions people ask ### Is Caddie a good Wispr Flow alternative? On a Mac, yes: the same hold-fn dictation, with your own words spelled right, plus notes, tasks and meetings. If you need dictation on Windows or your phone, Wispr Flow covers more devices. ### Does Caddie's dictation work in any app? Yes. Hold fn in Slack, Gmail, your editor or anywhere your cursor is, talk, and let go. ### Does Caddie support Hinglish? Yes. It keeps Hindi words in Roman letters, the way people actually type them. ### What does Caddie need to run dictation? A Mac with Apple silicon on macOS 26. ## Sources - [Wispr Flow pricing](https://wisprflow.ai/pricing) - [Wispr Flow: starting a dictation](https://docs.wisprflow.ai/articles/6409258247-starting-your-first-dictation) - [Wispr Flow: privacy and security](https://wisprflow.ai/post/enterprise-privacy-and-security-overview) - [Caddie's dictation accuracy test](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy) - [Caddie features and pricing](https://usecaddie.app/) Checked 31 October 2026. Prices and features change; if something here is out of date, email harsha@usecaddie.app and we'll fix it. ## More comparisons [Caddie vs GranolaAI meeting notes](https://usecaddie.app/vs/granola)[Caddie vs Notionworkspace and wiki](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notion)[Caddie vs Ottermeeting transcription](https://usecaddie.app/vs/otter)[Caddie vs SuperwhisperAI dictation](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper)[Caddie vs Calendlybooking links](https://usecaddie.app/vs/calendly)[Caddie vs Sunsamadaily planner](https://usecaddie.app/vs/sunsama)[Caddie vs NotebookLMAI notebook](https://usecaddie.app/vs/notebooklm) --- > Agents now write most of the code, so the slow part is your attention. These are the principles we use to build Oncourse AI and Caddie with agents. In the Bible story, the builders lose their shared language and the tower is never finished. Bruegel painted it already leaning, with layers that don't line up. It is the risk of building big with many hands. Agents give you the hands. These principles are how to start their work, check it, teach them, and aim them high, without the tower leaning. How we build with agents # Practical principles for building with agents We built Oncourse AI to 80k+ signups as a small, bootstrapped team, and I built Caddie in a week on the side. Neither would have been possible working the way most teams still work. These principles are how we did it. [Harsha Garlapati](https://www.linkedin.com/in/harsha-g/), [Shubhdeep Srivastava](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shubh128/) and [Prasad Kompalli](https://www.linkedin.com/in/prasadkompalli/) · [Oncourse AI](https://getoncourse.ai/) · October 2026 Agents now write most of the code, so the slow part is your attention. These are the principles to spend it well. Most teams still plan as if writing code were the slow part. Agents now write most of the code, so the slow part is the attention of the person in charge. That shift is how a small, bootstrapped team runs Oncourse AI, and how one person can build a second product on the side. Caddie took 730 commits in 15 days, working alone with agents. Neither would have happened working the way most teams still do. **Agents leave you three jobs:** starting work, checking it, and teaching them what good looks like. The principles are grouped by those jobs. The last one is about what to aim at once the three are running. Starting work 1.1 ### Start every task worth doing the second you know about it **Today**Tasks go into a backlog and wait to be picked up.**Instead**Once a task is worth doing, give it to an agent the second it is written down. 1.2 ### Spend your time deciding what to work on, not on the task **Today**Every request becomes a ticket, and the team works through the backlog in order.**Instead**Pick the few tasks worth the team's attention, reject the rest, and give each one you keep its scope and context: who asked, why, and what done looks like. 1.3 ### Plan delivery dates, not start dates **Today**Sprint planning decides what starts this week and what waits for the next one.**Instead**Keep the dates customers rely on, and start every planned task today. 1.4 ### Keep at least five agents running, day and night **Today**Most people run one agent and watch it work.**Instead**Keep five or more running every hour, including while you sleep. 1.5 ### Give each project a coordinator agent **Today**You hand out every task and chase every thread yourself.**Instead**Give each project a coordinator that watches its Slack channels, hands work to the right agent, and brings back one summary. Checking work 2.1 ### De-risk the merge button **Today**Code review means reading every line before you press merge.**Instead**Make merging safe: confirm every finding in the code, and let tests and the build check every line. 2.2 ### Audit the app with personas, not checklists **Today**QA runs a checklist for each feature.**Instead**Keep a shared library of personas built from real customers, and have agents test each feature as a different set of them. 2.3 ### Set up Kaizen routines that improve the work every day **Today**Small improvements wait for a polish sprint that rarely comes.**Instead**Set up routines where agents improve the work every day, in small steps or large ones, and check that earlier fixes held. 2.4 ### Let production problems open their own pull requests **Today**Errors and slow endpoints sit on a dashboard until someone has time to look.**Instead**Point agents at your monitoring, so an error or a slow endpoint opens a fix on its own. Teaching agents 3.1 ### Turn every good result into a skill **Today**You make one good post, video or fix, and move on.**Instead**When an experiment works, turn how you made it into a skill, so agents can repeat that quality again and again. 3.2 ### Give every skill its references and the recipe behind them **Today**A skill is a saved prompt, or a few good examples with nothing saying why they work.**Instead**Keep the reference examples that set the bar, add the steps and reasons that made them work, and test the skill on a fresh agent. 3.3 ### Read your agents' traces every week **Today**An agent's run disappears once the task is done.**Instead**Send every agent call through one AI proxy, review the traces weekly, and turn what you find into skills. Ideas and ambition 4.1 ### Give your agents MAD goals: measurable, absurd and daily **Today**Roadmaps are sized for what a few people can do in a quarter.**Instead**Give agents goals a team of people would never attempt, like "make the app 10x faster." 4.2 ### Take ideas from three sources, not from the roadmap **Today**Ideas come from the roadmap and from what the team finds interesting, and you learn whether anyone wants one after it ships.**Instead**Pick ideas that pull in a demo, meet a real need, or come from your own conviction. Build the ones that do all three first, and the rest for the fun of it. 4.3 ### Prototype live with agents, not in the background **Today**You hand an idea to an agent, switch to something else, and come back an hour later to one attempt.**Instead**Sit with the agent: ask for ten approaches, ten versions of the best one, react to each, and iterate in minutes. Starting work 1.1 ## Start every task worth doing the second you know about it Once a task is worth doing, give it to an agent the second it is written down. **Today**Tasks go into a backlog and wait to be picked up. **The problem**A task that takes a day to do takes two weeks to ship, and most of that time is waiting. **Instead**Once a task is worth doing, give it to an agent the second it is written down. Follow one task from the day someone writes it down to the day it ships. **In a typical team that plans in sprints, the work takes a day and the task takes two weeks.** It waits in the backlog, then for planning, then for someone to be free. **An agent should make a first version in minutes.** When the work takes minutes, the days a task spends waiting in a queue become almost all of its time. So once you decide a task is worth doing, start it right away, even if it won't ship for weeks. Deciding which tasks are worth doing is principle 1.2. ### A meeting should start work, not add tasks Meetings are where most tasks start. A typical call ends with a list of action items, and each one becomes another task in the queue. **A meeting shouldn't add tasks. It should start the work.** In Caddie, when a call ends, its Get it done card drafts each follow-up and hands it to an agent: the email, the Slack message, the PRD, even the payment. Anything sent in your name waits for your OK, and nothing lands on your to-do list. **Give the follow-ups you keep forgetting to an agent too.** Some come back every week: the recap after a sales call, the look at yesterday's signups, the docs that should change after a release. When you notice you forgot one, set up a routine so an agent does it every time from now on. **The same rule applies to bugs.** On the night of 22 October, an audit found that a deleted call note could come back after a workspace switch. An agent fixed it that night, and the fix shipped in version 0.5.48. ### Measure time to happy, not time to close - **Minute 0**Ravi reports export is broken - **Minute 1**An agent turns Ravi into a persona - **Minute 3**Another agent fixes the export - **Minute 4**The persona tries the fix as Ravi - 😊**Minute 5**Ravi gets a reply, and it works Measure **time to happy**: the minutes from a customer raising a problem to that customer being happy with the fix. Aim for five minutes. An agent fixes the problem, and a persona agent built from that customer checks the fix before anyone replies. Support teams measure time to resolution, the hours from a ticket being opened to it being closed. Engineering teams measure cycle time. Both stop the clock when the team marks the work done, and the customer may still be stuck. **Measure something else instead: time to happy.** The clock starts when a customer raises a problem, in a user interview, an email or a bug report. It stops when that customer is happy with the fix. Aim for five minutes. **A person can't fix and check a bug in five minutes, but agents working together can.** One agent turns the customer into a persona: who they are, their device, and what they were trying to do. Another agent fixes the problem. Then the persona agent walks through the fix as that customer before anyone replies. If the persona wouldn't be happy, the fix isn't done. **The same goes for planned work.** Say on Monday you plan an export feature that is due in three weeks. An agent drafts it that afternoon. The draft shows the hard part is the file format, not the screen, so the plan changes on day one instead of in week three. 1.2 ## Spend your time deciding what to work on, not on the task Pick the few tasks worth the team's attention, reject the rest, and give each one you keep its scope and context: who asked, why, and what done looks like. **Today**Every request becomes a ticket, and the team works through the backlog in order. **The problem**Agents make starting anything cheap, so attention goes to whatever arrived, not to what matters. And a one-line ticket gets a confident first version of the wrong thing. **Instead**Pick the few tasks worth the team's attention, reject the rest, and give each one you keep its scope and context: who asked, why, and what done looks like. **When agents do the work, your time moves to the two minutes before they start.** Those two minutes decide what the team spends its attention on, and whether the first version ships. **Spend them on triage first, and reject most of what comes in.** Not every task is worth picking up. Agents make starting free, but every task still costs someone's review, and the team's attention is the one thing that doesn't grow. So ask whether the task moves something that matters now. If it doesn't, say no and close it. Keep only what matters. Then ask how urgent each task is and which agent is set up for it. A short list the team cares about beats a long one nobody finishes. **Then write the scope yourself.** Say what to build, what is out, and what done looks like. The prompt decides most of the result, and agents are bad at writing their own. Asked to scope a task, an agent picks the version that is easy to finish, not the one that matters. A few sentences of scope from you save hours of work on the wrong thing. **Then add the context a new teammate would need.** Who asked, and what were they trying to do? Link the Slack thread, the call or the customer's email. Say what done looks like, and what the agent must not touch. An agent that starts with the full picture needs one review. An agent that starts with one line needs five. 1.3 ## Plan delivery dates, not start dates Keep the dates customers rely on, and start every planned task today. **Today**Sprint planning decides what starts this week and what waits for the next one. **The problem**Start dates ration people's time, and agents don't need rationing. **Instead**Keep the dates customers rely on, and start every planned task today. Sprint planning sets two dates for each task: when work starts and when it ships. Start dates exist because a person can only hold a few tasks at once. **Agents don't have that limit.** Keep the delivery dates, because customers and teammates rely on them. Drop the start dates. Every task in the weekly plan gets an agent the day it enters the plan. **By the next planning meeting, every task has a draft, a prototype or a failed attempt.** The meeting stops estimating work and starts judging it. A failed attempt is useful too, because it shows what the task really needs. In Caddie you hand a task to an agent from your task list, and the planner keeps tasks an agent holds out of your day. 1.4 ## Keep at least five agents running, day and night Keep five or more running every hour, including while you sleep. **Today**Most people run one agent and watch it work. **The problem**Watching makes you the bottleneck, and the agent stops when you log off. **Instead**Keep five or more running every hour, including while you sleep. With one agent, you write a prompt and watch it work. You have swapped waiting for a person for waiting for a machine. **With five or more, something is always finished.** While one agent works, review what another made. With fewer than five, you end up waiting. The upper limit is how much you can check well, which is principle 2.1. **They shouldn't stop when you do.** Before you sleep, start the long jobs, like audits and research. By morning, a night's work should be waiting for review. Many of Caddie's audits ran overnight. The overnight agents run work you can check; discovering what to build happens with you, in principle 4.3. Caddie's Agents inbox lists every agent by who needs you, including Caddie's own agents, T3 Code threads, and Claude Code and Codex sessions. An agent's question reaches you in the Mac's notch or on your iPhone, so no agent sits idle waiting for an answer. 1.5 ## Give each project a coordinator agent Give each project a coordinator that watches its Slack channels, hands work to the right agent, and brings back one summary. **Today**You hand out every task and chase every thread yourself. **The problem**With five or more agents, managing them is a full-time job, and requests in Slack wait until you look. **Instead**Give each project a coordinator that watches its Slack channels, hands work to the right agent, and brings back one summary. Five agents running day and night need managing: who works on what, what is stuck, what is done. Do that yourself and you are the bottleneck again. **So give the job to an agent, one per project.** Oncourse has its coordinator and Caddie has another, each with its own channels, agents and memory. A coordinator reads each request and hands it to the agent best set up for it. A follow-up goes to the agent already on that topic instead of starting a new one. When the work is back, you get one short summary of what each agent did and what needs you. **Point it at the places requests arrive.** It watches Slack continuously, so when a teammate asks for something, the work has started before you read the message. It never sends or posts as you without asking first. In Caddie, every account comes with a Coordinator, and you can make one for each project. Slack messages and meeting follow-ups go to it, and it hands work to your other agents and T3 Code threads. Checking work 2.1 ## De-risk the merge button Make merging safe: confirm every finding in the code, and let tests and the build check every line. **Today**Code review means reading every line before you press merge. **The problem**Agents write more code than anyone can read, so merge becomes the riskiest button you press. **Instead**Make merging safe: confirm every finding in the code, and let tests and the build check every line. Agents write more code than anyone can read line by line. **Merging stays safe if three things hold: the problem is real, the fix is proven, and the right person decides.** Check them in that order. ### First, confirm the problem is real **When an agent reports a bug, confirm it in the code before anyone fixes it.** Agents report wrong findings in the same confident tone as right ones, and a fix for a bug that doesn't exist is a new bug. Say an agent reports that checkout charges tax twice. You open the code and see it was reading an old test file. If another agent had "fixed" it, a working checkout would now be broken. ### Then, let agents prove the fix works **Code review bots only read the code.** The better check is whether the app works. Give agents a way to see it: screenshots of every screen they changed, compared with what was expected, and computer use to click through the flow like a person would. **An agent that can see its own result fixes most of its mistakes before you look.** Your review then starts from working software, not from a diff. **Let machines check the rest.** Tests, type checks and the build run on every change. When several agents finish, confirm each change is still there, because a later agent can quietly undo an earlier one. And decide yourself anything that reaches the outside world, like a default, a permission or a release. ### Finally, decide who merges **Not all work needs the same review.** Some of it you can check with a test. The rest you are still discovering, and only you can judge it. **Self-healing pull requests fix what already exists.** A faster query, a retry on a flaky call, an error that stops repeating. You have already confirmed the problem, and the checks have proven the fix. So trust the agent and let it merge. **Feature pull requests change what users see.** Those still get your review, because they carry decisions about the product that no test can make. 2.2 ## Audit the app with personas, not checklists Keep a shared library of personas built from real customers, and have agents test each feature as a different set of them. **Today**QA runs a checklist for each feature. **The problem**Checklists only find what you imagined, and the worst bugs sit between features. **Instead**Keep a shared library of personas built from real customers, and have agents test each feature as a different set of them. **A checklist tests one feature at a time, but real people use several in a row.** Someone deletes a call note, switches to another workspace, and the note comes back. The meetings checklist passes, and so does the workspaces checklist. The bug sits between them, where no checklist looks. **So give the audit agents personas.** A persona is a specific person with a reason to open the app, a device and settings, permissions they deny, and 8 to 12 steps they take in order, including quitting and reopening. The agents trace the code at each step and ask what this person would see. **Pick different testers for each feature.** Before a feature ships, choose the four or five personas it affects most. A new checkout goes to someone on a slow phone and a parent paying for their child. Offline mode goes to someone on a patchy connection and someone with low battery. Add new variations in every audit, so each one tries routes no earlier audit tried. We have used more than 120. ### Build personas from real customers, in one shared place **Keep a library of 20 to 30 personas, built from real customers.** Build them from what people actually say: user interviews, support emails, and Reddit threads where people describe their problems in their own words. **Then keep them in one shared place,** so the whole team and every agent works from the same people. The library grows with research: every interview or support thread either adds a persona or sharpens one. In Caddie, that place is a team workspace. 2.3 ## Set up Kaizen routines that improve the work every day Set up routines where agents improve the work every day, in small steps or large ones, and check that earlier fixes held. **Today**Small improvements wait for a polish sprint that rarely comes. **The problem**They pile up, and old fixes quietly break again. **Instead**Set up routines where agents improve the work every day, in small steps or large ones, and check that earlier fixes held. Kaizen is the practice of continuous improvement that Toyota made famous. Many small improvements, made all the time, by the people doing the work. Agents make it cheap enough to do every day. **Set it up as a routine,** a scheduled job an agent runs on its own. Each run looks over recent work, improves what it finds, and checks that the last run's fixes held. Point routines at anything that should keep getting better: the product, the onboarding emails, the help docs, the sales deck. **Don't stop at small fixes.** Give a routine ambitious goals: find hundreds of bugs, make the app faster, cut its load time in half. Have it test each change from the point of view of hundreds of different personas, such as a student in their first year of study and one in their final year, so every improvement holds for every kind of user. These fixes are the self-healing kind. They merge once the checks pass, and you read the summary. **The check on earlier fixes is the step people skip.** Without it, a fix can quietly break a week later. With it, a fix that breaks is caught the next day. In Caddie, Kaizen is the first routine the Routines page suggests, with an agent of its own. 2.4 ## Let production problems open their own pull requests Point agents at your monitoring, so an error or a slow endpoint opens a fix on its own. **Today**Errors and slow endpoints sit on a dashboard until someone has time to look. **The problem**Small problems pile up, and users feel them before the team does. **Instead**Point agents at your monitoring, so an error or a slow endpoint opens a fix on its own. **Production problems should start their own fixes, without waiting for you.** When monitoring spots an error or a slow endpoint, that alert should hand the task to an agent automatically, before any user reports it. **Connect it to your agents.** When an endpoint slows down or an error starts repeating, an agent reads the logs and traces, finds the cause, and opens a pull request. You review it like any other. These are the self-healing kind of pull request, so they merge once the checks in principle 2.1 pass. At Oncourse, Shubhdeep set this up. Latency on many endpoints has come down, one-off errors that used to cause hiccups have mostly gone, and routine database maintenance happens without anyone scheduling it. Teaching agents 3.1 ## Turn every good result into a skill When an experiment works, turn how you made it into a skill, so agents can repeat that quality again and again. **Today**You make one good post, video or fix, and move on. **The problem**The next one starts from scratch, and its quality depends on luck. **Instead**When an experiment works, turn how you made it into a skill, so agents can repeat that quality again and again. A skill is a file of instructions an agent reads before a kind of work. **It works like a factory.** One good skill improves every output that comes after it. Say one social media video does well. Most teams celebrate and move on. **Instead, write down exactly how it was made:** the hook, the pacing, the visual style and the sound. Now any agent can make videos of that quality on any topic. At Oncourse we did this with explainer videos. When one video in the style of Vox worked, we turned the process into a Vox video skill. It covers the paper textures, the type, the 12 frames a second and the documentary sound, so every new video starts at the quality of the best one. **Do the same with feedback.** If you correct an agent in chat, only that agent learns it. Add the correction to the skill instead, and every agent after it gets it right the first time. In Caddie, an agent can write a skill itself once it has done a job well, so you don't have to start from a blank page. 3.2 ## Give every skill its references and the recipe behind them Keep the reference examples that set the bar, add the steps and reasons that made them work, and test the skill on a fresh agent. **Today**A skill is a saved prompt, or a few good examples with nothing saying why they work. **The problem**An agent copies the example's surface and misses why it worked, so the second result is a weaker copy of the first. **Instead**Keep the reference examples that set the bar, add the steps and reasons that made them work, and test the skill on a fresh agent. **Start from references.** The result you liked, and the work you admire from others, show an agent the bar better than any description. Keep them in the skill. Then add the recipe on top: how that result was made and why it worked. The Vox video skill links its best videos, and also says to start from a real story, put one idea in each sentence and one picture behind each sentence, and check every frame before rendering. **Then test it the way you'd test code.** Give the skill to a fresh agent with no other context and a new topic. If the result isn't as good as the original, the skill is missing a step. Find it and write it down. Five things make a skill hold up. - **References.** The examples that set the bar, yours and others', with a line on what each one gets right. - **Steps in order.** The process, from first decision to final check, so an agent can't skip to the end. - **The reason for each step.** An agent that knows why a rule exists applies it to cases the rule never named. - **A lessons log.** Every critique you give, dated, newest first. The skill gets better every time something goes wrong. - **Pointers, not copies.** Link the style guide and the template rather than pasting them in, so the skill never goes stale. **Put the checks in the skill too.** Add the lint rules, the automated tests and the workflow that runs them, so every agent that uses the skill also proves its own work. **Keep one skill per kind of work:** one for explainer videos, one for blog writing, one for audits. A skill that tries to cover everything gets vague, and vague instructions get average results. Caddie's agents can save a skill themselves once they've learned a job, and every agent reads your skills before it starts. 3.3 ## Read your agents' traces every week Send every agent call through one AI proxy, review the traces weekly, and turn what you find into skills. **Today**An agent's run disappears once the task is done. **The problem**The same mistakes and detours repeat, and nobody sees the pattern. **Instead**Send every agent call through one AI proxy, review the traces weekly, and turn what you find into skills. **Route every agent call through one AI proxy and keep the traces.** They show where agents got stuck, guessed, or took ten steps for a two-step job. **Read them once a week.** Each pattern becomes a line in a skill, or a new skill, so next week's agents skip that detour. This is principle 3.1 done on purpose. Instead of waiting to notice a bad result, the traces show you every one. Ideas and ambition 4.1 ## Give your agents MAD goals: measurable, absurd and daily Give agents goals a team of people would never attempt, like "make the app 10x faster." **Today**Roadmaps are sized for what a few people can do in a quarter. **The problem**With agents, that roadmap leaves most of your capacity idle. **Instead**Give agents goals a team of people would never attempt, like "make the app 10x faster." Sooner or later you'll ask what the agents should do next. **If you can't answer, your goals are too small.** **So make every goal** **MAD**. **Measurable**, so an agent can tell when it has won. **Absurd**, so a team of people would never try it. **Daily**, so agents take a fresh run at it every night. "Make the app 10x faster" is MAD. "Improve performance" is not. Your roadmap was sized for what a few people could do in a quarter. You now have more workers than ideas. So set goals a team of people would never attempt. Make it ten times faster. Make it ten times more accurate. ### Caddie's dictation started from a goal like this I gave agents one goal: **make Caddie's dictation more accurate on my voice than Wispr Flow,** the best dictation app I knew. For a side project, that was absurd. - **Measurable.** The agents recorded eight clips of how I really talk, in Indian English, Hinglish, names and tech terms, and built a benchmark that scores every app by word errors on the same audio. - **Absurd.** The target was the best app in the world, not a better version of ours. - **Daily.** The agents worked in loops. Each one tried a change, ran the benchmark, and kept the change only if the errors went down. Errors fell from 13.3% to 7.0%, below Wispr Flow's 7.9%. The biggest win was one nobody had planned: sending the whole clip at the end instead of streaming it. The [dictation post](https://usecaddie.app/blog/dictation) has the full benchmark, with six apps and ten engines. **Give each goal a number an agent can measure,** like seconds or error rate. Then agents can try ten approaches overnight, and you only check the attempts that beat the number, and confirm that they really did. Most nights none do. The night one does can change what your product is. Take learning, the field we care about most. We haven't done this yet, but it is where we'd point every spare agent. - Make answers more accurate. - Find better ways to track how a student is progressing. - Calibrate score predictions, so a predicted 70% means 70% on the day. - Build synthetic students, so every new method is tested daily before a real student sees it. - With enough resources, read the research on brain stimulation for learning and design experiments from it. None of these can ever be finished, so the agents never run out of work. 4.2 ## Take ideas from three sources, not from the roadmap Pick ideas that pull in a demo, meet a real need, or come from your own conviction. Build the ones that do all three first, and the rest for the fun of it. **Today**Ideas come from the roadmap and from what the team finds interesting, and you learn whether anyone wants one after it ships. **The problem**With agents, building is cheap, so you can build the wrong thing faster than ever. **Instead**Pick ideas that pull in a demo, meet a real need, or come from your own conviction. Build the ones that do all three first, and the rest for the fun of it. **When building is cheap, choosing what to build is the whole game.** Good ideas come from three places, and each answers a different question. **Demand: does the demo pull?** Build around what can be shown well. Make the 15-second video before the feature and post it where your users already are, on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube Shorts. Saves, comments asking where to get it, and waitlist sign-ups are the signal. **Need: what job does it do?** Talk to the people you're building for, with a prototype in the room. Don't ask what they want. Show them something an agent built that morning, watch where they get stuck, and change it while they're still on the call. **Conviction: what should exist?** Some ideas nobody asks for and no test can prove yet. If you believe the world should have it, build it anyway, and let demand and need shape it rather than decide it. **Read demand as action, not views.** A video with fewer views and many comments asking how to get it beats a viral one nobody acts on. The words people use in those comments become the feature's name and its onboarding. **Treat user research as live iteration,** the same way as principle 4.3. Agents make a working prototype faster than you can schedule the call, so every interview can test a real thing instead of a question. By the end of a week of calls the prototype has been changed by everyone who used it. **Each source alone can mislead.** Demand without need is a fad. Need without demand is a product nobody hears about. Conviction without either is a bet. Build where all three meet first. But building is cheap now, so build the edges too, for the fun of it. Some of the best ideas start as a toy only you believed in. The next post in this series covers the first one in full: working backwards from distribution. 4.3 ## Prototype live with agents, not in the background Sit with the agent: ask for ten approaches, ten versions of the best one, react to each, and iterate in minutes. **Today**You hand an idea to an agent, switch to something else, and come back an hour later to one attempt. **The problem**While you're exploring, the slow part is your taste, and one guess an hour gives it almost nothing to react to. **Instead**Sit with the agent: ask for ten approaches, ten versions of the best one, react to each, and iterate in minutes. **Background agents are for work you can check.** Discovering an idea is the other kind of work: there is nothing to check it against yet. Exploring should be a conversation, and you can't have a conversation with someone who answers once an hour. **So when you're shaping an idea, stay in the loop.** Ask for ten different approaches side by side. Pick the one that's closest, and ask for ten versions of it. React to each in a sentence, and go again. Three rounds take half an hour and get further than a week of handing work off. These are the habits that make live iteration work. They come from how we actually work with agents. - **Ask for options, never one answer.** Two motions to compare, ten layouts, four titles. You can't judge one version, but you can always pick between two. - **Look at the real thing every round.** Open it in the browser, on the phone, at full size. A description of a design hides what a screenshot shows. - **React fast and specifically.** "Too much text", "the label looks wrong", "this doesn't say anything". Point at the exact part, ideally with a screenshot. - **Say why.** "Too much text, I want to understand it at a glance" teaches the agent your taste. "Change it" teaches nothing. - **Keep what works and change one thing.** Each round starts from the version you picked, so good parts don't get lost. **When a round lands, write down why it worked as a skill** (principle 3.2). When the direction is settled, hand the build to agents in the background and go back to running five of them. There are enough problems in the world to be solved. It's time we were ambitious enough to take them on. Used every day to build [Oncourse AIAI exam prep for medical students](https://getoncourse.ai/) [CaddieYour notes, tasks, calendar and agents on the Mac](https://usecaddie.app) ## Run your agents in the same place as your meetings, knowledge base and tasks Caddie puts your agents, their questions and your routines next to your meeting notes, your knowledge base, your tasks and your calendar. It uses the Claude Code or Codex you already pay for. [Download for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg)[Try this in Caddie](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) Commit counts and dates come from Caddie's git history, 8 to 22 October 2026. Audit numbers and personas come from the commit messages and the log kept by the audit skill. The dictation chart in 4.1 uses the benchmark's real numbers. Other figures show the shape of the work, not measurements. The Agents inbox and Routines figures follow Caddie's real screens, with example content. --- > Tested on everyday speech: Indian English, Hinglish, names and tech terms. Caddie made the fewest mistakes of every app we tried. Dictation # Why Caddie is the most accurate dictation in the real world Tested on everyday speech: Indian English, Hinglish, names and tech terms. Caddie made the fewest mistakes of every app we tried, because its dictation lives inside your notes, meetings and calendar, so it already knows the words of your life. Caddie · October 2026 · [The data, method and how to cite it](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy) Every dictation app can type "the meeting is at three". That's not where they let you down. They let you down on your own words. A colleague's name with an unusual spelling. The neighbourhood your office is in. The tools you say twenty times a day: Datadog, Convex, Next.js. And if you work in India, the sentence that's half Hindi: "kal tak bhej dena, it's for the Datadog review." When an app gets one of those wrong, you stop. You find the word, select it, retype it. That takes about two seconds a word. The slowest app in our test waits about one second after you let go of the key. So one wrong word costs more than the whole wait. The fix isn't a faster engine. It's an engine that already knows your words. ## Dictation that lives inside your notes A stand-alone dictation app meets you as a stranger. It has never seen your calendar or read a line you've written. So it learns slowly: you correct a word, or you type it into a dictionary by hand, and next time it might get it right. Wispr Flow works this way, and so do most others. Caddie is where you already keep your notes, your journal, your meeting notes and your calendar. Those are full of the names, places, products and jargon you actually say. So Caddie's dictation picks them up from what's already there. It knows the people on your invites and the projects in your notes on the first day you use it. Then it keeps learning. New notes and meetings give it new words, and when you correct something it remembers the fix. Here is what that difference looks like on one sentence. Say your notes mention a colleague called Meera Iyer, a project called Zephyr and a partner called Kestrel Labs. The generic engine isn't bad at listening. It hears the sounds fine and picks the closest words it knows. Meera becomes Mira, "loop in" becomes Lupin, Kestrel becomes Castrol. It has no way to know better. ## Does it show up in the numbers? We recorded eight everyday clips: Indian English, Hinglish, tech terms, names, a self-correction, an email address and a number. About 70 seconds of audio in all. We played the same clips into each app through a virtual microphone, so every app heard exactly the same sound. Then we counted the wrong, missing and extra words against what the speaker meant to type. Caddie's three modes were scored after cleanup, because that's the text you actually get. The chart at the top has the result. Caddie has three modes. Scribe is the most accurate. Default answers in 0.46 s and makes a few more mistakes. Turbo is for people who would rather fix a word than wait. Apple's built-in dictation is the quickest to start typing and makes about one mistake in every four words. ## Speed is the wait plus the fixing Apps usually compete on how fast the text appears. That's the wrong clock. What you care about is how long until the text is right. So take a typical dictation of 42 words. Add the wait to the time it takes to fix each wrong word, about two seconds apiece. The order changes. Apple waits 0.23 s and then leaves you about ten words to fix. Scribe waits a full second and leaves about three. Scribe gets you to correct text in roughly a third of Apple's time. Default sits fourth here. It waits half as long as Scribe and leaves about two more words to fix. If you mostly dictate short messages, that trade can be worth it. If you dictate notes and emails, use Scribe. ## How we made it fast Accuracy came first, but nobody keeps using dictation that makes them wait. In Default mode, about half a second passes between letting go of the key and seeing your text. Here is where it goes. - #### We tested ten setups on real speech. ElevenLabs Scribe both streamed and sent whole, Groq's Whisper v3 and Whisper turbo, Deepgram Nova-3 and Flux, Apple's engine and Parakeet, with Wispr Flow and Kivi as reference. Public benchmarks didn't predict Hinglish at all. One engine quietly dropped the Hindi. Another translated it into English. - #### We stopped streaming. Streaming feels fast, but the model has to guess each word before it hears the rest of the sentence. Sending the whole clip when you let go cut Scribe's errors from 13.3% to about 7%. You still see your words live in the notch while you talk, because your Mac transcribes a rough copy on its own. - #### We compress while you speak. Caddie encodes the audio as AAC while you hold fn, so the upload is 7 times smaller. For the test set that was 2.3 MB down to 0.33 MB. Scribe's wait went from 1.24 s to 0.91 s, with no loss in accuracy after cleanup. - #### We moved the server to where you are. Cloudflare's free plan sent traffic from India through Paris or Marseille, 130 to 260 ms away. A relay in Mumbai, next to Groq's servers in Chennai, cut the round trip from 0.54 s to 0.29 s. - #### One request, and cleanup only when it's needed. Transcription and cleanup go out as a single request. Cleanup runs only when there's something to clean: filler words, a change of mind like "no wait, 6 PM", a list, or Hinglish. With cleanup the whole thing takes about 0.45 to 0.6 s. Without it, under 0.3 s. - #### The connection warms up when you press fn. By the time you let go, the line to the server is already open. - #### Hinglish stays Hinglish. Giving Whisper a list of English names made it translate the Hindi into English, so Whisper gets no list. Your words are matched in afterwards instead, by sound. Scribe takes your words directly, as terms to listen for. If an engine writes Hindi in Devanagari, your Mac turns it into Roman letters, and cleanup never translates. - #### It never fails silently. If the cloud is slow, your Mac transcribes on its own. If the cleanup model is overloaded, a backup model takes over. - #### It got cheaper too. Default costs $0.11 per hour of speech, down from $0.39. ## What this test doesn't show yet - We haven't yet run the test that isolates the idea in this post: Scribe with and without your words, on the same clips. Until we do, we can't say how much of Scribe's lead comes from knowing your words and how much from the engine itself. - It's eight clips from one speaker. We're running 100 clips from public datasets next, AI4Bharat Svarah for Indian English and Microsoft MUCS for Hinglish, and we'll publish those numbers when they're in. - Wispr Flow is a close second on accuracy, less than a point behind Scribe, and it waits less. - Default trades a little accuracy for twice the speed of Scribe. It isn't the most accurate mode. - With 70 seconds of audio, a gap of a point or two is within noise. Treat close rankings as ties. ## The same goes for meeting notes A note-taker that lives in your knowledge base knows the people and projects that come up in your calls, what you decided last time and what you still owe. That should make its meeting notes more accurate too, the same way it makes dictation more accurate. More on that in a separate post. ## Dictation is better when it already knows your life A stand-alone app starts from nothing. Caddie starts from your notes, your journal, your meetings and your calendar, and keeps learning as you write and meet. The more you use Caddie, the better it hears you. [Download for Mac](https://usecaddie.app/download/Caddie.dmg) Needs macOS 26 (Tahoe) or later. Hold fn anywhere on your Mac to dictate. † Measured 13 Oct 2026 on 8 clips of one speaker, about 70 s of audio. A larger run on AI4Bharat Svarah and Microsoft MUCS is next. The full method and data (CSV): [usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy). Word errors count wrong, missing and extra words against what the speaker meant to type. Wait is the median time from letting go of the dictation key to the text appearing. Caddie's modes include cleanup; Apple dictation has none. Kivi writes Hindi in Devanagari, so we converted it to Roman letters before scoring. --- > How we build Caddie and Oncourse AI, and what we measure. # Blog How we build Caddie and Oncourse AI with agents, and what we measure along the way. [How we build with agents ## Practical principles for building with agents Agents now write most of the code, so the slow part is your attention. These are the principles to spend it well. Harsha Garlapati, Shubhdeep Srivastava and Prasad Kompalli · October 2026](https://usecaddie.app/blog/agents) [Dictation ## Why Caddie is the most accurate dictation in the real world Tested on Indian English, Hinglish, names and tech terms. Caddie made the fewest mistakes of every app we tried. October 2026](https://usecaddie.app/blog/dictation) --- > Word error rates and wait times for Caddie, Wispr Flow, Kivi and Apple dictation on the same eight clips of Indian English and Hinglish speech. Method, data (CSV) and how to cite. # Dictation accuracy benchmark: six Mac dictation apps on Indian English and Hinglish On the same eight clips of everyday Indian English and Hinglish, Caddie Scribe made the fewest word errors (7.0%), Wispr Flow was close behind (7.9%), and Apple's built-in dictation got about one word in four wrong (25.5%). Measured 13 October 2026 by the team that makes Caddie. 8 clips, one speaker, about 70 seconds of audio. [Download the data (CSV)](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy.csv) ## Key findings - In Caddie's test of six Mac dictation setups on the same eight clips, Caddie's Scribe mode made the fewest word errors: 7.0%. - Wispr Flow had a 7.9% word error rate on the same clips, less than a point behind Caddie Scribe, which is within this test's noise. - Apple's built-in macOS dictation got about one word in four wrong (25.5% word error rate) on everyday Indian English and Hinglish speech. - Apple dictation was the quickest to show text, a median 0.23 seconds after the key was let go, against 1.01 seconds for Caddie Scribe. - Sending the whole clip once the speaker stopped, instead of streaming it, cut ElevenLabs Scribe's word error rate from 13.3% to about 7%. - Compressing the audio as AAC while the speaker talked made the upload 7 times smaller (2.3 MB to 0.33 MB) and cut Scribe's wait from 1.24 seconds to 0.91 seconds. - A relay server in Mumbai cut the network round trip for a speaker in India from 0.54 seconds to 0.29 seconds. ## Word error rate by app Lower is better. Word errors are the wrong, missing and extra words, as a share of the words the speaker meant to type. **Caddie Scribe (Most accurate)**7.0% **Wispr Flow**7.9% **Kivi**9.1% **Caddie Default**10.9% **Caddie Turbo**15.8% **Apple dictation**25.5% ## The data | App and mode | Word error rate | Median wait | Engine and notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Caddie Scribe (Most accurate) | 7.0% | 1.01 s | ElevenLabs Scribe, with cleanup | | Wispr Flow | 7.9% | 0.84 s | As shipped | | Kivi | 9.1% | 1.01 s | by Sarvam; Hindi converted from Devanagari to Roman letters before scoring | | Caddie Default | 10.9% | 0.46 s | Whisper large v3 on Groq, with cleanup | | Caddie Turbo | 15.8% | 0.32 s | Whisper turbo on Groq, with cleanup | | Apple dictation | 25.5% | 0.23 s | built into macOS, no cleanup | Wait is the median time from letting go of the dictation key to the text appearing in the app. [Download this table as CSV](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy.csv). ## Method and sample - **Sample.** Eight everyday clips from one speaker, about 70 seconds of audio in all: Indian English, Hinglish (Hindi and English in one sentence), tech terms, people's names, a self-correction, an email address and a number. - **Same sound for every app.** The clips were played into each app through a virtual microphone, so every app heard exactly the same audio. - **Scoring.** Wrong, missing and extra words were counted against what the speaker meant to type, and divided by the number of words meant. - **Cleanup counts.** Caddie's three modes were scored after their cleanup step, because that is the text a user gets. Apple dictation has no cleanup. - **Script.** Kivi writes Hindi in Devanagari, so its output was converted to Roman letters before scoring. - **Setups.** Six setups, each as shipped on 13 October 2026: Caddie Scribe, Default and Turbo, Wispr Flow, Kivi by Sarvam, and Apple dictation on macOS. ## Limits - Eight clips from one speaker is a small sample. With 70 seconds of audio, a gap of a point or two is within noise, so treat close rankings (Caddie Scribe and Wispr Flow) as a tie. - Caddie makes one of the apps tested. We published the method and the data so anyone can check it. - It doesn't yet separate how much of Scribe's lead comes from knowing a user's own words and how much from the engine. - A larger run, on 100 clips from public datasets (AI4Bharat Svarah for Indian English and Microsoft MUCS for Hinglish), is next. This page will be updated with it. - Superwhisper and other apps weren't in this run. ## How to cite You're welcome to use these numbers, under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Please link to this page. `Caddie (2026). Dictation accuracy on Indian English and Hinglish: six Mac dictation setups compared. https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy` ## Related [The story behind the testWhy dictation that knows your notes gets your words right](https://usecaddie.app/blog/dictation) [Dictation for MacHold fn anywhere to dictate with Caddie](https://usecaddie.app/mac-dictation/) [Caddie vs Wispr FlowPrice, privacy and accuracy side by side](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow) [Caddie vs SuperwhisperHow the two Mac dictation apps differ](https://usecaddie.app/vs/superwhisper) [Check your own dictationFree word error rate calculator](https://usecaddie.app/tools/dictation-accuracy-checker) --- > Benchmarks and data from the team that makes Caddie, with the method, the raw data and how to cite each one. # Research you can cite Benchmarks we ran while building Caddie, each with its method, its limits and the raw data. [Dictation accuracy on Indian English and HinglishSix Mac dictation setups on the same eight clips, 13 October 2026](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy) Looking for something to use? See the [free tools](https://usecaddie.app/tools/). --- > Free word error rate calculator. Paste what you meant to say and what your dictation app typed, and see its word error rate with every wrong, missing and extra word marked. # Dictation accuracy checker Paste what you meant to say and what the dictation app typed. You get the word error rate, the same measure speech researchers use, with every wrong, missing and extra word marked. What you meant to saySend the Datadog review to Meera by Friday, and loop in Kestrel Labs. What the app typedSend the data dog review to Mira by Friday and Lupin Castrol labs. Ignore capitals and punctuation **–**word error rate **–**words right **–**wrong words **–**missing words **–**extra words wrong (what you meant, crossed out, then what it typed) · missing · extra ## How word error rate works Word error rate (WER) is the standard measure of speech recognition. It lines up the two texts with the fewest changes, then counts: - **Wrong words** (substitutions): the app typed a different word. - **Missing words** (deletions): a word you said isn't there. - **Extra words** (insertions): the app typed a word you didn't say. WER = (wrong + missing + extra) ÷ the words you meant. It can go over 100% when the app adds many words. Everything runs in your browser: nothing you paste is sent anywhere. This is how we scored six Mac dictation apps in [our dictation accuracy benchmark](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy), where the error rates ran from 7.0% to 25.5% on the same clips. Test your own app on your own words: names, places and the jargon you use are where apps differ most. ## Use this calculator on your site Free to embed. Paste this where you want it to show:

Dictation accuracy checker by Caddie

## Related [Dictation accuracy benchmarkSix Mac apps on the same clips](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy)[Dictation for MacCaddie learns the words in your notes](https://usecaddie.app/mac-dictation/)[Caddie vs Wispr FlowSide by side](https://usecaddie.app/vs/wispr-flow)[More free toolsSpeaking vs typing, Meeting cost](https://usecaddie.app/tools/) --- > Free calculators from Caddie: speaking vs typing time saved, the cost of a recurring meeting, and the word error rate of any dictation. Free to use and to embed on your site. # Free tools Small calculators for how you write and meet. They run in your browser, need no sign-up, and you can embed any of them on your own site. [Speaking vs typing calculatorHow much time dictation saves you, counting the time to fix its mistakes](https://usecaddie.app/tools/speaking-vs-typing-calculator)[Meeting cost calculatorWhat a recurring meeting costs a week, a month and a year](https://usecaddie.app/tools/meeting-cost-calculator)[Dictation accuracy checkerWord error rate of any dictation or transcript, with each mistake marked](https://usecaddie.app/tools/dictation-accuracy-checker) ## Research [Dictation accuracy benchmarkSix Mac dictation apps on the same clips, with the data](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy) --- > Free meeting cost calculator: attendees × hourly cost × length × how often. See what one meeting costs a week, a month and a year, or run a live cost meter during the call. # Meeting cost calculator Put in who's in the meeting, what an hour of their time costs and how often it happens. You get the cost per meeting, per month and per year, and a live meter you can run during the call. People in the meeting Average cost of an hour of their timeSalary and overheads, per person Currency$ US dollar€ Euro£ Pound₹ Rupee$ Canadian dollar$ Australian dollar Length, minutes Meetings a week0.5 for every other week Minutes each person spends before and afterPrep, getting back into work, follow-ups **–**one meeting **–**a month **–**a year **–**people-hours a year ## How it works - **One meeting** costs people × hourly cost × (length + the minutes before and after) ÷ 60. - **A year** is one meeting × meetings a week × 52. A month is a year ÷ 12. - **The live meter** counts people × hourly cost for every second since you pressed start. It counts the call only, not the time before and after. An hour of someone's time costs more than their hourly pay once you add taxes, benefits, office and tools, so put in the full cost if you know it. Cheaper meetings come from fewer people and shorter calls, and from not needing a meeting to share what was decided. [Caddie's meeting notes](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/) write up each call, with no bot joining, so people who skip it can read the decisions and their tasks. ## Use this calculator on your site Free to embed. Paste this where you want it to show:

Meeting cost calculator by Caddie

## Related [Meeting notes for Mac, with no botNotes and tasks from every call](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/)[The best AI note takersCompared on price and privacy](https://usecaddie.app/meeting-notes/best-ai-note-takers)[Booking linksLet people pick a time without the back and forth](https://usecaddie.app/booking-links)[More free toolsSpeaking vs typing, Dictation accuracy](https://usecaddie.app/tools/) --- > Free calculator: put in how much you write and how fast you type and speak, and see the minutes dictation saves you each day, week and year, counting the time to fix its mistakes. # Speaking vs typing calculator Put in how much you write each day and how fast you type and speak. The calculator counts the time to fix wrong words too, because a dictation that's fast but wrong isn't faster. Words you write a dayMessages, notes, emails, docs Days you write a week Your typing speed, words a minuteType for one minute and count Your speaking speed, words a minuteRead a paragraph aloud for one minute Dictation word error rate, %7% was the best in [our test](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy) Seconds to fix one wrong wordFind it, select it, retype it **–**saved a day **–**saved a week **–**saved a year (48 weeks) **–**faster than typing ## How it works - **Typing time** is the words you write divided by your typing speed. - **Dictating time** is the words divided by your speaking speed, plus the time to fix the words dictation gets wrong: words × error rate × seconds per fix. - A week counts the days you write. A year counts 48 working weeks. The starting values are round numbers for you to replace, not measurements. The error rate matters most: in [our dictation accuracy test](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy) the apps ranged from 7.0% to 25.5% wrong words on the same clips. At 25% wrong words and 2 seconds a fix, you spend longer fixing than speaking. In a lab study on an iPhone, English speech input was 2.93 times faster than the on-screen keyboard: 153 words a minute against 52 ([Ruan, Wobbrock, Liou, Ng and Landay, 2016](https://arxiv.org/abs/1608.07323)). ## Use this calculator on your site Free to embed. Paste this where you want it to show:

Speaking vs typing calculator by Caddie

## Related [Dictation for MacHold fn anywhere to dictate with Caddie](https://usecaddie.app/mac-dictation/)[Dictation accuracy benchmarkSix Mac apps on the same clips](https://usecaddie.app/research/dictation-accuracy)[The best dictation apps for MacCompared on price and accuracy](https://usecaddie.app/mac-dictation/best-dictation-apps)[More free toolsMeeting cost, Dictation accuracy](https://usecaddie.app/tools/)