Comparison
nTilia or Whisper Notes: transcribe an interview offline
The short answer
Whisper Notes is an offline transcription app for iPhone and Mac: one-time purchase, large fast models, speaker separation, SRT export. nTilia is a field notes app, in the browser, that also transcribes on the device, including on Android and Windows, then turns the transcript into a note and an article. To transcribe fast and accurately on an Apple device, choose Whisper Notes; to write and publish from your interviews, choose nTilia.
nTilia and Whisper Notes, side by side
| Criterion | nTilia | Whisper Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PriceWhisper Notes’s edge | Free; local transcription from Pro, at $14/mo | One-time purchase: $7.99 on iPhone; $14 on Mac, or 5,000 free words a week |
| PlatformsnTilia’s edge | Browser and installable app (PWA): computers and WebGPU-capable phones, Android included | iPhone 12 and later, Apple silicon Macs; no Android or Windows |
| Where transcription runsTie | On the device: the audio is not sent | On the device: the audio is not sent |
| Models and accuracyWhisper Notes’s edge | Whisper tiny, base or small, sized for the browser | Parakeet V3 (25 European languages), Whisper Large V3 Turbo (100+ languages) |
| Speakers and subtitlesWhisper Notes’s edge | No speaker separation or SRT export | Automatic speaker separation, timestamps, SRT and VTT export |
| WritingnTilia’s edge | Full Markdown editor: the transcript becomes a note, then an article | Transcripts; titles and summaries by local AI on Mac |
| Field worknTilia’s edge | Missions (one folder per trip), photo, place and GPS, private map | No organization by trip |
| SyncTie | Included, not end-to-end so the published journal stays readable; “device” notes never synced | No sync at all, as a privacy choice |
| CheckpointnTilia’s edge | Travel Mode (Pro): a copy with a safe recipient, then the phone is emptied of sensitive notes, with no way back on the spot | No dedicated mode |
| PublishingnTilia’s edge | Bilingual FR/EN public journal, Cite block, Zenodo DOI (Pro) | Transcript export |
Choose nTilia if…
- you work on Android or Windows;
- you want to go from interview to note to article in one tool;
- you organize your work by trip, with photo, place and map;
- you cross checkpoints with your phone.
Choose Whisper Notes if…
- you have a recent iPhone or an Apple silicon Mac;
- transcription accuracy and speed come first;
- you need separated speakers or SRT subtitles;
- you prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription.
Same principle, two uses
Both tools transcribe on the device: the audio goes to no server, and transcription works with no network. For a source who takes a risk by talking to you, that is what matters.
Whisper Notes is a transcription tool. nTilia is a field notes app: transcription is one step, between the recording in the Mission and the published article.
What Whisper Notes does better
On an Apple device, Whisper Notes runs larger models than a browser can: transcription is more accurate and faster. It separates speakers, exports subtitles and costs a one-time purchase.
What nTilia adds
Whisper Notes does not exist on Android or Windows, and its makers are not building an Android version. nTilia runs in the browser, on computers and WebGPU-capable phones.
Around the transcript, nTilia keeps the whole story: the note, the photos, the place, the Mission. Before a checkpoint, Travel Mode puts a copy somewhere safe and empties the phone. Afterwards, the journal publishes the article in French and English.
Frequently asked questions
Is Whisper Notes available on Android?
No, and its makers say they are not building one. On Android, nTilia transcribes on the device, in the browser, if the phone supports WebGPU.
Which one transcribes better?
Whisper Notes, on an Apple device: its models are larger than nTilia’s Whisper tiny, base and small. Good audio and a careful read-through narrow the gap.
Does the audio leave the device?
In neither. Whisper Notes and nTilia (from Pro) transcribe on the device, without sending the audio.
Can I transcribe in Whisper Notes and then write in nTilia?
Yes: export the transcript as text, paste it into an nTilia note, then write and publish.
Sources, checked on
Free · No credit card · Works offline