Meetings & transcription
Whisperboard
On-device transcription in an iPhone recorder
★ 1.1k
December 2025
GPL-3.0
Meetings & transcription
What we checked ourselves
Not copied from the project's own blurb. These are things we opened and verified, with the date.
- 6 Sept 2026We checked that the link to the project still resolves.
- 13 Sept 2026We read the licence text itself (LICENSE). No unusual restrictions were stated.
- 31 Aug 2026We read the project's own documentation and found no sign that development has stopped.
Where this sits among the 67 tools we list in Meetings & transcription
- Commercial use confirmed as allowed53 of 67
- Requires terminal commands45 that do not →
- Requires an API key54 that do not →
- Sends your input to the provider34 that do not →
Counted from our own checks: every tool we list is examined against the same criteria.
What it does
Record on the phone and have Whisper transcribe it there — audio never leaves the device — with your pick of model size trading accuracy against speed and battery, plus import and export of existing files. The catch is distribution: it isn't on the App Store, so getting it onto a phone means a Mac, Xcode and a developer account. Untouched since December 2025. Recording other people still needs their agreement. GPL-3.0.
Summary based on the project's own description. The Japanese page has a fuller beginner guide: setup difficulty, what to prepare, and a step-by-step start.
Screenshots & visuals
Before you start
- Setup difficultyFor advanced users
- Command lineRequired
- API keyRequired
- Sends data onlineYes
Judged automatically from the project's own metadata. Always confirm on the official page.
Whisperboard FAQ
- Is Whisperboard free?
- Whisperboard itself is free, but it needs an API key for an external AI service. That service charges separately, though some have a free tier.
- Do I need to install anything or write code to use Whisperboard?
- It needs the command line. If you are not comfortable typing commands, expect to get stuck during setup.
- Does Whisperboard work on a phone?
- No. It needs a computer.
- Can I use Whisperboard commercially?
- The licence is GPL-3.0. Using it commercially is fine, but if you distribute something built on it you may be required to release that under the same licence. Keep it internal, or check before distributing.
How it compares
The conditions that decide whether you can actually use it, side by side.
| Tool | Command line | API key | Sends data out | Phone | Commercial use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whisperboard (this page) | Required | Required | Yes | No | Yes |
| whisper-diarization | Required | Not needed | No | No | Yes |
| WhisperLive | Required | Required | Yes | No | Yes |
| whisper-turbo | Required | Not needed | No | No | Yes |
"Sends data out" means your input is uploaded to someone's server. Pick "No" when the material cannot leave your organisation.