Skip to main content
Beta Software - The BuildBetter Local Recorder is currently in beta. We’re actively improving it based on user feedback. Use the chat widget in the bottom-right corner to report issues or request features.

Download for macOS

Get the latest version for Mac

Download for iOS

Join the TestFlight beta

​
BuildBetter Local Recorder

The BuildBetter Local Recorder is a privacy-first desktop application for macOS that combines three tools in one app — a no-bot meeting recorder, a global dictation tool, and a native screen recorder. It works locally by default, with optional BuildBetter cloud features for team search, cloud playback, and shared workflows.

100% Local

All processing happens on your Mac. Your audio never leaves your computer unless you opt in.

100% Private

No cloud uploads, no telemetry, no account required.

100% Free

Full-featured with no subscription or payment needed.

​
Three Products in One App

Meeting Recorder

No-bot, system-audio meeting capture with live transcription, templated summaries, Catch-me-up, and AI chat with your recordings.

Dictation

Global hotkey-driven voice-to-text that works in any app, with cleanup, a snippets library, and multilingual support.

Screen Recording

Native ScreenCaptureKit video with system audio, saved alongside meetings and dictation in one library.

​
Key Features

Automatically detects when you join meetings on Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack Huddles, Discord, Webex, and more. Prompts you to record — or auto-starts on high-confidence matches.
Real-time speech-to-text with color-coded speaker identification. Click any line in the transcript to jump to that moment, or relabel speakers after the fact.
Built-in summary templates (discovery calls, 1:1s, standups) plus custom templates. Ask for a 3-bullet summary of the last 5 minutes mid-call when you step away or join late.
Choose different providers for transcription, chat, and cleanup — locally with Apple Intelligence, Whisper, Parakeet, Ollama, or LM Studio, or via BYO keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, or Deepgram.
Ask questions about any recording — summaries, action items, decisions, quotes — grounded in the transcript.
Press a hotkey anywhere on your Mac and speak. Cleaned-up text lands at your cursor in any app. Save reusable snippets, retry failed dictation when audio was captured, and apply custom cleanup instructions per context.
ScreenCaptureKit-powered screen recording with hardware-encoded video and speaker audio included. Saved to your library with your meetings and dictation.
First-run setup walks through goals, permissions, transcription choices, appearance, and a final review step. Global search and Settings search help you jump back to recordings, snippets, notes, transcripts, and preferences later.
Dedicated pages for call recordings, screen recordings, snippets, favorites, folders, and archive include list/table views, filters, sorting, bulk actions, media badges, and a persistent playback bar.
Take timestamped rough notes during recordings; the app combines them with the transcript afterward into a clean Markdown summary.
Optionally connect to BuildBetter for team-wide search, shared summaries, role-based access, and Slack / Linear / Notion integrations. SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA-ready.

​
System Requirements

Operating System

macOS 12 (Monterey) or later. macOS 14 (Sonoma) required for screen recording. macOS 26+ required for Apple Intelligence.

Processor

Apple Silicon (M-series) recommended for best AI performance

Storage

~2GB for app + AI models

RAM

8GB minimum, 16GB recommended for AI features

​
Other Platforms

  • iOS — beta available via TestFlight with on-device transcription, local AI chat, phone call capture, and Plaud device import.
  • Android — coming soon (waitlist).

​
Plaud on iPhone

The iOS beta can connect to a Plaud recorder so you can browse device files, import audio into your BuildBetter recordings library, and manage the connection from the iPhone app.
  • Import over standard transfer or Wi-Fi when available
  • Use automatic workspace selection when you are signed in to BuildBetter
  • See Plaud-origin labels and accurate recording timestamps after import
  • Keep long Wi-Fi transfers running as long as the device is making progress
  • Reset or disable the Plaud connection from iOS settings when you switch devices or workspaces

​
How It Works

  1. Capture - Records both your microphone and system audio (what others say on calls)
  2. Transcribe - Your selected local or cloud transcription engine converts speech to text
  3. Store - Everything saved locally in your Documents folder
  4. Analyze - Ask the selected AI engine questions about your recordings

​
Privacy Commitment

Your data stays on your device. We don’t collect telemetry, require sign-in, or upload anything to servers. The only exception is if you explicitly choose to sync with BuildBetter cloud services.

​
Next Steps

Get Started

Download, install, and set up the recorder

Explore Features

Learn about all the features in detail

Configure Settings

Customize the app to your preferences

Troubleshooting

Common issues and how to fix them