Review every detail
Play from transcript segments and correct the words that matter.
Free to turn audio
into useful thinking.
Import a recording, listen back, edit the transcript, and keep the ideas worth acting on.
Free · 0.8.1 website download available · Apple Silicon Mac · macOS 14+
| Plaud | PlaudFree - Local | PlaudFree - API |
|---|---|---|
| Starter FreePro $8.33 / moUnlimited $19.99 / moTeam $20 / user·mo | $0 | About 25% of Plaud Pro* |
* Plaud paid tiers show monthly equivalents with annual billing; Team is a first-year price. Baseline: Pro at $8.33/month with 1,200 transcription minutes. PlaudFree API example: Qwen3-ASR-Flash in Beijing at CNY 0.00022/second × 72,000 seconds = CNY 15.84/month, roughly one quarter to one third of Pro depending on exchange rate. Transcription only; cloud summaries cost extra. Model, region, usage, exchange rate, and taxes change the total. Starter comes with a Plaud device; features differ. Prices checked Sep 27, 2026. Plaud official plans ↗ Qwen API pricing ↗
Product discussion
Sep 25 · 24 minutes Complete
▶
08:24 / 24:00
TranscriptAI summary
Key decision
Prioritize the audio import and playback experience.
Next steps
Gather user feedback and define improvements for the next release.
Speaker 1 08:24
“Let’s focus on importing and playing recordings, so every discussion becomes something we can search and act on.”
Illustrative product view · Fictional content
From a recording to a next step.
LOCAL MODELS YOUR API KEYS YOUR MACTurn recordings into next steps.
Keep ideas searchable and ready to act on.
Shape notes with templates
Use templates with local Ollama or your chosen cloud service.
Keep a local library
Organize, search, and export on your Mac. Cloud processing sends content to your chosen provider.
Bring the audio.
Leave with the idea.
MP3 / M4A / WAV / FLAC
- 01
Export your recording
Export from a recorder or another app and move it to your Mac.
- 02
Import and transcribe
Choose local Whisper or your own cloud API key.
- 03
Turn words into useful notes
Use a template with Ollama or a cloud service, then review and save.
A few things to know
Is this an official Plaud product?
No. PlaudFree is an independent third-party app and is not affiliated with Plaud. You import audio manually; no Plaud account connection is needed.
Where do my recordings go?
The 0.8.1 native app keeps recordings and notes in its local macOS sandbox. Local Whisper transcription does not send audio to the cloud. Cloud transcription or summaries send relevant content to your chosen provider after you confirm.
Can I download it now?
Yes. Version 0.8.1 is available from this website. A Mac App Store version is still being prepared.
Which languages and platforms are supported?
The interface supports Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and English. Version 0.8.1 targets Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later. Transcription languages depend on the model.
Is PlaudFree really free?
Version 0.8.1 is free to download and use, with no software subscription. Local models incur no cloud API charges; a chosen cloud provider may bill separately.
Do I need an account?
The 0.8.1 native app does not require a website account to use its local library and model settings. Existing website account pages support earlier account features and are not required to get started.
Let the next idea
start here.
Version 0.8.1 is available from this website.
Download for MacDeveloper ID signed · Apple notarized