AI-driven platforms like OpenAI’s Whisper have significantly advanced the integration of transcription functionalities in personal note-taking applications, sparking rapid growth in this domain. Applications such as AudioPen, Cleft Notes, and TalkNotes are now widely available on app stores and online platforms, albeit with relatively basic functionalities. Typically, these apps allow users to record and transcribe notes, with some providing summarization capabilities. However, there is ample opportunity for feature enhancement.
The newest entrant in this sector is Voicenotes. Developed by Jijo Sunny, the founder of the creator-support platform Buy Me a Coffee, along with his wife Aleesha, Voicenotes seeks to distinguish itself by incorporating an AI assistant. This assistant enables users to query their past notes, in addition to offering summaries and various formatting options.
In a detailed video, the developers shared that the inception of the voice-note tool was a coping mechanism following a personal tragedy—a miscarriage. Jijo, Aleesha, and Jijo’s brother, Joseph Sunny, co-founder of Buy Me a Coffee, began developing the application to capture detailed voice notes during consultations with medical professionals. This need arose as they wanted a streamlined way to recall vital information without having to replay recordings multiple times.
The initial version of Voicenotes was released to a select group of testers in March, with the web application becoming publicly accessible in April.
The app itself
The Voicenotes web app offers a seamless user experience by not requiring any login credentials. Users can simply press the record button to start speaking, and the app will transcribe their speech in real-time.
However, the free version limits users to voice notes of up to one minute. Upgrading to the paid version removes this restriction. Post-recording, users have the option to tag their notes, edit them, and use AI to regenerate titles. Additionally, the app offers AI-powered reformatting options that can transform the note into various formats such as a blog post, tweet, to-do list, or email. The app also provides a summary and highlights the key points of the note.
Another notable feature is the “Ask my AI” assistant, which allows users to perform voice searches within their notes. For instance, if you need to recall the brand of dishwashing liquid you added to your grocery list two months ago, the AI assistant can quickly retrieve that information.
The company has launched its applications for both iOS and Android platforms, presenting a significant competitive edge. In contrast, Cleft Notes is currently limited to Mac and iOS, with the latter still in its beta phase. Although AudioPen offers the convenience of a web app accessible from any location, it lacks the capability to record in the background on iOS. This means that if your smartphone screen locks or you switch to another application, the recording will be interrupted.
Additionally, Voicenotes leverages artificial intelligence to provide prompts, encouraging users to respond and record their notes effectively.
Competition and roadmap
Voicenotes introduces several useful features; however, it is stepping into an increasingly crowded market. It must also navigate competition from rivals that offer superior functionalities. For instance, Cleft Notes provides on-device transcription, which is crucial for maintaining privacy by avoiding server-based processing. Additionally, Cleft Notes boasts better integration with Apple devices and allows users to record notes for up to 10 minutes on the free tier. Meanwhile, AudioPen offers extensive formatting options for notes, catering to users who require flexibility.
In addition to facing competition from other AI-driven voice-note applications, Voicenotes must also contend with native apps like Google Recorder for Pixel phones and Samsung’s Transcribe Assist. While these are currently limited to certain models, advancements in technology could make them available on a broader range of devices.
The primary concern for these applications is the potential integration of transcription capabilities into Apple’s native voice memo app, which would likely render third-party solutions obsolete on iOS devices. Nonetheless, these apps could still retain value by offering features such as cross-platform compatibility, enhanced formatting options, and additional functionalities.
Voicenotes provides users with a free trial option and a subscription plan priced at $10 per month, which grants access to advanced models like GPT-4 Turbo and Claude Opus, as well as lifting restrictions on note length. For a limited period, users can also opt for a “believer” plan for $50, which offers lifetime access, contingent on ongoing developer support. The company has already reported generating $100,000 in revenue from subscription plans.
In an email to TechCrunch, Jijo highlighted the app’s unique features, including its “simple but elegant design,” utilization of top-tier AI models, and the innovative “Ask My AI” function.
Jijo further mentioned that Voicenotes is set to expand its availability to smartwatches, aiming to enhance its utility as a real-time assistant across multiple platforms. Additionally, they are working on a feature to convert voice notes into to-do lists with integrated reminders.
