An Aiko alternative when you need to search, not just transcribe

	Aiko	MediaFind
Where processing happens	On your device	On your computer
Main job	Transcribe a file	Search a whole media library
Price	$24 one-time on the US App Store; 14-day TestFlight trial	Free (10 files); Pro $24.99/mo after a $9.99 first month, or $107.88/yr
Platforms	macOS, iOS, visionOS	Mac; Windows and Linux in beta; Android companion in beta
Search across files	No	By meaning, visuals, on-screen text and speakers
Speaker labels	No	Yes
Batch processing	Via Shortcuts	Watches added folders while the app is open
Export	JSON, CSV, SRT	Word, PDF, SRT, VTT, text

The short version

Aiko is a one-time App Store purchase that transcribes audio and video on your own device, in 100 languages, using OpenAI's Whisper model. It runs on macOS, iOS and visionOS with one purchase, and exports JSON, CSV or SRT subtitles. It deliberately stays small: its developer says there is no in-app editing, no speaker detection and no live transcription while recording, and batch jobs need a Shortcuts workaround.

MediaFind also transcribes on-device, but transcription is the first step, not the product. Every file you add is indexed together with what appears on screen, the text in the frame and who is speaking, and you search the whole library at once by meaning. It is a bigger app with a subscription, aimed at people with many hours of media.

One file at a time or a searchable archive

If you occasionally need a transcript, say for one lecture, an interview or a voice note, a single-purpose transcriber is the right tool. Drop the file in, wait, export the text, done. You then search it in a text editor like any other document.

The picture changes once you have dozens or hundreds of recordings. Now the problem is not getting text, it is remembering which file had the part you want. That needs an index across files, search that understands paraphrase instead of exact words, speaker labels, and timestamps that jump you straight to the moment. That is the job MediaFind is built for. The guide to searching voice memos on a Mac walks through the approach.

When Aiko is the better choice

• You mainly need transcripts. Aiko is focused and simple, with few settings to learn.
• You want a one-time price. It is a single App Store purchase rather than a subscription, and there is a 14-day trial through TestFlight.
• You transcribe on iPhone or iPad. Aiko runs there too, using a smaller model depending on the device's memory. MediaFind has no iOS app.
• Many languages. Aiko lists 100 languages and can translate into English.
• Older Macs. Its site offers older versions for macOS 13, 14 and 15 free of charge. MediaFind needs macOS 14 or later on Apple Silicon.

When MediaFind is the better choice

Choose MediaFind when finding matters more than transcribing. Search by what someone meant, like the story about her grandmother's bakery, and get ranked moments across every recording with exact timestamps. Speakers are labeled automatically, and a voice you name once is recognized in other files. Video is searchable by what was shown and by on-screen text, and photos go into the same index.

It also does more with the result. Per-file summaries and chapters make long recordings skimmable, the on-device Ask assistant answers questions and cites the moments it used, and transcripts export as Word, PDF, SRT, VTT or text. While the app is open it re-checks the folders you added about once a minute and indexes new files once they finish copying, so a folder of voice memos or lectures stays searchable without batch runs. See the voice memos use case for an example.

What you give up with MediaFind

It is a larger, more complex app, and the free plan stops at 10 media files, after which unlimited indexing needs a Pro subscription. There is no iPhone or iPad version, only an Android companion in beta that searches your library over Wi-Fi. If a clean transcript of one file is all you need, Aiko or another single-purpose tool such as the free MediaTranscribe is simpler.

Pricing

As of September 27, 2026, Aiko is listed on the US App Store at $24 as a one-time purchase covering Mac, iPhone, iPad and Vision Pro, with a free 14-day trial through TestFlight. Prices vary by country, so check the App Store for yours.

MediaFind's plans are in the table above. Both apps process audio on your device, so neither charges by the minute.

Sources

Checked 2026-09-27 on each company's own site. Prices and features change, so check the current pages before you decide.

• Aiko developer page
• Aiko on the App Store

Frequently asked questions

Is Aiko free?

Not the current version. It is a one-time App Store purchase with a 14-day TestFlight trial. Its developer offers older versions for macOS 13, 14 and 15 free, and they do not run on newer macOS.

Do Aiko and MediaFind both keep audio on my device?

Yes. Aiko's listing says nothing leaves your device. MediaFind runs transcription, search and Ask locally, and includes a privacy check that confirms no external connections on the core path.

Can MediaFind tell speakers apart?

Yes. It labels who said what without any account or key, and a voice you name once is recognized in other recordings. Aiko's developer says it does not yet support speaker detection.

Does MediaFind run on iPhone?

No. MediaFind is a desktop app. There is an Android companion in beta that searches your library over Wi-Fi, and an iOS version is planned.