Aside alternative
Two apps with the same idea. Here is exactly where they differ.
Aside and Parlo were built from the same frustration: meeting tools that upload your audio and rent you your own notes. Both record without a bot, transcribe on your Mac, write Markdown, and take dictation. The differences are about which Macs, what else the app does, and what happens to the notes step.
Parlo requires macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later on Apple Silicon. Intel Macs aren't supported.
Parlo vs Aside
What is being compared.
Marks are our reading of each cell: a check is a plus for you, a cross is a limit, a dash is neither. We make one of these two products, so read this as argued rather than neutral. Aside's prices and features were checked on its own pages on 21 September 2026; plans move, so verify before you buy.
| Aside | Parlo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Plus.8 EUR/mo with hosted notes, or 75 EUR once | Plus.$8/mo, or $80 once (first 100) |
| Free trial | Plus.10 meetings and 7 days of dictation, no card, no account | Neither.14 days, sign-in required |
| macOS version | Limit.macOS 26 or later | Plus.macOS 15 or later, Apple Silicon |
| Where notes live | Plus.Markdown in a folder you choose | Plus.Markdown files in ~/Documents/Parlo Meetings, plus a folder or Google Drive you pick |
| Transcription | Plus.On your Mac, ~99 languages | Plus.On your Mac, English and Spanish today |
| Live transcript during the call | Plus.Yes, with a chat tab | Limit.After the recording ends |
| Note styles | Plus.Brief, minutes, client call, interview, custom | Limit.One structured format |
| Notes generation | Neither.Hosted (Anthropic behind Aside's relay), own key, or Ollama | Plus.Parlo Cloud (included), on-device model, or your own key; chosen at setup |
| System-wide dictation | Plus.Hold fn, on-device | Plus.Hold fn (or any shortcut you pick), speak, text lands in any app. On-device |
| Voice commands for your Mac | Limit.No | Plus.Hold fn+ctrl: open apps, move files, set reminders, run Shortcuts |
| Joins the call | Plus.Never | Plus.Never. System audio plus mic, no attendee |
| Agent access (MCP) | Plus.Built-in MCP server, off by default | Limit.Not yet; the files are plain Markdown |
| Platforms | Limit.macOS only | Limit.macOS 15+ on Apple Silicon only |
| Team features | Limit.None | Limit.None. Shared folder and Drive export only |
| Maturity | Limit.Young, built by one person | Limit.Young, in alpha, built by one person |
Where the two actually differ.
Which Macs it runs on
Aside needs macOS 26. Parlo runs on macOS 15 and later on any Apple Silicon Mac, so a 2020 M1 MacBook Air that hasn't taken the latest OS is fine. If your Mac is on Sequoia or Sonoma-era hardware, this is the whole decision.
Commands, not just words
Both take dictation. Parlo also has a command mode: hold fn+ctrl and say "open Safari", "move this to the desktop", "remind me to call the vet at 3", and it runs. Aside is dictation and meetings only.
Where the notes step happens
Aside's subscription includes a hosted model behind its own relay; the fully local route is the one-time licence with Ollama. Parlo asks at setup: Parlo Cloud (included with every plan, transcript text only, nothing stored) or the on-device model, and the Meetings window always shows which one wrote a note. Your own key is a third option on both.
Where Aside is the better answer.
You want a live transcript and a chat tab.
Aside shows the transcript as the meeting runs and lets you ask questions in a chat tab. Parlo transcribes after the recording ends and has no chat yet.
Your meetings aren't in English or Spanish.
Aside auto-detects about 99 languages. Parlo pins each meeting to English or Spanish today.
Your agent should read your meetings.
Aside ships an MCP server (off by default). Parlo's answer today is that the notes are Markdown files, which any agent can read, but there is no server.
You want note styles.
Aside's style picker (brief, minutes, client call, interview, your own) is ahead of Parlo's single structured format.
If none of those are you, and what you wanted was the part Parlo does well, that is what Parlo is for.
Best for.
Parlo
A Mac that isn't on macOS 26, anyone who wants voice commands alongside dictation, and people who want the notes step on-device without buying a separate licence.
Aside
macOS 26 users who want a live transcript, meeting chat, note styles or MCP today.
Parlo, pros
- Runs on macOS 15+, not only the newest OS.
- Voice commands that operate the Mac, in the same app.
- Hosted notes included, with an on-device option on the same plan.
Parlo, cons
- No live transcript or chat during the meeting.
- English and Spanish transcription today, not 99 languages.
- No MCP server and no note styles yet.
Asked before switching
Questions people search first.
Is Parlo or Aside better for Mac meeting notes?
They are the closest two products in this category and the honest answer depends on your Mac and what else you want. Parlo if you're on macOS 15 to 25, want voice commands, or want an on-device notes option on the subscription. Aside if you're on macOS 26 and want a live transcript, meeting chat, note styles or an MCP server today.
How much does Aside cost?
Checked on 21 September 2026 on heyaside.com: 8 EUR a month including Aside's hosted notes model, or 75 EUR once with your own API key or a local Ollama model. Ten meetings and seven days of dictation are free. Parlo is $8 a month or $80 once for the first 100 founders.
Does Aside run on macOS 15?
No. Aside requires macOS 26 or later. Parlo requires macOS 15 or later on Apple Silicon.
Do both keep audio on the Mac?
Yes. Both transcribe on-device and neither uploads audio. The notes step is similar on both: the subscription includes a hosted model that receives transcript text only. Parlo also offers the on-device model on the same plan, chosen at setup and switchable any time.
Can I switch from Aside to Parlo?
Both write Markdown, so your Aside notes stay readable next to Parlo's. There's no importer, and Parlo's library only lists meetings it recorded itself.
Pricing
A writer. A listener. A doer. One membership.
A power user pays $30+/month across point-solutions today: one app to dictate, another for meeting notes, nothing that acts. Parlo replaces the stack.
Audio never leaves your Mac · no usage limits
Monthly
- Everything in one app: write, listen, act*
- Parlo Cloud meeting notes included · no API key
- Speech and dictation on-device · no usage limits
- Direct line to the founder
- Price locked in as long as you stay subscribed
14 days free, then $8/month. Cancel anytime before and you won't be charged.
*Act (voice commands) is in active alpha.
Founder First 100
- Lifetime access, no recurring billing, ever
- Everything in Monthly, forever, Parlo Cloud included
- Direct line to the founder
- Push Parlo's development further, up front
Not sure yet?
No pressure. Leave your email and we'll keep you posted as Parlo evolves. Ready now? The trial above starts today.
Get updatesRequires macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later on Apple Silicon. Intel Macs aren't supported.
Not ready yet?
No pressure.
Leave your email and we'll keep you posted as Parlo evolves. Ready to try it today instead? The trial above starts right away.