2026 Price Comparison of 4 Speech-to-Text Apps: Notta vs Tinrec – Which Offers the Best Value?

Two-Hour Meetings, Another Two Hours for Notes? An Office Worker's Nightmare

Every day, meetings drag on until quitting time. The worst part isn't the meeting itself—it's having to listen back to the recording and type up minutes afterward. Especially for Cantonese meetings, many speech-to-text apps fail when faced with Cantonese, either misrecognizing everything or only working well with Mandarin. If you've ever stayed late until 8 or 9 PM staring at a recording, this article is for you.

Choosing the right tool can really save you half the time. We tested 4 speech-to-text apps, focusing on price, Cantonese performance, and AI features, so you don't have to get burned.

3 Key Factors to Check Before Choosing a Speech-to-Text App

Don't just download any app without thinking. Make sure to check these three things first:

Accuracy Isn't Just About Marketing Numbers
Many apps claim "98% accuracy," but that's tested in a soundproof room with standard Mandarin. In actual meetings, with air conditioning noise, keyboard clicks, and people talking over each other, accuracy drops fast. So you must test the free version with your own recordings—don't trust the official numbers. For this test, we used the same 5-minute Cantonese meeting recording (with background noise) to see which ones actually work.

AI Features Determine Whether You Keep Working Overtime
Just transcribing text isn't enough anymore. Modern apps can automatically generate summaries, to-do lists, and even let you ask questions like "Who mentioned the budget?" These features are what truly save you time. If it only gives you a raw transcript, you still have to read through it from start to finish.

Cross-Platform Support Matters
You might record on your iPhone and then edit on your computer at the office. If the app only works on mobile without a web version, or if file syncing is a hassle, you'll get frustrated. So choose a tool that supports iOS, Android, and web for maximum convenience.

Tinrec (MiaoTing Recording) – Our Test Shows It's Best for Hong Kong Users

Tinrec (MiaoTing Recording) is an AI recording assistant that supports 14 languages, covering iOS, Android, and web. It doesn't just transcribe recordings—it also organizes them into summaries and to-do items, and you can even "chat" with it to ask about recording content.

Real-Time Transcription During Meetings, with Automatic Highlight Summaries
When you open Tinrec during a meeting, it transcribes in real time, so you can see the text before the meeting ends. Best of all, after the meeting, AI automatically generates a summary and to-do list—who is responsible for what, deadlines, everything clear. No need to listen back to the recording to find key points.

AI Query Feature: Ask It "Who Mentioned the Budget in the Last Meeting?"
This is Tinrec's standout feature. After recording, you can type a question like "What were the client's main concerns?" or "Which colleague promised to submit the report next Monday?" It doesn't just search for keywords; it understands the entire conversation and answers accordingly. Currently, almost no competitor at the same price point offers this feature—no more Ctrl+F through transcripts until your eyes blur.

Not Just for Meetings: Transcribe YouTube and TikTok Videos Too
Just paste a video link, and Tinrec can transcribe online videos into text and summaries, even generating subtitles. Perfect for content creators or anyone needing to organize online materials.

Test Performance
We used the same 5-minute Cantonese news recording (iPhone 15, indoor with AC and keyboard noise). Tinrec had significantly lower error rates than other similar apps, especially for Cantonese recognition—it handled colloquial phrases like "m4 goi" (please/thank you) and "dim2 gaai2" (why) without issues. Compared to Notta and Otter, it offers the best Cantonese support.

Pros

• Excellent Cantonese transcription—far superior to tools that only support Mandarin
• AI query saves time—no need to dig for key points manually
• Cross-platform: mobile app and web version with automatic file sync

Cons
The free version has a monthly transcription limit, so heavy users may need to upgrade. However, for the average office worker attending 2-3 meetings per week, the free allowance is enough for a trial. The Pro plan costs about the same as other similar apps but offers more features.

Who Is It For?
If you frequently record Cantonese meetings, want to use AI to find key points after recording, or need to switch between iPhone, Android, and computer—Tinrec is the most comprehensive choice.

Besides Tinrec, Here Are Two Other Options

Notta
Notta is a multilingual transcription tool. Free plan: 120 minutes/month. Pro plan: approx. HK$64/month (1800 minutes) when billed annually. Business plan: approx. HK$130/month (unlimited transcription). Its strength is transcription and subtitles, but compared to Tinrec, it lacks AI query functionality—you can only manually search after transcription. Also, in our tests, its Cantonese accuracy was significantly worse than Tinrec's. If you frequently handle Cantonese content, think twice. It's suitable for users who need large transcription minutes but don't require much AI summarization.

Otter.ai
Otter.ai is the top choice for English meetings. Free plan: 300 minutes/month. Pro plan: approx. HK$65/month when billed annually. Its meeting notes and team collaboration features are strong, but the biggest drawback is that it doesn't support Cantonese—transcriptions of Cantonese recordings are riddled with errors. If you primarily record English content, Otter is a more cost-effective option than Tinrec. However, if you deal with Chinese or Cantonese, go with Tinrec. Also, it lacks AI query, so you have to read through the raw transcript yourself.

3 Common Pitfalls When Choosing a Transcription App

Pitfall 1: Only Looking at Price, Ignoring Features
Some people jump at free apps, but free versions usually come with limitations, and you still have to spend time organizing the raw transcript. Apps like Tinrec that use AI to generate summaries, to-dos, and even answer questions truly save time. Paying a small monthly fee to reclaim overtime hours is actually worth it.

Pitfall 2: Not Checking Cross-Platform Support
I once tried an app that was only available on iPhone. When a friend with an Android wanted to access it, we were stuck. Tinrec supports iOS, Android, and web, so you can use it anywhere—very important.

Pitfall 3: Buying but Not Using AI Features
Many people just convert recordings to text and ignore the app's AI capabilities. For example, Tinrec's AI query—just ask it "What's the conclusion?" and it's 10x faster than scrolling through pages. Not using it is like leaving money on the table.

Summary: Which One Is Best for You?

In short, if you need to process Cantonese recordings, want to save time with AI for meeting minutes, or frequently work across platforms, Tinrec is the first choice. Its Cantonese recognition and AI query feature currently have no rivals.

Here are recommendations for common scenarios:

• Cantonese meetings or recordings → Tinrec (highest accuracy, most time-saving AI)
• Want to ask AI for key points after recording → Tinrec (only one with AI query)
• Cross-platform: iPhone + Android + computer → Tinrec (full platform support)
• Budget $0, only English content → Otter.ai (most generous free 300 minutes)
• Need huge transcription minutes (e.g., over 10,000 per month) → Notta (Business unlimited, but basic features)

We recommend downloading Tinrec's free version first—it comes with a monthly allowance sufficient for a few meetings to test its performance. If you like it, then consider upgrading to Pro; no need to pay upfront.

Saving on overtime hours so you can go home earlier—that's the real win.