If you record on your iPhone and want the transcript without uploading the audio, a Rev alternative like Mangonote turns recordings and imported files into text on the device, offline and without an account, then writes optional AI summaries. Rev is the better pick when you need human-verified transcripts, a meeting bot, live transcription with speaker names, or legal workflows. Here’s how they compare.
We make Mangonote. Rev facts come from Rev’s own pricing page, terms of service, help center and App Store listing, as of 13 November 2026.
Rev’s new iPhone app
Rev released a new iPhone app, Rev: Recorder & Transcription, on 30 October 2026. Rev’s help center says it replaces the old Rev: Record & Transcribe app (the one many people know as the Rev voice recorder), which will stop getting updates. It’s a separate download, so the old app won’t turn into the new one.
The new app records without signal and uploads when you’re back online, shows a live transcript, makes AI transcripts with speakers attributed, writes summaries from templates and answers questions about a recording. You sign in with a Rev account. Rev’s help center also says phone calls can’t be recorded with the app, and that plans and human transcripts are ordered on rev.com.
Rev vs. Mangonote at a glance
| Rev | Mangonote | |
|---|---|---|
| Account | Required | Not needed |
| Where speech becomes text | Rev’s servers; files are stored on AWS in the US, per Rev | On the iPhone |
| Works offline | Records offline, transcribes after upload | Records and transcribes offline |
| Live transcript | Yes | No; transcribed when you stop |
| Speaker labels | Yes, editable | No |
| Human transcripts | Yes, from $1.99/minute (English) | No |
| Meeting bot | Rev Notetaker joins Zoom, Meet, Teams and Webex | No; import the call recording |
| Free plan | 45 AI minutes/month, English only | Free to start, with limits; Mangonote Plus removes them |
| Paid plans | Essentials $29.99/month or $25.49/seat/month annual; Pro $59.99 or $47.99 | Mangonote Plus (App Store) |
| Languages | English on Free, English and Spanish on Essentials, 37+ on Pro | About 100 (Whisper), up to 1,600 (Omnilingual), on every plan |
| AI summaries and chat | Yes, templates and questions | Yes, with styles, your own prompts and Ask AI |
| Export | TXT, DOCX, PDF and captions from the web editor | Text, PDF, audio; all notes as Markdown |
| AI training | Rev’s own models may train on subscriber content; opt-out on Enterprise and Unlimited | Audio isn’t uploaded; AI gets only note text, after you agree |
When Rev is the better pick
Be fair to Rev. It does things Mangonote doesn’t:
- Human-verified transcripts. Rev’s human service starts at $1.99 a minute for English, for depositions, publishing and anything that has to be exact.
- A meeting bot. Rev Notetaker joins Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Webex from your calendar.
- Live transcription and speaker names while you record.
- Legal and investigative workflows. Rev’s plans are built around them, with page:line citations, Clio integration and HIPAA or CJIS options on Unlimited.
- Team sharing inside a Rev workspace.
When Mangonote fits better
- No upload, no account. Mangonote transcribes on the iPhone and the audio stays there. AI summaries are optional and get only the transcript text, after you agree.
- No training question. Your audio never reaches a server to be trained on. AI can be turned off entirely. See 7 privacy questions to ask any AI note taker.
- Languages on the free plan. Whisper covers about 100 languages and Omnilingual up to 1,600, with no plan gating.
- Offline from start to finish. Record and transcribe on a plane or in a courthouse basement.
- Phone calls. Record the call with the iPhone’s own call recording, then import the audio. See how to record a phone call on iPhone.
When to pay for a human transcript
AI transcripts are good enough for notes, study and most interviews. Pay for a human transcript when:
- It’s evidence or a legal record, like a deposition or a sworn statement.
- You’ll publish quotes and can’t afford a misheard word.
- The audio is hard: heavy crosstalk, strong accents, poor recording.
For everything else, an on-device transcript plus a quick check of names and numbers is usually enough. Our interview transcription guide shows how.
Related guides
- How to transcribe an interview on iPhone
- Voice recorder apps with transcription for iPhone
- How to record a phone call on iPhone
- Otter.ai alternative: a private note taker for iPhone
Frequently asked questions
What is a good alternative to Rev?
For recording and transcribing on an iPhone without uploading audio, Mangonote transcribes on the device, offline and without an account. If you need human-verified transcripts, a meeting bot or legal workflows, Rev is built for that.
How much does Rev cost?
As of November 2026, Rev's free plan includes 45 AI minutes a month in English. Essentials is $29.99 a month or $25.49 a seat a month billed annually, Pro $59.99 or $47.99, per Rev's pricing page and App Store listing. Human transcription starts at $1.99 a minute.
Does Rev use my recordings to train AI?
Rev's terms say subscribers' content is analyzed by Rev's own speech recognition and AI models and may be used for continuous training of those models, but not for generative AI training. Rev's help center says only Enterprise and Unlimited customers can opt out.
What happened to the Rev Voice Recorder app?
Rev launched a new iPhone app, Rev Recorder and Transcription, in October 2026. Rev says it replaces the old Rev Record and Transcribe app, which will stop getting updates, and that it's a separate download.
Does Mangonote offer human transcription?
No. Mangonote makes AI transcripts on your iPhone. If you need a human-checked transcript for court or publishing, use a human service such as Rev.
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