Can I use Plaud with just the app, without a recorder?

According to Plaud's official help center, you can install the app and sign up without a device, but the free Starter plan, paid memberships, and the desktop app assume a Plaud device linked to your account. Even when you start a recording in the app, the audio is picked up by the connected device, not your phone's microphone. The Team plan for businesses works without a device, but in that case you can record only with the desktop app. Knoi records without a separate device, using its phone app and Chrome extension.

Can I see real-time captions or translation during meetings with Plaud?

Plaud's official help center says it doesn't support real-time transcription and processes recordings after they end. It has no translation between languages either, though in the new app you can choose the summary language separately from the transcription language. Knoi shows real-time captions and translation between 8 languages while you record.

How does pricing differ between Plaud and Knoi?

With Plaud, buying a device (from $159 in the US, or ₩269,000 from its official distributor in Korea) includes 300 minutes a month on the Starter plan. Pro is $17.99 a month ($8.33 a month billed annually, 1,200 minutes a month), and Unlimited is $29.99 a month ($20 a month billed annually). Knoi needs no separate device and gives you 300 minutes once when you sign up. Plus is ₩11,500 a month (600 minutes a month), and Pro is ₩23,200 a month (no limit on recording time).

Can Plaud record Zoom and Google Meet meetings too?

Plaud Desktop for Mac and Windows records your computer's audio without adding a bot to the meeting (Google Meet, Zoom, Teams, and more). On personal plans, this desktop app also requires a Plaud device linked to your account. Knoi's Chrome extension records both your voice and the other participants' voices in Google Meet, Zoom, and Teams web meetings.

Does Plaud support Korean?

Plaud transcribes 112+ languages, including Korean. However, it says each recording is transcribed in only one language and that recordings mixing several languages aren't supported. Knoi records meetings in 12 languages with Korean as the default, and you can get summaries in 14 languages.

Plaud vs Knoi: What's the Difference?

The biggest difference is what you record with. Plaud records on a dedicated recorder and then summarizes, while Knoi records on your phone and computer, with no separate device to buy, and shows real-time captions and translation during the meeting.

At a Glance

Knoi

Korean-language meetings: Korean by default, with 12 meeting languages and 5 interface languages
Translation: Real-time translation between 8 languages during meetings; summaries in 14 languages
Free plan: 300 minutes at sign-up (doesn't renew monthly)
Paid plans from: Plus ₩11,500/month, Pro ₩23,200/month (paid on the web; $8.99 and $17.99)

Plaud

Korean-language meetings: Transcribes 112+ languages, including Korean (one language per recording)
Translation: No translation between languages; the new app lets you choose the summary language separately
Free plan: Starter with a device purchase: 300 minutes a month (unused minutes don't roll over)
Paid plans from: Pro $17.99/month ($8.33/month billed annually); device sold separately (from $159 in the US or ₩269,000 in Korea)

What Makes Knoi Different?

No Need to Buy a Separate Recorder
Knoi records right away with an app on the phone you already use and a Chrome extension on your computer. Plaud's official help center says its free Starter plan, personal memberships, and desktop app assume a Plaud device linked to your account.
See Captions and Translation During the Meeting
While you record, Knoi shows captions in the Live View window and translates between 8 languages. Plaud's official help center says it doesn't support real-time transcription or translation between languages.
Just Pick a Plan, No Device Cost
With Knoi, you get 300 minutes free when you sign up, and to keep using it, you can choose Plus at ₩11,500 a month (600 minutes a month). With Plaud, buying a device (from $159 in the US or ₩269,000 in Korea) includes 300 minutes a month, and for more, you add Pro at $17.99 a month (1,200 minutes a month).

What Is Each Service Built For?

Plaud

Plaud records conversations and calls with a dedicated recorder you wear or attach to your phone, then transcribes and summarizes them in 112+ languages.

Knoi

Knoi records meetings on your phone and computer without a separate device, and covers everything from captions and translation during the meeting to team sharing and AI questions afterward.

How Do They Compare Feature by Feature?

Knoi vs Plaud: features and pricing
Feature	Knoi	Plaud
Korean-language meetings	Supported Korean by default, with 12 meeting languages and 5 interface languages	Supported Transcribes 112+ languages, including Korean (one language per recording)
Real-time transcription (captions)	Supported Captions in the Live View window while you record	Not supported Real-time transcription not supported (processed after the recording ends)
Translation	Supported Real-time translation between 8 languages during meetings; summaries in 14 languages	Partially supported No translation between languages; the new app lets you choose the summary language separately
Video meeting recording	Supported Records Meet, Zoom, and Teams (web) with the Chrome extension; no bot joins	Supported Mac and Windows desktop app records meeting audio without a bot (personal plans require a linked device)
In-person meeting recording	Supported iOS and Android apps with background recording and widgets	Supported Records with dedicated recorders (Note, NotePin); Note attaches to the back of a phone to record calls
Audio file upload	Supported Audio files (MP3, WAV, M4A, and more), up to 3 files and 500MB at a time	Supported Imports audio and video files (on the web, up to 24 hours and 500MB per file)
Summary templates	Supported Summaries in your company's exact format with personal and shared templates	Supported 10,000+ official and community templates, and you can create your own
Ask AI about meetings	Supported Ask AI about each meeting, or across meetings with Ask Knoi (beta)	Supported Ask Plaud answers questions about one recording, several recordings, or a whole folder
Team sharing	Supported Workspace and channel sharing, with a choice of summary only or full content	Supported Sharing via public links and email invites; shared team folders on the Team plan
Security and admin	Supported Encrypted storage with AWS KMS; audit logs and per-member permissions for businesses	Supported SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, and HIPAA; AES-256 encryption for stored data
Free plan	300 minutes at sign-up (doesn't renew monthly)	Starter with a device purchase: 300 minutes a month (unused minutes don't roll over)
Paid plans from	Plus ₩11,500/month, Pro ₩23,200/month (paid on the web; $8.99 and $17.99)	Pro $17.99/month ($8.33/month billed annually); device sold separately (from $159 in the US or ₩269,000 in Korea)

Which Should You Choose, and When?

When Plaud Is the Better Fit

You want to record conversations with a recorder you wear, without taking out your phone
You need to record calls with a recorder attached to the back of your phone (Note, Note Pro)
You need to turn recordings in many languages (112+), not just Korean, into text

When Knoi Is the Better Fit

You want to start right away with the phone and computer you already use, without buying a recorder
You need to see real-time captions and translation (between 8 languages) during meetings
You want to start at ₩11,500 a month (Plus) with no device cost

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Plaud with just the app, without a recorder?: According to Plaud's official help center, you can install the app and sign up without a device, but the free Starter plan, paid memberships, and the desktop app assume a Plaud device linked to your account. Even when you start a recording in the app, the audio is picked up by the connected device, not your phone's microphone. The Team plan for businesses works without a device, but in that case you can record only with the desktop app. Knoi records without a separate device, using its phone app and Chrome extension.
Can I see real-time captions or translation during meetings with Plaud?: Plaud's official help center says it doesn't support real-time transcription and processes recordings after they end. It has no translation between languages either, though in the new app you can choose the summary language separately from the transcription language. Knoi shows real-time captions and translation between 8 languages while you record.
How does pricing differ between Plaud and Knoi?: With Plaud, buying a device (from $159 in the US, or ₩269,000 from its official distributor in Korea) includes 300 minutes a month on the Starter plan. Pro is $17.99 a month ($8.33 a month billed annually, 1,200 minutes a month), and Unlimited is $29.99 a month ($20 a month billed annually). Knoi needs no separate device and gives you 300 minutes once when you sign up. Plus is ₩11,500 a month (600 minutes a month), and Pro is ₩23,200 a month (no limit on recording time).
Can Plaud record Zoom and Google Meet meetings too?: Plaud Desktop for Mac and Windows records your computer's audio without adding a bot to the meeting (Google Meet, Zoom, Teams, and more). On personal plans, this desktop app also requires a Plaud device linked to your account. Knoi's Chrome extension records both your voice and the other participants' voices in Google Meet, Zoom, and Teams web meetings.
Does Plaud support Korean?: Plaud transcribes 112+ languages, including Korean. However, it says each recording is transcribed in only one language and that recordings mixing several languages aren't supported. Knoi records meetings in 12 languages with Korean as the default, and you can get summaries in 14 languages.

Compare Knoi With Other Services

Sources

We compiled information on competing services from the pricing, help, and app store pages each company publishes, as checked on 2026-11-05. Details may change after that, so please check the latest information on each service before you decide. Information on Knoi is based on Knoi's official website and apps.

As of 2026-11-05, checked against each service's official sources