Head to head

HireScribe vs tl;dv

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

HireScribe

$79 Free tier

HireScribe is a local Mac and Windows app that records, transcribes, and writes ATS-ready interview notes on the recruiter's laptop. Recording and transcription stay free forever. Unlimited AI writeups are a one-time $79 Pro license.

Where HireScribe fits

  • Recruiters who cannot put a meeting bot on a candidate invite
  • EU and UK desks that want interview audio to stay on disk
  • Bullhorn, Greenhouse, or Lever users who want ATS-shaped exports
  • Solo recruiters who prefer a $79 license over a monthly seat

tl;dv

$18/seat/mo Free tier

General AI meeting recorder with unlimited recordings and transcription in 30+ languages on the free plan. Pro is $18/seat/mo billed annually with unlimited AI notes.

Where tl;dv fits

  • Recruiters who interview in several languages
  • European teams that want EU data hosting
  • Teams that want an API, webhooks and MCP server on Pro
  • Agencies that also coach on client calls

At a glance

DetailHireScribetl;dv
Starting price$79$18/seat/mo
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underAI note takers, InterviewingAI note takers

Where they pull apart

HireScribe

Stands out: No bot joins the call and nothing is uploaded. Models run on-device (Whisper, pyannote, llama.cpp). Exports are built for Bullhorn, Greenhouse, and Lever as JSON, CSV, Markdown, or PDF.

Watch out: It is a laptop app, not a team workspace. New installs only include a few free AI summaries. Windows installers are unsigned, so SmartScreen will prompt. Intel Macs are not officially tested.

Not the right fit for

  • Hiring panels that need a shared cloud library of every interview
  • Teams that want live interviewer guidance inside the video call

tl;dv

Stands out: tl;dv never caps recordings or transcription, even on Free, and it is hosted and stored in the EU with GDPR and SOC 2 compliance.

Watch out: The free plan writes AI notes for only 10 meetings and keeps data up to 3 months. There is no ATS writeback, and cross-meeting AI insights need Business.

Not the right fit for

  • Teams that need notes filed in an ATS
  • Free plan users who want to keep recordings past 3 months

Pros and cons

HireScribe

  • Recording and transcription are free forever with no account
  • One-time $79 Pro license instead of a per-seat subscription
  • Bullhorn, Greenhouse, and Lever export formats, no bot in the meeting
  • No shared team library or live interviewer copilot
  • Unlimited AI writeups require the $79 Pro key after a few free samples
  • Windows installer is unsigned and Intel Macs are unsupported

tl;dv

  • Unlimited recordings and transcription free
  • EU hosting, GDPR and SOC 2
  • API, webhooks and MCP server on Pro
  • AI notes limited to 10 meetings on Free
  • 3 month data retention on Free
  • No ATS writeback

What each one costs

HireScribe

$79

Recording, transcription, speaker ID, and full transcripts are free forever. New installs include a few free AI summaries. Unlimited AI writeups unlock with a one-time $79 Pro license that covers Mac and Windows. No monthly seat. Prefer hosted models? Bring your own OpenAI API key. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

tl;dv

$18/seat/mo

Free has unlimited recordings and transcription, with AI notes on 10 meetings and data kept up to 3 months. Pro is $18/seat/mo billed annually with unlimited AI notes, custom templates, the API, webhooks and an MCP server. Business is $29/seat/mo billed annually and adds multi-meeting insights, playbook monitoring and team automations. Enterprise is quoted. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 22 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is HireScribe cheaper than tl;dv?
tl;dv starts lower, at $18/seat/mo against $79 for HireScribe. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try HireScribe or tl;dv for free?
HireScribe and tl;dv carry a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All HireScribe alternatives All tl;dv alternatives Every AI note takers tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?