Compare/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.

Starting price

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 4 Nov 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 4 Nov 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.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?