LesskeysSonix alternative that never uploads your file
Sonix is a browser editor for teams that edit and share transcripts, billed by the hour; Lesskeys keeps one person's file and transcript on their own computer.
macOS 13+ on Apple Silicon · No subscriptionWindows 10 and 11 · No subscription
Last reviewed
Pick one
Pick Sonix or Lesskeys?
Pick Sonix if
- You edit long transcripts in a browser.
- You work with others: comments, shares, assignments.
Pick Lesskeys if
- The recording is confidential.
- You would rather not pay by the hour.
Side by side
Sonix and Lesskeys, side by side
- Nothinguploaded
- Hourlyis how Sonix bills
- 54+languages at Sonix (Lesskeys: 99)
| What | Lesskeys | Sonix |
|---|---|---|
| Audio stays on your computer | ✓ Nothing is uploaded | ✗ A web service: you work in your browser |
| No bot in the call | ✓ No bot joins | ✓ No meeting bot is described on its pages |
| Works offline | ✓ Once the models are downloaded | ✗ It runs as a web service |
| Runs on | Mac (macOS 13 or later, Apple Silicon) and Windows 10 or 11. No web or phone app. | A web browser, plus a mobile recorder app (Sonix Recorder) |
| Languages | 99 | 54+ |
| Pricing model | No subscription | Pay as you go: $10 per hour. Subscriptions: Core $25 per month or $275 per year (5 hours a month), Advanced $50 or $550 (20 hours), Pro $80 or $880 (40 hours); extra hours $10 each. No plan at no charge; a trial includes 30 minutes.Checked 15 October 2026. |
Sources, all read on 15 October 2026
- Sonix pricing (plans, prices, export, speaker labels)
- sonix.ai (browser editor, mobile app, integrations)
- Sonix languages (54+ languages)
A row is missing when Sonix's own pages do not state it; we leave it out rather than guess. Plans change, so check Sonix's page before you buy.
No sharing
What Lesskeys does not do that Sonix does
Lesskeys has no web editor or share links.
- No storage, video or publishing integrations
- No output in other languages
- No browser or phone access
It is one person on one computer. The transcripts live on the computer that made them. Whisper can get names and rare words wrong.
Switching
Test it on one file first
Save what you need from Sonix first.
Its pricing page lists DOCX, PDF and TXT, and subtitle files. There is nothing to import into Lesskeys.
Tell the people you record; some places require everyone's consent.
Questions
Questions about Sonix and Lesskeys
Is there a Sonix alternative that does not upload my files?
Yes. Lesskeys transcribes on your own computer with Whisper models, so the file is never uploaded. You can test it: disconnect from the internet and transcribe a file.
How does the cost compare with Sonix's hourly billing?
Sonix bills by the hour of audio, with plans that bundle hours; its dated figures are in the table. Lesskeys has no subscription and no hourly charge, because the transcription runs on hardware you already own.
Can Lesskeys turn transcripts into other languages the way Sonix can?
No. Lesskeys writes the speech in the language it was spoken, in 99 languages. If you need other languages as output, Sonix covers that and Lesskeys does not.
What do I need to run Lesskeys instead of Sonix?
A Mac with macOS 13 or later on Apple Silicon (M1 or newer), or a Windows 10 or 11 PC. There is no web version.
More