If you want meeting notes without cloud processing of your audio or transcripts, lilKiTTY offers encrypted on-device audio and on-device transcription after saving.[12] Fireflies.ai offers a meeting bot, but it also has bot-free capture options.[1][2] Calling this simply "bot versus no bot" would miss the more useful difference: where the conversation is processed and what is kept afterward.
This comparison is written by lilMONSTER, the maker of lilKiTTY, not an independent review site. It covers lilKiTTY 1.8.1 and Fireflies documentation researched on 17 October 2026. We have not run a head-to-head accuracy test. Fireflies statements below describe its published features and policies, not an independent security audit. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Fireflies.ai.
Quick comparison
The table separates capture from processing. Removing a meeting bot does not, by itself, make transcription local.
| Question | lilKiTTY 1.8.1 | Fireflies.ai, documented 17 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| How is audio captured? | Records meetings and voice notes on your device.[12] | Meeting bot, bot-free Chrome extension, and bot-free Mac/Windows desktop capture.[1][2] |
| Where is it processed? | On-device transcription; no cloud processing of audio or transcripts.[12] | Cloud processing; the default storage and processing location is US infrastructure.[3] |
| Is audio retained? | Encrypted on-device audio; trash has 30-day retention.[12] | Recording retention depends on capture mode. Bot-free desktop system-audio mode saves transcripts and summaries, but no separate audio/video files.[2][3] |
| Is an app account needed? | No account.[12] | Account-based workspace.[4] |
| What Apple options are documented here? | iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, including instant Watch capture.[12] | Mac desktop capture is documented; a first-party Watch app was not verified in this research.[2] |
"Not verified" is an evidence limit, not a claim that a feature does not exist. We are comparing documented workflows, not awarding an overall winner.
A meeting bot and on-device recording solve different problems
When a bot is a useful choice
Fireflies offers a meeting-bot workflow alongside its other capture methods.[1] If your organisation has approved that workflow, it is reasonable to keep using it. The decision should include its processing and retention arrangements, not just whether another participant appears in the meeting.
Fireflies is also worth considering if you need Windows desktop capture or a Chrome capture route, both documented in its current feature set.[1][2] Those are concrete reasons to choose it rather than change your working setup for a different app.
What lilKiTTY keeps on your device
lilKiTTY records meetings and voice notes with encrypted on-device audio. Transcription runs on-device after save, with a live transcript on iOS 26 and later.[12] That lets you choose a recording workflow without cloud processing of the audio or transcript.[12]
For organising what you captured, lilKiTTY has meeting templates, related meetings, folders and saved questions. Apple Intelligence titles and enhancement are available where supported. Tasks, reminders and calendar events are created only when you confirm.[12]
These facts are not a promise that every calling app, headset or audio-routing setup will work identically. Check your intended capture setup before relying on any recorder for an important conversation.
Fireflies can record without a bot, too
Fireflies documents bot-free system-audio capture on Mac and Windows.[2] Its desktop guide says this mode produces transcripts and summaries without saving separate audio or video files.[2] That is a meaningful distinction if retaining a recording matters to you.
It is still not an on-device-only processing workflow: Fireflies documents cloud processing of meeting data.[3] "Bot-free," "no saved audio file" and "no cloud processing" describe different things. Ask which one you actually need.
Privacy means checking processing and retention separately
Fireflies says meeting audio, video, transcripts and summaries do not train its internal or external AI models.[4] That commitment deserves to be included in a fair comparison. Its privacy policy says business-customer User Content is governed by separate agreements, so review those terms for your organisation's use.[4] Cloud processing is not the same claim as permission to train on your meeting.
Fireflies also documents storage of meeting content and derivatives. Its default infrastructure is in the US; Enterprise private-storage options change storage arrangements, but its guide says EU-stored data is still processed in the US.[3] A storage location alone therefore does not describe the whole processing path.
lilKiTTY has no account, no cloud processing of audio or transcripts, and no analytics.[12] Its trash retains items for 30 days.[12] If you need a particular retention schedule, account for that period rather than assuming moving something to trash means immediate permanent deletion.
Neither architecture decides who should receive your notes. Review the content before sharing it, limit recipients, and agree when the record is no longer needed. Local processing does not remove duties around accuracy, retention or disclosure.[11]
Recording consent: ask before capture starts
Our conservative recommendation is to explain the recording and ask everyone involved before recording or transcribing. If someone objects, stop and use ordinary notes. This is a house rule for respectful capture, not a claim that every country requires unanimous consent in every situation.
Microphone permission on your device is not other people's permission. Nor does the absence of a bot make an undisclosed recording acceptable under applicable rules.[6][9]
A practical consent checklist
Before starting:
- Explain the purpose, including whether you need audio, a transcript, or both.
- Say whether processing stays on-device or uses a named cloud service, and describe any AI enhancement you intend to use.
- Name the intended recipients and explain the retention period.
- Ask for agreement without pressuring anyone. Keep an appropriate written record of that agreement.
- Offer an unrecorded alternative and check workplace policy.
You could say: "I'd like to record this meeting and make a transcript for our project notes. Here's where it will be processed, who will receive it, and when we plan to delete it. Is everyone comfortable with that? We can use ordinary notes instead."
Adjust that wording to your actual setup. Do not promise local-only processing if your chosen workflow sends content to a provider.
Laws and workplace duties still apply
US recording rules vary by state and communication type. For cross-state meetings, do not assume your own state's rule settles the question.[6] Germany separately restricts unauthorised recording of another person's non-public speech.[7]
Australia has differing state and territory rules. The OAIC's AI guidance discusses meeting minutes and recommends seeking consent as best practice because sensitive information can arise unexpectedly.[8] UK ICO guidance requires transparency around workplace call monitoring and says routine recording of every call is not normally proportionate.[9]
For professional processing under the GDPR, permission to record and a lawful basis for processing are separate questions. Consent is one possible basis, not the only one.[10] Get jurisdiction-specific advice for sensitive, employment or cross-border uses. This section is practical guidance, not legal advice or a compliance certification.
Who should pick which
Choose lilKiTTY if you use Apple devices and prioritise encrypted on-device audio, local transcription and actions that wait for your confirmation.[12]
Choose Fireflies if Windows or Chrome capture matters to your workflow.[1][2] It also documents a broad transcription-language catalogue; that may make it the better candidate when a specific language is essential, though you should verify that language and mode before committing.[5] We have no like-for-like language or accuracy benchmark establishing lilKiTTY as better.
If your existing Fireflies setup meets your needs and your organisation's requirements, there is no reason to switch just because another app avoids a bot. Fireflies offers bot-free capture too.[1][2]
FAQ
Does Fireflies.ai always send a bot into meetings?
No. It also offers a bot-free Chrome extension and bot-free Mac/Windows desktop capture.[1][2] Bot-free capture should not be confused with on-device-only processing.[3]
Does lilKiTTY send recordings to the cloud for transcription?
No. lilKiTTY's verified release facts specify on-device transcription and no cloud processing of audio or transcripts.[12]
Does Fireflies keep an audio recording in every mode?
No. Its bot-free desktop system-audio guide says that mode saves transcripts and summaries but no separate audio/video files.[2] Check retention for the particular capture mode you intend to use.
Should I ask permission if recording stays on my device?
Yes, as a conservative practice: explain the capture, ask everyone involved, and offer ordinary notes. Local processing is not a recording-law exemption.[6][7] Applicable legal requirements depend on the situation.
Which app transcribes more accurately?
This comparison cannot establish that. We have not tested both against the same authorised audio, language and recording conditions. Do not treat a feature list as an accuracy result.
Sources
[1] Fireflies.ai pricing and capture options. Fetched with curl and checked 2026-10-17.
[2] Fireflies.ai bot-free desktop recording guide. Fetched with curl and checked 2026-10-17.
[3] Fireflies.ai data storage and transfer. Fetched with curl and checked 2026-10-17.
[4] Fireflies.ai privacy policy. Fetched with curl and checked 2026-10-17.
[5] Fireflies.ai supported languages. Fetched with curl and checked 2026-10-17.
[6] RCFP introduction to recording law. Fetched with curl and checked 2026-10-17.
[7] Germany, Criminal Code section 201. Fetched with curl and checked 2026-10-17.
[8] OAIC guidance on commercially available AI products. Fetched with curl and checked 2026-10-17.
[9] ICO guidance on worker monitoring and call recording. Fetched with curl and checked 2026-10-17.
[10] GDPR Article 6, readable reproduction. Fetched with curl and checked 2026-10-17.
[11] GDPR Article 5, readable reproduction. Fetched with curl and checked 2026-10-17.
[12] https:/