Parrot
Parrot records and transcribes Mac calls, offers document-grounded suggestions while people talk, and creates linked reports afterward. It is for professionals who want live call support and meeting recall on macOS.
One of 45 tools in Transcription
Who it's for
- Sales teams running discovery calls who want live prompts about objections and buying signals, plus post-call coaching.
- Interviewers who want a profile tailored to interviews and reports about candidates.
- Mac users handling client or partner calls who want local recording, document-grounded answers, and searchable meeting history.
Not the right fit if…
- Teams using Windows or Linux: the page says Parrot has no Windows or Linux version.
- People without a Mac on macOS 14 or later with Apple Silicon: these are the stated download requirements.
How it fits your workflow
Download Parrot, choose a privacy setup, allow system-audio and microphone access, and optionally add PDFs, text files, or Markdown documents. Choose a call profile or configure a custom one.
Start or join a call in an app such as Zoom, Meet, or Teams. Parrot records what the Mac plays and hears; it does not join the meeting. During the call, the copilot can suggest answers from documents and show prompts.
After the call, review the transcript and report, follow source-linked points back to their transcript moments, and search past meetings. Local models keep processing on the Mac; selected cloud providers receive the data described for those features.
Pricing
Free: The app is free and open source, with no paid plan. Local models can be used without per-call provider charges after their initial download; cloud providers may charge for usage.
Parrot
Free; open source under GPL-3.0, with no paid plan.
- · macOS app with recording, transcription, copilot, and meeting reports
- · Local processing options using Whisper and Ollama
- · No account required
Use your own provider keys
No Parrot plan charge is stated. Users pay the selected AI or transcription providers directly; the page describes cloud usage as usually a few cents per hour.
- · Connect supported AI and transcription providers using the user's own keys
- · Provider requests go directly from the Mac to the selected provider
Prices checked on Oct 1, 2026 from the vendor's site. They can change; confirm before you buy.
Key features
- Live meeting copilot
- Provides suggestions and prompts during a call, including answers based on the user's documents and optional live nudges.
- Local document knowledge base
- Indexes PDFs, text files, and Markdown files on the Mac. Copilot cards cite whether an answer came from a document or general knowledge.
- Recording and transcription
- Records sound that the Mac already plays and hears, without adding a bot to the meeting. Transcription can run locally with Whisper or use supported cloud providers.
- Call profiles and reports
- Offers seven built-in profiles and custom profiles that define what the copilot watches for and how the post-call report is written.
- Speaker identification
- Separates voices on the Mac, lets users name speakers, and can remember voiceprints locally for later calls.
- Search across past calls
- Lets users ask questions about previous meetings, with answers linked to relevant transcript moments.
Works with
- Claude, OpenAI, Gemini, Groq, OpenRouter, LM Studio, and Ollama
- Whisper, Parakeet, Groq, and Deepgram
- Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex
- Obsidian
- Reminders
- Zapier and Make
- Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams
Limitations to know
- Cloud AI and transcription usage can incur charges from the providers, which users pay directly.
- Audio is sent outside the Mac if Groq or Deepgram is selected for transcription.
Alternatives to consider
-
ParakeetAI
Choose it if you want a real-time call assistant that also offers mock interviews, interview questions, resume tools, and AI headshots.
-
VoiceCap
Choose it if you need a team-oriented notetaker that can record in-room meetings or join online calls and store data in the EU.
-
StageWhisper Lite
Choose it if local transcripts, summaries, and action items without uploading audio or screen content are the priority over Parrot's live copilot.
Getting started
macOS 14 or later on Apple Silicon.
- Download the signed macOS app and choose Private, Balanced, or Cloud on first launch.
- Allow system-audio and microphone permissions using the onboarding tour.
- Add documents or select a call profile if desired.
- Start a call and accept the recording prompt, or start recording manually.
Frequently asked questions
Does a bot join my meeting?
No. Parrot records the sound your Mac already plays and hears, so it does not join the call or appear in the participant list.
Is Parrot free?
Yes. Parrot is free and open source under GPL-3.0, with no account or paid plan. If you use your own keys for cloud AI, you pay those providers directly.
Which Macs does Parrot run on?
The download requires macOS 14 or later on Apple Silicon, such as an M1 or newer. The page says there is no Windows or Linux version.
Does audio leave my Mac?
Not unless you choose a setup that sends it. Audio is sent out only if you select Groq or Deepgram for transcription. The live copilot sends transcript text, not audio, to the AI provider you choose.
Does Parrot work offline?
Yes, when using Whisper for transcription and Ollama for the copilot. The page says an internet connection is needed once to download the models.
Can I search my past calls?
Yes. You can ask Parrot about past calls and get answers linked to relevant moments. With Ollama the search stays on the Mac; with cloud AI, a few matching excerpts may be sent to write the answer.
Does Parrot work with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams?
Yes. It works with those apps and other sources of sound the Mac can hear, including a phone on speaker. Parrot does not connect to the meeting app itself.