Both justREC and Tactiq help you transcribe and summarize online meetings. However, their technical execution is completely different: Tactiq is a web browser extension that scrapes live captions, while justREC is a native macOS application that records system audio directly.
This comparison guide highlights the key differences to help you choose the right transcription tool.
Detailed Comparison Table
| Feature | Tactiq | justREC |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Design | Web browser extension (Chrome / Edge) | Native macOS application (menu bar utility) |
| Input Source | Live closed captions generated on the web page | Direct microphone + system audio output |
| Audio File Recorded | None (Tactiq only stores the scraped text) | Yes (high-quality .m4a / .mp4 audio saved locally) |
| Supported Apps | Google Meet Web, Zoom Web, Teams Web | Zoom App, Teams App, Slack, Skype, Webex, local files |
| Data Storage | Tactiq Cloud dashboard | 100% local directories on your Mac (Inbox & Projects) |
| Summarization Engine | Managed cloud GPT integrations | BYOK (Use your own OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini keys) |
| Pricing Model | $12 - $20 / month subscription | Free version + $49 lifetime unlock |
Key Differences Explained
1. Browser Captions vs. Native System Audio
- Tactiq does not record audio. Instead, it reads the live closed-captions text generated on the screen during a Google Meet, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams web call. This means closed captions must be turned on, and you rely entirely on the platform's real-time captioning engine (which is prone to errors, especially with accents or technical terminology).
- justREC records the actual raw audio of your microphone and the other participants (system audio) using native macOS APIs. It then transcribes the audio using advanced models (like OpenAI Whisper or Google Gemini 1.5 Flash). You get an incredibly accurate transcript and a physical audio file you can play back at any time.
2. Desktop App Compatibility
- Tactiq is confined to your web browser. If your client sends you a Zoom link that launches the native Zoom desktop app, or if you use the native Microsoft Teams or Slack app, Tactiq cannot capture the conversation.
- justREC runs globally on your Mac. It records speaker output and microphone input directly from the macOS audio subsystem. It works seamlessly with any desktop application, web page, or local media file.
3. Lifetime License & BYOK Economy
- Tactiq restricts free users to a small number of credits per month and requires a recurring subscription for unlimited transcripts and summaries.
- justREC is built on a Bring-Your-Own-Key (BYOK) model. You pay a one-time fee of $49 to unlock the lifetime license, and use your own API keys. Since you pay the raw API prices directly (under $0.15 per hour for Whisper and $0.015 per hour for Gemini 1.5 Flash), you avoid the markup of monthly SaaS plans.
Honest Recommendation: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Tactiq if:
- You only use web-browser meetings: All your meetings are on Google Meet or Zoom Web, and you always use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
- You want live on-screen transcripts: You want to see the transcription text scrolling in real-time on your screen during the call.
- You don't want audio files on your disk: You prefer not to store audio recordings on your local drive and only care about saving the text.
Choose justREC if:
- You use native desktop apps: You regularly use native macOS apps like Zoom, MS Teams, Skype, or Slack.
- You want the raw audio saved: You need the actual audio recording (
.m4a) alongside the transcript for verification and record-keeping. - You demand maximum privacy: You don't want your transcripts sent to a third-party startup's database. With justREC, your files stay on your Mac.