Both justREC and tl;dv are popular options for capturing meeting details, but they target very different user workflows and security requirements.
tl;dv is a cloud-based video-first meeting recorder, while justREC is a local-first utility built specifically for macOS privacy, supporting local audio/video recording, Bring-Your-Own-Key (BYOK) AI, and an on-device tasks workspace.
This comparison outlines the key differences between justREC and tl;dv to help you decide which fits your workflow.
Detailed Comparison Table
| Feature | tl;dv | justREC |
|---|---|---|
| Media Type | Video & Screen Share Recording | Video & Audio (Lifetime) / Audio-only (Free) |
| Data Privacy | Cloud hosting (AWS) | 100% Local-first (your Mac) |
| Meeting Bot | Visible calendar bot participant | No bots. Silent system recording |
| AI Processing | Pre-configured tl;dv cloud AI | Bring-Your-Own-Key (BYOK) OpenAI / Anthropic / Gemini |
| Tasks & Action Items | Basic notes panel | Integrated local Tasks Workspace + meeting tabs |
| Pricing Model | $20 - $25/month per user (Pro) | Free + One-time Lifetime Unlock ($49) |
| Account System | Cloud account signup required | No cloud account or email required |
| Offline Recording | No (requires active web conference) | Yes (works offline for local video and audio) |
| Storage Limits | Tiered cloud storage limits | Unlimited (restricted only by your Mac's drive) |
Key Differences Explained
1. Cloud Video Hosting vs. Local Video & Audio Recording
- tl;dv is built around cloud-first video capture. It records the full video screen share and camera feeds of Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams calls and uploads them to their databases.
- justREC records audio on the Free tier and supports full screen or application window recording locally on your Mac on the Lifetime tier. You get the same visual context (video + audio) without the security risks of uploading meeting logs to external servers.
2. Meeting Bots vs. Silent Local Capture
- tl;dv requires an automated calendar bot to join your meetings as a participant. Many corporate firewalls block external recording bots, and clients or job candidates can feel uncomfortable when a recording bot appears on the roster.
- justREC records audio and screen video directly at the macOS level. There are no bots, and the recording happens silently and locally on your computer.
3. Subscription SaaS vs. BYOK (Bring-Your-Own-Key)
- tl;dv relies on a monthly subscription model to cover video hosting and cloud transcription processing.
- justREC is free to try, and offers a single, one-time lifetime license unlock of $49. By connecting your own API developer keys (BYOK), you pay the raw token costs directly to providers (e.g., under $0.05/hour with Gemini 1.5 Flash), completely eliminating recurring monthly bills.
4. Built-in Local Tasks Workspace
- tl;dv displays meeting notes in a web panel, but lacks a centralized, offline project management space.
- justREC automatically syncs meeting action items into a local Tasks Workspace and a per-meeting tasks tab, keeping you organized without sending items to a cloud provider.
Honest Recommendation: Which Should You Choose?
Choose tl;dv if:
- You need cloud video streaming and link sharing: You want a web-based dashboard where you can stream recordings and share links instantly.
- You want automatic calendar-based capture: You want a bot to join and record calls automatically in the background.
- You want collaborative cloud clip-sharing: You want to highlight specific video clips and share web links with your team.
Choose justREC if:
- Confidentiality and GDPR/NDA compliance are essential: You record sensitive proprietary info, hiring screens, or medical/legal consults that must never leave your local Mac.
- You want a bot-free meeting experience: You do not want automated recording bots joining your Zoom or Meet participant rosters.
- You want local video & audio capture with no subscriptions: You prefer a one-time utility purchase ($49 Lifetime unlock) and cheap pay-as-you-go developer API pricing.
- You want a local Tasks workspace: You want action items automatically synced to a local workspace and per-meeting tasks tab without external SaaS tools.
- You want local file management: You want your meeting transcripts stored in clean Markdown, PDF, or DOCX formats in your local directories (ideal for Obsidian, Logseq, or Finder).