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Productivity · head to head

iA Writer vs MeetGeek

iA Writer logo

iA Writer

Productivity

Distraction-free markdown writer with powerful focus mode

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MeetGeek logo

MeetGeek

Productivity

AI meeting recording, transcription and summaries with published per-seat pricing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: iA Writer pricing varies by platform: Windows $29.99 while Mac/iPhone/iPad cost $49.99, creating $20 premium for Apple platforms; MeetGeek the free tier is capped at three hours of transcription a month and one month of audio retention, which is a demonstration rather than a working allowance, and the retention limit deletes evidence just as it becomes useful.
  • They diverge on capability: iA Writer covers Distraction-free writing, MeetGeek covers Automatic meeting join.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iA Writer and MeetGeek actually diverge.

Attributes where iA Writer and MeetGeek differ
AttributeiA WriterMeetGeek
Pricing modelone-timePer user per month
PlatformsMacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Android, WebWeb, iOS, Android
Founded2008Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in iA Writer

  • Distraction-free writing
  • Markdown editing
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Dark and light themes
  • Cross-platform sync
  • Typewriter mode
  • Focus mode
  • Statistics

Only in MeetGeek

  • Automatic meeting join
  • Transcription
  • AI summaries and action items
  • Highlight clips
  • Team workspace
  • Published retention tiers
  • CRM and task sync
  • Enterprise controls

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

iA Writer

  • Distraction-free writing and note-taking applicationnot MeetGeek
  • Markdown document creation and editingnot MeetGeek
  • Cross-platform writing with iPad, iPhone, Mac, and Windows supportnot MeetGeek

MeetGeek

  • A sales team that needs every discovery call summarised into the CRM record automatically so a handover does not depend on whoever took notes.not iA Writer
  • An agency that must be able to show a client exactly what was agreed on a call six months ago, where transcript retention length is the deciding feature.not iA Writer
  • A recruitment team running many first-stage interviews who want structured summaries and highlight clips to share with a hiring manager instead of a full recording.not iA Writer
  • A distributed team where people miss calls across time zones and need a searchable record rather than a recording nobody watches.not iA Writer

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

iA Writer

  • Pricing varies by platform: Windows $29.99 while Mac/iPhone/iPad cost $49.99, creating $20 premium for Apple platforms
  • One-time purchase model means major version updates may require additional payment beyond initial purchase
  • Update schedule uncertain, making it unclear when new versions become available and whether paid upgrades will be required

MeetGeek

  • The free tier is capped at three hours of transcription a month and one month of audio retention, which is a demonstration rather than a working allowance, and the retention limit deletes evidence just as it becomes useful.
  • Pro is capped at 20 hours a month, so anyone in back-to-back meetings hits the ceiling in the first fortnight and is pushed to the Business tier regardless of team size.
  • A visible assistant joins the call, which changes how candidly people speak, and in jurisdictions with two-party consent rules it creates a legal obligation the buyer, not the vendor, has to manage.
  • Summaries are machine-generated and will misattribute statements in overlapping speech, so they should never be treated as an authoritative record of a contentious discussion.
  • It is a smaller company than the dominant players in this category, so the integration catalogue is narrower and there is less enterprise procurement, security review and audit history to lean on.

Pricing, plan by plan

iA Writer

Free
  • Free TrialFree
    • 7-day free trial
    • Mac and Windows
    • No credit card required
  • Windows$29.99/one-time
    • One-time purchase
    • Own it forever
    • No subscription fees
  • Mac$49.99/one-time
    • One-time purchase
    • Own it forever
    • No subscription fees
  • iPhone & iPad$49.99/one-time
    • One-time purchase via App Store
    • Own it forever
    • No subscription fees

MeetGeek

Free
  • BasicFree
    • 3 hours of transcription per month
    • 3 months transcript storage
    • 1 month audio storage
  • Pro$9.99/month
    • 20 hours of transcription per month
    • 1 year transcript storage
    • 6 months audio storage
  • Business$17/month
    • Unlimited transcription
    • Unlimited transcript storage
    • 12 months video storage
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited transcription and storage
    • Custom video retention
    • Single sign-on and SCIM

Which should you pick?

Choose iA Writer if

  • You need distraction-free writing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want markdown editing.
iA Writer review

Choose MeetGeek if

  • You need automatic meeting join.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want transcription.
MeetGeek review

Questions people ask

Is iA Writer or MeetGeek better?
Neither clearly leads. iA Writer starts at Free and MeetGeek at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iA Writer or MeetGeek?
iA Writer starts at Free and MeetGeek at Free.
Does iA Writer or MeetGeek run on more platforms?
iA Writer runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Android, Web. MeetGeek runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use iA Writer for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is iA Writer best used for?
iA Writer is most often used for distraction-free writing and note-taking application, markdown document creation and editing, cross-platform writing with ipad, iphone, mac, and windows support. Of those, distraction-free writing and note-taking application and markdown document creation and editing are not what MeetGeek is typically brought in for.
What can iA Writer do that MeetGeek cannot?
iA Writer covers Distraction-free writing, Markdown editing, Syntax highlighting, Dark and light themes. MeetGeek covers Automatic meeting join, Transcription, AI summaries and action items, Highlight clips.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

iA Writer: How much does iA Writer cost?

iA Writer costs $29.99 one-time for Windows, $49.99 one-time for Mac, and $49.99 one-time for iPhone & iPad. A 7-day free trial is available with no credit card required.

Source
MeetGeek: How long are recordings kept?

It depends on the plan: 1 month of audio on free, 6 months on Pro, 12 months of video on Business, and custom on Enterprise. Transcripts last longer than media on every tier.

iA Writer: What is iA Writer's licensing model?

iA Writer uses a one-time purchase model where customers pay once per platform and own the software forever with no subscription required, though major updates may require additional payment.

Source
MeetGeek: Is there a real free plan?

Yes, but only 3 hours of transcription a month with 1 month of audio retention, which is a trial in practice.

iA Writer: Do minor updates cost extra for iA Writer?

Minor updates are included with the one-time purchase, while major updates may require additional payment. The update schedule is uncertain.

Source
MeetGeek: Which meeting platforms does it join?

Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, from a connected calendar.

iA Writer: Are there educational discounts for iA Writer?

Educational customers receive a 20% discount on Mac and Windows purchases made directly from iA, equaling approximately $39.99 for Mac and $23.99 for Windows.

Source
MeetGeek: Do participants know it is recording?

Yes, the assistant appears as a participant. Consent handling under local recording law remains the customer's responsibility.

MeetGeek: What is the transcription cap on Pro?

20 hours per month. Unlimited transcription starts on the Business plan at 17 US dollars per user per month.

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