Side by side
Phrase vs Zim
Both stand on note-taking apps. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan iPhoneMac
Phrase combines Apple-device recording with multilingual transcription and editable notes. Its free plan is limited, and call audio must be imported rather than captured inside meeting apps.
Visit Phrase Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Choose Zim for a free desktop notebook built around linked pages, offline use, and plain-text storage. Look elsewhere if you need shared real-time editing or native notebook encryption and password protection.
Visit ZimThe facts
| Phrase | Zim | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | iPhone, Mac | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Phrase Pro Yearly: $129 a year | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 5 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | phrase.so | zim-wiki.org |
| On note-taking apps | #84 of 216 | #88 of 216 |
Phrase: what it does well
- Records with iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch microphones
- Transcribes more than 100 languages with speaker labels
- Imports audio, video, PDFs, and photos
- Editable notes support headings, code, formulas, and diagrams
- Free plan includes up to 100 notes
What to know first
- Does not join Zoom, Teams, or FaceTime calls
- Recordings are uploaded for cloud processing
- Native PowerPoint .pptx export is unavailable
- Free plan allows one recording-to-note conversion
Zim: what it does well
- Works offline on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Automatically saves pages and restores the last position.
- Hierarchical pages include backlinks to referring pages.
- Exports notebooks to four formats.
- Includes plugins for spelling, equations, tasks, search, and version control.
What to know first
- Designed for one user rather than shared notebook editing.
- No built-in encryption or password protection.
- The listed Windows installer supports only 64-bit Windows 11.
- The listed macOS app supports Big Sur through Sequoia.