Can You Use Fireflies.ai Without Internet?
No, Fireflies.ai does not work offline. Fireflies is a cloud-based meeting assistant that works by sending its bot (Fred) into your calls. Every recording is uploaded to Fireflies' servers for transcription and AI processing. This means:
- No WiFi = no transcription. In a room with poor connectivity, on a plane, or anywhere offline, Fireflies simply won't work.
- A bot joins your meeting. Fireflies' core workflow relies on a visible bot joining the call — not ideal for sensitive or external conversations.
- Your audio goes to the cloud. Even in-person recordings from the mobile app are uploaded to Fireflies' servers, which has privacy implications.
This is by design — Fireflies' AI runs on their servers, not on your device. There's no offline mode, no local processing option, and no way to transcribe without internet.
Fireflies.ai Free Plan Limits in 2026
Beyond the offline limitation, Fireflies.ai's free plan comes with significant restrictions:
| Limit | Fireflies Free | Inscribe Free |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 800 min/seat | Unlimited (on your device) |
| AI summaries & Q&A | 20 one-time credits | Unlimited |
| Offline support | No | Yes — 100% offline |
| Meeting bot required | Yes (Fred joins the call) | No bot — records on-device |
| Cloud upload required | Yes | No — on-device only |
| Account required | Yes | No |
The Best Offline Alternative: Inscribe
If you need transcription that works without internet — and without a bot announcing itself in your meeting — Inscribe is the solution. It uses Apple Intelligence to run AI models directly on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. No servers, no bot, no upload.
Why Inscribe Works Offline (and Fireflies Doesn't)
The difference comes down to architecture:
- Fireflies.ai sends a bot into your call, streams the audio to remote servers, processes it with cloud AI, and sends results back. This requires internet at every step.
- Inscribe runs AI models locally on your Apple device using Apple Intelligence. The entire pipeline — recording, transcription, summaries, and Q&A — happens on-device.
This means Inscribe works identically whether you're online or offline. Same accuracy, same speed, same features. No degradation, and nothing leaves your device.
Inscribe vs Fireflies.ai: Pricing Comparison (2026)
| Fireflies Free | 800 min storage/seat, 20 AI credits, requires internet + bot |
| Fireflies Pro | $10/user/month (annual) or $18/month |
| Fireflies Business | $19/user/month (annual) |
| Inscribe Free | Unlimited on-device recording, no bot, no account |
| Inscribe Monthly | $9.99/month |
| Inscribe Lifetime | $29.99 one-time (pays for itself in ~3 months vs Fireflies Pro) |
Who Should Use Inscribe Instead of Fireflies.ai?
- Consultants and salespeople who can't put a recording bot in client calls
- Professionals who transcribe confidential meetings and can't risk cloud uploads
- Anyone recording in-person meetings where there's no call for a bot to join
- Journalists who need source protection and field transcription
- Healthcare workers who need HIPAA-friendly transcription
- Frequent travelers who need transcription on planes or abroad
Try Inscribe Free
100% offline transcription with unlimited recording. No meeting bot, no account, no cloud upload. Works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Download Inscribe FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Does Fireflies.ai work offline?
No. Fireflies.ai requires an active internet connection for all transcription. Its meeting bot streams audio to Fireflies' cloud servers for processing. Without WiFi or cellular data, you cannot transcribe.
Can I use Fireflies without a bot joining the call?
Not for live meetings. Fireflies' workflow depends on its Fred bot joining the call to record it. For bot-free transcription, you need an on-device app like Inscribe.
What are Fireflies.ai's free plan limits?
As of 2026, the free plan includes 800 minutes of storage per seat and a one-time pool of 20 AI credits, with no video recording and limited AI summaries. Internet is required at all times.
Is there an offline transcription app?
Yes. Inscribe transcribes audio 100% offline using on-device AI on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. No internet connection is needed, no bot joins your meeting, and your audio never leaves your device.
How does Inscribe compare to Fireflies.ai overall?
Both deliver AI summaries and meeting Q&A, but Inscribe runs entirely on-device while Fireflies is cloud-only. For a detailed feature-by-feature look, see our full Inscribe vs Fireflies.ai comparison.