Simple, transparent pricing
Start free. Stay free. Upgrade when you need more — no cloud, no recording, no surprises.
Try BarnOwl
Try BarnOwl in real meetings — no credit card, no account, no cloud. Everything stays on your machine from day one.
- Real-time speech-to-text
- 100% local — nothing leaves your device
- No audio recording at any point
- NDA and confidentiality safe
- Plain text export
- Works offline, no internet needed
- 10 sessions maximum
- 1 hour per session limit
Founding Circle
For the first members who shape BarnOwl. Half the Pro price for life, direct access to the founder, and the ability to vote on every feature.
- Everything in Free Trial — no session or time limits
- Unlimited sessions, unlimited session length
- Lifetime 50% off Pro ($10 vs $19)
- Direct email to founder — 24hr response
- Shape what gets built next — review and vote on every new feature before anyone else
- Name listed on the BarnOwl Founding Members page — contributors recognised individually
Pro
Everything in the Free Trial — with no limits and advanced features built entirely on your machine. No cloud. No recording. No exceptions.
- Everything in Free Trial — no session or time limits
- Unlimited sessions, unlimited session length
- Speaker labelling
- Advanced features coming — details announced to Founding Circle first
What's included
| Feature | Free | Founding Circle | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real-time transcription | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 100% local — no cloud | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No audio recording | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NDA & confidentiality safe | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plain text export | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Works offline | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Session limit | 10 sessions · 1hr each | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Feature voting & founder access | — | ✓ | — |
| Price | Free | $5/mo → $10/mo for life | $19/mo |
Common questions
Is the free trial really free — no catch?
Yes. Your free trial gives you 10 full sessions — up to 1 hour each — with no credit card required. Everything runs locally on your machine from the first second. When your trial ends, the app will let you know it's time to upgrade to Pro. No automatic charges, no surprises.
What makes the Founding Circle worth it?
You start at $5/month for the first 6 months, then $10/month for life — regardless of what Pro costs in the future. If Pro goes to $29 or $39 as features grow, you pay $10. Plus you shape what gets built — this is not a marketing list, it's a product council.
How many Founding Circle spots are there?
The Founding Circle is intentionally small — a limited group of early members who directly shape the product. Once spots are filled, the rate closes permanently. Apply early if you want in.
When is Pro launching?
Pro is in active development. Founding Circle members get first access and influence over which features ship first. No public launch date yet.
Does BarnOwl send any data to the cloud — even on Pro?
No. Every tier — Free, Founding Circle, and Pro — runs 100% locally on your Windows machine. No audio is ever recorded or transmitted. The AI features in Pro also run on-device.
Can I cancel the Founding Circle?
Yes, cancel anytime month-to-month. First 30 days are fully refunded. If you cancel, the lifetime rate does not carry over if you rejoin later.