Comu vs TicNote comes down to how many transcription minutes the device plan gives you. Comu Note Pro is $128.99 on the Comu US store and its plan transcribes in real time with no monthly minute cap. The TicNote AI Voice Recorder is $128.99 on ticnote.ai's product page and includes 600 free minutes a month (checked Nov 13, 2026).
Comu makes Comu Note Pro and Comu Action Pro. If you record more than 10 hours a month and want to know what that costs on each side, skip to the 1-year and 2-year cost table. If you want the Comu side in one place, skip to Comu AI.
Comu vs TicNote: how do the recorders compare?
Comu Note Pro and the TicNote AI Voice Recorder are both card-sized recorders, and Comu Action Pro is the larger Comu recorder with six microphones. The table puts Comu first and gives each vendor's own figures (checked Nov 13, 2026).
| Spec | Comu Note Pro | Comu Action Pro | TicNote AI Voice Recorder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $128.99 (regular $158.99) | $169.99 (regular $256.99) | $128.99 on the ticnote.ai product page |
| Size | 85.7 x 51.7 x 3.1 mm | 91 x 60 x 5.5 mm | 86.1 x 55.1 x 3 mm (3.39 x 2.17 x 0.118 in) |
| Case material | Aluminum alloy | ABS and PC plastic | Aluminum case |
| Microphones | 2 MEMS and 1 VPU (bone conduction) | 6: 4 omnidirectional MEMS, 1 directional MEMS, 1 bone conduction | 3 MEMS microphones, an air-conduction mic for the room and a vibration sensor for call audio |
| Pickup | 5 m indoor | 7 m indoor | 10 m recording range |
| Continuous recording | 45 hours | Up to 70 hours | 25 hours |
| Battery | 400 mAh | 1,000 mAh | 470 mAh |
| Storage | 16 GB, about 500 hours at 32 kbps | 16 GB, about 1,000 hours at 16 kbps | 64 GB, up to 434 hours |
| Display | 0.78-inch monochrome | 0.95-inch color OLED | OLED |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 BLE, Wi-Fi 6, USB 2.0 | Bluetooth 6.1, Wi-Fi 6, USB-C 2.0 | BLE, Wi-Fi, cable |
| Languages | 113 | 113 | Live transcription in 17 languages |
| Free transcription with the device | Unlimited real-time transcription | Unlimited real-time transcription | 600 minutes a month |
Comu Action Pro also has an AI key and a built-in magnet. TicNote's line includes TicNote Lite, TicNote Pods earbuds and TicNote Watch.
How much does the TicNote recorder cost next to Comu?
TicNote's pages show three different prices for the TicNote AI Voice Recorder on Nov 13, 2026: $128.99, $119.99 and $159.99. TicNote's pricing page says: "Final price shown on the purchase page shall prevail."
| TicNote AI Voice Recorder price | Where TicNote shows it |
|---|---|
| $128.99 (struck price $179.99) | ticnote.ai product page |
| $119.99 (compare-at $179.99) | ticnote.ai product feed |
| $159.99 | ticnote.com/pricing |
| From $128.99 | ticnote.ai collection page |
Comu's prices are the Comu US store prices on Nov 13, 2026: Comu Action Pro $169.99 (regular $256.99) and Comu Note Pro $128.99 (regular $158.99). The Comu US store prices are promotion prices.
TicNote's Black Friday runs Nov 12 through Nov 30, 2026, and its blog advertises savings of up to $130 on a single item and a further discount when you buy 2 or more items. Its Black Friday page adds a free 3-month Pro plan with 1,500 minutes and an extra 18% off 2 or more items. Comu's Mega Black Friday Sale runs Nov 10 through Dec 7, 2026 (PT), with Early Access Nov 10 to 19, Black Friday Nov 20 to 29 and Cyber Monday Nov 30 to Dec 7. The Comu store applies multi-device discounts at checkout: 10% off 2 devices, 12% off 3 to 19 and 16% off 20 or more. AI Voice Recorder Black Friday 2026: Deals Compared lists the deals from Comu, Plaud, Pocket and TicNote side by side.
What do TicNote's free minutes and paid plans include?
TicNote's plans are built on transcription minutes. Every TicNote plan has a monthly minute allowance, and unused minutes expire at the end of each billing cycle. Processing 30 minutes of audio uses 30 transcription minutes, and importing an audio or video file counts too.
| TicNote plan | Price | Transcription minutes a month | Other limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 300 | 30 minutes per web recording, 100 MB per file, 30 document summaries a month |
| Plus (buy a TicNote device) | $0 | 600 | 30 minutes per web recording, 100 MB per file, 30 document summaries a month |
| Professional | $199 billed annually ($16.58 a month) | 1,500 plus 600 device-exclusive | 3 hours per web recording, 300 MB per file, 300 document summaries |
| Business | $399 billed annually ($33.25 a month) | 6,000 plus 600 device-exclusive | 8 hours per web recording, 500 MB per file, 1,000 document summaries |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | Customized usage | SSO, 24/7 support |
Three details change how far the free minutes stretch:
- The device plan is Plus. The account that binds a TicNote device for the first time upgrades to Plus automatically and gets 600 minutes a month. A device that was bound to another account before does not activate Plus.
- TicNote's pages give two numbers for free minutes. The ticnote.com pricing page lists 300 minutes for a registered account and 600 for a device owner. One answer in the ticnote.ai FAQ says every registered user gets 600 free minutes a month, and another says the account base is 300 minutes plus 300 for each first-bound device category (card, earbud, watch), up to 1,200.
- Minutes convert to hours simply. 300 minutes is 5 hours, 600 minutes is 10 hours, and Professional's 2,100 minutes (1,500 plus 600) is 35 hours.
TicNote's wording on subscriptions is that a paid plan is not required for everyday use. All TicNote devices record offline, and real-time transcription and translation need an internet connection.
How much does each cost over 1 and 2 years?
In year one, Comu Note Pro costs $128.99 and Comu Action Pro costs $169.99 with the Starter plan that comes with the device, while the TicNote AI Voice Recorder at the $128.99 product-page price costs $327.99 with Professional. The table counts only the device price for Comu because Starter needs no subscription.
The Comu numbers cover what the Comu Starter plan includes: unlimited real-time transcription, speaker identification, basic summaries and 113 languages. The TicNote rows cover the 600 minutes that come with the device and, for people who need more minutes, Professional billed annually at $199. The table uses TicNote's $128.99 product-page price and its $159.99 pricing-page price (Nov 13, 2026).
| Setup | Device price used | 1-year total | 2-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comu Note Pro with Starter | $128.99 | $128.99 | $128.99 |
| Comu Action Pro with Starter | $169.99 | $169.99 | $169.99 |
| TicNote AI Voice Recorder with the 600 free minutes | $128.99 (product page) | $128.99 | $128.99 |
| TicNote AI Voice Recorder with the 600 free minutes | $159.99 (pricing page) | $159.99 | $159.99 |
| TicNote AI Voice Recorder with Professional | $128.99 (product page) | $327.99 | $526.99 |
| TicNote AI Voice Recorder with Professional | $159.99 (pricing page) | $358.99 | $557.99 |
The arithmetic: $128.99 plus $199 is $327.99 for one year, and $128.99 plus $398 is $526.99 for two years. At the $159.99 pricing-page price, the totals are $358.99 and $557.99. At the $119.99 feed price they are $318.99 and $517.99.
Arithmetic example, 40 hours of recording a month. 40 hours is 2,400 minutes. TicNote Professional covers 2,100 minutes (1,500 plus 600), so 2,400 minutes sits in Business, which covers 6,600 minutes (6,000 plus 600). With the $128.99 device price, TicNote with Business is $128.99 plus $399, or $527.99 in year one, and $128.99 plus $798, or $926.99 over two years. Comu Note Pro on Starter is $128.99 in both periods, because Starter's real-time transcription has no minute allowance to run out. The inputs are the $128.99 product-page device price, Business at $399 billed annually and 2,400 minutes a month.
Which one records phone calls?
Both record phone calls: Comu Action Pro with its built-in bone-conduction microphone, and the TicNote AI Voice Recorder with its lever switch set to handset mode. On Comu Action Pro you hold the device against the phone, and the Comu app recognizes call mode and face-to-face mode and enhances the voice. Comu Note Pro has 2 MEMS microphones and 1 VPU (bone conduction) sensor.
The TicNote AI Voice Recorder has a lever switch. Flip it down for speaker mode, where you hold the recorder or put it on a desk. Flip it up for handset mode, where you attach the recorder to the back of the phone with its magnetic case and it captures both sides of a regular phone call through vibration. TicNote says the phone must be in a regular call, not a Bluetooth call, and recommends removing the phone case on Android if the quality is poor.
TicNote's Pods earbuds record Bluetooth calls: you answer on the earbuds and both sides are recorded and transcribed. How to Record a Phone Call on iPhone, Samsung and With a Recorder covers each way to record a call. Rules about recording calls differ by place; Is an AI Note Taker Legal? covers where consent matters.
How do the apps, languages and AI features compare?
Comu and TicNote both pair the recorder with a phone app and a web app, and both turn recordings into transcripts, summaries and answers to your questions.
| Feature | Comu | TicNote |
|---|---|---|
| App platforms | iOS, Android, Windows and Mac desktop, Comu Web | iOS and Android app, TicNote Web at ticnote.com |
| Assistant | Comu AI assistant in the app by text or voice; Comu Action Pro also has an AI key | Shadow, TicNote's AI assistant |
| Real-time transcription | Unlimited on every plan | Included in the 600-minute plan |
| Speaker identification | Included on every plan | Included in the 600-minute plan |
| Languages | 113 for transcription, real-time translation and summaries | Live transcription in 17 languages |
| Templates | 30+ built-in summary templates and unlimited custom templates | Basic templates on Free and Plus, advanced and custom templates on Professional and Business |
| Outputs | Actions (to-dos with owner, decision, deadline and next step), AI slides, documents and email drafts | Summaries, mind maps, Aha moments, deep research reports and an AI podcast generator |
TicNote's 600-minute plan includes real-time transcription, real-time translation, speaker identification, speech vocabulary, deep research, the AI podcast generator, Aha moments and the AI mind map. Its pricing page marks the podcast and deep research features as "limited time free."
TicNote's summaries use gpt-5, GPT-4.1, gpt-4o, O4-mini and grok-3-latest (FAQ, last updated May 2026). Comu's Starter plan uses standard AI models, and Premium and Elite add advanced models, including GPT, Claude and Gemini.
How do privacy and security compare?
Both vendors state that recordings are not used to train AI models (TicNote words it as general AI models), and both state encryption and deletion. The table gives each vendor's own wording (Nov 13, 2026).
| Topic | Comu | TicNote |
|---|---|---|
| AI training and data sale | "User data is never used to train AI models, nor shared for advertising or profiling purposes." Comu never sells data to third parties (Trust Center) | "Users' recordings will not be used to train general AI models, nor will they be leaked to third parties." (FAQ) |
| Encryption | Data encrypted in transit (TLS 1.2 or 1.3) and at rest (AES-256); recordings saved on the device are protected with AES-256 | "All data transfers use end-to-end encryption" (FAQ) |
| Where data lives | Amazon Web Services data centers in the USA | A U.S.-based cloud |
| Deletion | Delete a single note or recording any time; deleting the account removes all associated data from Comu's servers | Deleted app files are permanently deleted; unbinding a device erases its on-device data |
| Compliance statements | GDPR, HIPAA and SOC 2 compliant, and CCPA compliant | "Strict compliance with international privacy regulations such as the European Union Data Act" and regular security audits (FAQ) |
Comu's app lock uses Face ID, Touch ID or the screen passcode, and How to lock your voice recordings shows the steps. Do AI note takers train on your recordings? covers the question across vendors.
What are the warranty, return and shipping terms?
Comu and TicNote both give a 30-day return window and a one-year warranty. Comu orders ship free, and delivery usually takes 3 to 5 business days after dispatch. Comu's 60-day price guarantee lets eligible buyers request the difference if the same product drops in price on the official Comu store. TicNote fulfills new orders in up to 48 hours and delivers in the United States in 2 to 7 business days.
Comu's warranty is 24 months in the UK and Europe. TicNote's 30-day return window and one-year warranty run from delivery.
TicNote vs Comu: which one fits which situation?
Monthly recording time is the first thing to match: Comu Starter has no minute allowance, and the TicNote device plan has 600 minutes a month, which is 10 hours.
| If you need | Comu | TicNote |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 hours of transcription a month | Starter has unlimited real-time transcription; Comu Note Pro is $128.99 | The device plan gives 600 minutes, which is 10 hours |
| More than 10 hours a month | The same Starter plan; no minutes to buy | Professional at $199 a year gives 2,100 minutes (35 hours); Business at $399 a year gives 6,600 |
| Live transcription in many languages | 113 languages | Live transcription in 17 languages |
| A phone call recorded from the back of the phone | Comu Action Pro: hold it against the phone | The lever switch set to handset mode, with the magnetic case, on a regular call |
| A recorder for a conference table | Comu Action Pro, 6 microphones, 7 m pickup | TicNote AI Voice Recorder, 3 MEMS microphones, 10 m recording range |
| A thin card-sized recorder | Comu Note Pro, 3.1 mm and 27.6 g, aluminum alloy | TicNote AI Voice Recorder, 3 mm, aluminum case |
| A day-long recording | Comu Action Pro, up to 70 hours | 25 hours of battery life |
Let Comu AI Record and Transcribe Without a Minute Cap
Comu AI is the assistant in the Comu app, and the Comu recorder ships with the Starter plan, which transcribes in real time with no cap on minutes and requires no subscription. Every Comu order includes Starter.
The Comu numbers in this section cover what Starter includes. These Starter facts apply to Comu Note Pro and Comu Action Pro at the same prices (Nov 13, 2026):
- Unlimited real-time transcription and unlimited basic summaries. Both come with the device on Starter, with no subscription.
- Speaker identification. The Comu app labels the different speakers in a recording on every plan.
- 113 languages for transcription, real-time translation and summaries.
- Comu AI assistant. Ask questions across your recordings, files, contacts, Actions and history by text or voice.
- Actions. Comu extracts to-dos with owner, decision, deadline and next step, and pushes the meeting summary and to-dos after a meeting.
- AI slides, documents and email drafts. Comu offers "Generate Slides" after a recording. An email draft is not sent until you review it.
- 30+ summary templates across general, sales, insurance, real estate, medical, legal and other use, plus unlimited custom summary templates.
- Privacy. Comu is GDPR, HIPAA and SOC 2 compliant, does not sell data, does not use data to train AI and lets you delete a recording or your whole account.
On the plan that comes with the device, you tap to transcribe and summarize recordings that sync from the device. Premium ($14.99 a month, or $119.99 a year) and Elite ($29.99 a month billed annually) do it automatically, and add unlimited real-time translation, unlimited Deep Dive, AI Meeting Prep, Moments and advanced models. You subscribe inside the Comu app through the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Comu Note Pro is credit-card sized at 85.7 x 51.7 x 3.1 mm, weighs 27.6 g, records up to 45 hours and charges magnetically. Comu Action Pro adds six microphones, a 7 m indoor pickup, up to 70 hours of recording, USB-C charging and an AI key: hold the key, say "Write a follow-up email for the client," and read the result in the Comu app after the recording syncs. Both pair with the same app and the same Comu AI. Comu Action Pro vs Comu Note Pro compares the two recorders, and the Comu Note Pro review covers the specs, price and cost of the card-sized recorder.
See the products: Comu Note Pro and Comu Action Pro.
FAQ
Is Comu a good TicNote alternative?
Comu is a TicNote alternative for buyers who want real-time transcription with no monthly minute cap on the plan that comes with the device. Comu Note Pro is $128.99 and Comu Action Pro is $169.99 on the Comu US store (Nov 13, 2026), and both ship with the Starter plan.
How much does the TicNote AI Voice Recorder cost compared with Comu Note Pro?
The TicNote AI Voice Recorder is $128.99 on ticnote.ai's product page, $119.99 in its product feed and $159.99 on ticnote.com/pricing (Nov 13, 2026). Comu Note Pro is $128.99 on the Comu US store (regular $158.99) on the same date.
How many free minutes does TicNote give?
TicNote gives 300 free transcription minutes a month to a registered account and 600 to the account that binds a TicNote device (pricing page). Unused minutes expire at the end of each billing cycle. TicNote Professional ($199 a year) gives 1,500 minutes plus 600 device-exclusive minutes.
Does Comu limit transcription minutes?
Comu Starter, the plan that comes with the device, has unlimited real-time transcription and unlimited basic summaries, and it needs no subscription. Premium and Elite add features such as automatic transcription and unlimited real-time translation.
Which one records phone calls, Comu or TicNote?
Both record phone calls. Comu Action Pro records calls with its bone-conduction microphone held against the phone. The TicNote AI Voice Recorder records a regular, non-Bluetooth call through vibration when its lever is up and its magnetic case holds it to the back of the phone.
When does the TicNote Black Friday sale end?
TicNote's Black Friday runs Nov 12 through Nov 30, 2026, according to its blog. Comu's Mega Black Friday Sale runs Nov 10 through Dec 7, 2026 (PT).
Does Comu work without a device?
You can subscribe in the Comu app without buying hardware and upload audio files; MP4 up to 500 MB.
Is Comu GDPR, HIPAA and SOC 2 compliant?
Comu is GDPR, HIPAA and SOC 2 compliant, and CCPA compliant. Comu encrypts data in transit and at rest, never sells data to third parties and does not use data to train AI models.
Related reading
- AI Voice Recorder Black Friday 2026: Deals Compared: the Black Friday offers from Comu, Plaud, Pocket and TicNote in one table.
- Unlimited Transcription Recorders: Limits Explained: what "unlimited" means across recorders.
- Comu Action Pro vs Comu Note Pro: which Comu recorder to pick.
- Comu Note Pro Review: specs, price and cost of the card-sized Comu recorder.
- Credit Card Sized AI Voice Recorders With Free Transcription: the card-sized format compared with Plaud.
- Is an AI Note Taker Legal?: consent rules before you record a call or a meeting.
Sources
Checked Nov 13, 2026.
- TicNote: TicNote AI Voice Recorder product page, Pricing, FAQ, Black Friday page, Black Friday 2026 preview, Warranty policy, Pods 4G guide, Collection page, Mobvoi TicNote page
- Comu: Comu Action Pro, Comu Note Pro, Black Friday page, Trust Center, Privacy Policy
- Comu product knowledge base (Oct 27, 2026 edition): hardware specs, plans, Premium and Elite pricing, app features.
