StillWren

Overview

StillWren is a browser-based tool for turning legal recordings and dictation into searchable transcripts and working documents. It is most compelling for legal professionals who want transcription and transcript handling to stay on their device. The free plan is usable beyond a short demo, but the desktop-browser requirement and unpriced Pro plan make fit and long-term cost important considerations.

Key features

Users can record through a microphone or upload audio and video files up to 500 MB. Whisper transcription includes word timestamps, custom vocabulary and filler-word cleanup; on-device speaker identification separates speakers and color-codes transcript lines. Together, those controls make proceedings easier to navigate and edit. One notable workflow restriction: FTR .trm files need to be exported as MP3 before upload.

The on-device AI suite produces summaries, follow-ups, key decisions and chapter markers, and can answer questions from transcripts. Users can redact names and identifiers with rules, search across their transcript library, and export to DOCX, PDF, TXT, SRT and other formats. Support for 100+ transcription languages and translation to 30+ languages broadens its usefulness for multilingual work. The trade-off is that the AI drafting suite requires a WebGPU-capable browser; transcription does not have that stated requirement.

Transcription and dictation work offline after a one-time model download. Transcripts live in the browser's local database on the user's device. Optional sync stores ciphertext encrypted on-device with a passphrase-derived key. The maker says audio is not uploaded during transcription; the exception is an optional end-to-end encrypted mobile-to-desktop handoff, with the relay copy deleted after pickup. That privacy-oriented design is a meaningful advantage for sensitive material, though browser-local storage makes the chosen device and browser part of the workflow.

Pricing

StillWren is freemium, with a free plan and a 14-day trial. The Free plan is free and allows 50 minutes/month without an account or 300 minutes/month with a free account. It includes the full editor and all exports, so occasional users can work with transcripts rather than being limited to a preview. The minute caps make it a poor fit for regular high-volume work.

Pro has custom pricing and includes unlimited minutes, the on-device AI legal suite, encrypted sync and mobile handoff. It is aimed at users who need sustained transcription and those additional workflows; unlike Free, its minutes are not capped. The lack of a stated price means buyers cannot compare its ongoing cost against usage-based services from the plan terms alone. The 14-day trial offers a bounded way to assess the product before committing.

Platforms

StillWren is a web product, but its browser support is specific: the maker specifies desktop Chrome or Edge. AI drafting additionally needs a WebGPU-capable browser. That suits users working from a compatible desktop, but not those who need a native mobile app or rely on another browser. Supported uploads include MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG, MP4, MOV and WebM, with a 500 MB ceiling.

Who it's for

The product is positioned for litigation, solo and small firms, in-house counsel, and immigration and family practices. It fits legal teams and individual practitioners who want transcription, editing, redaction and transcript search in one browser-based workflow, especially when offline use and on-device processing matter. Clio interoperability is CSV-based, not an affiliation or endorsement, so firms should treat it as data exchange rather than a deeper integration.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Substantial free allowance. A free account raises the cap to 300 minutes/month and retains the full editor and exports, making regular evaluation practical.
• Pro: Device-centered workflow. Offline transcription after model download, local transcript storage and on-device redaction suit users who want to keep processing close to their device.
• Pro: Useful transcript toolkit. Timestamps, speaker separation, library search, varied exports and legal-oriented AI reduce the need to move between separate transcript tasks.
• Con: Narrow browser fit. Desktop Chrome or Edge is required, and WebGPU adds a further condition for AI drafting.
• Con: Free use is capped. The 50-minute no-account limit and 300-minute account limit may not cover a busy practice.
• Con: Pro cost is opaque. Unlimited minutes and premium workflows may be valuable, but custom pricing prevents straightforward budget comparison.

Alternatives

Browse the Legal Transcription Software directory if you want to compare more options. MatterScribe is worth considering when broad platform coverage and pay-as-you-go billing matter: its plan charges $0.10/min, retains files for three days and requires a card, with 30 free minutes. Choose Filevine instead when transcription is only one part of a broader matter-management setup; its custom-built packages cover matter and document management, billing and payments, with optional legal packages.

Rev may suit users who want mobile and API access with a stated free tier, but its free transcription is English-only and limited to 45 AI transcription and caption minutes/month, five files at once and one user. SoniClear Transcriber 10 is an alternative for Windows users who prefer manual playback and transcription without cloud transcription time; its Pro plan costs 360.00 USD per year.

WhisperAI Legal Transcription offers a free plan with 5 minutes/month, basic speaker labels and a 5 GB file limit, which may fit very occasional use. HappyScribe Legal is another freemium option for readers comparing legal transcription services. Interpret AI may be a fit for Android users seeking transcription and translation credits, while Skribe is an option for buyers seeking per-hour audio/video transcription and synced video-to-text.

Verdict

StillWren is a strong fit for legal professionals who want offline-capable, on-device transcription with editing, redaction and transcript search, and whose work fits desktop Chrome or Edge. Its generous free-account minutes make it easier to adopt than a short trial alone. Look elsewhere if you need a native mobile workflow, cannot use a compatible browser, or need a clearly priced unlimited plan before choosing.