Compare two setups
Enter the device purchase cost once for each setup, then add any monthly or annual plan. Use one currency and the same workload; no product prices are preset.
Formula and worked examples are available without JavaScript. Your calculator entries stay in this browser and are not saved or sent by the calculator.
The method: cash paid, divided by meetings
Total cash cost = one-time setup cost + plan charge × number of payments. Monthly billing uses one payment per month; annual billing uses the number of months ÷ 12, rounded up. No recurring plan means zero plan payments, even if a charge remains in the field.
Meetings = whole months × meetings per month. Cost per meeting = total cash cost ÷ meetings. At zero meetings the unit cost is undefined; your cash cost still exists. Displayed amounts are rounded to two decimal places. Use the same currency for both setups.
The model assumes a new purchase and a new plan starting at month 1, uninterrupted service, fixed prices and full payments in advance. A 13-month horizon includes annual payments at months 1 and 13, covering through month 24. It does not prorate unused coverage or assume a refund.
Worked examples: the same setup, different usage
These invented numbers demonstrate the arithmetic. They are not prices, customer usage, savings estimates or hardware test results. In each row, the one-time cost is 100 and the annual charge is 120, in the same arbitrary currency.
| Months | Meetings/month | Full annual payments | Total cash cost | Meetings | Cost/meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 20 | 1; through month 12 | 220 | 240 | 0.92 |
| 13 | 10 | 2; through month 24 | 340 | 130 | 2.62 |
| 13 | 20 | 2; through month 24 | 340 | 260 | 1.31 |
| 13 | 40 | 2; through month 24 | 340 | 520 | 0.65 |
| 13 | 0 | 2; through month 24 | 340 | 0 | Undefined |
Put the right costs into each field
- One-time cost: device plus required accessories and any known one-time charges. Enter 0 for equipment you already own if you are comparing additional cash outlay. Do not mix that approach with full acquisition cost on the other side.
- Plan charge: the full monthly or annual amount you expect to pay. Choose no recurring plan only when that is true for the workflow you need. Verify entitlement, feature limits and transcription allowances first.
- Meetings per month: use the same expected workload for both options. Enter a whole-number average or run quiet and busy months separately. It counts meetings, regardless of their duration.
- Include taxes in the entered amounts if you know them and want them counted. The model does not add overages, trials, discounts, price changes, refunds, financing, repairs, resale value or the value of your time. Add known one-time costs to the upfront field; recurring exceptions require your own calculation.
Check suitability before comparing the totals
HiDock publishes this calculator. It has no preset brand prices and does not select a product. Read current official pricing and membership terms for each setup you enter. A low cost per meeting does not establish recording compatibility, audio quality, transcription accuracy or sufficient minutes.
Check device, operating system, app, earbuds and both sides of playback before relying on a recorder. No configuration is tested by this calculator. If an approved recording option already meets your needs, include it as one of your scenarios.
