The box price of an AI voice recorder is the smaller part of what it costs you. The device records audio; the transcripts, summaries and action lists come from a cloud service, and that service is metered in minutes. Record more than the free allowance and you are on a subscription that, over two years, can cost more than the hardware.
This guide works out what Plaud and soundcore plans cost for real meeting loads, using the plan prices each company publishes, checked on October 5, 2026.
What you get free, and what you pay for
Plaud (Note Pro, NotePin S) and soundcore (Work) each include a free plan with 300 transcription minutes a month. Past that, you choose a paid tier.
| Plan | Minutes per month | Price | Where the price comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plaud Starter | 300 | Free | Plaud Canada store, CAD |
| Plaud Pro | 1,200 | C$139.99 per year | |
| Plaud Unlimited | Unlimited | C$299.99 per year | |
| soundcore base | 300 | Free | soundcore US store, USD. Canadian in-app pricing may differ. |
| soundcore Pro | Not stated on product page | US$15.99 per month or US$99.99 per year | |
| soundcore Unlimited | Unlimited | US$239.99 per year |
Plaud also sells monthly plans inside its app; it does not list their price on the product page, so we have left them out.
How fast 300 minutes go
Three hundred minutes a month is about 70 minutes a week. That covers a weekly one-hour check-in. It does not cover a project manager’s calendar.
| You record | Minutes per month (×4.33 weeks) | Plan you need |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour a week | about 260 | Free plan |
| 4 hours a week | about 1,040 | Plaud Pro (1,200 min) |
| 8 hours a week | about 2,080 | Unlimited |
Worked example. A project manager runs a daily 15-minute stand-up, a weekly 1-hour steering meeting and two 1-hour stakeholder calls. That is 4 hours 15 minutes a week, about 1,100 minutes a month. It fits Plaud Pro with little room to spare; one heavy workshop week pushes it over. The realistic choice is Pro if your calendar is steady, Unlimited if it isn’t.
The two-year view
Most people keep a gadget like this for at least two years. Subscription cost over that time, before tax:
| Plan | Year 1 | Two years |
|---|---|---|
| Plaud Pro | C$139.99 | C$279.98 |
| Plaud Unlimited | C$299.99 | C$599.98 |
| soundcore Pro (annual) | US$99.99 | US$199.98 |
| soundcore Unlimited | US$239.99 | US$479.98 |
Add the device price from the retailer to get your real total. For a heavy user on an Unlimited plan, the subscription is the bigger number.
Five things to check before you subscribe
- Your real meeting hours. Count last month’s calendar, not a typical week. Use the table above.
- Whether you need every meeting transcribed. You can record everything and transcribe only the meetings that matter, which can keep you on the free plan.
- What happens if you stop paying. Check in the app whether past transcripts stay available on the free plan, and export anything important while you can.
- Currency and taxes. soundcore’s published prices are in US dollars; your card will convert them, and in-app prices for Canada may differ.
- Where the audio is processed. Transcription happens on the company’s servers. If you record clients or colleagues, your organization may have rules about that. See recording meetings in Canada.
Which recorder is cheapest to own?
For light use (under about 70 minutes a week), all three cost only the device. For moderate use, soundcore’s annual Pro plan has the lower sticker price but is billed in US dollars, and its minute allowance isn’t listed on the product page; Plaud Pro states 1,200 minutes in Canadian dollars. For heavy use, compare the two Unlimited plans after currency conversion on the day you buy.
If you are still choosing a device, start with our Plaud Note Pro vs NotePin S vs soundcore Work comparison.
Check Plaud Note Pro on Amazon.ca Check soundcore Work on Amazon.ca
What the paid plans add besides minutes
Minutes are the headline, but paid tiers also unlock features. According to Plaud’s Canadian plan page, both Pro and Unlimited include its library of more than 10,000 summary templates, the “Ask Plaud” assistant for questioning your recordings, multimodal input (adding typed notes and images to a recording) and AutoFlow automation. If you only need transcripts, those extras may not justify an upgrade; if you want summaries shaped for status reports or interviews, templates are where the time saving is.
soundcore’s product page lists plan names and prices but not a feature breakdown per tier, so compare them in the app before paying.
How to keep your cost down
- Record everything, transcribe selectively. Transcription is what uses minutes. Transcribe the steering meeting, not the coffee chat.
- Start on the free plan for a month. Your real usage after four weeks is a better guide than any estimate.
- Buy annual only once you know. Plaud’s membership runs for 12 months once activated, so an annual plan bought too early is paid for before you know your pattern.
- Review at renewal. Meeting loads change with projects. A busy quarter may need Unlimited; a quiet one may not need a plan at all.
Common questions
Is the free plan enough for occasional use?
Yes, for about 70 minutes of transcription a week. That covers a weekly team meeting plus the odd call.
Are these prices in Canadian dollars?
Plaud’s are, from its Canadian store. soundcore’s are US-dollar prices from its US store; expect currency conversion and possibly different in-app pricing in Canada.
Can I switch plans later?
Both companies sell plans through their apps. Check the app for upgrade and cancellation terms before committing to a year.
How we researched this
Plan prices and minute allowances come from each company’s own store pages, checked on October 5, 2026. Plans change often; confirm in the app before subscribing. This is desk research; we have not used these subscriptions ourselves.
Sources: Plaud AI plans (Plaud Canada) · Plaud Note Pro · soundcore Work (soundcore)