Overview
A critical review of the Coconut AI note-taking app was provided, focusing on its features, usability, pricing, and value compared to alternatives for students and meeting users.
App Availability and Setup
- Available on iOS, Android, and as a web app.
- Setup process requires user details and leads directly to a paywall.
- App Store rating is 4.9 with over 1 million users reported.
Pricing and Plans
- Cheapest plan costs approximately £129 per year (£12–13 per month), considered expensive for note-taking.
- Free plan limitations and differences with paid tier are not fully transparent.
Core Features
- Transcribes audio recordings and provides summaries.
- Allows flagging bookmarks, taking personal notes, editing, translating, and downloading recordings.
- Users can chat with their notes for deeper understanding.
- Flashcard creation from transcriptions supports active recall learning techniques.
- Provides quizzes based on recorded content.
- Ability to export flashcards to Anki.
- Enables sharing notes and summaries.
Extra Features
- Study games included; some relevant, others feel extraneous.
- Can create basic video or podcast formats from notes.
- Web app allows uploading YouTube videos, PDFs, text, and audio for summarization.
- Transcription speed adjustment and replay options available.
Usability and Design
- Design is functional but not visually appealing.
- Notifications are frequent and might enhance engagement.
- Some features seem added without integration or clear purpose.
Comparison With Alternatives
- Recall AI offers similar features at lower cost ($7–8/month with free plan).
- RemNote provides effective student flashcards, some free, with paid AI flashcard features at reasonable pricing.
- Coconut’s pricing is considered high compared to these alternatives.
Overall Assessment
- Flashcard and quiz features are unique but do not justify high cost.
- App feels disjointed and is not as valuable as its ratings or user count suggest.
- Better-priced alternatives exist for both students and meeting note-takers.
Recommendations / Advice
- Consider alternative apps like Recall AI or RemNote for similar or better features at lower prices.
- Coconut may be worth it only if priced significantly lower or if specific features are essential.