You’re on a video call and just as you’re about to say something, your neighbor starts drilling. Or your dog decides this is the perfect moment to bark. Utterly is an AI-powered noise suppression tool that filters out these kinds of background sounds from your conversations in real-time. It runs completely locally on your Mac, so your audio isn’t sent anywhere.
Who is behind Utterly?
Utterly Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2021 by Caspian Belanger in Montreal, Canada. The idea originated during the pandemic, when everyone suddenly started working and teaching online from home. Noise pollution suddenly became a major problem: barking dogs, playing children, street noise. Belanger wanted to build a solution that takes privacy seriously, instead of sending your audio to the cloud like many competitors do.
The tool was developed as a lighter, more privacy-friendly alternative to Krisp. While Krisp has become a major player with enterprise features and cloud processing, Utterly deliberately chose a different approach: all audio processing happens locally on your Mac. That means your audio data never leaves your device. Little is known about the number of users or any funding rounds – the company seems to intentionally stay small and focused on their niche: Mac users who value privacy.
Development progresses quietly. There are no big announcements or rapid updates, which gives some users concerns about the tool’s future. At the same time, that approach does fit the philosophy: a simple, reliable tool that does one thing well without frills.
Who is Utterly for?
Utterly is made for Mac users who regularly make video calls and deal with background noise. Remote workers working from home or a café, teachers giving online lessons, or anyone who has to hold meetings in a noisy environment. The tool is especially handy if you don’t always have control over your surroundings.
It’s definitely not suitable for Windows users – Utterly simply doesn’t work on it. There’s also no solution for mobile users, as there are no iOS or Android apps. If you work across multiple platforms or make a lot of calls from your phone, you’re better off looking at alternatives with broader support.
What can Utterly do?
The free version of Utterly offers static noise suppression, local audio processing, and compatibility with all meeting apps. For voice isolation and more advanced features, you need the paid Elevate plan. Here’s what the tool can do:
- Real-time noise suppression: Utterly filters background sounds while you talk. No delay, no post-processing. It works as a virtual microphone that sits between your real microphone and your meeting software.
- Local audio processing: This is the main selling point. All AI processing happens on your Mac, so your audio data isn’t sent anywhere. For those who value privacy, this is a major advantage over cloud-based solutions.
- Static noise removal: Fans, air conditioners, background traffic noise – the free version already filters out these kinds of constant sounds. It works surprisingly well for everyday situations.
- Voice isolation: The Pro version can specifically isolate your voice and filter out all other sounds, including other voices in the background. Handy if you work in a busy space or have roommates talking over each other.
- Compatible with all meeting apps: Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Slack – if an app accepts audio input, Utterly works with it. You simply select “Utterly” as your microphone in the app settings.
- Low CPU usage: The tool is deliberately designed to be lightweight. You can run it without your Mac stuttering, even on older models. That’s a conscious choice to keep it accessible.
The interface is minimalist. You see a simple slider to turn noise suppression on or off, and that’s pretty much it. No complicated settings or options – which is nice for some, but others find limiting.
How much does Utterly cost?
Utterly has a free version that can be used unlimited. It offers static noise suppression, which is already sufficient for most people. You can filter out fans, traffic noise, and air conditioners without paying.
For more advanced features like voice isolation, you pay $1 per month for the Elevate plan. That’s significantly cheaper than competitors like Krisp, which charge around $1-12 per month. There’s no discounted annual subscription available, and no lifetime deal either. You simply pay monthly or use the free version.
There’s no free trial for the paid features. You can try out the free version to see if the basic noise suppression works for you, and then decide if you want the upgrade.
What should you watch out for?
The biggest problem is the platform limitation. Utterly only works on Mac. If you also have a Windows laptop or regularly switch devices, you’re out of luck. No plans have been announced for Windows support, so don’t count on it.
Development seems slow or even stalled. There are few updates, and the company barely communicates about future plans. That makes some users uncertain whether the tool will still exist in a year. For a $1 per month subscription, that’s a risk.
In extreme noise situations, Utterly performs less well than competitors like Krisp. If you’re really working in a very noisy environment – think of a busy café or a construction site next to your house – you’ll run into limitations. The AI is simply less powerfully trained than that of bigger players.
The tool also has fewer features than alternatives. No echo cancellation, no ability to let specific sounds through, no statistics on how much noise is being filtered. It’s really a no-frills solution – which fits the philosophy, but isn’t ideal for everyone.
Utterly alternatives
There are several alternatives, depending on your platform and budget:
- Krisp: More expensive (starting at $1 per month) but supports both Windows and Mac, and has more enterprise features like team licenses and analytics. Choose this if you work across multiple platforms or need more advanced features.
- Nvidia Broadcast: Completely free if you have an RTX graphics card, but only works on Windows. The noise cancellation is excellent and it also offers background replacement for video. Choose this if you have a gaming PC with a powerful Nvidia GPU.
- SoliCall: More focused on professional call center environments with features like call recording and quality monitoring. Choose this if you work in a business telephony environment rather than for casual video calls.
For Mac users who value privacy and don’t want to spend too much, Utterly remains an interesting option. But the limited platform support and slow development are real drawbacks.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about Utterly:
Does Utterly work on Windows?
No, Utterly is only available for macOS, both for Intel Macs and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3). No plans have been announced for a Windows version. If you use Windows, you’re better off looking at alternatives like Krisp or Nvidia Broadcast.
Is my audio recorded?
No, all audio processing happens locally on your Mac. No audio data is sent to the cloud or to Utterly’s servers. This is a deliberate choice for privacy and an important difference from many competitors that use cloud processing.
Does it work with Zoom and Teams?
Yes, Utterly works as a virtual microphone and is compatible with any application that accepts audio input. You simply select “Utterly” instead of your regular microphone in the settings of Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Slack, or whatever app you’re using.
Conclusion
Utterly is a solid noise suppression tool for Mac users who value privacy and don’t want to spend too much. The free version works well for everyday situations, and for $1 per month you get voice isolation added. The local processing is a big plus if you don’t want your audio ending up somewhere in the cloud.
But the limitations are clear: Mac only, no Windows or mobile, and development seems to have stalled. If you work across multiple platforms or want more advanced features, Krisp is a better choice. Do you have an Nvidia RTX card and Windows? Then Nvidia Broadcast is free and probably more powerful. Utterly fills a niche: privacy-conscious Mac users looking for a simple, affordable solution without bells and whistles.
