Support

Email i.e.papidakis@gmail.com — we usually reply within one working day.

Install

  1. Download and unzipDownload Finalist AI and open the downloaded file. It unzips to Finalist AI.
  2. Drag it to ApplicationsDrag Finalist AI into your Applications folder.
  3. Open itOpen Finalist AI from Applications. It's signed and notarized by Apple, so it opens normally. It lives in your menu bar as a small open box with one piece breaking out.
  4. Allow what it needsThe short setup asks you to allow answers to be created, then for these permissions:
    • Screen & System Audio Recording — to hear the other side of the conversation. macOS asks you to quit and reopen once.
    • Speech Recognition — for on-device transcription.
    • Microphone (optional) — only if you also want your own voice transcribed.
  5. Sign in with your emailEnter your email address in the app. We'll email you a 6-digit code and a sign-in link — use either one. Your 15 free minutes are added on your first sign-in.

Verify your download

Every release is signed with our Apple Developer ID (team U2YG98LH75, Ioannis Papidakis) and notarized by Apple, so macOS checks it before it first opens. You don't need to do anything else, but if you'd like to check it yourself:

Checksum. In Terminal, run shasum -a 256 ~/Downloads/FinalistAI.zip. The result should match the SHA-256 above exactly.

Apple's check. After unzipping, run spctl -a -vv "/Applications/Finalist AI.app". It should say accepted and source=Notarized Developer ID.

If either doesn't match, don't open the app — email i.e.papidakis@gmail.com.

Sign in

How signing in works. There's no password. Enter your email in the app and use the 6-digit code or the link from the email we send you. Codes and links work once and expire after 15 minutes.

The email didn't arrive. Check your spam or promotions folder, make sure the address is spelled correctly, and wait a minute before asking for a new code.

Your minutes follow your email. Everything you buy is attached to the email you sign in with, so always sign in — and buy — with the same address.

Getting started

  1. Open Finalist AI from the menu bar (the small open box). The piece that breaks out turns red while it's listening.
  2. Start your interview, meeting, call or lecture, choose its app in the panel (or "All system audio") and press the waveform button.
  3. Switch the live assistant on. Questions get answered automatically. You can also type a question, or press ⌥⌘S to answer what's on screen.

Your remaining time is always shown while the assistant is on. You'll get a notice at 5 minutes and at 1 minute left.

Buying minutes

Single Interview $9.99 for 60 minutes · Interview Pack $16.99 for 180 minutes · Career Pack $29.99 for 420 minutes. One-time payments — the minutes never expire. See pricing.

The easiest way: inside the app. Go to Settings → Billing → Buy more minutes, or choose a pack when your time runs low. Checkout opens with your email filled in, and your minutes appear in the app as soon as the payment goes through.

Buying on the website. Use the same email address you sign in with in the app — your minutes appear automatically, usually within a minute.

Minutes haven't appeared? Check you're signed in with the email you used at checkout (Settings → Billing shows it). If they still aren't there after a few minutes, email us with your Lemon Squeezy order number.

Receipts and VAT invoices. Payments are handled by Lemon Squeezy, our merchant of record. They email a receipt for every payment, and you can download invoices from the Lemon Squeezy customer portal (Settings → Billing → Invoices, or the link in your receipt).

Refunds. If something isn't right, email us and we'll look at it fairly. Refunds are issued through Lemon Squeezy, and the unused minutes from a refunded purchase are removed. See the terms.

Interview Plus

Interview Plus is a recurring monthly subscription: $19.99 a month for 600 minutes each billing month. It renews automatically until you cancel. Unused monthly minutes expire at the end of each billing month; minutes you buy in packs never expire.

Manage or cancel. In the app, go to Settings → Billing → Manage subscription, or use the link in your Lemon Squeezy receipt email. That opens the Lemon Squeezy customer portal, where you can cancel, update your card or download invoices. After you cancel, you keep this month's minutes until the end of the billing month you've paid for, and you won't be charged again.

Your pack minutes are safe. Cancelling Plus never removes minutes you bought in packs.

Need more in a busy month? Buy an extra pack any time — Plus minutes are used first, then pack minutes.

Common questions

What counts as a minute? Only the time the live assistant is switched on, measured by the second. Setting up and reading your transcripts later are free.

My time ran out mid-session. The assistant pauses, but your transcript and chat stay. Add minutes and it carries on in the same session.

Using it on two Macs. Install it on both and sign in with the same email — your minutes are shared. One live session runs at a time; starting one on the second Mac offers to end the first.

Lost access to your account? If you can't get into the email address you signed up with, email us from another address with your Lemon Squeezy order number and we'll help move your minutes.

I have a beta code. Sign in, then redeem it in Settings → Billing. Its minutes are added to your account.

I'm not getting answers. Check the live assistant is switched on and you have minutes left, and that Settings → General → Privacy → "Send questions to the AI provider" is on.

Nothing is being transcribed. Check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording has Finalist AI switched on, then reopen the app. Make sure the right app is selected in the panel.

Can I use it in a job interview? Yes. Use it openly and lawfully: tell people you're transcribing where that's required, and follow the rules set by the interviewer, employer, school or institution. See the terms.

Updates. Finalist AI checks for new versions once a day and shows a "Download" button in the panel when one is ready.