Beside for macOS is a desktop application that brings together meeting intelligence and phone communication - texts and calls included - all in one place.
What Beside for macOS offers | What Beside mobile app offers | What is synced between platforms |
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System requirements:
macOS 15.0 or later
Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) or Intel processor
Get started on desktop (macOS)
The steps to create your desktop account differ slightly depending on whether you're already using Beside on your phone or starting fresh on your Mac.
Below, we'll explain how to download the app, create your account, and keep everything in sync across devices.
Follow the right flow to avoid common issues like duplicate accounts or billing problems.
Already using Beside on mobile?
If you're on a 👤 Starter or 👥 Business plan on mobile, you get complementary access to the 🖥️ Desktop Starter plan on macOS.
There are two ways to get Beside for Mac:
Option A - From the Beside mobile app
Open the Beside app
Go to Settings
Scroll down to the Install section and tap Beside for Mac
You'll be guided through a flow that lets you connect your Google Calendar and get a download link for Beside for Mac
A download link will be sent to your email
📌 Tip: This flow also lets you connect your Google Calendar right away, so your desktop app is ready to go with meeting features from the start.
Option B - Direct download
Download Beside for macOS from beside.app/download
📖 See full setup instructions here: Download, install, and sign in
Click on "Already have an account? Log in"
Log in using the same method you originally used to create your Beside account:
Apple Sign-in
Google Sign-in
Email
Primary phone number
⚠️ Important:
Do not click "Continue with Google" if you already have an account on mobile.
Make sure to use the same method you originally used to create your Beside account on mobile.
This prevents creating a duplicate account and ensures your active subscription is linked to the correct profile.
If you're not logging in with Google, you can still 📖 connect your Google calendar later from: Preferences, then Calendar, then Manage Calendars.
Your mobile and desktop accounts are now linked.
New to Beside and starting from macOS?
If you're not already using Beside on mobile, you can start from macOS directly:
Download Beside for macOS here
Click on "Continue with Google"
Complete the onboarding flow: join a demo call, preview your first AI notes, and click "Enter Beside" to start using the app
To unlock calendar features, 📖 connect your Google calendar in: Preferences, then Calendar, then Manage Calendars.
Connect your calendar to Beside for macOS
Once you've created your Beside account on macOS, be sure to connect your calendar to access the full suite of meeting features on desktop, including:
Smart pre-meeting prep
AI-generated post-meeting summaries
Reminders and meeting notifications
Without calendar access, Beside won't be able to detect your meetings or generate summaries.
📖 Check out this article for detailed steps: Connect your calendar on macOS
Texts and calls on Beside for macOS
Beside for macOS supports sending texts and making calls directly from your desktop - no phone needed. This is the same phone line you use on the Beside mobile app.
A few things to keep in mind:
Line configuration (adding new lines, managing forwarding, etc.) must be done from the Beside mobile app.
Not all mobile messaging features are available yet on macOS - the team is iterating based on feedback.
Read status is not yet synced between platforms. A message read on macOS will still appear unread on mobile (and vice versa).
Once set up, you can access 💬 Text and 📞 Phone from the left sidebar in the Beside for macOS app.
📌 You must set up your phone line from the Beside mobile app first:
Line and phone number configuration is only available on the Beside mobile app.
Once your line is configured on mobile, you can use it on macOS right away.
If no line is configured, you'll see a screen in the macOS app with instructions to get started on mobile.
📖 Learn more: Send texts and make calls on macOS
Beside for macOS subscriptions
Available desktop plans
Beside for macOS offers two plans:
A 🆓 Limited Trial: up to 20 AI-powered meeting recordings per month
A 🖥️ Desktop Starter plan: unlimited recordings, infinite memory, and advanced prep features
📖 Learn more about Beside's plans and pricing.
📌 Note: Yearly billing and the 👥 Business plan are not yet available on desktop. Features like multiple lines and shared lines for team collaboration are only accessible via the Beside mobile app at this time.
Use your subscription across platforms
A 🖥️ Desktop Starter plan purchased on macOS unlocks 👤 Starter features on mobile.
A 👤 Starter or 👥 Business plan purchased on mobile unlocks 🖥️ Desktop Starter features on macOS.
If you subscribed via desktop and want to use Beside on mobile:
Download Beside from the App Store (iPhone, iPad) or Play Store (Android) (available in U.S. and Canada only)
Log in using the same Google account. Simply tap "Continue with Google"
⚠️ Important: Do not choose a different login method on mobile. Doing so will create a separate account and disconnect your subscription and data.
FAQ
Do I need a separate subscription for Beside for macOS?
Do I need a separate subscription for Beside for macOS?
If you already have a 👤 Starter or 👥 Business plan on mobile, you automatically get Desktop Starter access on macOS at no extra cost. If you're starting fresh on macOS, you can use the 🆓 Limited Trial (up to 20 recordings/month) or subscribe to the Desktop Starter plan.
Can I make calls and send texts from my Mac?
Can I make calls and send texts from my Mac?
Yes. Beside for macOS supports calls and texts using the same phone line you use on the Beside mobile app. You need to set up your line on mobile first - once that's done, it's automatically available on macOS.
Why do my messages show as unread on my phone after I read them on Mac?
Why do my messages show as unread on my phone after I read them on Mac?
Read status is not yet synced between platforms. A message read on macOS will still appear as unread on your phone, and vice versa. This will be improved in a future update.
I already have a Beside account on mobile. How do I log in on macOS?
I already have a Beside account on mobile. How do I log in on macOS?
The easiest way is to use the Beside for Mac option in your Beside mobile app Settings - it guides you through the setup and sends a download link to your email. Alternatively, download from beside.app/download, click "Already have an account? Log in" and use the same login method you originally used to create your Beside account (phone number, Apple Sign-in, email, or Google). Do not click "Continue with Google" if your original account was created with a different method - this would create a duplicate account.
Can I configure my line settings from macOS?
Can I configure my line settings from macOS?
Not yet. Line configuration (adding new lines, managing forwarding, Caller ID, etc.) is only available on the Beside mobile app. Once configured on mobile, your line works on macOS automatically.