Yes, the Plaud One Explorer Edition is sold out. As of 21 September 2026, Plaud lists it at $249.99, marks it Out of Stock, and says "The current pre-order has ended." The best alternatives while you wait are recording earbuds you can buy today (viaim RecDot, viaim Nano+, OSO AI Earbuds), Plaud's own in-stock recorders (Note Pro, NotePin S), or an always-on wearable if what you really wanted was hands-free capture.

Image: Plaud

What Plaud One is, and why you cannot buy it

Plaud One is a pair of half-in-ear earbuds paired with a charging case that is a recorder in its own right. The case has four MEMS microphones with AI beamforming and a built-in 4G LTE eSIM, and Plaud says it "can be used on its own to capture in-person conversations." It records for up to 25 hours continuously; each earbud records for up to 6 hours and can capture phone calls and online meetings. Plaud quotes transcription and summaries in over 112 languages.

The Explorer Edition is "Limited to 2,000 units worldwide" and the pre-order has closed. The page now reads: "Join the waitlist and be the first to know when pre-orders reopen." Plaud does not publish a ship window; it says estimated shipping timing "will be shown at checkout." We cover the device in full in our Plaud One Explorer Edition explainer.

If Plaud One is the device you want, the waitlist is the honest answer. The options below are for people who need something working now.

The alternatives at a glance

Device Type Price Stock (21 Sep) Free transcription
Plaud One Explorer Edition Earbuds + recording case $249.99 Out of stock, waitlist Starter, 300 min + US$200 credits
viaim RecDot Recording earbuds $229.00 In stock 600 min/month
viaim Nano+ Recording earbuds $149.99 In stock 600 min/month
OSO AI Earbuds Recording earbuds $159.99 In stock 300 min/month
Plaud Note Pro Card recorder $189.00 In stock 300 min/month
Plaud NotePin S Wearable recorder $179.00 In stock 300 min/month
Omi Always-listening pendant $179.00 In stock Free tier, details not published on product page
Bee Wrist or clip wearable $49.99 Ships within 2 weeks, US only Not published

If you wanted recording earbuds

viaim RecDot ($229.00). The closest match to Plaud One on paper. viaim lists 9 hours of battery per earbud and 36 hours with the case, 48dB active noise cancellation, and recording of calls and in-person meetings. Like Plaud One, the case can record on its own via a one-press button. The free plan includes 600 minutes a month, and viaim quotes 78 languages. What it lacks is Plaud One's cellular connection.

viaim Nano+ ($149.99). The cheaper viaim option, with 12 hours in the buds and 40 hours with the case, 45dB ANC, and in-person pickup up to 7 meters. It records calls and meetings from the earbuds directly and shares the same 600-minute free plan.

OSO AI Earbuds ($159.99, down from $249.00). In stock. OSO's spec table gives 4 hours of recording and 13 hours with the case, records phone calls, and includes 300 free minutes a month in 102 languages. A bundle with a year of Premium is $278.00. Our OSO vs Plaud One comparison goes through the trade-offs in detail.

If you wanted Plaud's software

A lot of Plaud One interest is really interest in Plaud's app, summaries and templates. You can have all of that today on hardware Plaud has in stock.

Plaud Note Pro ($189.00). This is the better stand-in for the Plaud One case. It is 0.12 inches thin, has 4 MEMS microphones plus a VPU with a 16.4 ft range, switches between in-person and phone-call recording on its own, and records for up to 50 hours in Endurance mode. The 300-minute monthly Starter plan is included.

Plaud NotePin S ($179.00). The wearable option. It works as a necklace, wristband, clip or pin, records up to 20 hours, and has one-press recording with a "press to highlight" feature. Plaud notes it does not record phone calls. The original Plaud Note ($159.00) is also in stock in several colors.

For a wider look at recorders beyond Plaud's range, see our best Plaud alternatives guide.

If you wanted hands-free capture

Earbuds are great for a meeting you planned. They are less suited to the conversation that happens in a hallway before you have put them in. If that is the gap you were hoping Plaud One would fill, look at wearables that stay on you all day.

Omi ($179.00). Omi calls it a "Wearable Notetaker Pendant That is Always Listening." It comes with a neck cord, records online or offline, transcribes in 25+ languages, and is open source. There is a free tier and an unlimited plan; its store lists an "Omi Unlimited Yearly Plan (Bundle)" at $269.00.

Bee ($49.99). Now owned by Amazon, as TechCrunch reported. It ships with a wristband and a clip, lasts up to 7 days on a charge, and a single press of the button starts and stops capture. It is by far the cheapest device here. Bee says new orders ship within two weeks and it ships only to the United States.

Our device comparison page sets out the difference between ambient and press-to-record devices and how each handles audio.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Plaud One Explorer Edition sold out?

Yes. On 21 September 2026 Plaud's product page lists it at $249.99 and marks it Out of Stock, with the note that the current pre-order has ended and a waitlist signup in place of checkout. The edition is limited to 2,000 units worldwide.

When will Plaud One pre-orders reopen?

Plaud has not published a date. The page only says to join the waitlist to be the first to know when pre-orders reopen, and that estimated shipping timing is shown at checkout.

What is the closest in-stock alternative to Plaud One?

If you want recording earbuds, the viaim RecDot at $229.00 is the closest match on features, and the viaim Nano+ at $149.99 is the lowest-priced. If you mainly wanted Plaud's long-running recorder in the case, the Plaud Note Pro at $189.00 records for up to 50 hours.

Can I get Plaud's software without waiting for Plaud One?

Yes. The Plaud Note, Note Pro and NotePin S are all in stock on plaud.ai and use the same Plaud app, with a free Starter plan of 300 transcription minutes a month.

Is there an alternative that works without pressing record?

Omi is sold as an always-listening pendant at $179.00. Legend One is always on with nothing to press and turns speech into text on the device without creating an audio file. Bee uses a single press of its button to start and stop capture.

Where Legend fits

Legend One is not a Plaud One substitute for meetings or calls, and we would not pitch it that way. It is an AI memory pendant made for people with ADHD, worn at chest height, always on with nothing to press. It turns speech into text on the device as it is spoken, so no audio file is ever created, and it syncs that text to the Legend App when you are back in Bluetooth range. If what you really wanted from Plaud One was to stop losing the unplanned conversations, Legend One is built for exactly that, at $499 USD including the first year of membership.

Sources: maker pages checked 21 September 2026 at plaud.ai (Plaud One Explorer Edition, Note Pro, NotePin S, Note), store.viaim.ai (RecDot, Nano+), oso8.com (OSO AI Earbuds), omi.me (Omi) and bee.computer (Bee). Bee ownership: TechCrunch, 12 January 2026. Image: Plaud.

0 comments