1Our pick · The all-in-one local AI assistant
Typilot.
The only entry on this list that does voice plus typing, polish, meetings, notes, and 27 inline AI commands - all locally, on macOS, Windows, and Linux. No cloud round-trip. Lifetime license option. Disclosure: we built it - that is why it is at the top.
2
Wispr Flow
Best-in-class cloud voice dictation for macOS and Windows - polished, fast, subscription-only.
Pros
- +Works across every macOS and Windows app with a global hotkey - not limited to a browser extension
- +Optional Privacy Mode with no audio or transcript retention; SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA-ready for regulated industries
- +Automatic filler-word removal and style adaptation built into transcription pipeline
- +Mature product with large user base and frequent updates
Cons
- −Cloud-only - audio goes to Wispr servers and listed subprocessors (OpenAI, Anthropic, Cerebras, AWS, Baseten)
- −No offline or local mode at any tier
- −$15-18/mo with no lifetime option - one of the pricier cloud dictation subscriptions
- −No Linux, no AI command layer, no meeting transcription with speaker diarization
3
Spokenly
Free local Whisper and Parakeet on Mac, Windows, and iPhone - or BYOK cloud; Pro managed tier available.
Pros
- +Free tier uses local Whisper Large-v3 and NVIDIA Parakeet on-device - no audio upload, no account, no word cap
- +BYOK option lets you route to OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq, or Anthropic at zero markup - pay the provider directly
- +macOS, Windows, and iOS native apps; MCP server for AI coding agents; Agent mode for voice macOS automation
- +Pro $9.99/mo adds Spokenly-managed cloud models (GPT-4o Transcribe, Deepgram Nova 3) without BYOK setup
Cons
- −Pro ($9.99/mo) routes through cloud subprocessors (Cerebras, Fireworks, Groq) for the managed tier
- −No AI command layer, no ghost-text autocomplete, no meeting transcription
- −No Linux native app
4
Superwhisper
Mature local Whisper dictation for macOS, Windows, and iOS - $249 lifetime or $8.49/mo.
Pros
- +Fully local Whisper transcription - audio never leaves the device at any tier
- +macOS, Windows, and iOS native apps; mature support for large-v3 and all Whisper model sizes
- +Lifetime license option ($249 one-time) - a clear alternative to monthly subscriptions
- +Excellent iOS app for mobile dictation that syncs with the desktop
Cons
- −Voice dictation only - no inline AI commands, no AI autocomplete, no meeting transcription with diarization
- −No Linux support
- −$249 lifetime is a higher upfront cost than most alternatives
5
Handy
Free MIT open-source local dictation for macOS, Windows, and Linux - press to record, release to transcribe.
Pros
- +Completely free and MIT open-source - no account, no subscription, no word cap, ever
- +macOS, Windows, and Linux - the broadest platform coverage of any free local dictation tool
- +Supports Whisper, Parakeet V2/V3, and Moonshine; 23,000+ GitHub stars; Raycast extension included
- +Audio never leaves the device - privacy guaranteed by design, not policy
Cons
- −No AI command layer, no AI polish, no meeting transcription, no autocomplete, no ghost text
- −No mobile app or subscription-funded support channel
- −2-5 s latency is higher than polished commercial apps
6
Aqua Voice
Cloud dictation tuned for code vocabulary - best for developers who are comfortable with cloud processing.
Pros
- +Avalon model fine-tuned for code vocabulary claims 97.4% accuracy on technical terms vs 65.1% for Whisper
- +SOC 2 Type II certified; Privacy Mode disables audio retention
- +49 languages; macOS and Windows native apps
- +$8/mo - comparable to BlabbyAI Pro without the browser-extension constraint
Cons
- −Cloud-only - audio goes to Aqua servers on every dictation even in Privacy Mode
- −No offline or local mode at any tier
- −No lifetime option; no Linux; no AI commands or meeting transcription
7
Typeless
Cloud dictation for Mac, Windows, and mobile - free 8,000 words/week, but privacy concerns noted.
Pros
- +Free 8,000 words per week - four times the BlabbyAI free tier - with no credit card required
- +Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android native apps; works in every app system-wide, not just in a browser
- +Automatic filler removal and writing-style adaptation on every dictation
Cons
- −An independent privacy analysis (Nov 2025) documented collection of browsing URLs, window titles, and clipboard via macOS Accessibility API - verify the current privacy policy before use
- −Cloud-only (AWS us-east-2) - audio leaves the device on every use; no offline mode
- −No named legal entity in the Terms of Service as of August 2026; no HIPAA BAA or SOC 2 certification
- −No AI command layer, no meeting transcription, no diarization, no lifetime option