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
Handy
Completely free MIT-licensed local Whisper dictation for Mac, Windows, and Linux - no cap, no account, zero telemetry.
Pros
- +Completely free - no subscription, no account, no word cap of any kind
- +MIT-licensed open source with 23,000+ GitHub stars - codebase publicly auditable
- +Supports Whisper, Parakeet V2/V3, and Moonshine - broader model choice than HyperVoice
- +Sends no telemetry at all - nothing leaves your machine beyond transcription
- +Mac, Windows, and Linux support
Cons
- −Raw transcription only - no AI style cleanup, inline commands, or autocomplete
- −Press-to-record workflow with a 2-5 second processing pause after release
- −No polished installer or automatic update channel
Free (MIT open source)
3
Spokenly
Free local Whisper and Parakeet dictation for Mac, Windows, and iPhone - no cap, BYOK for cloud speed.
Pros
- +Free local tier with no account and no daily word cap
- +Runs Whisper Large-v3 and NVIDIA Parakeet locally for higher accuracy
- +Mac, Windows, and iPhone support
- +BYOK cloud routing to OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq, Anthropic, or Google at zero markup
- +MCP server and Agent mode for AI coding workflows
Cons
- −Dictation only - no inline AI commands, meeting transcription, or autocomplete
- −No Linux build
- −Pro tier ($9.99/mo) routes through third-party cloud subprocessors
4
OpenWhispr
Free MIT open-source dictation for Mac, Windows, and Linux with meeting auto-detection and MCP server.
Pros
- +Free from source with local Whisper and NVIDIA Parakeet - no daily word cap
- +MIT-licensed, 3,700+ GitHub stars - codebase publicly auditable
- +Auto-detects Zoom, Teams, and FaceTime meetings with on-device voice fingerprinting
- +MCP server and public API for AI agent and coding workflows
- +Mac, Windows, and Linux support
Cons
- −Pre-built Lazy Edition costs $8/mo or $80/yr - self-build required for free use
- −No inline AI commands, text polish, or autocomplete
- −Fewer Whisper model variants than HyperVoice
5
Superwhisper
Polished commercial local Whisper for macOS, Windows, and iOS - mature app with a lifetime option.
Pros
- +Fully local Whisper transcription - audio never leaves the device
- +macOS, Windows, and iOS with a polished iOS companion app
- +Mature commercial app with guided setup, large-v3 support, and frequent updates
- +Free tier available with limited model choice
- +$249 lifetime licence available for those who prefer no subscription
Cons
- −$249 lifetime is five times more expensive than HyperVoice ($49.99)
- −Dictation only - no inline AI commands, meeting transcription, or autocomplete
- −No Linux build
6
Voibe
Local Whisper for Apple Silicon Mac with Dev Mode for VS Code and Cursor file resolution.
Pros
- +Fully local on Apple Silicon - audio stays on device, sub-300ms latency claimed
- +Dev Mode resolves the active file in VS Code or Cursor for context-aware dictation
- +Live Dictation mode shows words on-screen before inserting them
- +$149 lifetime licence with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- +No cloud components at any tier
Cons
- −macOS 13+ Apple Silicon only - no Windows, Linux, or Intel Mac
- −Dictation only - no meeting transcription, AI commands, or autocomplete
- −$149 lifetime is more expensive than HyperVoice ($49.99)
7
Weesper Neon Flow
Cross-platform local Whisper dictation with 50+ languages at an affordable price.
Pros
- +Works on Mac, Windows, and Linux with local Whisper transcription
- +50+ language support with on-device inference
- +Affordable at 5 EUR/mo or 99 EUR lifetime
- +Actively maintained with a focus on independent local-AI dictation
Cons
- −Dictation-focused - no inline AI command layer or autocomplete
- −Smaller install base and community than more established tools
- −No iOS or Android companion app