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
Typilot
Full AI desktop suite with dictation, 27 inline commands, ghost-text autocomplete, and meeting transcription - macOS, Windows, Linux.
Pros
- +Runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux - unlike OmniDictate
- +27 inline AI command triggers (gen:, fix:, rew:, sum:, trl:, img:, and more) work in any app
- +Ghost-text autocomplete via a local Ollama model in any text field
- +On-device meeting transcription with speaker diarization - mic + system audio
- +All audio stays local - no cloud, no account required
Cons
- −Paid - $7.99/mo or $199 lifetime (3-day free trial); OmniDictate is free for personal use
- −Requires Ollama installed locally for AI command and autocomplete features
3
Whisperstream
One-time $29 Windows dictation app with app-aware AI formatting and Whisper local transcription.
Pros
- +$29 one-time - cheaper than a Typilot subscription for long-term use
- +App-aware AI formatting understands context (email vs code vs chat) and formats output accordingly
- +Local Whisper transcription - no audio leaves device
- +Custom vocabulary and hotkey control
Cons
- −Windows only - no macOS or Linux support, same as OmniDictate
- −No AI command triggers or ghost-text autocomplete beyond dictation formatting
- −No meeting transcription with speaker diarization
4
Murmur
Local Whisper dictation for Windows and Mac at €39.97 lifetime, with built-in AI cleanup and filler removal.
Pros
- +Runs on Windows and Mac - adds macOS support OmniDictate lacks
- +€39.97 lifetime - no subscription, low entry cost
- +Built-in AI cleanup and filler removal on top of local Whisper transcription
- +No internet connection required at any tier
Cons
- −No Linux support
- −No AI command layer or ghost-text autocomplete
- −No meeting transcription with speaker diarization
5
HyperVoice
Free 500-words/day cross-platform dictation with Vulkan GPU acceleration on Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Pros
- +Free tier of 500 words per day - no credit card, no account required
- +Runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS - full cross-platform coverage OmniDictate lacks
- +Vulkan GPU acceleration works across NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel GPUs
- +$49.99 lifetime upgrade for unlimited dictation
Cons
- −Free tier is capped at 500 words/day - OmniDictate has no word cap
- −No AI command layer, no autocomplete, no meeting transcription
6
Handy
Free MIT open-source dictation for Mac, Windows, and Linux with Whisper Large-v3, Parakeet, and Moonshine support.
Pros
- +Completely free and open-source (MIT) - no licence restrictions like OmniDictate's CC BY-NC 4.0
- +Runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux with 23k+ GitHub stars
- +Supports Whisper Large-v3, NVIDIA Parakeet, and Moonshine models locally
- +No account, no cloud, no word cap
Cons
- −No AI command triggers, no ghost-text autocomplete
- −No meeting transcription with speaker diarization
- −Requires manual model download and setup
7
OpenWhispr
Free MIT cross-platform dictation with on-device meeting diarization and multi-speaker label support.
Pros
- +Free and open-source (MIT) - no commercial licence restrictions
- +Runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux
- +On-device meeting transcription with multi-speaker diarization - a rare free feature
- +No cloud, no account, works fully offline
Cons
- −No AI command layer or ghost-text autocomplete beyond transcription
- −Smaller community than Handy (23k stars) or OmniDictate
8
Spokenly
Local Whisper dictation for Mac, Windows, and iOS with a free local tier and no word cap.
Pros
- +Free local tier with no word cap - no account required
- +Runs on macOS, Windows, and iOS - cross-platform beyond Windows
- +Whisper Large-v3 and Parakeet local models, fully offline
- +Simple setup with a polished native UI
Cons
- −No Linux support
- −No AI command triggers, no ghost-text autocomplete, no meeting transcription