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
Superwhisper
Most mature local-Whisper dictation on Mac, Windows, and iOS - polished UX and a free tier.
Pros
- +Fully local Whisper transcription - audio never leaves the device
- +iOS app for on-the-go dictation syncing with Mac and Windows
- +Ships on macOS, Windows, and iOS - broader platform support than Voibe
- +Free tier available before committing to $8.49/mo or $249 lifetime
- +Mature support for large-v3 and distil-large-v3 Whisper variants
Cons
- −Voice dictation only - no VS Code Dev Mode equivalent, no AI commands, no meeting recap
- −No Linux support
- −Lifetime is $249 vs. Voibe's $149 - more expensive
3
VoiceInk
Open-source local Whisper dictation for macOS - auditable code, one-time price from $25.
Pros
- +Fully local Whisper inference - audio never leaves the device
- +GPL v3 open source - codebase is publicly auditable on GitHub (4,300+ stars)
- +One-time price from $25 (one Mac) to $49 (three Macs) with lifetime updates
- +Power Mode adjusts dictation style per active app
- +Significantly cheaper than Voibe at $25-49 vs. $149 lifetime
Cons
- −macOS-only, Apple Silicon required (macOS 14.4+)
- −No AI commands, no meeting recap, no polish layer
- −Less polished UI than Voibe; smaller team
- −No Windows or Linux
4
Spokenly
Free cross-platform local dictation with BYOK cloud routing and an MCP server for AI coding agents.
Pros
- +Completely free with local Whisper Large-v3 and NVIDIA Parakeet - no word cap, no account required
- +BYOK cloud transcription: route to OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq, or Anthropic at zero Spokenly markup
- +MCP server so AI coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor) can receive voice input directly
- +Agent mode turns voice commands into macOS system automation
- +Mac, Windows, and iOS support - broader than Voibe
Cons
- −Raw transcription only - no Dev Mode file resolution, no AI commands, no meeting recap
- −No Linux
- −Pro tier ($9.99/mo) has no lifetime option
5
MacWhisper
Mac-only local Whisper, one-time price, best in class for batch transcribing audio files.
Pros
- +Local Whisper inference - one-time price, no subscription ever
- +Best-in-class batch transcription of audio files (drag and drop folders)
- +Mature support for large-v3 and distil-large-v3 models
- +Cheaper than Voibe for users who primarily work with audio files
Cons
- −Mac-only
- −File transcription is the primary workflow - not optimised for live in-app dictation like Voibe
- −No Dev Mode, no AI commands, no live word display
6
DictaFlow
App-aware local Whisper dictation with optional cloud AI formatting and a free tier.
Pros
- +App-Aware context detection adjusts formatting per active app (Slack, Gmail, VS Code)
- +"Actually Override" hands-free voice correction rewrites in-place on a voice command
- +Local Whisper for transcription - audio stays on device by default
- +Free tier with 2,000 words per month
- +Mac, Windows, and iOS support - broader than Voibe
Cons
- −Optional cloud AI formatting layer sends text to DictaFlow servers when enabled
- −No Linux
- −$7/mo subscription - no lifetime option
- −No meeting recap or full inline AI command layer
7
Handy
Free MIT-licensed open-source local dictation for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Pros
- +Completely free - no subscription, no word cap, no account required
- +MIT-licensed open source - codebase is publicly auditable
- +Mac, Windows, and Linux support - the only free local pick that covers Linux
- +Supports Whisper, Parakeet V2/V3, and Moonshine for wider STT model choice
Cons
- −Raw transcription only - no Dev Mode file resolution, no AI polish or commands
- −Press-to-record UX with 2-5 second processing pause after release - no Live Dictation
- −No mobile app
- −Community-maintained with limited commercial support
Free (MIT open source)
8
Wispr Flow
Polished cloud dictation on Mac, Windows, and mobile - the most compliance-ready option.
Pros
- +Mature, polished voice UX refined over many releases
- +SOC 2 Type II + HIPAA-ready for regulated enterprises and healthcare
- +Optional Privacy Mode retains no audio or transcripts after processing
- +IDE integrations for Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code with file tagging
- +Available on macOS, Windows, and iPhone
Cons
- −Cloud-only - audio leaves your machine on every dictation, unlike Voibe's local-first model
- −No Linux, no Android
- −$15/mo subscription - no free tier, no lifetime option
- −Voice dictation only - no meeting recap