Comparison of Dictation Apps
I was motivated to investigate dictation apps by a recent decision to try my hand at writing fiction, thinking it would be nicer to dictate passages than type them.
You can see that some of the specific tests in my comparison (such as the ability to recognize spoken passages and put quotation marks around them) were included because of my intended use, and thus might not be of general interest.
But I'm sharing what I found anyways in case at least part of what I've done might be helpful to you.
I've divided the apps into two categories: Those I've run locally, and those I've run cloud-based (I say "run" rather than "are", since several are able to do both).
I explored both because I use both a 2019 i9 iMac for my desktop work, and an M1 Pro MacBook Pro for my mobile work
Practically speaking, the iMac can only use cloud–based apps: While models from two of the two best–known packages that are available for local installation (OpenAI's Whisper, and NVIDIA's Parakeet) can be run on an Intel Mac, both transcribe so slowly that neither is practical—though Parakeet V3 (V2 can't run on an Intel Mac, but V3 can) is less egregiously slow than Whisper V3 Turbo.
Thus I focused the cloud-based testing on my iMac. The results should be computer–agnostic, since the dictation is being processed in the cloud. Indeed, I did test Spokenly's cloud-based implementation with both my iMac and M1 Pro MBP, and found nearly the same results when using the same model.
The one small difference I saw may be due to the microphone, since these programs can be mic-sensitive in subtle ways.* [On my iMac, I used the Anker PowerConfC200 webcam, while on the MBP I used the BOYA CM-40 boom mic.\]
*For instance, one of my tests was to see if the program could correctly transcribe the plural possessive in the following sentence: "On many superhero teams, the heroes' costumes are each a different color." On one program, it gave hero's with the mic on my MBP (a mistake), but heroes' with the BOYA boom mic.
And the local testing was mostly done using my M1 MBP.
Overall, I found the cloud-based apps are superior to the locally-installed ones for both speed and capability. One striking difference is that many of the cloud-based apps are able to recognize spoken passages in fiction and thus surround them with quotation marks. By contrast, none of the locally-installed apps are able to do that. In addition, the cloud-based apps generally have much more capability to accept voice commands for formatting and punctuation than the locally-installed apps.
But if you have a much slower internet connection than me (mine is 940 Mbps up/down), and a better-performing computer (mine is only an M1 Pro), you might find the relative speed of local vs. cloud to be flipped from what I found. But that won't change the relative capabilities of the two categories.
The one feature I really wanted was real-time (text appears as you talk), insert-anywhere dictation, like one gets with Apple Dictation. Unfortunately, I was only able to find one app that does that: Talk Type (a cloud-based app). Unfortunately, it is not as capable as the others in its category.
Overall, the best-performing app for me seems to be Aqua Voice, so that's probably the one I'll be purchasing. And its privacy policy says that if you activate its privacy mode, none of the dictation content is retained. Though while it is certified under both SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001:2022, I don't know if this privacy policy is specifically enforced/guaranteed, under those certifications, by an external accrediting (so I wrote them to ask; I'll update this post if/when I get an answer).
Finally, this served as a nice reminder that AI is fundamentally dumb: It's not smart enough to understand grammatical rules, since it's been trained on patterns, not what they mean. For that reason, if a certain compound adjective isn't in its training set as being hyphenated, it's not going to hyphenate it when it transcribes your spoken voice. I dicated much of the above using
I was motivated to investigate dictation apps by a recent decision to try my hand at writing fiction, thinking it would be nicer to dictate passages than type them.
You can see that some of the specific tests in my comparison (such as the ability to recognize spoken passages and put quotation marks around them) were included because of my intended use, and thus might not be of general interest.
But I'm sharing what I found anyways in case at least part of what I've done might be helpful to you.
I've divided the apps into two categories: Those I've run locally, and those I've run cloud-based (I say "run" rather than "are", since several are able to do both).
I explored both because I use both a 2019 i9 iMac for my desktop work, and an M1 Pro MacBook Pro for my mobile work
Practically speaking, the iMac can only use cloud–based apps: While models from two of the two best–known packages that are available for local installation (OpenAI's Whisper, and NVIDIA's Parakeet) can be run on an Intel Mac, both transcribe so slowly that neither is practical—though Parakeet V3 (V2 can't run on an Intel Mac, but V3 can) is less egregiously slow than Whisper V3 Turbo.
Thus I focused the cloud-based testing on my iMac. The results should be computer–agnostic, since the dictation is being processed in the cloud. Indeed, I did test Spokenly's cloud-based implementation with both my iMac and M1 Pro MBP, and found nearly the same results when using the same model.
The one small difference I saw may be due to the microphone, since these programs can be mic-sensitive in subtle ways.* [On my iMac, I used the Anker PowerConfC200 webcam, while on the MBP I used the BOYA CM-40 boom mic.\]
*For instance, one of my tests was to see if the program could correctly transcribe the plural possessive in the following sentence: "On many superhero teams, the heroes' costumes are each a different color." On one program, it gave hero's with the mic on my MBP (a mistake), but heroes' with the BOYA boom mic.
And the local testing was mostly done using my M1 MBP.
Overall, I found the cloud-based apps are superior to the locally-installed ones for both speed and capability. One striking difference is that many of the cloud-based apps are able to recognize spoken passages in fiction and thus surround them with quotation marks. By contrast, none of the locally-installed apps are able to do that. In addition, the cloud-based apps generally have much more capability to accept voice commands for formatting and punctuation than the locally-installed apps.
But if you have a much slower internet connection than me (mine is 940 Mbps up/down), and a better-performing computer (mine is only an M1 Pro), you might find the relative speed of local vs. cloud to be flipped from what I found. But that won't change the relative capabilities of the two categories.
The one feature I really wanted was real-time (text appears as you talk), insert-anywhere dictation, like one gets with Apple Dictation. Unfortunately, I was only able to find one app that does that: Talk Type (a cloud-based app). Unfortunately, it is not as capable as the others in its category.
Overall, the best-performing app for me seems to be Aqua Voice, so that's probably the one I'll be purchasing. And its privacy policy says that if you activate its privacy mode, none of the dictation content is retained. Though while it is certified under both SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001:2022, I don't know if this privacy policy is specifically enforced/guaranteed, under those certifications, by an external accrediting (so I wrote them to ask; I'll update this post if/when I get an answer).
Finally, this served as a nice reminder that AI is fundamentally dumb: It's not smart enough to understand grammatical rules, since it's been trained on patterns, not what they mean. For that reason, if a certain compound adjective isn't in its training set as being hyphenated, it's not going to hyphenate it when it transcribes your spoken voice. I dicated much of the above using
one of the programs, but then had to go back and manually add most of the hyphens.
These tables summarize my results. You'll probably need to click on them to made them big enough to read.
CLOUD-BASED PROCESSING (tested mostly with my 2019 i9 iMac)
https://preview.redd.it/iliryku1n37h1.png?width=3750&format=png&auto=webp&s=aa1efac34dfe3e05294ecb4dc5eb51d3391a2306
LOCAL PROCESSING (tested mostly with my M1 Pro MacBook Pro)
https://preview.redd.it/nb1afyhdn37h1.png?width=3824&format=png&auto=webp&s=a2b18810309b3baf0b06cbcd9d7ade525c3ec59f
FYI, here's the internet performance on my iMac, tested using Speedtest's locally-installed app (more accurate than their web browser, which is unsuitable for high internet speeds):
https://preview.redd.it/vkm20loco37h1.png?width=618&format=png&auto=webp&s=bdeb7066cb589175df83ada15fdc6824069bc002
*****
Separately: It occurs to me the killer app that combines privacy and performance would be one that includes both a locally-installed dictation model (like Parakeet) and a locally-installed LLM for polishing. Then you could have the best of both worlds--the privacy of fully-local operation combined with the capabilities and polish of a cloud-based app.
And of course it would also have real-time (text appears as you talk), insert-anywhere dictation 😉.
Alas, a key downside of this approach is that it would only run well on a high-performance machine, like an M5 with a sufficiently large amount of RAM. Though I may have such a machine soon, as I'm hoping to pick up an M5 Max Studio later this year when they're finally released.
https://redd.it/1u4zho1
@macappsbackup
These tables summarize my results. You'll probably need to click on them to made them big enough to read.
CLOUD-BASED PROCESSING (tested mostly with my 2019 i9 iMac)
https://preview.redd.it/iliryku1n37h1.png?width=3750&format=png&auto=webp&s=aa1efac34dfe3e05294ecb4dc5eb51d3391a2306
LOCAL PROCESSING (tested mostly with my M1 Pro MacBook Pro)
https://preview.redd.it/nb1afyhdn37h1.png?width=3824&format=png&auto=webp&s=a2b18810309b3baf0b06cbcd9d7ade525c3ec59f
FYI, here's the internet performance on my iMac, tested using Speedtest's locally-installed app (more accurate than their web browser, which is unsuitable for high internet speeds):
https://preview.redd.it/vkm20loco37h1.png?width=618&format=png&auto=webp&s=bdeb7066cb589175df83ada15fdc6824069bc002
*****
Separately: It occurs to me the killer app that combines privacy and performance would be one that includes both a locally-installed dictation model (like Parakeet) and a locally-installed LLM for polishing. Then you could have the best of both worlds--the privacy of fully-local operation combined with the capabilities and polish of a cloud-based app.
And of course it would also have real-time (text appears as you talk), insert-anywhere dictation 😉.
Alas, a key downside of this approach is that it would only run well on a high-performance machine, like an M5 with a sufficiently large amount of RAM. Though I may have such a machine soon, as I'm hoping to pick up an M5 Max Studio later this year when they're finally released.
https://redd.it/1u4zho1
@macappsbackup
I launched Writers Studio, a native Mac writing app for fiction authors
https://redd.it/1u5uc2v
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1u5uc2v
@macappsbackup
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Prism - A native, OS-integrated macOS AI assistant (Launch Promo & Lifetime License)
https://redd.it/1u5tlfh
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1u5tlfh
@macappsbackup
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
[OS] Ironsmith - Create highly specific, personal Mac tools and apps, using on-device or cloud LLMs
https://redd.it/1u5y4oo
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1u5y4oo
@macappsbackup
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
[OS] I built a small open-source macOS menu bar app for World Cup 2026 scores
because I got tired of checking manually
https://redd.it/1u5zoel
@macappsbackup
because I got tired of checking manually
https://redd.it/1u5zoel
@macappsbackup
Looking for a Countdown app with Mac menubar and iOS widgets
Hi. I am looking for a countdown app that syncs across Mac and ioS, uses the menubar on Mac and widgets on iOS. So, something like a fusion of Moment and Pretty progress . Any ideas?
https://redd.it/1u68s1v
@macappsbackup
Hi. I am looking for a countdown app that syncs across Mac and ioS, uses the menubar on Mac and widgets on iOS. So, something like a fusion of Moment and Pretty progress . Any ideas?
https://redd.it/1u68s1v
@macappsbackup
fireball.studio
Moment
Every Day Counts!
Vois 2.0: local Voice AI studio for Mac with 100+ voices, Voice Design, no per character meter
https://i.redd.it/86f9gtt9vd7h1.gif
I am Praney, founder of Vois. I posted an earlier version here a few months ago, and this is a Vois 2.0 update for people who who need local TTS for their AudioBooks, Podcasts, Games, Voiceovers, Faceless Youtube videos, without counting tokens.
About me and Vois:
\- Founder LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/praney-behl-b9129313/
\- Official site: https://vois.so
\- Official download: https://vois.so/download
\- Privacy policy: https://vois.so/legal/privacy
\- Terms: https://vois.so/legal/terms
Problem:
Cloud TTS pricing punishes iteration.
If you are making an audiobook, podcast, YouTube voiceover, app narration, training script, or game dialogue, the workflow is not one clean generation. It is retakes, pacing fixes, pronunciation edits, alternate reads, chapter revisions, and lines that are technically correct but emotionally wrong.
Most cloud voice tools make every retry feel billable. They also require your scripts to leave your machine.
Vois is built around the opposite workflow: generate locally on your desktop, keep scripts on your machine, and redo lines without watching a per-character meter on paid plans.
What changed since my earlier r/MacApps post
Vois 2.0 is now much closer to the full local voice studio I originally wanted to build:
\- 100+ studio-quality voices across creator, narrator, app, assistant, and character categories.
\- Voice cloning from a consented sample on paid plans.
\- Voice Design in Pro, so you can describe a voice instead of only picking from presets.
\- Omni in Pro for 600+ languages.
\- Script, cast, generate, retake, master, and export in one app.
\- Local generation on Mac Apple Silicon and Windows.
\- No script upload for generation.
The thing I care about most is the iteration loop. You should be able to try the line again without doing character-budget math in your head.
Comparison:
ElevenLabs, Murf, and PlayHT are strong cloud voice tools, especially if you want a browser-first service or hosted API workflow.
Vois is different in a few ways:
\- It is an installable desktop studio, not just a web prompt box.
\- Generation runs locally instead of sending scripts to a cloud TTS service.
\- Paid plans are flat subscriptions rather than per-character usage pools.
\- The workflow includes editor, voice casting, retakes, mastering, and export.
Compared with wiring open-source voice models yourself, Vois is for people who want the studio around the model: voice library, project workflow, timeline, mastering, export, and a Mac-friendly product surface.
Pricing
Normal pricing:
\- Subscriber: USD 29/month.
\- Pro: USD 49/month.
Founders pricing is open this week for the first 100 founders and starts at USD 10/month:
\- Subscriber: use FOUNDERLOCAL.
\- Pro: use FOUNDERPRO.
Monthly only. Ends June 21. Founders keep the monthly rate while the subscription stays active.
Pricing page: https://vois.so/pricing
There is also a free trial so you can test the workflow before deciding.
What I would love feedback on. Happy to answer technical questions too.
https://redd.it/1u67n2n
@macappsbackup
https://i.redd.it/86f9gtt9vd7h1.gif
I am Praney, founder of Vois. I posted an earlier version here a few months ago, and this is a Vois 2.0 update for people who who need local TTS for their AudioBooks, Podcasts, Games, Voiceovers, Faceless Youtube videos, without counting tokens.
About me and Vois:
\- Founder LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/praney-behl-b9129313/
\- Official site: https://vois.so
\- Official download: https://vois.so/download
\- Privacy policy: https://vois.so/legal/privacy
\- Terms: https://vois.so/legal/terms
Problem:
Cloud TTS pricing punishes iteration.
If you are making an audiobook, podcast, YouTube voiceover, app narration, training script, or game dialogue, the workflow is not one clean generation. It is retakes, pacing fixes, pronunciation edits, alternate reads, chapter revisions, and lines that are technically correct but emotionally wrong.
Most cloud voice tools make every retry feel billable. They also require your scripts to leave your machine.
Vois is built around the opposite workflow: generate locally on your desktop, keep scripts on your machine, and redo lines without watching a per-character meter on paid plans.
What changed since my earlier r/MacApps post
Vois 2.0 is now much closer to the full local voice studio I originally wanted to build:
\- 100+ studio-quality voices across creator, narrator, app, assistant, and character categories.
\- Voice cloning from a consented sample on paid plans.
\- Voice Design in Pro, so you can describe a voice instead of only picking from presets.
\- Omni in Pro for 600+ languages.
\- Script, cast, generate, retake, master, and export in one app.
\- Local generation on Mac Apple Silicon and Windows.
\- No script upload for generation.
The thing I care about most is the iteration loop. You should be able to try the line again without doing character-budget math in your head.
Comparison:
ElevenLabs, Murf, and PlayHT are strong cloud voice tools, especially if you want a browser-first service or hosted API workflow.
Vois is different in a few ways:
\- It is an installable desktop studio, not just a web prompt box.
\- Generation runs locally instead of sending scripts to a cloud TTS service.
\- Paid plans are flat subscriptions rather than per-character usage pools.
\- The workflow includes editor, voice casting, retakes, mastering, and export.
Compared with wiring open-source voice models yourself, Vois is for people who want the studio around the model: voice library, project workflow, timeline, mastering, export, and a Mac-friendly product surface.
Pricing
Normal pricing:
\- Subscriber: USD 29/month.
\- Pro: USD 49/month.
Founders pricing is open this week for the first 100 founders and starts at USD 10/month:
\- Subscriber: use FOUNDERLOCAL.
\- Pro: use FOUNDERPRO.
Monthly only. Ends June 21. Founders keep the monthly rate while the subscription stays active.
Pricing page: https://vois.so/pricing
There is also a free trial so you can test the workflow before deciding.
What I would love feedback on. Happy to answer technical questions too.
https://redd.it/1u67n2n
@macappsbackup
Requesting Screenshot App for Mac - FOSS preferrred
Looking for a screenshot app on Mac
\- I am aware of Cmd Shift 5, but it is too much finger gymnastics since I take screenshots often.
\- I prefer to annotate (line, arrow, box, rectangle, add text, blur) and to repeat same area capture again.
\- I used to use Shottr which was great but it is not Open source, and it has nag/reminder screens which appear more than once lifetime. I prefer to avoid this, if there is a good alternative.
\- I have used Flameshot on Windows, and I tried it on Mac, but it did not feel reliable, nor did it feel native. Link to Flameshot.
Any recommendations for a good one on Mac? Free and popular open source preferred.
https://redd.it/1u6b7is
@macappsbackup
Looking for a screenshot app on Mac
\- I am aware of Cmd Shift 5, but it is too much finger gymnastics since I take screenshots often.
\- I prefer to annotate (line, arrow, box, rectangle, add text, blur) and to repeat same area capture again.
\- I used to use Shottr which was great but it is not Open source, and it has nag/reminder screens which appear more than once lifetime. I prefer to avoid this, if there is a good alternative.
\- I have used Flameshot on Windows, and I tried it on Mac, but it did not feel reliable, nor did it feel native. Link to Flameshot.
Any recommendations for a good one on Mac? Free and popular open source preferred.
https://redd.it/1u6b7is
@macappsbackup
Flameshot
Flameshot is a free and open-source, cross-platform tool to take screenshots with many built-in features to save you time.
[Update] Silkwave Voice: No-subscription Mac transcription & AI meeting notes app. Now with Audio Import and free AI Chat powered by Apple Intelligence’s ChatGPT extension. macOS 26+ only.
https://redd.it/1u6cpns
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1u6cpns
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit: [Update] Silkwave Voice: No-subscription Mac transcription & AI meeting notes app. Now with…
Explore this post and more from the macapps community