On-device
Runs on your Mac’s GPU
Default ASR is local via MLX. No upload for local mode — so there’s no network round-trip waiting on a remote queue.
MacWispr · free · on-device
Don’t type. Just speak.
Local speech-to-text on Apple Silicon. Typically under half a second. No account. No cloud queue. Your voice stays on your Mac by default.
macOS 14+
Apple Silicon
MIT open source
Why MacWispr
Fast, private, free.
Option + Space
Hold or toggle. Speak. Text lands in the app you’re already using.
Option+Space
$0
Forever free. MIT licensed. No trial cliff.
Built for Apple Silicon
Requires macOS 14+ on Apple Silicon. Focused Mac app — not a cross-platform compromise.
macOS 14+
Apple Silicon
Private by default
No account. Local ASR keeps audio on-device. Optional telemetry is opt-in, anonymous, and never includes what you said — read the full policy.
Updates itself
Sparkle is built in. Check for Updates from the menu — no hunting for a new DMG.
At a glance
What you get
Local (default)
- On-device ASR
- Typically <0.5s
- No account
- Free forever
- Open source
Optional extras
- BYOK cloud STT if you want it
- Optional text polish
- Custom vocabulary (on-device)
- Opt-in reliability telemetry
- Menu-bar + system-wide insert
Setup
Three steps
-
01
Download
Latest release for Apple Silicon.
-
02
Install
Drag into Applications. On first open, use right-click → Open if macOS Gatekeeper asks.
-
03
Dictate
Allow Mic + Accessibility, then press Option Space.
Speak freely on your Mac.
Free, local-first dictation for Apple Silicon. MIT open source.