Voice AI · Reviewed November 8, 2026
VoiceInk open source Mac dictation app brand logo mark

VoiceInk

VoiceInk is an open-source Mac dictation app that transcribes speech locally, sold as a one-time licence with no subscription.

Pricing
Free Trial
Rating
4.85/ 5 · 105 reviews
Last reviewed
November 8, 2026
Channels
VoiceInk homepage presenting its private, local voice-to-text dictation app for Mac
01

Overview

VoiceInk

VoiceInk is a voice-to-text dictation app for Mac that transcribes your speech with local AI models, so your voice never leaves the machine. VoiceInk runs models such as Parakeet and WhisperKit on Apple Silicon, types the result into any app, and can optionally send the transcribed text, never the audio, to a cloud model for cleanup. It removes filler words, structures longer notes, rewrites selected text on a spoken command, and keeps a personal dictionary for names and product terms.

Production credibility: VoiceInk is built in public by an independent developer known as Pax, and its source code is on GitHub under the GPL-3.0 licence, so anyone can audit it or build it themselves. The site reports more than 200,000 downloads and a 4.9 average rating, and an iOS app is now available. It requires an Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 14.4 or later. Pricing on its own page is a one-time purchase with lifetime updates and a 14-day money-back guarantee: Solo at $25 for one Mac, Personal at $39 for two and Extended at $49 for three. A free trial download is available, and students can ask for a discount.

Key Features

  • Local transcription with Parakeet and WhisperKit models on Apple Silicon
  • Dictation into any Mac app, with filler words and repetition removed
  • Optional cloud enhancement that sends text only, never audio
  • Personal dictionary and Smart Replace for names and text expansions
  • Spoken commands to rewrite selected text, and notes saved to a Markdown journal
  • Open source under GPL-3.0, with an iOS app also available

Ideal Use Case

Mac users who want private, offline dictation and dislike subscriptions: writers, students and developers prompting AI coding tools. Teams with strict data rules can read the source code, and anyone comfortable with Xcode can build it for free.

How VoiceInk differentiates

Wispr Flow and Willow Voice charge monthly and process audio in the cloud. Superwhisper also runs locally but is sold as a subscription or a lifetime licence. VoiceInk is open source and costs $25 once for one Mac, which makes it the low-cost local option. The limits are Apple Silicon only, no Windows app, and support from a single developer.

FAQ

Q: What is VoiceInk? A: VoiceInk is a voice-to-text dictation app for Mac that transcribes speech with local AI models and types the text into any app.

Q: Is VoiceInk open source? A: Yes. VoiceInk's source code is public on GitHub under the GPL-3.0 licence, so you can audit it or build it yourself.

Q: How much does VoiceInk cost? A: VoiceInk is a one-time purchase with lifetime updates: $25 for one Mac, $39 for two and $49 for three, with a 14-day money-back guarantee and a free trial.

Q: Does VoiceInk send my voice to the cloud? A: No. Transcription runs locally on your Mac. Optional cloud enhancement sends only the transcribed text, not your audio.

Q: How does VoiceInk compare with Superwhisper? A: Both transcribe locally on a Mac. VoiceInk is open source and sold as a one-time $25 licence, while Superwhisper adds Windows and Android apps and cloud models on a subscription or lifetime licence.

tl;dr

VoiceInk is an open-source, local dictation app for Apple Silicon Macs, with an iOS app, sold as a one-time licence from $25 with lifetime updates. Audio never leaves the device.

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Key Features

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Open Source
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Why Use VoiceInk

Rating
4.85
Across 105 verified reviews
Saved
279
By ToolDirectory readers
Pricing
Free Trial
Publisher-listed pricing model
Listed
Since 2026
Continuously re-reviewed by editors
Category
Voice AI
Primary listing
Verified by editors during the most recent review · ToolDirectory.AI
VoiceInk homepage presenting its private, local voice-to-text dictation app for Mac
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User Reviews

4.85
Out of 5 · 105 ratings
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