Dictivo
Language English
English English Deutsch German Français French Español Spanish Italiano Italian Nederlands Dutch Português Portuguese 简体中文 Simplified Chinese 繁體中文 Traditional Chinese 日本語 Japanese 한국어 Korean
Downloads
Offline dictation guide

Which Mac dictation apps keep audio local?

Use this guide when the deciding factor is where dictation audio is processed. It separates local/offline dictation from cloud transcription with retention controls.

Last updated

Short answer

For system-wide Mac dictation that keeps audio on the device, choose Dictivo Local for hotkey dictation with a clear Local vs Cloud Fast boundary, VoiceInk for local-first dictation with optional enhancement modes, Voice Type for simple hold-to-talk dictation in any text field, or Voibe in On-Device Mode for a polished, simple workflow (Intel Macs use cloud transcription). Superwhisper suits power users who want modes and automation, and keeps audio local only with local voice models selected. MacWhisper suits live dictation plus audio and video files; Aiko suits private transcription of recordings. Apple Dictation is the free built-in baseline; your Mac settings show whether it processes on the device. Wispr Flow is not an offline pick: its public docs say transcription occurs in the cloud. Dictivo Local, VoiceInk, Voice Type, MacWhisper Pro and Aiko are one-time purchases; Superwhisper and Voibe offer subscriptions or a one-time lifetime license; Wispr Flow Pro is a subscription.

Try your first sentence →

Offline dictation guide

Mac dictation apps compared by whether dictation audio stays local

Mac dictation apps compared by whether dictation audio stays local
App Does dictation audio stay local? Cloud or workflow caveat Best fit Price / purchase model Checked on
Dictivo Local Yes in Local mode. Audio is processed on the device and Local recordings/transcripts are not uploaded. Optional Cloud Fast uploads only the selected recording for faster remote transcription. Local-first hotkey dictation with a clear Local vs Cloud Fast boundary. One-time purchase
US$29 once until 31 October 2026, then US$49 from 1 November 2026. Includes 12 months of updates; optional renewal at US$24 a year.
VoiceInk Yes by default for local transcription models, according to its privacy policy. Optional cloud enhancement can send text to a provider. Review enabled features before using sensitive material. Local-first dictation with optional advanced enhancement modes. One-time purchase
Current offer: $25 for Solo (1 Mac), $39 for Personal (2 Macs), or $49 for Extended (3 Macs), with lifetime updates.
Voice Type Yes. Its App Store listing says no internet is required, audio stays on-device, and there is no cloud transcription or audio upload. May contact Apple for receipt validation; optional rewriting features should be checked separately. Simple hold-to-talk dictation in any text field. One-time purchase
Free for 7 days, then $19.99 once for lifetime access (App Store in-app purchase).
Voibe Only in On-Device Mode. Intel Macs use cloud transcription. It still collects account identifiers, usage analytics, and crash reports, but says dictated content is not included. Polished offline dictation for users who want a simple workflow. Subscription or one-time
Voibe Dictation: $9.90 a month list price (shown discounted to $7.50 on the checked date), $75 a year, or $149 once for lifetime access.
Superwhisper Yes if configured with local voice models. Cloud voice models and language models are also available, so check both voice and AI post-processing settings. Power users who want modes, local/cloud choice, and richer automation. Subscription or one-time
$8.49/month, $84.99/year, or $249.99 lifetime for Pro.
MacWhisper Yes by default for transcription. Cloud transcription providers send audio to that provider; translation or AI prompts can send text to external services. Live dictation plus audio/video file transcription. One-time purchase
€64 once for MacWhisper Pro, with lifetime updates. A free tier covers the smaller Whisper models.
Aiko Yes for transcription. Its App Store listing says Whisper runs locally on your device. It is more of a transcription app than live system-wide dictation. Private transcription of recordings and files. One-time purchase
US Mac App Store: $24.
Apple Dictation Sometimes. Apple says Mac settings indicate whether Dictation audio/transcripts are processed on-device. Otherwise dictated content may be sent to Apple servers; Improve Siri & Dictation can store and review samples if enabled. Built-in baseline when you want no extra app. Included with macOS.
Wispr Flow No for offline transcription. Its docs describe transcription as cloud-based. Model-improvement sharing and cloud storage have separate controls; transcription still runs in the cloud. Cloud AI dictation when remote processing is acceptable. Subscription
$15/user/month monthly or $12/user/month billed annually for Pro, as listed on Wispr Flow pricing.

Test the task you actually do

Try all Local models for 14 days without a card or Dictivo account. Download a model, dictate a short email or note, then check the text in the app you normally use. Compare the same sentence and workflow before switching.

Download for Mac Review pricing and trial terms

Try your first sentence →

Decision rule

Do not confuse local audio with zero retention

A local/offline dictation app keeps the speech recognition path on the device. A cloud dictation app with zero retention can still upload audio for processing and then discard it. Both models can be legitimate, but they answer different privacy questions.

When the audio is sensitive, use a local model path. When speed, mobile sync, or cloud rewriting matter more, a cloud product with strong retention controls may be acceptable.

Moving off cloud transcription? Compare a local workflow with Wispr Flow

Dictivo fit

When Dictivo is the stronger answer

Dictivo is the strongest fit when the user wants system-wide hotkey dictation, local audio by default, no Dictivo account for Local mode, and a visible choice between Local and optional Cloud Fast.

Try a short email or note in Local mode after installing the model. Turn off the network, check that transcription still completes, then review and paste the result into your usual app. Keep optional cloud processing off during this test.

Need Windows or a free option too? See the best dictation software by need

Offline dictation guide

Offline dictation questions

01 What is the best offline dictation app for Mac?

For everyday system-wide dictation, compare Dictivo Local, VoiceInk, Voice Type, and Voibe (On-Device Mode) first. Superwhisper is also a good local-capable option if you configure local models.

02 Is Wispr Flow an offline dictation app?

No. Wispr Flow's public docs describe transcription as cloud-based. Its Model-improvement sharing and cloud storage have separate controls; transcription still runs in the cloud.

03 Is Dictivo fully offline?

Dictivo Local mode keeps dictation audio on the device after the local model is installed. The app can still use the network for updates, license or billing actions, support, and optional Cloud Fast.

04 Which apps handle recorded files?

MacWhisper supports dictation and files; Aiko transcribes recordings.

Evidence

How Dictivo decides local model fit

Dictivo's Mac model recommendations are backed by a local calibration method that measures real-time factor and maps the result to Fast, Medium, and Quality local model tiers.

Read the Mac dictation benchmark method or hear the 25-second human-speech sample and inspect its actual output.

Offline dictation guide

References