Security & privacy.
Dictivo is local-first, not cloud-only. This page lists the boundary: what Local keeps on the device, what Cloud Fast uploads when you choose it, and how installs and updates are protected.
Local mode keeps voice data on your device.
Local dictation runs against an on-device speech engine. Dictivo processes microphone audio locally, transcribes it on the same machine, and keeps the transcript, history, dictionary, snippets, and local model state in your profile directory.
- No audio leaves the device while you use Local mode.
- Local transcripts never upload for storage, analytics, or model training.
- Local history and dictionary files live in your profile directory; you can delete them at any time.
Cloud Fast uploads only when you choose Cloud Fast.
Cloud Fast is an optional speed path. If you switch to Cloud Fast, Dictivo sends the recording you choose for faster transcription. Local recordings do not silently switch into Cloud Fast.
- Used in Cloud Fast — the selected recording audio needed to return the transcript.
- Kept local — dictionary terms, snippets, local history, and local settings.
- Returned to the app — transcript text, then local cleanup runs on the desktop.
What actually crosses the network.
A desktop product does need network access for licensing, updates, downloads, and optional Cloud Fast. Local mode keeps everyday dictation on your device.
- Updates — Dictivo checks for new desktop releases and verifies them before install.
- License activation — Local and Cloud Fast licenses are activated and cached separately.
- Model downloads — Local model files download when you choose or re-run local setup.
- Cloud Fast transcription — only after you select Cloud Fast and record audio.
- Anonymous usage statistics — off by default. Only if you turn on “Share anonymous usage statistics” in Settings does the app send metadata-only events (which step of setup was reached, whether microphone access was granted, dictation duration and word count). No audio, no transcript text, no file or app names. You can turn it off again at any time.
- Trial activation count — a single ping when the free trial produces its first result, carrying a hashed device ID, the platform, and the app version, so trials can be counted. It is sent once per install, contains no audio, text, or personal data, and is independent of the usage-statistics setting.
That list is the whole desktop network surface. Dictivo does not use third-party ads, third-party analytics, or hidden tracking in the desktop app, and no request in Local mode carries your audio or your transcript text. If you want to check it yourself, run the Local mode network test.
Verifiable downloads, signed where the platform allows it.
Every public desktop release is prepared for platform security checks before it reaches customers.
- Mac installer — built for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, Developer ID signed and notarized by Apple.
- Windows installer — NSIS and MSI builds for Windows 11 x64, publicly available. Not yet Authenticode-signed, so SmartScreen may show an unknown-publisher notice; verify the SHA-256 checksums published in downloads.json.
- Official downloads — available from the Dictivo website.
Updates verify themselves before they install.
Dictivo verifies app updates before replacing the running app, so update checks stay quiet and deliberate.
Tell us before you tell the internet.
If you think you've found a security issue in Dictivo, the desktop installers, or anything on dictivo.app, please email security@dictivo.app with reproduction steps. We aim to acknowledge within two business days and to ship a fix or mitigation as quickly as the severity warrants.
Last reviewed .