VoiceInk

VoiceInk is push-to-talk dictation for the whole system. Hold a shortcut, speak, release, and the text is inserted wherever your cursor is. Transcription runs locally on Whisper (and other) models, so nothing is uploaded. A personal dictionary teaches it names and jargon it keeps mishearing, and "power modes" switch the model and a post-processing prompt based on which app you're in — terse for chat, cleaned-up and formatted for email, code-aware in an editor.

Why it makes the list

The polished dictation apps in this space are mostly subscriptions. VoiceInk is a one-time purchase and open source (GPL-3), while still being a proper native app with the features that matter: on-device privacy, an AI pass that removes filler and fixes structure, and context switching per application. It's a strong pick for anyone who dictates a lot and doesn't want a monthly bill or a cloud round-trip.

Standout features

• On-device transcription with local Whisper models — fully offline

• Insert anywhere via a global push-to-talk shortcut

• Personal dictionary for names, acronyms, and technical terms

• Power modes — model and prompt chosen by the active app

• AI post-processing to strip filler and format longer notes

• Open source, one-time license

Pricing

One-time license from $25 (more Macs at higher tiers), with a free trial and a 14-day refund window. Open source on GitHub. Apple silicon, macOS 14.4 or later.