Comparison
Dictidy vs Wispr Flow
Dictidy is a free, open-source macOS app that dictates by voice and rewrites selected text anywhere you type, all from one shortcut, with dictation running on-device. Wispr Flow is a polished, cloud-based dictation app on a subscription. Here is an honest comparison so you can pick the right one.
macOS 13.3+ · Apple Silicon · MIT licensed · No telemetry
The short version
Wispr Flow is genuinely good at fast, accurate dictation and is very polished. It is also cloud based and subscription based, and it focuses on turning speech into text. Dictidy does the dictation part on-device (your audio never leaves your Mac), adds cleanup in the same flow, and can also rewrite text you have already written in any app. And it is free and open source.
If you want the most frictionless commercial dictation product and do not mind a subscription or the cloud, Wispr Flow is a strong choice. If you want a free, private, open-source tool that also rewrites existing text, use Dictidy.
Side by side
| Feature | Dictidy | Wispr Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (MIT open source) | Free tier with a word limit, then subscription |
| Source code | Open | Closed |
| Dictation processing | On-device (Whisper large-v3-turbo) | Cloud |
| Cleanup (filler, grammar) | Yes, on-device or your Claude key | Yes, cloud |
| Rewrite existing text | Yes, in place, any app | No (dictation focused) |
| Works in any app | Yes | Yes |
| Telemetry | None | Yes |
| Platforms | macOS 13.3+, Apple Silicon | macOS and Windows |
| Install | Self-signed (one-time prompt) | Notarized installer |
Competitor details reflect public information at the time of writing and can change. Check Wispr Flow's site for current pricing and features.
Privacy: on-device versus cloud
This is the biggest practical difference. Dictidy transcribes your speech on your Mac using a local Whisper model, so the audio never leaves the device. The cleanup step also runs on-device by default (a local model), and using your own Claude API key for cleanup is an opt-in choice, not a requirement. Wispr Flow sends your speech to its servers to transcribe. For sensitive work (legal, medical, private notes) the on-device path removes a whole category of concern.
Price: free and open versus subscription
Dictidy is free forever and MIT licensed. There is no trial, no word cap, and no paid tier. You can read every line of the source on GitHub, and you can build it yourself. Wispr Flow offers a limited free tier and charges a subscription for full use. If you dictate a lot, that difference compounds.
The feature Wispr Flow does not have: rewrite anywhere
Both apps turn speech into clean text. Dictidy adds a second job: select text you have already written, press the shortcut, and Dictidy rewrites it in place (fix grammar, change tone, tighten it) without leaving the app you are in. That makes Dictidy useful even when you are not dictating at all.
Where Wispr Flow is the better pick
Being honest: Wispr Flow is more polished out of the box, supports Windows as well as macOS, and is notarized so it installs with zero friction. Dictidy is Apple Silicon and macOS 13.3+ only, and because it is free and open source with no paid Apple Developer account, it is self-signed rather than notarized, so macOS shows a one-time "unidentified developer" prompt on first open (right-click Open, or a one-line Terminal command). If those matter more to you than price, privacy, and open source, Wispr Flow may fit better.
FAQ
Is Dictidy a free alternative to Wispr Flow?
Yes. Dictidy is free and open source under the MIT license, with no subscription and no paid tier. Wispr Flow has a limited free tier and paid plans above it.
Does Dictidy send my voice to the cloud like Wispr Flow?
No. Dictidy runs dictation on-device with Whisper large-v3-turbo, so your audio never leaves your Mac. Cleanup runs on-device by default, or you can opt in to your own Claude API key. Wispr Flow transcribes in the cloud.
Can Wispr Flow rewrite text I already wrote?
Wispr Flow focuses on dictation. Dictidy can also rewrite text you have already selected in any app, in place, from the same shortcut.
What are the downsides of Dictidy versus Wispr Flow?
Dictidy is Apple Silicon and macOS 13.3 or later only, and it is self-signed rather than notarized, so macOS shows a one-time prompt on first open. Wispr Flow is more polished out of the box and also runs on Windows.
Try Dictidy
It is free, open source, and dictation runs entirely on your Mac. See for yourself.