Category
Open-source dictation for Mac
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. If you want dictation whose source you can read and whose privacy you can verify, here are the open-source options for Mac, compared honestly.
macOS 13.3+ · Apple Silicon · MIT licensed · No telemetry
Why open source matters for dictation
Dictation handles two of the most sensitive things you produce: your voice and your words. Open source is how you can trust what an app does with them.
- Auditable privacy. Anyone can read the code and confirm that dictation runs on-device and that audio is not quietly uploaded. You do not have to take a marketing page's word for it.
- No lock-in. The code cannot be taken away, paywalled overnight, or shut down with your workflow attached to it. You can keep building it.
- Named, inspectable models. You can see exactly which models run (for Dictidy, Whisper large-v3-turbo for transcription and a local Qwen3-4B for cleanup), rather than trusting an unnamed black box.
The open-source options, compared
| Option | License | Free prebuilt app | Cleanup | Rewrite existing text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dictidy | MIT | Yes, free | Yes, on-device | Yes |
| VoiceInk | GPL v3 | Binary is paid | Yes | No |
| whisper.cpp / MacWhisper-style | Varies (MIT engine) | Engine, or file-transcription app | Not built in | No |
Competitor details reflect public information at the time of writing and can change. Check each project's page for current licensing, pricing, and features.
Dictidy: a free prebuilt binary, no compiling
The biggest practical barrier to open-source software is "you can have it free if you compile it yourself." Dictidy removes that: it ships a free prebuilt app you download and run, under the MIT license, with the full source on GitHub for anyone who wants to read or build it. Dictation runs on-device with Whisper large-v3-turbo, cleanup runs on-device by default (or with your own Claude API key if you opt in), and it can also rewrite text you have already written, in place, in any app. There is no telemetry.
VoiceInk
VoiceInk is a well-regarded open-source (GPL v3) native Mac dictation app built on local whisper.cpp models, and it helped prove that "open-source alternative to the paid incumbents" is a real category. Its free path is building from source; the prebuilt binary is paid, which funds updates and support. It is dictation-only, without rewrite-existing-text, and GPL v3 is more restrictive than MIT for anyone who wants to reuse the code. It is a fellow indie open-source project worth supporting.
whisper.cpp and MacWhisper-style tools
whisper.cpp is the open-source engine (MIT) that many of these apps build on. It is superb if you want the raw transcription library to wire up yourself, but it is not a ready-to-use dictate-at-your-cursor app. File-transcription tools in this family (drop in a recording, get a transcript) do a different job: they work in their own window rather than typing where your cursor is, and they do not clean up or rewrite for you. Great for transcribing audio files, not for live dictation into any app.
Which one to choose
If you want the underlying engine, use whisper.cpp. If you are happy to build from source and want a mature dictation-only app, VoiceInk is excellent. If you want a free, MIT-licensed app you can just download and run, that keeps dictation on-device, cleans up filler and grammar, and also rewrites existing text, Dictidy is the most complete open-source pick. The category is friendly: a rising open-source, on-device tide helps every project here.
FAQ
What is the best open-source dictation app for Mac?
It depends on what you want. Dictidy is a free, MIT-licensed prebuilt app with on-device dictation, on-device cleanup, and rewrite-anywhere, so non-developers can run it without compiling anything. VoiceInk is a strong GPL v3 option whose free path is building from source. Raw whisper.cpp or MacWhisper-style tools suit people who want the underlying engine or file transcription.
Do I have to compile Dictidy myself?
No. Dictidy ships a free prebuilt binary you can download and run, and the full source is on GitHub under the MIT license if you want to read or build it. Some open-source dictation apps only offer the free experience if you compile from source.
Why does open source matter for dictation?
Dictation handles your voice and your words, which are sensitive. Open source means anyone can audit exactly what the app does with your audio, confirm that dictation runs on-device, and avoid lock-in. With Dictidy you can read every line, verify the privacy claims, and keep using or forking the code under the MIT license.
Is Dictidy really free, unlike some open-source apps?
Yes. Dictidy is free under the MIT license with no paid binary, no trial, and no word cap. Some open-source dictation apps are free to build from source but charge for the prebuilt binary. Dictidy's prebuilt app is free.
Try Dictidy
It is free, open source, and dictation runs entirely on your Mac. See for yourself.