Local transcription
Transcribes speech locally on your Mac, so recordings stay on-device instead of being sent to a cloud service.
SpeakMac
SpeakMac is an offline speech-to-text app for Mac that types what you say into the active cursor location. It works locally on Apple Silicon Macs, with one-time pricing, custom words, and multilingual dictation support.
What SpeakMac is
SpeakMac is an offline speech-to-text app for Mac that turns voice into typed text anywhere you can place a cursor. It is designed for people who want dictation that runs locally on Apple Silicon Macs without accounts, cloud processing, or a recurring subscription.
The product focuses on quick everyday voice typing: start dictation, speak naturally, and have text appear in the active window with automatic punctuation and capitalization. The site also highlights custom words, snippet-style replacements, and support for more than 25 languages, making it suitable for users who write across apps and need a lighter alternative to cloud transcription services.
Core features
Fast live dictation
Places dictated text into your active window quickly, with the product positioning it as under half a second from speech to text.
Automatic punctuation and casing
Handles commas, periods, and capitalization automatically so spoken input reads like edited text.
Custom words and text snippets
Lets you correct names, technical terms, and repeated phrases with custom words and replacements.
Multi-language support
Supports more than 25 languages, including Chinese with multiple dialects, for multilingual dictation.
System-wide typing support
Works in any app with a blinking cursor, including common writing and coding tools listed on the site.
Common use cases
Everyday writing
Use SpeakMac for drafting emails, notes, and documents when typing by hand is slower than speaking.
Terminology cleanup
Use custom words and replacements to fix recurring misheard names, product terms, and technical vocabulary.
Reusable text snippets
Use snippet-style triggers to expand short phrases into full addresses, signatures, or other repeated text.
Cursor-based app work
Use it in development or documentation tools where you want speech to appear directly in the active cursor location.
Multilingual dictation
Use the multilingual support when you need dictation in languages other than English, including Chinese and several European languages.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Processes transcription locally for a privacy-focused workflow.
- One-time purchase instead of a recurring subscription.
- Works across apps where a text cursor is available.
- Supports custom words and reusable text snippets for repeated terms.
- Offers multilingual dictation with 25+ languages.
Cons
- Requires macOS 14+ and Apple Silicon Macs, so older Intel Macs are not supported.
- The license includes 12 months of updates, with later updates being optional rather than included forever.
- The site does not document a cloud sync, export, or integration workflow beyond typing into apps with a cursor.
FAQ
Is my voice data private?
Speakmac processes voice recordings locally on your Mac, so your audio does not leave the machine during dictation.
Is this a subscription?
No. Speakmac is sold as a one-time purchase, and the app is yours forever. The purchase includes 12 months of updates.
What happens after the first year of updates?
The purchase includes 12 months of updates. After that, the version you already have keeps working, and renewing updates later is optional.
Do I need an API key or account?
No. Speakmac does not require an API key, account, or login for use after setup.
Which Macs are supported?
Speakmac supports Macs from 2020 or newer with Apple Silicon, and it can be used on two Macs under one license.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Speech-to-text / dictation
- Platform
- Mac
- OS support
- macOS 14+ with Apple Silicon
- License
- One-time purchase with 12 months of updates
- Language support
- 25+ languages
- Website
- speakmac.app
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