On-device dictation and transcription
Record and transcribe speech directly on the Mac, with dictation available as a push-to-talk mode.
QuickQuill
QuickQuill is a macOS dictation and transcription app that runs locally on the device. It helps users record meetings, transcribe audio, generate summaries, and export notes without using a cloud service.
Overview
QuickQuill is a local-first dictation and transcription app for macOS. It is designed to record, transcribe, summarize, and export meetings on the device, without sending audio or transcripts to the cloud.
The app includes a free dictation mode and a paid meeting workflow. The free tier covers push-to-talk dictation, custom vocabulary, history and search, and text or Markdown export; the paid license adds meeting capture, file import, on-device summaries, live subtitles, translation, and additional export formats.
Features
Meeting capture and file import
Capture meeting audio for transcription, and import existing audio or video files for processing.
Local summaries
Generate summaries locally on the device so audio and transcript do not need to be sent to a server.
Live subtitles and translation
Show subtitles as you speak or play back content, and translate speech locally within the app.
Export options
Export text in multiple formats, including text and Markdown on the free plan and SRT, VTT, and subtitled video on the paid plan.
History and search
Search saved sessions in local history, with unlimited history included in the paid plan.
Use cases
Offline dictation on Mac
Use push-to-talk dictation to draft notes, messages, or short text without sending audio to a cloud service.
Meeting notes and follow-up
Capture a live meeting, then generate a transcript and summary from the local device after the session.
Processing existing recordings
Import recorded audio or video files and transcribe them without a separate upload step.
Subtitle and caption workflows
Create subtitle outputs or subtitled video files when you need caption-ready exports for playback or review.
Ongoing note retrieval and terminology
Search past local sessions and reuse custom vocabulary for recurring names, terms, or project language.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Processes dictation, transcription, summaries, and translation locally on the device.
- Requires no account and works offline.
- Offers a free dictation mode for ongoing use.
- Supports both live meeting capture and import of existing audio or video.
- Includes multiple export formats for text and caption workflows.
Cons
- Paid meeting features are limited to a 14-day trial unless you buy a license.
- The terms state that transcription, translation, and summaries are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete.
- The app is built for macOS, so it is not positioned as a cross-platform product.
FAQ
Is there a free trial?
QuickQuill includes a 14-day free trial for the paid meeting workflow, and push-to-talk dictation is free forever. The trial covers Capture, File Import, summaries, translation, and export.
How is QuickQuill priced?
The paid license is a one-time purchase rather than a subscription. The pricing page lists QuickQuill at $79, with a $49 launch price shown on the site.
What can QuickQuill export?
QuickQuill supports dictation, meeting capture, file import, on-device summaries, live subtitles, translation, and export. The site also lists text and Markdown export on the free plan, and SRT, VTT, and subtitled video export on the paid plan.
What platform does QuickQuill support?
According to the terms, QuickQuill is a local-first dictation and transcription app for macOS. It works offline and does not require an account.
Can teams use QuickQuill?
The terms say QuickQuill is licensed for personal or internal business use. They also note that you are responsible for obtaining any consent required to record other people under the laws that apply to you.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Productivity
- Platform
- macOS
- Product model
- One-time license
- Domain
- quickquill.app
- Company
- IDE LABS (Taisei Ide / 井手大誠)
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