Press-to-talk dictation
Hold the right Option key, speak, and release it to place transcribed words at the current cursor location.
Yubi
Yubi brings press-to-talk dictation and screen assistance to Apple Silicon Macs on macOS 26, transcribing locally for hands-free writing and navigation.
Local dictation and screen help for Mac
Yubi is a press-to-talk dictation utility for Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 26. Hold the right Option key, speak, and release it; Yubi transcribes the speech and places the resulting text where the cursor is active, allowing users to dictate into the app already in front of them.
A separate right Command shortcut provides screen assistance. Yubi can inspect the frontmost window's accessibility tree to identify a control and point it out, with an option to press it. Dictation is processed locally, while optional text cleanup and screen help can send limited requested data to Yubi's server for Claude processing rather than uploading the original audio.
Features
On-device transcription
Transcription runs on the Mac using Apple's SpeechAnalyzer or whisper.cpp, so the recorded audio is not uploaded.
Screen guidance
The optional screen-help function reads the frontmost window's accessibility tree rather than taking a screenshot, then points to a control you are trying to find.
Optional control activation
With the relevant switch enabled, screen help can press the identified control; Yubi shows the exact payload before optional screen assistance is sent for processing.
Permission-conscious design
Yubi requests microphone and Accessibility permissions and does not require Screen Recording permission for its screen-assistance workflow.
Works at the cursor
The site demonstrates dictation and screen-directed workflows in Slack, Mail, Notes, Messages, System Settings, and Calendar, while the text is entered through the active app workflow.
Use cases
Writing quick team updates
Dictate a status update into a Slack conversation without switching to a separate transcription window or retyping the message.
Drafting email
Speak a polite follow-up or a carefully worded reply directly into Mail, then review it in the message composer before sending.
Taking multilingual notes
Capture bilingual notes or detailed ideas in Notes; the site's examples include speaking Japanese as well as English.
Composing precise messages
Describe a specific coffee order or message content aloud and place the resulting text directly in Messages.
Finding controls in Mac apps
Ask for help locating a setting or returning Calendar to today's view, using screen assistance to identify the relevant on-screen control.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Dictation audio is processed on the Mac and is not uploaded.
- Text can be entered directly at the active cursor instead of being copied between apps.
- Screen assistance uses the frontmost window's accessibility tree rather than screenshots or screen recording.
- The basic dictation tier is listed as free, with unlimited dictation.
Cons
- Requires macOS 26 or later and an Apple Silicon Mac.
- The screen-help workflow is metered by plan, and the available product information does not fully explain how each task is counted.
- Yubi is not distributed through the Mac App Store and requires microphone and Accessibility permissions.
FAQ
What does Yubi require?
Yubi is a press-to-talk dictation app for Macs with Apple Silicon running macOS 26. It requires microphone and Accessibility permissions. It is distributed as a Mac download rather than through the Mac App Store because the app bundles whisper.cpp.
How does Yubi dictation work?
Hold the right Option key, speak, and release it. The transcribed text is inserted at the current cursor location in the app in front of you.
Does Yubi send voice recordings to the cloud?
Yes. Yubi's local transcription uses Apple's SpeechAnalyzer or whisper.cpp, and the site states that no audio is uploaded. Optional text cleanup and screen assistance can send the relevant text or accessibility information to Yubi's server for Claude processing; the exact payload for screen help is shown before it is sent.
What do Yubi's plans include?
The homepage lists a Free plan at ¥0 with unlimited dictation and 10 tasks per month, Personal at ¥1,480 per month or ¥14,800 per year with 60 tasks per month, and Pro at ¥2,980 per month with 150 tasks per month. The site describes these tasks in the context of help with the screen, but does not provide a fuller task-counting explanation.
Which apps does Yubi support?
The examples show workflows involving Slack, Mail, Notes, Messages, System Settings, and Calendar. The available product information does not establish that these are native integrations; Yubi is presented as entering text into the app at the cursor and assisting with the frontmost screen.
Quick Facts
- Category
- macOS dictation and productivity utility
- Platform
- macOS 26 or later on Apple Silicon
- Input method
- Hold right Option, speak, release
- Screen assistance
- Right Command shortcut; accessibility-tree based
- App size
- Approximately 6 MB
- Pricing shown
- Free tier; Personal ¥1,480/month or ¥14,800/year; Pro ¥2,980/month
Yubi Alternatives
SpeakoFlow
SpeakoFlow is a free, open-source desktop voice-to-text app for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Dictate into any app, use Flow, cleanup, translation, and a screen-aware assistant.
Flunkey
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Sanota
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Carbon Voice
Carbon Voice is an async voice messaging app for teams and individuals, with transcripts, AI catch-up, and cross-device access.
Lemon
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QuickQuill
QuickQuill is a local-first macOS dictation and transcription app to record meetings, summarize audio, and export notes without the cloud.