Setup
Nothing to manage
There is no model folder or quantization menu. Model updates happen on our servers.
Vs · VoiceInk
Skip the model picker.
VoiceInk runs Whisper models on your Mac for a one-time price. Dictate runs the model for you at $8 a month. Dictate is our app.
Setup, minute one
01 · Dictate
Download the app, sign in, hold the hotkey, talk. The model already runs on our servers. There is nothing to choose.
01 · VoiceInk
Download the app, choose a Whisper model, then download it. Larger models usually trade speed for quality and need more capable hardware.
Side-by-side
| Dimension | Dictate | VoiceInk |
|---|---|---|
| Sign in and it works VoiceInk needs a Whisper model before your first dictation. Dictate has no model step. | Yes | No |
| Model managed and updated for you Dictate manages its server model. VoiceInk depends on the model you choose and what your Mac can run. | Yes | No |
| Text returns to the field you were in Dictate remembers where your cursor was and puts the text back there when transcription finishes. | Yes | Unknown, see vendor docs |
| Transcript history synced across Macs Account-backed text and metadata. History keeps the text, never the recording. | Yes | Unknown, see vendor docs |
| Glossary / custom dictionary | Yes | Unknown, see vendor docs |
| Polish / AI rewrite step | Yes | Unknown, see vendor docs |
| Pricing VoiceInk pricing checked July 2026. Tiers vary by number of Macs and can change; Dictate has one plan and no tiers. | $8/month, one plan | One-time, from about $25 |
| Audio never leaves your Mac VoiceInk keeps audio on your Mac in its default local mode. Optional cloud providers send it out. Dictate sends audio over TLS, transcribes it on our servers, then discards it. | No | Yes |
| Transcribes with no connection Dictate needs the network to transcribe. Your subscription check is a signed ticket cached on your Mac, so a dropped connection never locks the app. | No | Yes |
| Open source VoiceInk is GPL. With Xcode you can build it from source and pay nothing. | No | Yes |
Cells marked “Unknown, see vendor docs” mean we couldn’t verify the capability from public sources at time of writing. We’d rather say “we don’t know” than guess.
Pricing
$8. One plan.
No tiers or per-Mac pricing. Unused subscriptions are refunded in full. See the pricing page for details.
Insertion
Text lands where you were
Hold, speak, release. Text returns to the field you were using. The signed subscription check is cached on your Mac.
The honest call
Choose VoiceInk if…
On-device processing is required. VoiceInk’s default local mode keeps audio on your Mac. Dictate sends it over TLS to our servers, transcribes it, then discards it.
VoiceInk also uses one-time pricing, starting around $25 for one Mac when last checked, and its GPL source can be built for free. You manage the models yourself. See our Superwhisper alternatives and Wispr Flow alternatives lists for other options.
Before you decide
FAQ
Setup, pricing, accuracy, and local processing.
Is VoiceInk really pay once?
Yes. Licenses started around $25 for one Mac in July 2026, with higher tiers for more Macs. VoiceInk is also GPL open source, so developers can build it with Xcode for free.
Which app is more accurate?
We have not benchmarked them. Dictate runs one managed server model. VoiceInk depends on the local model and your Mac. Test both with your own writing.
Does Dictate work offline like VoiceInk does?
No. Dictate needs a connection to transcribe, though its subscription check works offline. VoiceInk works offline with local models.
What happens to my audio in each app?
VoiceInk keeps audio on your Mac in its default local mode. Optional cloud providers receive it when enabled. Dictate sends audio over TLS, transcribes it on our servers, then discards it. History stores text, never recordings.
Doesn’t pay-once always win on price?
Over time, yes. Dictate’s $8 monthly price pays for managed models with no downloads. Unused subscriptions are refunded in full.
Try the managed one.
$8/month flat. Cancel any time; unused subscriptions refunded.