{ "name": "Private Mac Dictation Apps: Local vs Cloud (2026)", "canonicalUrl": "https://iravoice.com/research/mac-dictation-privacy-matrix", "reviewedAt": "2026-07-26", "version": "1.4.0", "license": "CC BY 4.0", "summary": { "title": "A reproducible privacy-path snapshot.", "description": "These counts are computed from named documentation cohorts, not inferred from a score. Every product in a cohort is listed so the result can be audited, cited, or recomputed.", "stats": [ { "id": "documentedLocalPath", "value": 16, "denominator": 18, "label": "products document a local speech-to-text path", "description": "At least one supported configuration keeps the audio-to-transcript step on the device.", "products": [ "IraVoice", "Apple Dictation", "Google AI Edge Eloquent", "BetterDictation", "Spokenly", "Superwhisper", "MacWhisper", "VoiceInk", "Voice Type", "Whryte", "TypeVox", "Dicta", "MacParakeet", "Susurr", "Sotto", "Megaphone" ], "caveat": "This includes configuration-dependent and optional local paths. It does not mean every mode or feature is local." }, { "id": "noDocumentedLocalPath", "value": 2, "denominator": 18, "label": "products have no documented local speech path", "description": "The reviewed first-party sources establish cloud speech processing but no local speech-to-text configuration.", "products": [ "Raycast Dictation", "Wispr Flow" ], "caveat": "This is a documentation finding, not packet inspection or verification of the current binary." }, { "id": "localPlusConnected", "value": 10, "denominator": 16, "label": "locally capable products also document a connected path", "description": "The optional path may be a provider, cleanup feature, assistant, vocabulary source, or agent handoff.", "products": [ "IraVoice", "Google AI Edge Eloquent", "BetterDictation", "Spokenly", "Superwhisper", "MacWhisper", "VoiceInk", "Voice Type", "MacParakeet", "Sotto" ], "caveat": "These paths do not all send microphone audio. Some send transcript text, selected text, vocabulary data, or a finished specification." }, { "id": "firstPartySources", "value": 33, "denominator": null, "label": "first-party sources reviewed", "description": "Product, help, security, privacy, launch, App Store, and repository pages support the product rows.", "products": [], "caveat": "Source count measures documentation coverage, not independent verification or product quality." } ], "note": "Cohorts describe the documentation reviewed on July 26, 2026. They are not a privacy ranking, security certification, or claim that one architecture fits every workflow." }, "methodology": [ "Review current first-party product, help, security, and privacy pages rather than copying vendor roundups.", "Separate microphone-audio transcription from later cleanup, formatting, assistant, sync, or destination processing.", "Describe configurable modes explicitly; do not transfer a local or retention claim from one mode to every mode.", "Record what the source does not establish. This is not a security audit, packet inspection, or source-code verification; it is a review of public documentation.", "Use one dated canonical dataset and publish the same product order in the HTML, CSV, and JSON editions." ], "fields": [ "product", "processing", "configurableCloudPath", "offline", "retention", "account", "platform", "caveat", "sourceIds" ], "products": [ { "name": "IraVoice", "productUrl": "https://iravoice.com/privacy", "processing": "Speech recognition and supported formatting run on the Mac after model setup.", "configurableCloudPath": "No cloud speech mode. Optional direct agent handoff sends the finished specification, not microphone audio.", "offline": "Dictate works after the speech-model download; paid continuation works after one Gumroad key check.", "retention": "IraVoice says its servers receive no audio, transcript, selected text, vocabulary, or repository context; the Mac app has no product telemetry or cloud transcript history.", "account": "No account or card for the full trial. Paid use relies on a Gumroad license key stored in Keychain.", "platform": "macOS 26+ on Apple silicon.", "caveat": "IraVoice publishes this matrix. Verify its product claims against the linked privacy page and treat the dataset as documentation research, not an independent audit.", "sourceIds": [ "iravoice-privacy" ] }, { "name": "Apple Dictation", "productUrl": "https://iravoice.com/apple-dictation-alternative", "processing": "On-device or on Apple servers depending on language and the indicator shown in Keyboard Settings.", "configurableCloudPath": "The processing path is configuration-dependent rather than a separate third-party provider selector.", "offline": "Available without a connection only for configurations Apple marks as on-device.", "retention": "Apple says server-processed Dictation is not stored unless Improve Siri & Dictation is enabled; request and transcript metadata have separate documented handling.", "account": "Included with supported macOS. Apple documents device-generated identifiers and separate Apple Account-related service boundaries.", "platform": "Built into supported macOS versions.", "caveat": "Do not assume every language or Mac configuration uses the same processing path. Check the current Keyboard Settings disclosure on the actual Mac.", "sourceIds": [ "apple-dictation", "apple-privacy" ] }, { "name": "Google AI Edge Eloquent", "productUrl": "https://developers.google.com/edge/eloquent", "processing": "Google’s reviewed Mac launch sources describe the current native macOS feature set as on-device, including dictation, Voice Edit, and local audio or video file transcription.", "configurableCloudPath": "The current Mac product page says Google AI Edge Eloquent can optionally access Google Workspace data such as Gmail to generate a vocabulary list of unique words.", "offline": "Google’s June 3, 2026 launch announcement says the current native macOS feature set is fully offline.", "retention": "The reviewed Mac sources establish on-device processing and offline use, but do not publish a separate desktop retention or telemetry statement for every Mac feature.", "account": "The reviewed Mac sources document a direct Mac download and optional Workspace or Gmail vocabulary access, but do not clearly state whether a Google account is otherwise required for the core desktop workflow.", "platform": "Native macOS app; the current FAQ says English only.", "caveat": "The current product-page FAQ still contains older desktop-evaluation wording that conflicts with the dated launch announcement and direct Mac DMG. Use the launch post and current Mac download as platform truth, and do not transfer iOS-only cloud-feature wording to the Mac app.", "sourceIds": [ "eloquent-launch", "eloquent-product" ] }, { "name": "BetterDictation", "productUrl": "https://iravoice.com/betterdictation-alternative", "processing": "Initial speech recognition uses local Whisper on a compatible Apple-silicon Mac.", "configurableCloudPath": "Optional Pro sends the text transcript—but not audio—to OpenAI for cleanup and formatting.", "offline": "Basic local transcription works offline. Pro cleanup requires a connection.", "retention": "The privacy policy separates local audio processing from optional transcript transfer and also discloses performance and crash telemetry.", "account": "A paid license key is required; optional Pro is a separate recurring service.", "platform": "Apple-silicon Mac; current help asks for macOS Sonoma 14.4 or later.", "caveat": "The local claim covers initial transcription. Enabling Pro changes the transcript path even though microphone audio remains local.", "sourceIds": [ "better-home", "better-pro", "better-privacy" ] }, { "name": "Spokenly", "productUrl": "https://iravoice.com/spokenly-alternative", "processing": "Local Whisper or Parakeet, user-key providers, or managed hosted models depending on the active mode.", "configurableCloudPath": "Yes. Model, AI Instructions, provider, optional context, and output actions can change the data path.", "offline": "Local models work offline. Local Only Mode blocks outbound access while permitting local and localhost models.", "retention": "Retention depends on local, managed, or bring-your-own provider paths; Spokenly also documents history and optional audio replay.", "account": "Local and BYOK paths are available without a paid Pro plan; managed services and sync features can introduce account boundaries.", "platform": "macOS, Windows, Linux, and iOS, with features varying by platform.", "caveat": "“Spokenly” is not one fixed architecture. Record the active mode, provider, context sources, history setting, and output action.", "sourceIds": [ "spokenly-docs", "spokenly-modes", "spokenly-privacy", "spokenly-local-only" ] }, { "name": "Raycast Dictation", "productUrl": "https://iravoice.com/raycast-dictation-alternative", "processing": "Raycast says recorded audio is sent to its speech-to-text partner for transcription.", "configurableCloudPath": "Dictation is a connected Raycast AI feature; optional App Context and later AI actions can add separate data.", "offline": "No documented offline speech-to-text path for Raycast Dictation.", "retention": "Raycast says it does not retain recorded audio after the transcription request; Dictation history is stored locally on the Mac.", "account": "Raycast AI plan and account controls apply to the connected feature.", "platform": "Raycast for macOS on supported Macs.", "caveat": "No post-request audio retention does not mean on-device transcription. Local history and any later AI action are separate boundaries.", "sourceIds": [ "raycast-dictation", "raycast-ai-privacy" ] }, { "name": "Wispr Flow", "productUrl": "https://iravoice.com/wispr-flow-alternative", "processing": "Wispr says transcription always happens in the cloud.", "configurableCloudPath": "The speech path is cloud-based. Privacy Mode and Private Cloud Sync settings change retention, not the location of transcription.", "offline": "No documented offline transcription path.", "retention": "Wispr says Privacy Mode with Private Cloud Sync disabled provides zero retention; other settings can retain data for history or sync.", "account": "A connected product account and plan participate in the service.", "platform": "Current desktop and mobile platforms supported by Wispr Flow.", "caveat": "Zero retention is a storage policy for the cloud path, not a claim that microphone audio never leaves the device.", "sourceIds": [ "wispr-privacy" ] }, { "name": "Superwhisper", "productUrl": "https://iravoice.com/superwhisper-alternative", "processing": "Superwhisper documents offline, on-device transcription for its local speech path.", "configurableCloudPath": "Optional cloud models and browser or assistant tools are separate connected paths.", "offline": "The documented local transcription path works offline after required model setup.", "retention": "For offline transcription, Superwhisper says audio is not uploaded. Connected features follow their selected service boundaries.", "account": "App licensing applies; optional connected providers or tools can introduce separate credentials and terms.", "platform": "Mac, Windows, and iPhone support is currently advertised.", "caveat": "The offline claim belongs to local transcription. Do not transfer it to an optional cloud model, browser tool, or assistant feature.", "sourceIds": [ "superwhisper-offline", "superwhisper-home" ] }, { "name": "MacWhisper", "productUrl": "https://iravoice.com/macwhisper-alternative", "processing": "MacWhisper documents local transcription by default, including a local dictation path.", "configurableCloudPath": "Optional cloud transcription, assistant, and third-party AI provider features can change the path.", "offline": "Supported local models and dictation can work offline after model setup.", "retention": "Local workflows keep transcription on the Mac; retention for optional providers depends on the chosen external service.", "account": "Free and paid app tiers exist; optional provider features can require separate keys or accounts.", "platform": "macOS, with model performance depending on Mac hardware.", "caveat": "MacWhisper includes broader file, meeting, assistant, and provider workflows. The active model and feature determine the actual boundary.", "sourceIds": [ "macwhisper-home", "macwhisper-dictation" ] }, { "name": "VoiceInk", "productUrl": "https://iravoice.com/voiceink-alternative", "processing": "Local models are the default; users can configure cloud transcription and enhancement providers.", "configurableCloudPath": "Yes. The active mode can select cloud transcription, enhancement, context, auto-send, or a custom command.", "offline": "Local model workflows can work offline; configured cloud providers require a connection.", "retention": "Local defaults keep speech processing on the Mac. Optional provider retention follows the provider selected by the user.", "account": "GPLv3 source can be self-built; the compiled app uses a commercial license, and optional providers use user credentials.", "platform": "macOS 14.4 or later.", "caveat": "The active model, provider, context source, mode, and output command determine the boundary; an open-source codebase does not make every configuration local.", "sourceIds": [ "voiceink-docs", "voiceink-terms", "voiceink-modes" ] }, { "name": "Voice Type", "productUrl": "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/voice-type-offline-dictation/id6736525125?mt=12", "processing": "Core dictation, custom vocabulary, formatting, and file transcription run on the Mac.", "configurableCloudPath": "Optional rewrite providers require a connection and send selected text to the provider the user chooses.", "offline": "Core dictation works offline after required app and model setup; optional rewrites do not.", "retention": "The App Store listing describes on-device core processing. Apple may receive purchase and receipt-verification traffic.", "account": "Distributed through the Mac App Store, so Apple purchase and receipt boundaries apply.", "platform": "macOS 13.4 or later.", "caveat": "The on-device claim covers core dictation. Enabling a rewrite provider changes the selected-text path, and App Store licensing still creates an Apple network boundary.", "sourceIds": [ "voice-type-app-store" ] }, { "name": "Whryte", "productUrl": "https://whryte.com/", "processing": "The publisher documents local Parakeet transcription and local smart formatting.", "configurableCloudPath": "No cloud speech or formatting provider is disclosed for the documented workflow.", "offline": "The documented speech path works offline after the model download.", "retention": "History is stored locally; the publisher says audio and transcripts are not transmitted.", "account": "No product account is required. Purchase and license delivery use Gumroad.", "platform": "macOS 14 or later on Apple silicon.", "caveat": "This is a review of publisher documentation. A “100% offline” statement does not independently verify the current binary or every licensing request.", "sourceIds": [ "whryte-home" ] }, { "name": "TypeVox", "productUrl": "https://typevox.app/", "processing": "WhisperKit runs locally on Apple silicon; the publisher says audio is processed in memory.", "configurableCloudPath": "No cloud speech or cleanup path is documented for the current core product.", "offline": "The documented speech path works offline after model setup.", "retention": "The publisher says audio is never saved or transmitted.", "account": "No product account is required; Pro uses an emailed license key.", "platform": "macOS 15 or later on Apple silicon.", "caveat": "The product page does not establish an independent audit or guarantee that every future feature shares the same boundary.", "sourceIds": [ "typevox-home" ] }, { "name": "Dicta", "productUrl": "https://www.appdicta.com/", "processing": "Speech recognition runs locally using a model downloaded to the Mac.", "configurableCloudPath": "The documented current product does not offer an AI rewrite or cloud speech path.", "offline": "Dictation works offline after the roughly 3 GB model download.", "retention": "The app does not upload audio or transcripts; the privacy policy separately discloses account, license, device, billing, and consented website-analytics data.", "account": "The website version uses an account and recurring license; Apple handles payment and account boundaries for the App Store version.", "platform": "macOS 14 or later; Intel Macs are supported with slower documented performance.", "caveat": "The app-level no-analytics claim should not be transferred to the website, account, license, billing, or optional analytics boundaries.", "sourceIds": [ "dicta-home", "dicta-privacy" ] }, { "name": "MacParakeet", "productUrl": "https://macparakeet.com/", "processing": "Speech recognition runs locally using supported on-device engines.", "configurableCloudPath": "Optional AI features can use local providers or send transcript text—not microphone audio—to a selected cloud provider.", "offline": "Local speech recognition works offline after required model setup.", "retention": "The publisher says it does not collect audio or transcript content; optional anonymous telemetry can be disabled, and meeting retention is controlled locally.", "account": "No product account is required for the documented app workflow.", "platform": "macOS 14.2 or later on Apple silicon.", "caveat": "The local speech claim does not extend to a cloud AI provider the user selects or to externally downloaded source content.", "sourceIds": [ "macparakeet-home", "macparakeet-github" ] }, { "name": "Susurr", "productUrl": "https://susurr.app/", "processing": "WhisperKit transcription runs locally on Apple silicon.", "configurableCloudPath": "No cloud dependency is documented for the current transcription workflow.", "offline": "Transcription works offline after required model setup.", "retention": "The product page says transcription history is stored locally.", "account": "A one-time Polar license key can activate up to three Macs; no recurring core plan is advertised.", "platform": "macOS 14 or later on Apple silicon.", "caveat": "The public product page does not document an independent audit or every licensing and network-metadata boundary.", "sourceIds": [ "susurr-home" ] }, { "name": "Sotto", "productUrl": "https://sotto.to/", "processing": "Users can select local WhisperKit or Parakeet models, or optional OpenAI and Groq cloud transcription with their own key.", "configurableCloudPath": "Yes. Cloud mode sends recordings directly to the selected provider; the publisher says no Sotto server sits in the middle.", "offline": "Local models work offline after download. Cloud providers require a connection.", "retention": "Local-mode audio stays on the Mac. Cloud-mode retention and processing follow the selected provider, while saved history remains a separate local setting.", "account": "Purchase uses an emailed license key for up to three Macs; optional cloud providers use the user’s credentials.", "platform": "macOS 13 or later, with Apple silicon recommended.", "caveat": "The active local or cloud model determines the speech boundary. Cloud-provider retention and local history must be evaluated separately.", "sourceIds": [ "sotto-home" ] }, { "name": "Megaphone", "productUrl": "https://megaphone.kuber.studio/", "processing": "Apple SpeechAnalyzer streams speech-to-text on the Mac; Smart Cleanup and “Hey Megaphone” use Apple’s on-device Foundation Models, with deterministic Basic cleanup as fallback.", "configurableCloudPath": "No cloud speech, cleanup, assistant, or provider path is documented for the current product.", "offline": "The documented core path works on-device after the required app and Apple speech-model setup; the selected speech model downloads on first use.", "retention": "The official site and repository say recorded audio, transcripts, Dictionary data, memory, recent-text context, and active app or window-title context stay on the Mac; Megaphone has no product server.", "account": "No product account, subscription, transcription API, or API key is required. The app and source are free under the MIT license.", "platform": "macOS 26 or later on Apple silicon.", "caveat": "This is documentation and source-repository research, not packet inspection or binary verification. Releases are signed but not notarized, and the publisher documents a quarantine-clearing or Open Anyway installation step.", "sourceIds": [ "megaphone-site", "megaphone-github" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "iravoice-privacy", "label": "IraVoice privacy", "url": "https://iravoice.com/privacy" }, { "id": "apple-dictation", "label": "Apple: Use Dictation on your Mac", "url": "https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac" }, { "id": "apple-privacy", "label": "Apple: Ask Siri, Dictation & Privacy", "url": "https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/ask-siri-dictation/" }, { "id": "eloquent-launch", "label": "Google Developers Blog: Google AI Edge Eloquent macOS launch", "url": "https://developers.googleblog.com/bringing-gemma-4-12b-to-your-laptop-unlocking-local-agentic-workflows-with-google-ai-edge/" }, { "id": "eloquent-product", "label": "Google AI Edge Eloquent product page", "url": "https://developers.google.com/edge/eloquent" }, { "id": "better-home", "label": "BetterDictation product and pricing", "url": "https://betterdictation.com/" }, { "id": "better-pro", "label": "BetterDictation Pro", "url": "https://betterdictation.com/pro" }, { "id": "better-privacy", "label": "BetterDictation privacy", "url": "https://betterdictation.com/privacy" }, { "id": "spokenly-docs", "label": "Spokenly documentation", "url": "https://spokenly.app/docs" }, { "id": "spokenly-modes", "label": "Spokenly modes", "url": "https://spokenly.app/docs/modes" }, { "id": "spokenly-privacy", "label": "Spokenly privacy", "url": "https://spokenly.app/privacy" }, { "id": "spokenly-local-only", "label": "Spokenly Local Only Mode", "url": "https://spokenly.app/docs/local-only-mode" }, { "id": "raycast-dictation", "label": "Raycast Dictation manual", "url": "https://manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation" }, { "id": "raycast-ai-privacy", "label": "Raycast AI privacy and security", "url": "https://manual.raycast.com/ai/raycast-ai-privacy-security" }, { "id": "wispr-privacy", "label": "Wispr Flow privacy", "url": "https://wisprflow.ai/privacy" }, { "id": "superwhisper-offline", "label": "Superwhisper offline transcription", "url": "https://superwhisper.com/offline-transcription" }, { "id": "superwhisper-home", "label": "Superwhisper product", "url": "https://superwhisper.com/" }, { "id": "macwhisper-home", "label": "MacWhisper product and pricing", "url": "https://www.macwhisper.com/" }, { "id": "macwhisper-dictation", "label": "MacWhisper Dictation", "url": "https://www.macwhisper.com/dictation" }, { "id": "voiceink-docs", "label": "VoiceInk documentation", "url": "https://tryvoiceink.com/docs/introduction" }, { "id": "voiceink-terms", "label": "VoiceInk terms", "url": "https://tryvoiceink.com/terms" }, { "id": "voiceink-modes", "label": "VoiceInk mode settings", "url": "https://tryvoiceink.com/docs/mode-settings" }, { "id": "voice-type-app-store", "label": "Voice Type Mac App Store listing", "url": "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/voice-type-offline-dictation/id6736525125?mt=12" }, { "id": "whryte-home", "label": "Whryte product and privacy details", "url": "https://whryte.com/" }, { "id": "typevox-home", "label": "TypeVox product and privacy details", "url": "https://typevox.app/" }, { "id": "dicta-home", "label": "Dicta product and privacy claims", "url": "https://www.appdicta.com/" }, { "id": "dicta-privacy", "label": "Dicta privacy policy", "url": "https://www.appdicta.com/privacy" }, { "id": "macparakeet-home", "label": "MacParakeet product and privacy details", "url": "https://macparakeet.com/" }, { "id": "macparakeet-github", "label": "MacParakeet source repository", "url": "https://github.com/moona3k/macparakeet" }, { "id": "susurr-home", "label": "Susurr product and privacy details", "url": "https://susurr.app/" }, { "id": "sotto-home", "label": "Sotto product, model, and privacy details", "url": "https://sotto.to/" }, { "id": "megaphone-site", "label": "Megaphone product and privacy documentation", "url": "https://megaphone.kuber.studio/" }, { "id": "megaphone-github", "label": "Megaphone source repository", "url": "https://github.com/Kuberwastaken/megaphone" } ] }