Resources
Notes and guides.
Notes and guides on local Mac dictation, and on getting more out of Parakeety. Comparisons against the cloud and local alternatives, primers for the audiences I get the most questions from, and the architectural detail underneath.
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The complete guide to local speech-to-text on Mac
What on-device speech-to-text on Mac is, why it beats the cloud on privacy and speed, which apps run it, and how to pick. The map of the whole category, with everything else linking back here.
Medical dictation software for Mac
The best medical dictation software for Mac, weighed by compliance model. Parakeety runs on-device so no PHI leaves the Mac and no BAA is needed; Dragon Medical One and Wispr Flow run in the cloud under a BAA.
Parakeety vs Spokenly: one-time $30 vs subscription
Spokenly is cross-platform with a free local tier and a $9.99/month Pro tier; Parakeety is a Mac-only $30 one-time app. How they compare on price, platforms, and accuracy.
VoiceInk alternatives for Mac: the on-device picks compared
The best VoiceInk alternatives for Mac, weighed honestly: Parakeety, SuperWhisper, MacWhisper, Apple Dictation and Wispr Flow, plus is VoiceInk free and on-device.
Voice to text on Mac: how to set it up, and a faster way
Voice to text on Mac is built in: press Fn twice to start Dictation. How to turn it on, the shortcut, its limits, and the on-device app that fixes them.
Voice typing on Mac: how to turn it on, and a better key
Voice typing on Mac uses Apple Dictation, started by pressing Fn twice. How to turn it on, the shortcut, its limits, and a push-to-talk alternative.
Parakeety vs VoiceInk: two on-device Mac dictation apps
Parakeety and VoiceInk both transcribe on-device on a Mac. How they compare on setup, models, price, and open source, and which dictation app fits you.
Mac dictation keyboard shortcut: set it and start dictating
The Mac dictation keyboard shortcut is Fn pressed twice. How to set or change it, why it's a double-tap toggle, and the push-to-talk alternative.
Mac dictation commands: the full list, grouped by category
A grouped list of Mac dictation commands for formatting, capitalization and symbols, plus the bit listicles miss: which voice commands are Voice Control, not Dictation.
Dev mode: keep typing the backtick key while you dictate
Parakeety reserves the key below Esc for push-to-talk, so you cannot type the backtick or § while it runs. Dev mode splits the key: tap to type it, hold to dictate. Off by default, made for people who code.
Dictation not working on Mac: how to fix it
Mac dictation usually stops working because it is switched off, the wrong microphone is selected, Voice Control is on, or Screen Time is blocking it. The full fix list, plus Word, Chrome and Google Docs.
Is Parakeety HIPAA compliant?
Parakeety transcribes on-device. Audio and transcripts never leave the Mac, so no PHI crosses a network and there is no business associate relationship for a BAA to cover. The reasoning, and the parts that stay your responsibility.
Parakeet vs Whisper: accuracy, speed and languages
A model-level comparison of NVIDIA Parakeet and OpenAI Whisper: word error rate, speed, transducer vs encoder-decoder architecture, language coverage, licenses, and which Mac apps run each.
Parakeety vs Aqua Voice: on-device or cloud dictation
Parakeety runs on-device for $30 once; Aqua Voice is cloud dictation from $8 a month. How they compare on privacy, speed, pricing, languages and features.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking for Mac: what to use now
Dragon for Mac was discontinued in October 2018 and never replaced. The current Dragon products are Windows and cloud only, so here is the on-device Mac alternative.
Wispr Flow alternatives: on-device Mac options
An honest roundup of Mac alternatives to Wispr Flow: Parakeety, SuperWhisper, MacWhisper, Apple Dictation, Aqua Voice and Talon Voice, mapped to the work each one fits.
SuperWhisper alternatives for Mac: 5 honest picks
Five honest SuperWhisper alternatives on Mac: Parakeety, MacWhisper, Wispr Flow, Apple Dictation and Aqua Voice, with where each one fits and where SuperWhisper still wins.
How to dictate on a Mac: setup, shortcut, limits
Turn on Dictation in System Settings under Keyboard, press Fn twice, and talk. The free built-in steps, where Mac voice typing falls short, and when to use an app.
Apple Dictation keeps cutting off: why, and the fix
Apple Dictation stops after about 30 seconds of silence, and older macOS capped each pass. Here are the fixes that work, what is structural, and the push-to-talk alternative.
How to dictate punctuation on a Mac: the full command list
Two ways to punctuate when you dictate on a Mac: speak each mark by name, or let a modern model add punctuation while you just talk. Full command list inside.
What is on-device speech recognition?
On-device speech recognition runs the model on your own machine, so audio never leaves it. How it differs from cloud transcription, why it works now, and where it falls short.
Push-to-talk vs always-on dictation, explained
Push-to-talk holds a key while you talk; always-on keeps the microphone open. The difference shapes privacy, cleanup cost and which work each model suits.
How the Apple Neural Engine powers Mac dictation
How the Apple Neural Engine, Core ML and unified memory let a 600 MB speech model run dictation in real time on a Mac, with no audio ever leaving the machine.
Word error rate explained: how to read dictation accuracy
Word error rate counts the words a speech model gets wrong against a reference transcript. What WER measures, how to read the Hugging Face Open ASR Leaderboard, what a one-point gap feels like, and the things the score leaves out.
One-time vs subscription dictation apps: the real cost
Cloud dictation is a subscription because the vendor pays for server transcription; on-device apps can charge once. See the cost over one, two and three years.
Free dictation apps for Mac: what free really gets you
Apple Dictation is free, paid-app free tiers cap you fast, and open-source Whisper is free but a project. An honest look at what each free route costs and when paying $30 once wins.
Multilingual dictation on Mac: one model, no switching
How Mac multilingual dictation works: Apple Dictation makes you add and switch each language by hand, while Parakeety auto-detects 25 European languages on every utterance.
Dictation for journalists: writing tools that stay local
On-device push-to-talk dictation for journalists: draft stories and write up interview notes by voice with audio that never leaves the Mac. No cloud account, no server copy of source notes, 25-language auto-detect, $30 once.
Dictation for academics: on-device Mac dictation
On-device push-to-talk dictation for researchers and academics: draft papers and grants by voice, mark at volume, and keep participant data on your Mac. Not a file transcriber for recorded interviews or lectures.
Dictation for RSI: cut keystrokes when typing hurts
How dictation reduces typing load if RSI or carpal tunnel flares up: what voice input genuinely replaces, what stays on the keyboard, and how to set up push-to-talk without straining your hands further.
Dictating into Obsidian on Mac with Parakeety
Hold the key, talk, release: your words paste into any Obsidian note as plain Markdown. A local-first vault and on-device dictation, all on the Mac.
Dictate into Notion on Mac: voice notes, on-device
How to dictate into Notion on a Mac with Parakeety: push-to-talk pastes transcribed text at the cursor in any field, with the audio staying on-device while the Notion text still syncs.
Dictating into Apple Notes on Mac with Parakeety
On-device push-to-talk dictation in Apple Notes on Mac: quick capture, lists, meeting notes. Audio stays on the Mac, though Notes syncs to iCloud by default; keep a note local in the On My Mac account.
Dictate into ChatGPT and Claude on a Mac
Click into the prompt box, hold a key, talk, release. Your words paste as editable text in ChatGPT, Claude or any AI tool, all on-device.
Dictate into Outlook on Mac, on-device with Parakeety
Click into any Outlook for Mac compose field, hold a key, talk, release. The text pastes at the cursor. On-device dictation for email, no cloud, no account.
Why I built Parakeety
Every dictation tool I tried asked for too much: Apple cut off mid-sentence, the cloud apps wanted my voice and a card on file. So I built the one I wanted. The story behind a one-person, on-device Mac dictation app.
How I shipped a 600 MB speech model inside a 2 MB Mac app
Parakeety is a 2 MB menu-bar app that runs a 600 MB speech model on the Apple Neural Engine. How the app and model stay separate, why the model downloads on first launch, and the work of converting an NVIDIA model for Apple Silicon.
NVIDIA Parakeet on Mac
NVIDIA's Parakeet TDT 0.6B v3 is an open speech recognition model that currently tops the Hugging Face Open ASR Leaderboard. What it is, how it compares to Whisper, and the practical paths for running it on a Mac.
How much does Wispr Flow cost?
Free tier capped at 2,000 words per week; Flow Pro at around $15 per user per month; team and enterprise tiers above that. No one-time purchase option. Full breakdown plus the $30 one-time Mac alternative.
Dictating into Scrivener with Parakeety
Push-to-talk dictation inside Scrivener on Mac for long-form writers: editor pane, Composition Mode, synopsis cards, document notes. Audio never leaves the device, keeping unpublished manuscripts off any cloud.
Dictating into Google Docs with Parakeety
On-device push-to-talk dictation for Google Docs on Mac: body, comments, suggestions, footnotes. Different privacy posture from Google's built-in Voice Typing; works in any browser.
Dictating into SimplePractice with Parakeety
On-device push-to-talk dictation for SimplePractice session notes, treatment plans and client messages on Mac. BIRP, SOAP and DAP templates. Audio never leaves the device; no second BAA.
Dictating into TherapyNotes with Parakeety
On-device push-to-talk dictation inside TherapyNotes for session notes, intakes, treatment plans, and psychiatry medication management on Mac. Deeper template library; audio never leaves the device.
Dictating into Microsoft Word with Parakeety
On-device push-to-talk dictation inside Word for Mac: document body, comments, tracked-change notes, footnotes. Privileged matter and confidential drafting stay on the device; Word's Dictate sends audio to Microsoft, Parakeety does not.
Dictating into Clio with Parakeety
On-device push-to-talk dictation inside Clio on Mac: time-entry descriptions, matter notes, client-portal messages, Clio Draft documents. The single biggest billable-hours win is the time-entry field.
Dictating into VS Code with Parakeety
Push-to-talk dictation inside VS Code: Copilot Chat prompts, commit messages, doc comments, Markdown READMEs and code review remarks. Audio stays on the Mac.
Dictating into JetBrains IDEs with Parakeety
Push-to-talk dictation across IntelliJ IDEA, WebStorm, PyCharm, GoLand and the rest of the JetBrains family: AI Assistant prompts, commit messages, doc comments, READMEs. Audio stays on the Mac.
Dictating into Xcode with Parakeety
Push-to-talk dictation inside Xcode for Apple-platform engineers: triple-slash doc comments, Source Control commit messages, DocC markdown, scheme descriptions. On-device, NDA-friendly.
Dictating into Epic with Parakeety
Push-to-talk dictation that pastes at the cursor inside Epic Hyperdrive on Mac: SOAP narratives, MyChart messages, telephone-encounter summaries. Audio never leaves the device.
Dictating into Athenahealth with Parakeety
Push-to-talk dictation inside athenaOne on Mac: encounter notes, patient messages, telephone encounters and order notes. Browser-native EHR, on-device dictation, no second BAA.
Dictating into DrChrono with Parakeety
On-device push-to-talk dictation for DrChrono on Mac: encounter notes, telehealth follow-ups, patient messages, billing notes. Built for the small Mac-friendly practice.
Is SuperWhisper on-device?
Partly. SuperWhisper is a hybrid with local Whisper variants alongside cloud model options and AI features that send transcripts to LLM providers. Whether 'on-device' is true depends on the configuration.
Is MacWhisper on-device?
For the core transcription, yes. The AI cleanup features layered on top send transcript text to cloud LLMs. The audio leg is local by default; the transcript leg can leave the device through the AI features.
Is Apple Dictation on-device?
Usually, on a modern Apple Silicon Mac in a supported language. Not uniformly across Mac generations and languages. Apple has been migrating dictation onto the Neural Engine; the migration is not complete.
Is Aqua Voice on-device?
No. Aqua Voice is a cloud dictation service; the speech model runs in a data center and audio is transmitted from the device. Architectural privacy implications and what the on-device alternative looks like on Mac.
Is Wispr Flow free?
There is a free tier capped at 2,000 words per week. Past that you upgrade to Flow Pro, a per-user-per-month subscription. No one-time purchase option exists. What that means against a $30 lifetime alternative.
Is SuperWhisper free?
There is a free entry point and a paid tier that unlocks the full feature menu. Both subscription and lifetime (around $249.99) options have existed historically. What the trade looks like against a $30 lifetime dictation alternative.
Is MacWhisper free?
Yes, with a free tier that bundles smaller Whisper models. The larger models, batch processing, and AI features sit on paid Pro and subscription tiers. How the tier structure compares to a single $30 lifetime alternative.
Is Talon Voice free?
There is a free tier of Talon and a Talon Pro subscription. The free tier is genuinely usable; Pro unlocks the higher-quality on-device engines and supports an accessibility-focused project.
Is Aqua Voice free?
Aqua Voice typically offers a free entry path and a paid subscription for sustained use. Like most cloud dictation services, it is subscription-only; no one-time tier. What that means against a $30 lifetime alternative on Mac.
Does Apple Dictation work offline?
On modern Apple Silicon Macs in supported languages, yes. The on-device migration is not complete; some older Macs, some languages and some modes still need the network. The practical test is Airplane Mode.
Does MacWhisper work offline?
Yes for the core transcription with local Whisper models. The AI features around the transcript (summaries, chat over a transcript) call out to cloud LLM providers and need an internet connection.
Does SuperWhisper work offline?
It depends on the configured model and whether the AI cleanup features are on. Local Whisper variants with cleanup off keep transcription on the Mac. Cloud models and AI cleanup features need connectivity.
Does Talon Voice work offline?
Yes, with the on-device speech engines Talon defaults to. The accessibility community relies on Talon working offline; the project is designed around local speech and a local grammar.
Does Aqua Voice work offline?
No. Aqua Voice is a cloud dictation service; audio is captured on the device and transmitted to Aqua's servers for transcription. Without connectivity the app does not function. The on-device alternative for Mac is Parakeety.
Is MacWhisper HIPAA compliant?
The local transcription path keeps audio on the Mac. The AI features route text to cloud LLM providers. MacWhisper does not advertise a BAA. What that means for clinical use and where the cleaner alternative fits.
Is SuperWhisper HIPAA compliant?
It depends on the model SuperWhisper is configured to use, and whether the AI cleanup features are on. The local Whisper paths keep audio on the Mac; the cloud model and cleanup features route data to third parties. No BAA on consumer tier.
Is Apple Dictation HIPAA compliant?
Not in the way a clinical procurement team usually means. Apple does not provide a Business Associate Agreement for built-in macOS Dictation. The on-device guarantee on modern Macs is real but uneven across languages and Mac generations.
Is Dragon Medical HIPAA compliant?
Yes in the contractual sense. Dragon Medical One is sold under a Business Associate Agreement to covered entities, with the safeguards HIPAA expects of business associates. The architecture is cloud and Windows-only. What that means for Mac practices.
The best Mac dictation apps in 2026
An honest 2026 round-up of Mac dictation apps: Parakeety, MacWhisper, SuperWhisper, Wispr Flow, Apple Dictation, Talon Voice and Dragon. What each one is good at, where it falls short, and how to pick.
The best dictation app for solicitors
With Dragon discontinued on Mac, the legal dictation category has a Windows-shaped hole. An honest round-up of what works for Mac-based solicitors and barristers in 2026, framed around privilege and audit.
Parakeety vs Talon Voice
Talon Voice is hands-free computer control with dictation inside. Parakeety is push-to-talk dictation only. How the two compare on engineering workflows, learning curve, privacy and pricing.
Dictating clinical notes with a SOAP template
A practical workflow for dictating SOAP-format clinical notes on a Mac with Parakeety: template, dictation tips per section, privacy framing, and the same pattern adapted for DAP and BIRP notes.
Dictating into Cursor with Parakeety
Cursor moved a lot of programming from typing code to typing prose. Composer prompts, chat panel, commit messages and PR descriptions all benefit from dictation. A practical engineer-side workflow with push-to-talk.
HIPAA and dictation: architectural vs contractual privacy
Cloud dictation under a Business Associate Agreement is one valid HIPAA posture. On-device dictation where audio never leaves the Mac is another. How the two models differ, where each fits, and how to choose for clinical and legal practice.
Is Wispr Flow HIPAA compliant?
Yes on the enterprise tier with a Business Associate Agreement and Zero Data Retention enabled. Not on the consumer or self-serve tiers. Audio still leaves your Mac in every case. Here is what that means for clinical dictation, and the on-device alternative.
Parakeety vs Dragon
Dragon for Mac was discontinued in 2018 and Dragon Medical One is Windows-only and cloud. Parakeety is the on-device Mac alternative for clinicians, solicitors and anyone left without a desktop Dragon option. $30 once.
Parakeety vs MacWhisper
MacWhisper is a file-transcription app with a dictation feature. Parakeety is a push-to-talk dictation app that pastes at the cursor. Both run locally. How they compare on models, languages, pricing and privacy.
Parakeety vs Apple Dictation
Apple Dictation is the free baseline on every Mac. Parakeety is a push-to-talk dictation app with a different speech model and a different UX. The honest version of when the $30 upgrade pays back.
Parakeety for therapists and counselors
On-device push-to-talk dictation for therapists, counselors, psychologists and mental-health professionals. Audio never leaves the Mac, so session content never traverses anyone else's network. Architectural privacy, $30 once.
Parakeety for lawyers and solicitors
On-device push-to-talk dictation for solicitors, barristers, attorneys, paralegals and in-house counsel. Privileged matter and work product never leave the Mac. Architectural privacy, $30 once.
Parakeety for translators and interpreters
Push-to-talk dictation across 25 languages with auto-detection that follows mid-paragraph language switches. On-device, so confidential client documents never leave the Mac. $30 once.
Parakeety for clinicians and GPs
On-device push-to-talk dictation for clinicians, GPs, doctors, nurses and allied health. Audio never leaves the Mac, so consultation notes never traverse anyone else's network. Architectural privacy, $30 once.
Parakeety for engineers and developers
Push-to-talk dictation that pastes at the cursor in Terminal, your IDE, GitHub, Slack and Linear. Local and on-device, so internal code names, customer names and unreleased product names never get sent to OpenAI or Anthropic. $30 once.
Parakeety for writers and researchers
Spoken first-draft dictation for novelists, journalists, content writers, academics and researchers. 25-language auto-detect for source quotes, on-device for embargoed or unpublished work, $30 once with no cloud upload.
Parakeety vs Wispr Flow
How the two compare on architecture, speed, languages and pricing. Wispr Flow runs in the cloud as a per-user subscription; Parakeety runs on-device for $30 once. Where each one is the right fit, plus the privacy and HIPAA framing on both sides.
Parakeety vs SuperWhisper: $30 once vs subscription
How the two Mac dictation apps actually differ on model, speed, privacy and pricing. SuperWhisper has a richer model menu including cloud options on a subscription or $249.99 lifetime tier; Parakeety runs Parakeet TDT v3 only and stays fully on-device for $30 once. Where each one is the better fit, including the AI post-processing question.
Does Wispr Flow run locally?
Short answer: no. Wispr Flow is a cloud service. Audio uploads to their servers and the app stops working without internet. Here is what runs locally on the Mac instead.