VoiceWrite

# VoiceWrite > Free, open-source voice-to-text for macOS with 100% on-device processing. ## What is VoiceWrite? VoiceWrite is a free voice dictation app for Mac that runs entirely on your device. No cloud servers, no subscriptions, no data collection. Press a hotkey, speak, and your words appear in any app. ## Key Features - **100% On-Device Processing**: Uses Apple's SpeechAnalyzer API. Audio never leaves your Mac. - **Real-Time Typing**: Words appear as you speak with live transcription preview. - **Multi-Language Support**: Add multiple languages with dedicated hotkeys. - **Smart Cleanup**: On-device AI removes filler words (um, uh) and fixes self-corrections. - **Custom Dictionary**: Add names, technical terms, and jargon for better recognition. - **Visual Feedback**: Screen border glows while recording. - **Headset Support**: Use USB headset call button to toggle recording. - **Open Source**: MIT licensed, free forever. ## System Requirements - macOS 26.0 (Tahoe) or later - Microphone access permission - Accessibility permission (for typing into apps) ## Download Latest release: https://github.com/leftouterjoins/voicewrite/releases/latest ## Comparison to Paid Alternatives VoiceWrite is a free alternative to paid voice dictation apps like Wispr Flow: | Feature | VoiceWrite | Paid Apps | |---------|------------|-----------| | Price | Free | $10-20/month | | Privacy | 100% on-device | Cloud processing | | Account required | No | Yes | | Open source | Yes (MIT) | No | | Works offline | Yes | Limited | ## Links - Website: https://leftouterjoins.github.io/voicewrite/ - GitHub: https://github.com/leftouterjoins/voicewrite - Issues: https://github.com/leftouterjoins/voicewrite/issues - Privacy Policy: https://leftouterjoins.github.io/voicewrite/privacy.html ## How It Works 1. VoiceWrite runs in your menu bar 2. Press Ctrl+V (customizable) to start recording 3. Speak naturally - see words appear in real-time 4. Press the hotkey again to stop 5. Transcribed text is typed into the active app ## Use Cases - Quick messages and replies - Form fields and search queries - Short notes - Voice coding ("vibe coding") - Terminal commands ## Technical Details - Built with SwiftUI for macOS - Uses Apple's native SpeechAnalyzer framework - Under 5MB on disk (no bundled ML models) - System manages speech recognition assets automatically