Replacing macOS Dictation with local, Open-Source Speech-to-Text

Spokenly is one of a growing number of native macOS apps that aim to replace Apple’s built-in dictation functionality. Most of these tools push you towards a subscription or one-off payment once the trial ends, but Spokenly lets you run open-source speech-to-text models locally for free.

I’ve been testing it with Nvidia’s Parakeet TDT 0.6B V2 model and the speed and accuracy are a noticeable step up from Apple dictation. It feels faster, and is far less prone to the small but frequent mistakes that used to break my flow.

As more and more of my work day is spent speaking conversationally with AI tools and agents, dictation feels like a natural way to get thoughts out of my head and onto the screen. Spokenly makes that easy, so if you’re looking for a dictation tool that’s fast, accurate, and free, I recommend giving it a try.

Links

• spokenly.app
• Mac App Store