Quobi review
Free, offline dictation for Windows and Linux with local cleanup and cursor insertion.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Quobi is a free, open-source desktop dictation app for people who want to speak text into other applications on Windows or Linux. Its workflow is push-to-talk: hold a hotkey, dictate, and have the resulting text inserted at the cursor. The product is suited to solo users and small teams who want offline dictation without creating an account, and who prefer local processing over sending audio to a server. It is less suitable for someone who needs a mobile app today or expects dictation to run continuously without a deliberate hotkey action.
The main distinction is that Quobi combines transcription with local text cleanup. Users can choose Verbatim, Tidy, or Formatted output, and the app can remove fillers and handle punctuation. Spoken shorthand can expand into items such as email addresses and editing cues. Voice commands include “Scratch that,” which removes the last paste. This makes it more than a speech-to-text capture tool: it covers a compact editing-and-insertion workflow while keeping recognition and cleanup on the device. Buyers who want local dictation with quick formatting controls may find that focused scope a good fit; those seeking broader writing assistance should compare alternatives.
Quobi is presented as free under AGPL-3.0, with no account required, so there are no paid tiers to weigh in the published offering. Downloads are listed for Windows and Linux; Android is described as in development, not as an available platform. That desktop-only reach is a practical constraint for people who dictate across phone and computer, and the hotkey-led workflow favors short, intentional dictation over hands-free continuous input. Choose Quobi for free offline desktop dictation and cursor insertion; look elsewhere if mobile availability or a different interaction model is essential.
Questions about Quobi
Does Quobi have a free plan? Yes, there is a free plan.
What does Quobi run on? Windows and Linux. It runs as a desktop app.
Who is Quobi built for? Solo users and small businesses (our editorial estimate).
Quobi pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Runs speech recognition and text cleanup on-device, including offline
- Offers Verbatim, Tidy, and Formatted output styles
- Converts spoken shorthand and inserts text at the cursor
- Where it doesn't
- Available downloads are limited to Windows and Linux
- Android is still in development
- Dictation is started with a hotkey rather than continuous listening
Quobi fact sheet, pricing and score →
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