Spoke review
A free, open-source dictation app for private, offline transcription on Mac.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Spoke is an open-source speech-to-text dictation app for macOS. It is designed for people who want to speak into a desktop application and have the transcription appear directly at the active cursor. Voice processing happens locally on the device, so the app supports offline use without an account or cloud storage. Its focus is straightforward dictation rather than a broader transcription platform.
The Free plan costs $0 and includes on-device dictation, offline use, and open-source availability. Spoke supports live capture and more than 99 languages, giving Mac users a broad language range without requiring a paid tier. Because the app types into the active cursor in other applications, it fits workflows that already happen in desktop text fields. The plan structure is simple: there is one free offering and no paid tier to compare.
Privacy and local processing are the clearest reasons to choose Spoke. Audio is processed on the device, and the app works without an internet connection, which suits users who want to avoid cloud-based voice storage. The trade-off is a narrow platform and feature scope: Spoke is limited to macOS, with no verified speaker labels, integrations, or API. Choose it for private, accountless dictation on a Mac; choose another speech-to-text product if you need broader operating-system support, speaker separation, integrations, or developer access.
Spoke pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Processes speech on-device without cloud storage or an account
- Works offline and types transcription into the active cursor
- Supports live dictation in more than 99 languages
- Where it doesn't
- Available only on macOS
- No verified speaker-labeling capability
- No listed integrations or API
Spoke fact sheet, pricing and score →
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