speechtotextsoftware.comPublished by VoicePrivate. We make one of the tools listed here, and it is labelled. Checked 28 Sep 2026.

Speech to text where local or cloud depends

7 of 29 vendors state both paths and name what decides it, in their own words. The rest of the field stays in view for comparison.

2

Your device

Vendor says audio stays on the device.

7

Conditional

Both stated. Each tool names what decides it.

17

The cloud

Vendor says audio goes to its servers or a cloud.

3

Not stated

The pages we checked do not say.

Placement follows the vendor's words only, never the product type. A tool marked conditional states both paths; the switch that decides it is named on the tool. Works offline keeps lit only tools whose vendor has a quote for offline or on-device use.

7 tools, in their words

Showing 7 of 7. Alphabetical. Prices as shown on the vendor site, 28 Sep 2026.

Apple Dictation on Mac

Dictation built into macOS that types speech anywhere you can type, processed on the Mac or on Apple servers depending on what Keyboard settings show.

Dictation built into macOS

Mac. Dictation

Conditional. Depends on your Keyboard settings

“When you use Dictation, your device will indicate in Keyboard Settings if your audio and transcripts are processed on your device and not sent to Apple servers.”

apple.com

“Otherwise, the things you dictate are sent to and processed on the server, but will not be stored unless you opt in to Improve Siri and Dictation.”

apple.com
No price publishedFree plan not stated. Checked 28 Sep 2026. Vendor site

MacWhisper

Mac app that transcribes audio files and dictation with models that run on the Mac, with optional cloud providers.

Mac app for transcription and dictation

Mac, iPhone. Transcription, Dictation

Conditional. Cloud only if you add a provider

“Process sensitive content locally without data ever leaving your Mac.”

macwhisper.com

“All transcription is done on your device, no data leaves your machine. This makes MacWhisper a great app for sensitive audio such as interviews.”

goodsnooze.gumroad.com

“Easily switch between different models hosted remotely or locally on your Mac.”

macwhisper.com
€64 one-time payment, Pro licenseFree plan. Checked 28 Sep 2026. Vendor site

Speechmatics

Speech-to-text API for developers, offered in its cloud, on your own servers, or on-device on Mac and Windows.

Speech-to-text API for developers

API, Mac, Windows. Transcription

Conditional. Depends on the deployment

“Sub-second latency, no infrastructure costs and audio that never leaves the machine.”

speechmatics.com

“A speech-to-text API with three ways to deploy it: cloud, on-prem, or on-device.”

speechmatics.com
$0.129/hr per hour (Pro plan, vendor headline from price)$ as shownFree plan. Checked 28 Sep 2026. Vendor site

Spokenly

System-wide dictation app with free local models, bring-your-own-key cloud models, and a paid Pro plan for its own cloud models.

System-wide dictation app

Mac, Windows, iPhone, Chrome. Dictation, Transcription

Conditional. Depends on the model you pick

“When using local models: Your audio recordings and transcriptions never leave your device. All speech-to-text processing happens entirely on your device, ensuring complete privacy of your spoken content.”

spokenly.app

“When using built-in cloud models (no API key required): Spokenly captures your voice input and sends the corresponding audio file to our backend for transcription purposes.”

spokenly.app
$0 Local Models, forever$ as shownFree plan. Checked 28 Sep 2026. Vendor site

Superwhisper

Voice to text app that types into any app, with local models or cloud models and a meeting recorder.

Voice to text app with a meeting recorder

Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android. Dictation, Transcription, Meeting notes

Conditional. Depends on the model you pick

“It records and summarizes meetings too, and with local models nothing you say leaves your device.”

superwhisper.com

“Unlimited use of Cloud and Local AI models”

superwhisper.com
$8.49 per month (Pro)$ as shownFree plan. Checked 28 Sep 2026. Vendor site

VoiceInk

Open source Mac dictation app, now also on iOS, that transcribes with local models by default and can optionally use a cloud provider you choose.

Open source Mac dictation app

Mac, iPhone. Dictation

Conditional. Cloud only if you pick a provider

“VoiceInk processes all voice transcription locally on your device. Your voice data never leaves your Mac, ensuring complete privacy.”

tryvoiceink.com

“Cloud transcription: Your audio file is sent to your selected provider for transcription”

tryvoiceink.com
$25 one-time purchase, 1 macOS device$ as shownFree plan not stated. Checked 28 Sep 2026. Vendor site

Willow Voice

Dictation app that types speech into any app on Mac, Windows and iPhone, with an offline mode.

Dictation app that types into any app

Mac, Windows, iPhone. Dictation

Conditional. Depends on the mode you use

“Dictate without an internet connection, powered entirely by your device.”

willowvoice.com

“Willow runs on secure cloud infrastructure in the United States.”

willowvoice.com
$12 per user per month$ as shownFree plan. Checked 28 Sep 2026. Vendor site