The best offline dictation app for a Mac is one whose speech recognition runs on the Mac after a one-time model download. For free, start with Apple Dictation on an Apple silicon Mac (Apple says no internet connection is needed for supported languages), then Spokenly's free local models, Superwhisper Free or Handy. If you also need recordings transcribed offline, MacWhisper. If you want open source with a paid build, VoiceInk. Every one of them still needs the internet for something, such as the model download, a licence check or an optional cloud feature, so this page compares what stays local in each, rather than repeating the setup steps in our guide to voice to text without internet.
Publisher note: SuprFlow publishes this guide and is one of the products discussed. Competitor details come from each company's own pages, checked on 1 October 2026. Prices and features change; confirm before you buy.
We have not run a controlled benchmark of these apps, so none is ranked for accuracy. A test you can run with Wi-Fi off is near the end.
What stays local in each app?
From each vendor's own documentation, as of 1 October 2026. "Offline" here means speech recognition runs on the Mac once the model is present. It does not mean the app never uses the network.
| App | Speech recognition offline | Text cleanup offline | Still needs the internet for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Dictation | On Apple silicon, for languages with on-device support | Not documented separately | Speech-model download; Intel Macs and other languages send dictation to Apple | Built in |
| Spokenly | Local Whisper and Parakeet models | A model hosted on localhost still works in Local Only Mode | Model downloads, which Local Only Mode still allows; cloud models and hosted cleanup | Local models free |
| Superwhisper | Local voice models | Only the local S1-mini model in Message or Mail mode | Model download; cloud voice models; "Other AI processing" | Free tier; Pro from $8.49 a month or $249.99 once |
| Handy | Whisper or Parakeet V3 | No cleanup features described | Model download | Free, MIT |
| VoiceInk | Local models by default | With local Ollama | Licence activation, updates, model download, optional cloud providers | $25 once, or build free |
| MacWhisper | Local Whisper or Parakeet models, for files and dictation | AI prompts through Ollama or LM Studio (Pro) | Model download; licence-status analytics; optional cloud transcription, DeepL and cloud AI | Free; Pro €64 once |
| SuprFlow | On-device WhisperKit model | Default formatting is local | Model download, account and licence checks, updates, usage telemetry; optional Cloud API formatting | $125 once |
Which offline app fits which need?
- Free, nothing to install: Apple Dictation, if your Mac has Apple silicon and your language is on Apple's on-device list.
- Free push-to-talk with a network block: Spokenly with Local Only Mode.
- Free push-to-talk, and the option of cloud models later: Superwhisper.
- Open source: Handy, or VoiceInk built from source.
- Recordings and meetings as well as dictation: MacWhisper.
- A paid Mac app with very few settings: SuprFlow, described below.
Apple Dictation
Apple's macOS 14 guide says: "On a Mac with Apple silicon, Dictation requests are processed on your device for supported languages—no internet connection is required." It adds that on an Intel-based Mac, or in a language without on-device support, "your dictated utterances are sent to Apple", and that in a search box, text "may be sent to the search provider". Apple's feature availability page lists the languages for "On-Device and Modeless Dictation" and notes "Requires download of speech models." The current guide tells you to read the text under System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation to see whether general dictation is processed on your device.
Spokenly, Superwhisper and Handy
Spokenly's Local Only Mode disables "all network activity except local model downloads", allows connections to localhost, and blocks the analytics Spokenly otherwise collects. If you pick an online model with it on, transcription fails, which tells you something is set to the cloud. Spokenly's pricing page lists local models as "$0 forever". Spokenly pricing
Superwhisper's introduction says "Local voice models transcribe without an internet connection", that "AI formatting offline needs the local S1-mini model in the Message or Mail mode", and that "Other AI processing needs the internet." Each mode picks its own models, so check every mode you use. Is Superwhisper safe and local?
Handy describes itself as "A free, open source, and extensible speech-to-text application that works completely offline". It offers Whisper and Parakeet V3 models on macOS, Windows and Linux.
VoiceInk and MacWhisper
VoiceInk's privacy policy says "By default, all transcription processing happens entirely on your device using local AI models." Cloud transcription sends your audio to the provider you choose, and AI enhancement sends "Only the transcribed text (never audio)". Its licence docs say activation needs a working network connection. Is VoiceInk safe?
MacWhisper's privacy article says transcription runs on the Mac with a downloaded model, and names three features that send data out: cloud transcription, DeepL translation and cloud AI prompts. Its privacy policy says it can send anonymous analytics about licensing status. IT can disable cloud features with MDM keys. Is MacWhisper safe?
SuprFlow
SuprFlow recognises speech on the Mac with a WhisperKit model that you download during setup, and its Default formatting is local cleanup of punctuation, capitalization and numbers, so dictation keeps working with Wi-Fi off. Two optional formatting choices change that: Cloud API sends transcript text, not audio, to the provider you configure, and Local (Ollama) stays on the Mac only if the Ollama endpoint is on that Mac. Account and licence checks, app updates and usage telemetry are separate network traffic. Before a long stretch offline, read SuprFlow offline licence grace.
It is the wrong choice if you want offline dictation for free (every other app here has a free route), an Intel Mac (it needs Apple Silicon and macOS 14 or later), a whole-app network block like Spokenly's, or offline file transcription (MacWhisper does that). It costs $125 once for up to five Macs you own, with no free tier or trial.
Which popular apps do not work offline?
Wispr Flow says an internet connection is required. Typeless's Data Controls page says "Transcription is performed on the cloud". Aqua Voice's FAQ says cloud dictation needs a connection and offline availability varies. Willow's homepage advertises an offline mode while its privacy policy describes cloud processing; Is Willow Voice safe? covers that.
How do you test offline dictation in 15 minutes?
- Online (5 minutes): install the app, choose your language, download the model you will use, and switch off any cloud model or cloud formatting.
- Quit and reopen the app, so the model loads from disk.
- Turn Wi-Fi off and unplug Ethernet.
- Dictate into the app you really use (3 minutes): "Move the 12 May review with Ottoline Reyes to 4:45 pm, budget 6,300 dollars, and do not forward the draft."
- Check the name, time, date, amount and the "not".
- Restart the Mac with Wi-Fi still off and try again (5 minutes) if you will be offline for days. Note anything that stopped, such as cleanup or a sign-in prompt.
Questions people ask
Can I dictate on a Mac without internet for free?
Yes. Apple Dictation on an Apple silicon Mac in a supported language, Spokenly's local models, Superwhisper Free and Handy all recognise speech on the Mac at no cost, after a model download.
Does offline dictation mean nothing leaves my Mac?
No. It means speech recognition runs locally. Apps may still check licences, download updates, send analytics or call an optional cloud feature. Of the apps here, only Spokenly documents a whole-app network block; the others describe per-feature settings. See Does on-device dictation mean no internet?.
Is offline dictation less accurate than cloud dictation?
Not necessarily. Accuracy depends on the model, your microphone and your voice. We have not benchmarked these apps, so run the test above.
Which offline app can also transcribe audio files?
MacWhisper is built for that, and Superwhisper Pro lists file transcription.
Related guides
- Voice to text without internet on a Mac
- Best free dictation app for Mac
- Superwhisper vs Spokenly
- MacWhisper vs VoiceInk
- Offline voice to text on Mac
- On-device speech recognition explained
Sources
- Apple — Dictate messages and documents on Mac (macOS 14)
- Apple — Dictate messages and documents on Mac (macOS 27)
- Apple — macOS feature availability
- Spokenly Docs — Local Only Mode
- Spokenly — Pricing
- Superwhisper Docs — Introduction
- Handy — GitHub repository
- VoiceInk — Privacy Policy
- VoiceInk Docs — License Key Management
- MacWhisper Support — Keeping Transcriptions Private
- MacWhisper — Privacy policy
- MacWhisper Support — Deploying MacWhisper with MDM
- Wispr Flow Help Center — What to expect from Flow: accuracy and known limitations
- Typeless — Data Controls
- Aqua Voice — FAQs