Open Source Dictation Tools

Free and open-source speech-to-text tools on Dictation Database. Inspect the code, self-host it, or fork it.

Serenade

The friendliest voice coding tool, and the original is unmaintained

Voice Coding

Open-source voice coding using natural phrasing in VS Code, IntelliJ, and more. The original project is unmaintained; a community fork now carries it.

VOXD

Linux dictation with optional AI polish, and no GPU required

General Dictation

MIT-licensed Linux voice typing on whisper.cpp with optional AI post-processing via local llama.cpp or cloud APIs. 99+ languages, no GPU needed.

Vibe

Free local transcription with speaker labels, summaries, and every export format

General Dictation

Free MIT offline transcription for Mac, Windows, and Linux with speaker diarization, batch processing, and exports to SRT, VTT, DOCX, PDF and more.

Whispering

Now part of Epicenter — free transcription in the browser or on your desktop

General Dictation

Free open-source transcription that runs in the browser or inside the Epicenter desktop app, with local GGUF models or your own cloud provider keys.

Buzz

The free cross-platform answer to MacWhisper, at 21,000 stars

General Dictation

Free MIT-licensed offline transcription and translation for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Handles files, videos, YouTube links, and live microphone input.

Dragonfly

The Python layer that lets one grammar drive four different engines

Voice Coding

LGPL Python framework for writing custom speech recognition grammars, with a single API across Dragon, Windows Speech Recognition, Kaldi, and Pocket Sphinx.

Cursorless

Coloured hats on every token, and whole edits in a single command

Voice Coding

Structural voice editing for VS Code built on Talon. Marks every token with a coloured 'hat' so you can select and edit anywhere in one command.

nerd-dictation

One Python file, no background service, configured by writing code

General Dictation

Hackable offline Linux dictation built on VOSK. A single Python script with no daemon, configured by writing Python rather than clicking settings.

Amical

MIT dictation that pairs local Whisper with a local LLM

General Dictation

Free MIT-licensed dictation for Mac and Windows combining local Whisper transcription with Ollama for AI cleanup. Runs entirely offline.

OpenWhispr

Free MIT dictation that runs local or cloud, your choice per job

General Dictation

Free cross-platform dictation app running Whisper or NVIDIA Parakeet locally, or cloud models with your own keys. MIT licensed, no telemetry.

Handy

The free offline dictation app that treats Linux as a first-class target

General Dictation

Free MIT-licensed dictation for Mac, Windows, and Linux running Whisper or Parakeet fully offline. No account, no subscription, no cloud.

Numen

Full voice control of Linux, running entirely on your own machine

Voice Coding

Free libre voice control for Linux, running locally. Built for people who can't otherwise use a computer, and for avoiding hand strain.

Vocalinux

The most polished offline dictation on Linux, with a tray icon and everything

General Dictation

Free AGPL Linux dictation running whisper.cpp, Whisper, or VOSK entirely offline, with GPU acceleration and system tray integration across X11 and Wayland.

Caster

A ready-made command set for Dragonfly, covering 13+ languages

Voice Coding

Free voice programming toolkit built on Dragonfly with prebuilt commands for 13+ languages and major IDEs. Needs Dragon, Kaldi, or Windows Speech Recognition.

OpenTypeless

Bring your own keys and mix any speech and language model you like

General Dictation

MIT-licensed voice typing for Mac, Windows, and Linux that works with Groq, Deepgram, AssemblyAI, OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Ollama and more via your own API keys.

VoiceInk

GPL-licensed local Mac dictation for $29, once

General Dictation

Open-source macOS dictation that runs Whisper, Parakeet, and Cohere models entirely on-device. One-time $29 for a single Mac, no subscription.

Serenade

The friendliest voice coding tool, and the original is unmaintained

Voice Coding

Open-source voice coding using natural phrasing in VS Code, IntelliJ, and more. The original project is unmaintained; a community fork now carries it.

VOXD

Linux dictation with optional AI polish, and no GPU required

General Dictation

MIT-licensed Linux voice typing on whisper.cpp with optional AI post-processing via local llama.cpp or cloud APIs. 99+ languages, no GPU needed.

Vibe

Free local transcription with speaker labels, summaries, and every export format

General Dictation

Free MIT offline transcription for Mac, Windows, and Linux with speaker diarization, batch processing, and exports to SRT, VTT, DOCX, PDF and more.

Whispering

Now part of Epicenter — free transcription in the browser or on your desktop

General Dictation

Free open-source transcription that runs in the browser or inside the Epicenter desktop app, with local GGUF models or your own cloud provider keys.

Buzz

The free cross-platform answer to MacWhisper, at 21,000 stars

General Dictation

Free MIT-licensed offline transcription and translation for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Handles files, videos, YouTube links, and live microphone input.

Dragonfly

The Python layer that lets one grammar drive four different engines

Voice Coding

LGPL Python framework for writing custom speech recognition grammars, with a single API across Dragon, Windows Speech Recognition, Kaldi, and Pocket Sphinx.

Cursorless

Coloured hats on every token, and whole edits in a single command

Voice Coding

Structural voice editing for VS Code built on Talon. Marks every token with a coloured 'hat' so you can select and edit anywhere in one command.

nerd-dictation

One Python file, no background service, configured by writing code

General Dictation

Hackable offline Linux dictation built on VOSK. A single Python script with no daemon, configured by writing Python rather than clicking settings.

Amical

MIT dictation that pairs local Whisper with a local LLM

General Dictation

Free MIT-licensed dictation for Mac and Windows combining local Whisper transcription with Ollama for AI cleanup. Runs entirely offline.

OpenWhispr

Free MIT dictation that runs local or cloud, your choice per job

General Dictation

Free cross-platform dictation app running Whisper or NVIDIA Parakeet locally, or cloud models with your own keys. MIT licensed, no telemetry.

Handy

The free offline dictation app that treats Linux as a first-class target

General Dictation

Free MIT-licensed dictation for Mac, Windows, and Linux running Whisper or Parakeet fully offline. No account, no subscription, no cloud.

Numen

Full voice control of Linux, running entirely on your own machine

Voice Coding

Free libre voice control for Linux, running locally. Built for people who can't otherwise use a computer, and for avoiding hand strain.

Vocalinux

The most polished offline dictation on Linux, with a tray icon and everything

General Dictation

Free AGPL Linux dictation running whisper.cpp, Whisper, or VOSK entirely offline, with GPU acceleration and system tray integration across X11 and Wayland.

Caster

A ready-made command set for Dragonfly, covering 13+ languages

Voice Coding

Free voice programming toolkit built on Dragonfly with prebuilt commands for 13+ languages and major IDEs. Needs Dragon, Kaldi, or Windows Speech Recognition.

OpenTypeless

Bring your own keys and mix any speech and language model you like

General Dictation

MIT-licensed voice typing for Mac, Windows, and Linux that works with Groq, Deepgram, AssemblyAI, OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Ollama and more via your own API keys.

VoiceInk

GPL-licensed local Mac dictation for $29, once

General Dictation

Open-source macOS dictation that runs Whisper, Parakeet, and Cohere models entirely on-device. One-time $29 for a single Mac, no subscription.