TypeVoice vs VoiceInk
Two open-source dictation apps that run on your Mac. VoiceInk hands you the dials: a dozen models, your own cloud keys, modes that switch per app. TypeVoice makes the choices for you: one tuned model and built-in cleanup, ready the moment it opens.
Free for 7 days · No card, no account · Works offline
Side by side
Row by row.
As of October 2026, including where VoiceInk is ahead. VoiceInk is a good app; this is about fit.
 TypeVoice | VoiceInk | |
|---|---|---|
| Where speech is recognised | On your Mac's Neural Engine, every time. | On your Mac with local models, or with cloud providers using your own API key. |
| Cleanup of ums, stutters, restarts | Built in, on your Mac: by rule, plus Apple Intelligence. No extra download. | AI enhancement: its local model (Apple silicon, 16 GB RAM), Ollama, or a cloud provider. |
| Works offline | Yes, always. | Yes, with local transcription and cloud features off. |
| Price | $79 once, for two Macs. 7-day trial, no card. | $25 for 1 Mac, $39 for 2, $49 for 3, once. 7-day trial. |
| Source code | Open, GPL v3. | Open, GPL v3. |
| Models | One: Parakeet, tuned for English. Nothing to choose. | Parakeet, Whisper, Nemotron, Cohere, Apple Speech and more. |
| Languages | English, every accent. | Many, depending on the model. |
| Modes per app or website | No. One style everywhere. | Yes, switching by app, website or a spoken word. |
| Platforms | Mac. | Mac and iPhone (separate licences). |
| Mac requirements | macOS 26 on Apple silicon. | macOS 14.4 or later on Apple silicon (its docs say macOS 15). |
| Personal dictionary | Yes, matched by how a word sounds. | Vocabulary, replacements and Auto Learn. |
| Send the voice as a voice note | Yes: drag any dictation into iMessage, Slack or WhatsApp. | Not documented. |
Cleanup
Cleanup with nothing to install.
TypeVoice's cleanup needs no extra model download, no 16 GB of memory and no API key: fillers, stutters, restarts, numbers and lists are fixed on this Mac, out of the box.
In TypeVoice
Two small things people end up loving.
A note on the end, if you want one
For places where spelling gets judged, like a coding assistant or a ticket queue. Your words, added to every dictation.
Names spelled right, however they're heard
Add a word once and TypeVoice matches it by how it sounds, not by exact spelling. Word packs already know hundreds of product and developer names.
Which one
Both are good. Pick by temperament.
VoiceInk is the better pick if
- You want the lowest price
- You like choosing models, or bringing your own cloud keys
- You want different modes per app or website
- You dictate in languages other than English, or want it on iPhone
TypeVoice is the better pick if
- You want it to just work, with no models or keys to set up
- You want good cleanup without a big local LLM or a cloud key
- You'd like to send a dictation as a voice note, or sign it
- You're on macOS 26 and speak English
Trying it
Try it next to VoiceInk in a minute.
Download
The whole app, free for 7 days. No card, no account.
Pick your key
Hold 🌐, Right ⌘, ⌥Space or any chord, or tap to toggle. Use a different key from VoiceInk and keep both for a week.
Add your words
Names and jargon go in the Dictionary once, matched by how they sound.
Keep your voice on your Mac.
Free for 7 days · $79 once · Runs entirely on your Mac
VoiceInk is a trademark of its owner; we're not affiliated. Facts are from tryvoiceink.com, its docs and its GitHub repository as of October 2026. Something out of date? Write to support.
Questions
Questions people ask.
Are TypeVoice and VoiceInk both open source?
Yes, both under the GPL v3. With each, what you pay for is the signed build, updates and support.
Which is cheaper?
VoiceInk: $25 for one Mac or $39 for two. TypeVoice is $79 for two Macs. Both are one-time purchases.
Why would I pick TypeVoice over VoiceInk?
If you'd rather not choose models or set up AI enhancement. TypeVoice ships one tuned English model and a cleanup step that runs on your Mac with nothing extra to download, plus voice notes and an optional sign-off line.
Does VoiceInk send my voice anywhere?
Not with local models. Its cloud transcription and cloud AI enhancement are optional and use your own API keys. TypeVoice has no cloud option at all.