VoiceInk vs Spokenly for Mac Dictation
On an Apple Silicon Mac, try VoiceInk if you want a one-time license for its ready-to-install build or prefer to build the open-source app yourself. Try Spokenly if you want an unlimited free local dictation tier, a universal Mac download, or the option of a managed cloud plan. Both support local transcription and saved dictation modes. The settings for the mode you use determine where the audio and any optional editing are processed. VoiceInk site · VoiceInk source · Spokenly downloads · Spokenly pricing
Voconly publishes this comparison. The product details come from official sources. Use the trial below to compare VoiceInk and Spokenly in the Mac apps you use every day.
VoiceInk and Spokenly at a glance
| Question | VoiceInk | Spokenly |
|---|---|---|
| Which Macs can run it? | The Mac download targets Apple Silicon. Check the current build's macOS requirement. VoiceInk site | The Mac download is universal and lists macOS 13.3 or later. Check hardware support for the specific model you want. Spokenly download |
| How do I pay? | Free trial, one-time purchase for the distributed Mac app, or build from public source. VoiceInk site · VoiceInk source | Free unlimited local dictation, optional Pro for managed cloud models, and the option to connect your own provider key. The provider may charge for usage. Spokenly pricing |
| Can I use a different setup in Mail and Notes? | Modes can change the model, prompt, context, and output. Assign them to apps, websites, or shortcuts. VoiceInk Modes | Modes save the speech model, AI instructions, and output style. On Mac, they can activate by app or website or through their own shortcuts. Spokenly Modes |
| How do I keep speech recognition local? | Pick an on-device transcription model. Choose a separate local enhancement option or leave enhancement off. VoiceInk docs | Download a local speech model and consider Local Only Mode, which restricts network activity and permits model downloads and local endpoints. Spokenly Local Only Mode |
Compare what happens after transcription
VoiceInk's default Dictation mode pastes the transcript with AI enhancement off. Its Refine option performs fixed local cleanup, including punctuation, fillers, and spoken self-corrections. VoiceInk documents an Apple Silicon Mac with at least 16 GB of RAM for Refine. If you want custom instructions or surrounding text as context, choose an enhancement provider that supports those features. VoiceInk Modes · VoiceInk Refine
Spokenly lets you pick a speech model and optional AI Instructions for each mode. Its Mac documentation lists local text processing options such as Apple Intelligence on supported devices and connections to Ollama or LM Studio. When setting up a mode for email, select Paste at Cursor during the trial so you can review the draft before sending. Spokenly models · Spokenly Modes
For either app, check what the active mode includes as context. A cloud speech model can receive audio. A cloud text model can receive the transcript and any enabled context even when you selected local recognition. If you want the whole flow local, select local options for both stages or leave editing off. VoiceInk cloud providers · Spokenly privacy policy
Try the same sentence in Notes and Mail
- Start in Notes with local recognition. With the same microphone, dictate “Please hold room five for Emery on Tuesday, actually Wednesday, at ten fifteen.” Save both plain transcripts and check the name, room, and time.
- Switch to an unsent Mail draft. Set up an editing mode in each app that removes the false start. Repeat the phrase and check that the draft says Wednesday and keeps the room, time, and name. If you set up automatic mode switching, verify the active mode after you change apps.
- Repeat offline if that matters to you. Download the models while connected, then repeat both passes in a local text editor with the network off. Compare whether text appears at the cursor, whether cleanup still runs, and which details need manual edits.
If both apps produce usable text, choose based on the Mac you have, how you want to pay, and which setup is easier to reproduce for your everyday work.
Voconly · Compare a shortcut for notes with one for email drafts
On an Apple Silicon Mac, test plain local speech recognition, then assign a separate shortcut to an optional cleanup scenario.