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Tools · Updated 11 Oct, 05:31 pm IST

BetterWispr: free open-source offline dictation app for macOS

Image: Hacker News (100+ points)

Why it matters for readers: It demonstrates how speech-to-text and on-device summarization can work without sending data to cloud servers.

  • BetterWispr is free, open-source and designed for macOS 14+ with Apple Silicon recommended.1
  • All speech processing can run locally: models download once and work offline with no cloud fallback or account required.1
  • Nine built-in models are included, from Apple speech, Parakeet and Whisper, and users can choose external APIs like Sarvam AI, Smallest AI or OpenAI-compatible endpoints.1
  • The app uses a hold ⌥ Space gesture (or other configurable shortcuts) to record dictation in any app and lets you set writing style per app.1
  • A notetaker labels your mic text as Me and other apps as Them, and Apple Intelligence or Ollama can generate summaries, decisions and action items on-device.1
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