Click a text field
Place your cursor where you want the words to go.
FREE LOCAL DICTATION FOR MAC
Your local
transcription app.
Speak a thought. Transcribe a recording.
Keep every word on your Mac.
Hold a key, speak, and let go.
Get Dictation KeyMade for MacApple silicon & IntelmacOS 14+
ONE APP. ALL YOUR WORDS.
Dictation, wherever you type.File transcription, when you need it.
01 Audio stays on your Mac02 Works offline after setup03 No account to transcribe
MEET DICTATION KEY
A little less typing.
The whole idea.
A shortcut for your thoughts. A dictionary for your words. A home for your transcripts.
24 seconds · Sound optionalOpen the filmAnimated product introduction with instrumental music. All messages appear on screen. App screenshots use sample content.
Read the video transcript
Less typing. More flow. Hold. Speak. Release. An Fn / Globe key illustrates the hold-to-dictate shortcut.
Your voice. In writing. Local transcription for Mac. The Dictation Key app appears.
Two taps. Hands free. Tap again when you’re done. An animated shortcut illustration shows hands-free recording.
Your words. Remembered. A correction changes “whisper kit” to “WhisperKit.” Save a correction. Keep your spelling. The app’s dictionary appears.
Files become words, too. Audio. Video. One library. The transcript library appears.
On your Mac. In your control. Local transcription. Dictation Key. dictationkey.com. Free for Mac.
Instrumental music and short sound effects accompany the animation. There is no narration.
01 / DICTATION
Hold a key.
Let the words out.
Stay in the app you’re using. Dictation Key listens when you ask, then inserts your words when you finish.
Listening
A thought, written down.Interaction illustration · transcription starts after you finish speaking
Hold Fn / Globe and speak
A small waveform shows that your microphone is listening.
Release to insert
The app transcribes your speech, then inserts the text.
Prefer hands-free? Double-tap Fn to start. Tap again to finish. Escape cancels. You can change the shortcut in the app.
02 / YOUR SETUP
It fits the way
you work.
Your shortcut. Your language. Your own words. A few useful controls, right where you need them.
Your words, remembered.
Save a misheard name or phrase once. Your dictionary applies that correction in future dictations.
Saved on your Mac. Always editable.
WHAT IT HEARDcube her nettiesWHAT TO WRITEKubernetes ✓
A key that feels right.
Use Fn, pick another key, or record your own combination. Hold to speak or double-tap to go hands-free.
Out of the way.
A small recording indicator. Drag it where you like. It remembers its place.
In your language.
Let Whisper detect your language, or choose one in settings.
The engine for your words.
Fast English and European dictation on Apple silicon. Whisper for more languages and Intel Macs.
03 / AUDIO & VIDEO
From a recording
to words you can use.
Import recordings up to one hour long. Read, edit, and search the transcript. Export the words or take the subtitles with you.
TXTMarkdownSRTVTT
Saved locally. Ready to use elsewhere.
PRIVATE IS THE STARTING POINT
On your Mac.
And kept that way.
Your audio is processed locally. Download a model once, then dictate and transcribe offline. No account needed for transcription.
Read the privacy detailsGood to know.
Is Dictation Key free?
Yes. Local dictation is free, with no subscription or account required to transcribe. Your audio stays on your Mac.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Download a speech model once, then dictate and transcribe files without an internet connection.
Which Macs is it for?
macOS 14 or later. The universal app contains versions for both Apple silicon and Intel processors.
Does it transcribe while I speak?
It records while you speak and transcribes when you finish. Hold and release Fn, or double-tap to record hands-free and tap again to finish.
Can I change the keyboard shortcut?
Yes. Fn / Globe is the default. Pick Control or Option, or click Customize to record your own modifier-and-key combination. Both hold-to-dictate and double-tap hands-free recording work with your selected shortcut.
What does the personal dictionary remember?
Only the corrections you save. Enter a misheard word or phrase and its replacement. Edit, delete, or disable these rules whenever you like. It does not monitor everything you type or train a new speech model.
Which speech engine should I use?
The app chooses a default for your Mac. Fast dictation uses Parakeet for English and supported European languages on Apple silicon. Whisper handles other supported language modes, Intel Macs, and file transcription. You can adjust these under Advanced settings.
What permissions does it need?
Microphone for recording and Accessibility for the keyboard shortcut and inserting text into other apps. Dictation is excluded from recognized password fields.
Where are my transcripts stored?
Imported-file transcripts are saved on your Mac. Your last dictation stays available until you clear it or quit. Original media files are not copied into the library.
Less typing.
More room to think.
Free local dictation for Mac. No subscription. No account to transcribe.
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New features, useful tips, and first access to what we build next. The free app stays yours either way.