Dictate into any app
Hold fn anywhere: email, Slack, Notion, your code editor. Your words appear right where your cursor is.
Dictation for your Mac, free and open source
Hold fn and just talk.
Dictato types what you say straight into any app, as you speak. Keep your own language, or have it translated live.
Free and open source · Bring your own API key · macOS 14 or later
EmailSlackNotionCode editor
Hi Priya, the deck is ready. I'll send it over before Thursday's review.
fn
You said, in Spanish: Recuérdame llamar al proveedor mañana por la mañana.
Talk, and the words land where you type
Everything Dictato does today, and nothing it doesn't.
Words appear as you speak
No waiting until you've finished. Each word is typed into the text box as soon as it's recognized.
60 languages
English, Spanish, Hindi, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Tamil, French and 52 more. It can detect the language for you, and you can switch languages mid-sentence.
Live translation
Speak in your language and Dictato types it in English, or in any of the 60 languages. Or keep exactly what you said.
Hold to talk, tap to go hands-free
Hold the key for quick notes. Tap it once to keep listening for longer thoughts, and tap again when you're done. Esc stops.
Your words, spelled your way
Add names, product terms and jargon to your dictionary so they come out right every time.
before your first dictation
Three quick things, then just talk
- Add your API key. Paste your speech-recognition key into Settings; it links you to where you can create one. Dictato streams audio straight to the provider with it.
- Allow the microphone. So Dictato can hear you while the shortcut is held.
- Allow Accessibility. So it can notice the shortcut in any app and type the text for you.
Bring your own key
Dictato is free. Speech recognition runs on your own API key, so you pay the provider directly for what you use, with no subscription in between.
- Free app, no subscriptionDictato itself costs nothing. There is no plan to pick and nothing to renew.
- Pay only for what you useUsage is billed by the speech provider, straight to you, on your own account.
- Your key stays on your MacIt is stored in the macOS Keychain, and audio goes straight from your Mac to the provider.
The details
- Pick your key
- fn/Globe, right Option, right Command or right Control
- Leaves your clipboard alone
- Text is typed in, not pasted
- History
- Every dictation saved, with one-click copy
- Stats
- Words dictated, this week's total and your speaking speed
- Choose your microphone
- Any connected mic, or the system default
- Lives in your menu bar
- Stays out of the way, can open at login
- Bring your own API key
- You pay for speech recognition directly, with no subscription
- Private by design
- Audio goes straight from your Mac to the speech-recognition service, and your key stays in the macOS Keychain
- Free and open source
- MIT licensed, on GitHub
- macOS 14 Sonoma or later
- Apple Silicon and Intel
- Real-time speech recognition
Frequently asked questions
Is it free?
The app is free and open source. Speech recognition runs on your own API key, so the provider bills you directly for what you use.
What does "bring your own key" mean?
Instead of paying Dictato a subscription, you create an API key with the speech-recognition provider and paste it into Dictato's Settings. The provider charges your account for the audio you send, and Dictato never sees the bill. Settings links you to where you can create a key.
Does it work offline?
No. It needs an internet connection for speech recognition.
Why does it ask for Accessibility?
So it can notice the shortcut in any app and type the text for you.
Less typing,
more saying.
Hold fn and just talk.
Download for MacFree and open source · Bring your own API key · macOS 14 or later
First launch: the app isn't notarized yet, so right-click Dictato, choose Open, then Open again.