Dictly lands on iPhone and Mac, promising real-time, private transcription with zero cloud. Dictly runs entirely on-device, delivering ~100 ms latency and no servers or tracking [1].
Dictly on-device: speed, privacy, and pricing - Real-time transcription appears as you speak and works offline, even without internet [1]. - Everything — recognition, post-processing, analytics — happens locally; no audio leaves the device [1]. - Free to download, with a Pro tier that unlocks AI pipelines and unlimited history [1].
MacWhisper: pricing, models, and cross-platform reach - OpenAI's Whisper models run locally on your device, with support on Mac, iPhone, and iPad—no cloud needed [3]. - Multiple models exist (Tiny through Large V3 Turbo); Pro upgrade is €59 for full access [3]. - On newer hardware (e.g., MacBook M2), a 1-hour recording can transcribe in about 5 minutes; the iOS version is more basic, mostly for transcription and sharing [3].
Spokenly and other on-device rivals - In discussions, Spokenly sits in the same on-device camp as Dictly and MacWhisper [2].
What’s shaping choices: privacy-first, offline work matters, and pricing cadence matters too. Dictly’s private, offline offering competes with MacWhisper’s paid models, while Spokenly adds to the spectrum of on-device options [1][3][2].
Closing thought: the on-device dictation fight is just getting louder as more apps balance speed, privacy, and price across iPhone, Mac, and beyond.
References
I built Dictly: real-time dictation that runs entirely on your iPhone
Dictly on-device dictation app; praised privacy/offline mode; pricing debates; feature requests; Spokenly mentioned as alternative.
View sourceI built Dictly: real-time dictation that runs entirely on your Mac
Dictly on-device mac dictation release sparks pricing debate; compares to Spokenly, MacWhisper, VoiceInk; emphasizes privacy and offline use in market.
View sourceHey r/macapps! Today on Mac is back—starting with a MacWhisper review
MacWhisper review on Today on Mac; cross-platform transcription, model options, pricing, and alternatives WhisperScript, Spokenly, Willow Voice discussions and experiences.
View source