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Spokenly vs Handy
Two free offline dictation apps. One is a polished product with cloud and mobile, the other is a hackable open-source tool for developers.
Updated July 2026
Download SpokenlyQuick Answer
Both Spokenly and Handy are free for local speech-to-text. Spokenly adds BYOK cloud transcription, MCP integration for AI coding agents, Agent mode, iOS app with custom keyboard, and bash script hooks. Handy is a fully open-source (MIT) desktop tool with cross-platform support (macOS, Windows, Linux) and 17,000+ GitHub stars. Choose Spokenly for a polished workflow tool with mobile and cloud. Choose Handy for a free, hackable, local-only dictation app.
Spokenly
- Free local transcription + BYOK cloud at no cost
- macOS, iOS, Windows, and Linux; Pro access varies by build and purchase source ($9.99/mo)
- MCP server for AI coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor)
- Agent mode: voice-controlled macOS automation
- Bash script hooks for custom automations
- 100,000+ users, 4.8 App Store rating
Handy
- -Completely free, open source (MIT license)
- -macOS, Windows, Linux
- -17,000+ GitHub stars, active community
- -100% offline, no cloud option
- -Custom GGML model loading
- -CLI flags for headless/automation use
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side breakdown of key features and capabilities.
| Feature | Spokenly | Handy |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free with BYOK, Pro $9.99/mo | Free (open source) |
| Open source | No | Yes (MIT license) |
| Platforms | macOS, iOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| iOS app | Yes, with custom keyboard | No |
| Offline mode | Yes, Whisper + Parakeet | Yes, Whisper + Parakeet + Moonshine |
| Cloud transcription | Yes, BYOK or Pro | No (local only) |
| BYOK (own API keys) | Yes, free | No (no cloud features) |
| Privacy (local mode) | Audio stays on device | Audio stays on device (only mode) |
| Languages | 100+ | 99+ (Whisper models) |
| AI text processing | GPT-4, Claude, AI Instructions | Experimental (opt-in in Settings) |
| Coding agent integration | MCP server for AI agents | CLI flags for automation |
| Agent mode | Voice-controlled macOS automation | No |
| Bash script hooks | Pre/post AI processing scripts | No |
| File transcription | Yes | No (mic input only) |
| Custom models | No | Yes (GGML format) |
| Windows support | Yes | Yes |
| Linux support | Yes (deb, rpm, AppImage) | Yes |
| Mac App Store | Yes | No (GitHub/Homebrew) |
| Custom keyboard (iOS) | Yes | No |
Pricing: Spokenly vs Handy
Both Spokenly and Handy are free for local speech-to-text transcription. Neither requires a purchase or subscription for offline dictation with Whisper and Parakeet models.
The difference is in what you get beyond local transcription. Spokenly is completely free with bring-your-own API keys for cloud transcription via OpenAI, Deepgram, or Groq. This gives you premium cloud accuracy at zero cost. Handy is local-only with no cloud option at all.
Spokenly Pro at $9.99/mo adds managed cloud models. Pro is available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and iPhone, but sign-in, restore, or linking varies by build and purchase source. Handy has no paid tier. If you want a polished product with iOS support, cloud transcription, AI text processing, and MCP integration, Spokenly delivers that. If you want a free, hackable, local-only tool, Handy is hard to beat.
The Core Difference: Product vs Developer Tool
Spokenly and Handy represent two different philosophies. Spokenly is a polished product with a complete feature set: cloud and local transcription, iOS app with custom keyboard, AI text processing, MCP server for coding agents, Agent mode for macOS automation, and bash script hooks. It is designed for productivity users and developers who want things to work out of the box.
Handy is a hackable developer tool. Built with Tauri (Rust + React), it is fully open source under MIT license with 17,000+ GitHub stars. Its creator explicitly says it is 'not trying to be the best STT app, but the most forkable one.' You can load custom GGML models, use CLI flags for headless automation, and modify the source code to your needs.
The platform story used to be Handy's edge, but Spokenly now runs on macOS, iOS, Windows, and Linux. Pro access across builds depends on the purchase source and may require sign-in, App Store restore, or support linking. Handy covers macOS, Windows, and Linux but has no mobile app at all. If you need mobile dictation alongside your desktop, Spokenly wins.
For developer workflows specifically: Spokenly's MCP server provides a standardized protocol for AI coding agents to receive voice input. Handy's CLI flags (--toggle-transcription, --start-hidden) offer raw automation hooks but no agent protocol. Spokenly's approach is more integrated, Handy's is more composable.
Real-World Use Cases
How Spokenly and Handy fit into different workflows.
Developers Using AI Coding Agents
Spokenly's MCP server lets AI coding agents like Claude Code and Cursor receive voice input through a standardized protocol. Handy offers CLI flags for scripting but no agent integration. For hands-free coding with AI agents, Spokenly is the more integrated choice.
Linux Users
Both apps now run on Linux. Handy has supported it the longest, while Spokenly for Linux adds cloud transcription, AI text processing, and file transcription on top of the same local models. Linux users no longer have to give up features to dictate.
Open Source and Privacy Advocates
Handy is MIT-licensed and fully auditable. Every line of code is on GitHub. There is no cloud, no telemetry, no account. Spokenly also offers local-only mode but is closed-source. If code transparency is non-negotiable, Handy wins.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Where each app is strong, and where it falls short.
Spokenly
- +Free local transcription + BYOK cloud at no cost
- +MCP server for AI coding agent integration
- +Agent mode for voice-controlled macOS automation
- +Bash script hooks for custom automations
- +iOS app with custom dictation keyboard
- +File transcription support
- +AI text processing with GPT-4, Claude, and AI Instructions
- +Mac App Store with 4.8 rating, 100,000+ users
- -Not open source
- -No custom model loading
Handy
- +Completely free, MIT open source
- +Cross-platform: macOS, Windows, Linux
- +17,000+ GitHub stars, active community
- +Custom GGML model loading
- +CLI flags for headless automation
- +Zero cloud, zero telemetry by design
- +Parakeet V3 works on CPU without GPU
- +Homebrew install on macOS
- -No cloud transcription option
- -No iOS or mobile app
- -No AI text processing (experimental only)
- -No MCP coding agent integration
- -No file transcription
- -Not on Mac App Store
- -No bash script hooks
- -Developer-oriented, less polished UX
Which One Is Right for You?
Choose Spokenly if you...
- You want cloud transcription via BYOK at no cost
- You use AI coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Amp)
- You want voice-controlled macOS automation
- You need an iOS app with custom dictation keyboard
- You want AI text processing with modes and AI Instructions
- You want a polished product that works out of the box
Choose Handy if you...
- -You want fully open-source software you can fork and modify
- -You want to load custom GGML speech models
- -You want zero cloud, zero telemetry by design
- -You prefer CLI-based automation and scripting
- -You want a free tool with no upsell
Switching from Handy
Getting started takes a few minutes.
- 1Download Spokenly from spokenly.app/download and install it on your Mac.
- 2Start dictating immediately with free local Whisper and Parakeet models. No account needed.
- 3Optionally, add your own API keys (OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq) in Settings for free cloud transcription.
- 4Set your preferred keyboard shortcut. Spokenly works system-wide in any app, just like Handy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are both Spokenly and Handy free?
Yes. Both are free for local speech-to-text transcription. Spokenly also offers free cloud transcription via BYOK (bring your own API keys). Handy is completely free and open source with no paid tier at all.
Do both dictation apps work offline?
Yes. Both run Whisper and Parakeet models locally on-device. Handy is local-only by design with no cloud option. Spokenly offers both local and cloud transcription, with a Local Only Mode that blocks all network requests.
Which is better for developers?
It depends on your workflow. Spokenly's MCP server lets AI coding agents like Claude Code receive voice input directly. Handy offers CLI automation flags and custom model loading. Spokenly is more integrated, Handy is more hackable.
Does Handy work on Linux?
Yes. Handy supports macOS, Windows, and Linux (Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 recommended). Spokenly also runs on Linux as of July 2026, alongside macOS, iOS, and Windows.
Is Handy really open source?
Yes. Handy is licensed under MIT and has 17,000+ GitHub stars. You can audit the code, fork it, build from source, and contribute. Spokenly is a closed-source commercial product.
Which speech-to-text app has better privacy?
Both prioritize privacy with local processing. Handy has zero cloud by design. Spokenly offers local-only mode but also has cloud features. If absolute certainty of no network activity matters, Handy's architecture guarantees it.
Can I switch from Handy to Spokenly?
Yes. Download Spokenly from spokenly.app/download and start dictating with free local models immediately. You get the same offline transcription plus cloud BYOK, AI text processing, and MCP integration at no cost.
Which is the best Mac dictation app in 2026?
Spokenly is best for users who want a complete product with cloud, mobile, and AI agent integration. Handy is best for developers who want a free, open-source, hackable tool. Both are major upgrades over Apple's built-in dictation.
Ready to try Spokenly?
Free to use with local models. No account required.
Download SpokenlyOther comparisons
This comparison is published by Spokenly. We aim for accuracy and transparency and will update this page as both products evolve. Learn more about Handy on their official website.