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Spokenly vs Hedy
Two different tools. Spokenly is a system-wide dictation app, Hedy is a real-time AI meeting coach that suggests talking points during conversations.
Updated May 2026
Download SpokenlyQuick Answer
Spokenly and Hedy do different jobs. Spokenly is a dictation app: press a hotkey and speak into any app on macOS, iOS, or Windows, with free local Parakeet and Whisper models or BYOK cloud. Hedy is a real-time meeting coach that listens to a conversation and feeds you live talking points and follow-up questions, then writes a summary afterward. Spokenly wins on offline use, free local models, system-wide dictation, and privacy. Hedy wins on live in-meeting coaching, summaries, and compliance certifications. They are complementary rather than direct substitutes.
Spokenly
- Free with local Parakeet and Whisper, BYOK cloud at no cost
- System-wide dictation in any macOS, iOS, or Windows app
- Works offline with on-device models
- Custom AI prompts with GPT-4, Claude, and other providers
- iOS app with a custom keyboard for system-wide voice typing
- Agent mode and MCP server for AI coding agents (macOS)
Hedy
- -Real-time meeting coach with live talking points
- -Transcripts, summaries, and cross-session chat
- -On-device speech recognition, Google Gemini for analysis
- -SOC 2 Type I, HIPAA, and GDPR aligned
- -Free up to 5 hours per month, then Pro $12.99 per month
- -Broad platform list: Windows, Android, web, and Apple Watch
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side breakdown of key features and capabilities.
| Feature | Spokenly | Hedy |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free with BYOK, Pro $9.99 per month | Free 5 hrs/mo, Pro $12.99 per month |
| Primary use | System-wide dictation and transcription | Live meeting coaching and notes |
| System-wide dictation | Yes, any app | No |
| Free local models | Yes, unlimited | No, cloud Gemini analysis |
| Offline mode | Yes, Parakeet and Whisper | Limited, cloud AI for insights |
| BYOK (own API keys) | Yes, free | No |
| Real-time meeting guidance | No | Yes, core feature |
| Meeting summaries | Via custom AI prompts | Yes, core feature |
| Platforms | macOS, iOS, Windows | iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Watch, web |
| iOS app and keyboard | Yes, custom keyboard | iOS app, no dictation keyboard |
| Compliance | Local Only Mode, on-device option | SOC 2 Type I, HIPAA, GDPR |
| AI coding agent integration (MCP) | Yes (macOS) | No |
| Languages | 100+ | 30+ |
Pricing
Spokenly is completely free with local models and BYOK cloud transcription. Pro at $9.99 per month adds premium managed cloud providers and the iOS app with a custom keyboard.
Hedy is free for up to 5 hours of meetings per month, with real-time insights limited to the first 30 minutes of a session. Pro is $12.99 per month or $99.99 per year, and there is a $299 lifetime option. There is no BYOK option to bring your own key.
If your need is everyday dictation, Spokenly is free for unlimited local use. If your need is live meeting coaching, Hedy's subscription buys a feature Spokenly does not offer.
Dictation App vs Meeting Coach
Hedy is a copilot for live conversations. It listens during a meeting, lecture, or interview and surfaces talking points and follow-up questions in real time, then produces a transcript and summary. Its speech recognition runs on-device, while the conversation analysis runs in the cloud on Google Gemini.
Spokenly is a voice input tool for your whole day. You dictate into any field, on macOS, iOS, or Windows, using a local model or a BYOK cloud provider. You can route output through custom AI prompts for cleanup or tone, and on macOS you can drive automation with Agent mode and the MCP server.
If you want help speaking during meetings, Hedy is the specialist. If you want fast, private voice typing across apps and platforms, Spokenly is the better fit. Some people use both: Hedy in the meeting, Spokenly for everything they type.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Where each app is strong, and where it falls short.
Spokenly
- +Free unlimited local transcription, free BYOK cloud
- +System-wide dictation on macOS, iOS, and Windows
- +Works fully offline with on-device models
- +Custom AI prompts, custom dictionary, word replacements
- +Agent mode and MCP server for AI coding agents
- -No real-time in-meeting coaching
- -No dedicated meeting summary view
- -Meeting notes rely on custom prompts over recorded audio
Hedy
- +Real-time talking points during conversations
- +Strong compliance posture (SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR)
- +Wide platform coverage including web and Apple Watch
- +On-device speech recognition
- -Cloud Gemini analysis, limited offline use
- -No system-wide dictation or iOS dictation keyboard
- -No BYOK to use your own provider
- -Free tier capped at 5 hours per month
Which One Is Right for You?
Choose Spokenly if you...
- You want voice typing in any app, not meeting notes
- You need offline dictation with local models
- You want free local transcription and free BYOK cloud
- You use Claude Code, Cursor, or other AI coding agents
- You want dictation on Windows as well as Mac and iPhone
Choose Hedy if you...
- -You want live coaching and prompts during meetings
- -You need transcripts and summaries of conversations
- -You value SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR alignment
- -You want the same assistant on web, Watch, and more
Switching from Hedy
Getting started takes a few minutes.
- 1Download Spokenly free from spokenly.app/download.
- 2Pick a model: Parakeet for speed, Whisper Large V3 Turbo for accuracy, or BYOK cloud.
- 3Set your dictation shortcut. Right Option works well for one-handed use.
- 4Add a custom AI prompt to summarize recorded meeting audio if you need notes.
- 5Install Spokenly on iPhone for system-wide voice typing with the custom keyboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hedy a dictation app?
No. Hedy is a real-time meeting coach that suggests talking points during conversations and writes summaries afterward. It does not offer system-wide dictation. Spokenly is the dictation app: you speak into any field in any app.
Can Spokenly summarize my meetings?
Spokenly can transcribe recorded audio and run it through a custom AI prompt to produce a summary, but it has no live in-meeting coaching. Hedy is built for that specific use case.
Does Spokenly work offline?
Yes. Pick a local model (Parakeet for speed, Whisper Large V3 Turbo for accuracy) and Spokenly works fully offline. Hedy uses cloud Gemini for its analysis, so it needs a connection for live insights on most hardware.
Is Hedy private?
Hedy runs speech recognition on-device and is SOC 2 Type I, HIPAA, and GDPR aligned, with cloud analysis sent anonymously and not used for training. Spokenly keeps audio on-device with local models and offers a Local Only Mode that blocks outbound network entirely.
Which one works on Windows?
Both. Hedy has a Windows app, and Spokenly for Windows is generally available with on-device Parakeet and BYOK cloud. For meeting notes specifically, see our Spokenly vs Otter.ai comparison.
Ready to try Spokenly?
Free to use with local models. No account required.
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This comparison is published by Spokenly. We aim for accuracy and transparency and will update this page as both products evolve. Learn more about Hedy on their official website.