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Spokenly vs OpenWhispr
Two privacy-first voice-to-text apps with different stances on packaging, polish, and platform reach.
Updated May 2026
Download SpokenlyQuick Answer
Spokenly is a polished free dictation app for macOS, iOS, and Windows with local Parakeet, Whisper, and BYOK cloud, plus AI rewriting and an iOS keyboard. OpenWhispr is an open source desktop dictation tool from Gizmo Labs with a focus on local-first transparency. Both prioritize privacy. Spokenly adds an iPhone keyboard, Windows support, AI coding agent integration, and a polished install-and-go experience.
Spokenly
- Free with local Parakeet and Whisper, BYOK cloud at no cost
- macOS, iOS, Windows with one Pro plan ($9.99 per month)
- iOS custom keyboard included
- AI rewriting with GPT-4 and Claude
- MCP server (macOS) for Claude Code, Cursor, Codex
- 100,000+ users, 4.9 App Store rating
OpenWhispr
- -Open source local-first dictation (3,200+ GitHub stars)
- -Cross-platform desktop: macOS, Windows, Linux
- -On-device speaker diarization
- -AI Notepad and AI Chat already shipped, iOS app coming soon
- -Active community on GitHub
- -Free under open source license
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side breakdown of key features and capabilities.
| Feature | Spokenly | OpenWhispr |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free with BYOK, Pro $9.99 per month | Free (open source) |
| Setup | Download and run | Download signed installer (Mac, Windows, Linux) |
| Platforms | macOS, iOS, Windows | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| iOS app | Yes, with custom keyboard | No |
| Local transcription | NVIDIA Parakeet and Whisper | NVIDIA Parakeet and Whisper |
| BYOK (own API keys) | Yes, free | Configurable |
| Speaker diarization | Provider-dependent | On-device |
| AI rewriting | Custom GPT-4 and Claude prompts | Basic |
| AI meeting notes | No | AI Notepad and AI Chat shipped |
| MCP for AI coding agents | Yes (macOS) | No |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Distribution | Direct download with Sparkle auto-updates | Direct download with auto-updates |
Pricing
Spokenly is completely free with local models and BYOK cloud transcription. Pro at $9.99 per month unlocks premium cloud providers and includes the iOS app with a custom keyboard.
OpenWhispr is free and open source. You download the signed installer for your platform (DMG for Mac, EXE for Windows, AppImage or DEB or RPM for Linux) and run.
If your priority is reading the source code yourself, OpenWhispr wins on that axis. If you want iPhone support with a custom keyboard and AI coding agent integration, Spokenly wins on that axis.
Open Source vs Polished iPhone-Ready
OpenWhispr and Spokenly share the same underlying model stack: NVIDIA Parakeet and Whisper for local transcription, BYOK cloud for OpenAI-compatible providers, and on-device audio by default. Both target users who care about privacy.
OpenWhispr's edge is open source. The code is on GitHub with 3,200+ stars, signed Linux builds (.deb, .rpm, AppImage) are available alongside macOS and Windows, and you can audit or modify the source. AI Notepad and AI Chat are shipped features for meeting-style use cases.
Spokenly's edge is reach and polish. The iOS app with a custom keyboard gives you system-wide voice input on iPhone (no equivalent in OpenWhispr today). AI rewriting integrates with any GPT-4, Claude, or OpenAI-compatible model via custom prompts. The MCP server on macOS exposes voice input to Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex.
An Honest Comparison
We believe in transparency. Here are the real strengths and weaknesses of both products.
Spokenly
- +Polished native app on Mac, iPhone, and Windows
- +iOS custom keyboard for system-wide voice input on phone
- +AI rewriting with custom GPT-4 or Claude prompts
- +MCP server for AI coding agents (macOS)
- +Notarized direct download with Sparkle auto-updates
- +Auto-updates and email support
- -Closed source binary
- -No Linux build
- -Pro tier required for premium cloud providers
OpenWhispr
- +Fully open source on GitHub with 3,200+ stars
- +Cross-platform desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux with signed builds)
- +Local Parakeet and Whisper, plus BYOK cloud
- +On-device speaker diarization
- +AI Notepad and AI Chat already shipped
- +Privacy-first local-by-default stance
- -No iPhone app or iOS keyboard yet (coming soon)
- -No MCP server for AI coding agents
- -Smaller user base than mainstream tools
- -AI rewriting less customizable than Spokenly's prompt system
Which One Is Right for You?
Choose Spokenly if you...
- You want a polished native app, not a community build
- You need iPhone support with a custom keyboard
- You use Claude Code, Cursor, or other AI coding agents
- You want AI rewriting with custom GPT-4 or Claude prompts
- You want one product for Mac, iPhone, and Windows
Choose OpenWhispr if you...
- -You require open source for trust or compliance
- -You run Linux as your primary OS
- -You want to read and modify the source code
- -On-device speaker diarization is a core requirement
- -You prefer community-driven development
Switching from OpenWhispr
Getting started takes a few minutes.
- 1Download Spokenly free from spokenly.app/download.
- 2Pick a model: Parakeet for fast local, Whisper for accuracy, or BYOK with OpenAI for top quality.
- 3Set your dictation shortcut and try voice typing in any Mac, iPhone, or Windows app.
- 4Add custom AI rewriting prompts for the polish style you want.
- 5Install on iPhone for system-wide voice typing with the custom keyboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spokenly open source?
Spokenly is not open source. We do publish a transparent privacy policy, sign and notarize our macOS builds, and our servers do not retain audio or transcripts, regardless of whether you use local or cloud models. With local Parakeet or Whisper, audio never leaves your device. See spokenly.app/open-source for the open source components we use and our position on open source.
Does OpenWhispr have an iPhone app?
OpenWhispr is focused on desktop platforms (macOS, Windows, Linux). Spokenly has a native iPhone app with a custom keyboard that gives you system-wide voice input on your phone.
Which app is better for privacy?
Both default to on-device transcription, which keeps audio off third-party servers. OpenWhispr lets you read the source code to verify the privacy claims yourself. Spokenly relies on a published privacy policy and signed, notarized builds. If reading source code is a requirement, OpenWhispr wins on that axis.
What about cloud features?
Spokenly supports BYOK to OpenAI and OpenAI-compatible APIs, and Pro unlocks premium cloud transcription providers. When you use a cloud model, the provider processes the audio per their terms, but Spokenly's own servers never retain audio or transcripts. OpenWhispr has shipped AI Notepad and AI Chat as meeting-focused cloud features.
Can I use Spokenly without an account?
Yes. Spokenly's local Parakeet and Whisper models work without an account. An account is required for cloud features and to sync settings across devices.
Ready to try Spokenly?
Free to use with local models. No account required.
Download for macOSOther 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 OpenWhispr on their official website.