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Spokenly vs Voibe
Two privacy-first offline dictation apps for developers. One is free with cloud option, the other is English-only with a lifetime purchase.
Updated March 2026
Download SpokenlyQuick Answer
Spokenly is completely free with local models and BYOK cloud transcription. Voibe costs $4.90/mo or $99 lifetime and is local-only with no cloud option. Voibe has a Developer Mode with workspace-aware file name resolution but only supports English. Spokenly wins on free BYOK, 100+ languages, MCP integration, Agent mode, iOS app, and file transcription.
Spokenly
- Free local transcription + BYOK cloud at no cost
- macOS + iOS with one Pro subscription ($9.99/mo)
- MCP server for AI coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor)
- 100+ languages
- Agent mode: voice-controlled macOS automation
- 100,000+ users, 4.9 App Store rating
Voibe
- -Local-only: $4.90/mo or $99 lifetime
- -macOS only (Apple Silicon), no iOS
- -Developer Mode with workspace file resolution
- -English only
- -Sub-second startup, low resource usage
- -7-day free trial, 30-day money-back
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side breakdown of key features and capabilities.
| Feature | Spokenly | Voibe |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free with BYOK, Pro $9.99/mo | $4.90/mo or $99 lifetime |
| Free tier | Unlimited local + BYOK cloud | 7-day trial only |
| Platforms | macOS, iOS | macOS only (Apple Silicon) |
| iOS app | Yes, with custom keyboard | No |
| Offline mode | Yes, Whisper + Parakeet | Yes, local Whisper (only mode) |
| Cloud transcription | Yes, BYOK or Pro | No |
| BYOK (own API keys) | Yes, free | No |
| Languages | 100+ | English only |
| AI text processing | GPT-4, Claude, custom prompts | No (raw transcription) |
| Developer Mode | MCP server for AI agents | Workspace file resolution |
| Agent mode | Voice-controlled macOS automation | No |
| Bash script hooks | Pre/post AI processing scripts | No |
| File transcription | Yes | No |
| Speaker diarization | Yes | No |
| Custom vocabulary | No | Yes |
| Custom keyboard (iOS) | Yes | No |
Pricing: Spokenly vs Voibe
Spokenly is completely free with local models and BYOK cloud transcription. No purchase, no trial limits, no word caps.
Voibe costs $4.90/mo ($44.10/year) or $99 for a lifetime license. There is a 7-day free trial. After trial, you must pay to use the app at all.
The key difference: Spokenly's free tier gives you unlimited local transcription plus cloud via BYOK. Voibe has no free tier and no cloud option. If you already have API keys, Spokenly gives you both local and cloud dictation at zero cost.
The Core Difference: Full Platform vs Focused Tool
Voibe is a focused, local-only dictation tool optimized for developers. Its Developer Mode auto-resolves file and folder names from your active workspace and formats code terms correctly. It is fast (sub-second startup), lightweight, and completely offline. But it only supports English and has no AI text processing.
Spokenly is a broader platform. Local and cloud transcription, 100+ languages, AI text processing with GPT-4 and Claude, MCP server for coding agents, Agent mode for macOS automation, bash script hooks, file transcription with subtitle export. It covers more use cases but is not as narrowly optimized for code dictation.
The BYOK difference matters: Spokenly lets you use your own API keys for free cloud transcription. Voibe has no cloud option at all. If you need higher accuracy for non-English content or want cloud models, Spokenly is the only choice.
Platform coverage differs significantly. Spokenly runs on macOS and iOS with a custom keyboard. Voibe is macOS-only, Apple Silicon-only, with no mobile app.
Real-World Use Cases
How Spokenly and Voibe fit into different workflows.
English-Only Code Dictation
Voibe's Developer Mode with workspace file resolution is optimized for coding in English. If you only need English dictation in a code editor, Voibe is fast and focused. For multi-language or cloud-powered dictation, Spokenly is better.
Multilingual Developers
Spokenly supports 100+ languages. Voibe only supports English. If you dictate in multiple languages or code with non-English comments, Spokenly is the only option.
AI Agent Workflows
Spokenly's MCP server lets AI coding agents like Claude Code receive voice input directly. Voibe has no agent integration. For hands-free coding with AI, Spokenly wins.
An Honest Comparison
We believe in transparency. Here are the real strengths and weaknesses of both products.
Spokenly
- +Completely free with local models and BYOK
- +100+ languages
- +MCP server for AI coding agents
- +Agent mode for macOS automation
- +iOS app with custom keyboard
- +File transcription with subtitle export
- +AI text processing with custom prompts
- -No workspace-aware file name resolution
- -No custom vocabulary dictionary
- -Higher resource usage than Voibe
Voibe
- +Developer Mode with workspace file resolution
- +Sub-second startup, very lightweight
- +Custom vocabulary for technical terms
- +100% offline, zero cloud
- +$99 lifetime option
- +30-day money-back guarantee
- -English only
- -No cloud transcription option
- -No BYOK
- -No iOS or mobile app
- -No AI text processing
- -No file transcription
- -No MCP coding agent integration
- -No voice-controlled macOS automation
- -Apple Silicon only
- -No free tier (trial only)
Which One Is Right for You?
Choose Spokenly if you...
- You want free BYOK cloud transcription
- You need more than English
- You use AI coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Amp)
- You want voice-controlled macOS automation
- You need an iOS app with custom keyboard
- You want AI text processing with custom prompts
Choose Voibe if you...
- -You only need English dictation
- -You want workspace-aware developer mode
- -You prefer a lightweight, focused tool
- -You want a $99 lifetime purchase
- -You want zero cloud by design
Switching from Voibe
Getting started takes a few minutes.
- 1Download Spokenly from spokenly.app/download and install it on your Mac.
- 2Start dictating immediately with free local models. No purchase needed.
- 3Optionally, add API keys in Settings for free cloud transcription in 100+ languages.
- 4Set your preferred keyboard shortcut. Spokenly works system-wide, just like Voibe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Voibe support languages other than English?
No. Voibe is English-only. Spokenly supports 100+ languages with both local and cloud models.
Is Spokenly really free?
Yes. Local transcription and BYOK cloud are completely free. Voibe requires a $4.90/mo subscription or $99 lifetime purchase.
Which is better for developers?
Both target developers. Voibe has workspace-aware file resolution. Spokenly has MCP server for AI coding agents, bash script hooks, and Agent mode. Different strengths.
Does Voibe have an iOS app?
No. Voibe is macOS-only (Apple Silicon). Spokenly has a native iOS app with custom dictation keyboard.
Can I switch from Voibe to Spokenly?
Yes. Download Spokenly from spokenly.app/download and start dictating with free local models immediately.
Which is the best Mac dictation app in 2026?
Spokenly is best for multilingual, cloud-enabled, developer workflows. Voibe is best for English-only local dictation with a lightweight footprint. Both beat Apple's built-in dictation.
Ready to try Spokenly?
Free to use with local models. No account required.
Download for macOSOther comparisons
This comparison is published by the Spokenly team. We aim for accuracy and transparency and will update this page as both products evolve. Learn more about Voibe on their official website.