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Spokenly vs Willow Voice
Free offline-first dictation with BYOK vs YC-backed cloud service with team features and SOC 2 compliance.
Updated March 2026
Download SpokenlyQuick Answer
Spokenly is completely free with local models and bring-your-own API keys. No subscription required. Willow Voice costs $15/mo and is primarily cloud-based. Willow Voice has team features, SOC 2 Type II compliance, and smart memory that learns your style. Spokenly wins on free BYOK, offline mode, privacy, MCP integration for AI coding agents, file transcription, and custom iOS keyboard.
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)
- Full offline mode, audio never leaves device
- Agent mode: voice-controlled macOS automation
- 100,000+ users, 4.9 App Store rating
Willow Voice
- -Cloud-based: $15/mo
- -macOS, Windows, iOS
- -SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA compliant (Enterprise)
- -Smart memory learns your writing style
- -Team plan with shared dictionary and shortcuts
- -2,000 free words/week
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side breakdown of key features and capabilities.
| Feature | Spokenly | Willow Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free with BYOK, Pro $9.99/mo | $15/mo |
| Free tier | Unlimited local + BYOK cloud | 2,000 words/week |
| Platforms | macOS, iOS | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Offline mode | Full offline with local models | Mac and iOS (Pro) |
| BYOK (own API keys) | Yes, free | No |
| Privacy (local mode) | Audio stays on device | Cloud processing required |
| Languages | 100+ | 100+ |
| AI text processing | GPT-4, Claude, custom prompts | Built-in AI rewriting |
| Smart memory | No | Learns your style (Pro) |
| Coding agent integration | MCP server for AI agents | No |
| Agent mode | Voice-controlled macOS automation | No |
| Bash script hooks | Pre/post AI processing scripts | No |
| File transcription | Yes | No |
| Speaker diarization | Yes | No |
| Team features | No | Shared dictionary, shortcuts, SSO |
| SOC 2 / HIPAA | No | Yes (Enterprise) |
| Custom keyboard (iOS) | Yes | Yes |
Pricing: Spokenly vs Willow Voice
Spokenly is completely free with local models and bring-your-own API keys. Unlimited offline speech-to-text and BYOK cloud transcription at zero cost.
Willow Voice costs $15/mo. The free tier gives 2,000 words per week with 5-minute session limits. Team plan is $12/user/mo. There is no BYOK option.
Spokenly with BYOK costs $0 plus your API usage. Even Spokenly Pro at $9.99/mo is cheaper than Willow Voice and covers both Mac and iPhone.
The Core Difference: Developer Tool vs Team Platform
Willow Voice is building a team-oriented dictation platform. SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA compliance, shared team dictionaries, centralized billing, SSO/SAML for enterprise. If your organization needs compliance and team features, Willow Voice delivers what Spokenly does not.
Spokenly is built for individual developers and power users. The MCP server lets AI coding agents like Claude Code and Cursor receive voice input. Bash script hooks automate pre/post processing. Agent mode turns voice into macOS automation. File transcription exports to SRT, VTT, FCPXML.
The privacy story is fundamentally different. Spokenly runs local models offline with audio never leaving your device. Willow Voice is cloud-based by default, though Pro users get offline mode on Mac and iOS. While Willow offers Privacy Mode and enterprise zero-data-retention, audio leaves your machine when using cloud mode.
Spokenly is completely free with BYOK. Willow Voice starts at $15/mo with no way to bring your own API keys. If you already pay for OpenAI or Deepgram, Spokenly eliminates the double-payment problem entirely.
Real-World Use Cases
How Spokenly and Willow Voice fit into different workflows.
Developers Using AI Coding Agents
Spokenly's MCP server lets AI coding agents receive voice input through a standardized protocol. Willow Voice launched 'Willow for Developers' targeting Cursor users, but has no MCP integration.
Teams and Enterprise
Willow Voice wins for teams. SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, SSO/SAML, shared dictionaries, team shortcuts, centralized billing. Spokenly has no team features.
Privacy-Conscious Individuals
Spokenly's offline mode keeps audio on-device. Willow Voice sends everything to the cloud. For sensitive work under NDA, Spokenly's Local Only Mode provides stronger guarantees.
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
- +Full offline mode, audio never leaves device
- +MCP server for AI coding agent integration
- +Agent mode for voice-controlled macOS automation
- +File transcription with SRT/VTT/FCPXML export
- +Speaker diarization
- +Custom iOS dictation keyboard
- -No team or enterprise features
- -No SOC 2 or HIPAA compliance
- -No Windows support
- -No smart memory that learns your style
- -No shared dictionary or shortcuts
Willow Voice
- +SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA compliant
- +Team plan with shared dictionary and shortcuts
- +Smart memory learns your writing style
- +Cross-platform: macOS, Windows, iOS
- +Enterprise SSO/SAML support
- +YC-backed with rapid development
- -No BYOK, locked to their cloud
- -Cloud processing required, audio leaves device
- -Higher price: $15/mo
- -Free tier limited to 2,000 words/week
- -No MCP coding agent integration
- -No file transcription
- -No voice-controlled macOS automation
- -No bash script hooks
- -Offline mode requires Pro subscription
Which One Is Right for You?
Choose Spokenly if you...
- You want free BYOK cloud transcription with your own API keys
- Privacy matters and you want audio to stay on your device
- You use AI coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Amp)
- You want voice-controlled macOS automation
- You need file transcription with subtitle export
- You want unlimited free local speech-to-text
Choose Willow Voice if you...
- -You need team features with shared dictionary and shortcuts
- -Your organization requires SOC 2 or HIPAA compliance
- -You need Windows support
- -You want smart memory that learns your writing style
- -Enterprise SSO/SAML is required
Switching from Willow Voice
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 account or word limit.
- 3Optionally, add your own API keys in Settings for free cloud transcription.
- 4Set your preferred keyboard shortcut. Spokenly works system-wide, just like Willow Voice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Spokenly work offline?
Yes. Spokenly includes free local models that run entirely on your Mac. Willow Voice offers offline mode on Mac and iOS but only for Pro subscribers.
Is Spokenly really free?
Yes. Local transcription and BYOK cloud are completely free. No word limits. Willow Voice gives 2,000 words/week free, then $15/mo.
Does Willow Voice have team features?
Yes. Shared dictionary, shared shortcuts, centralized billing, SSO/SAML, SOC 2 Type II, and HIPAA compliance. Spokenly does not offer team features.
Which has better privacy?
Spokenly. Audio never leaves your device in offline mode. Willow Voice processes audio in the cloud.
Which is better for developers?
Spokenly's MCP server lets AI coding agents receive voice input directly. Willow Voice has a developer initiative but no MCP integration.
Can I switch from Willow Voice to Spokenly?
Yes. Download Spokenly from spokenly.app/download and start dictating with free local models. No word limits, no account needed.
Which is the best Mac dictation app in 2026?
Spokenly is best for privacy, BYOK, and developer workflows. Willow Voice is best for teams needing compliance and shared features. 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 Willow Voice on their official website.