Free, open-source, local-first dictation app for macOS. Hold a shortcut, speak, and text is typed into any app. On-device speech-to-text with Whisper, Parakeet and Apple speech. Private, offline, open-source Wispr Flow alternative.
See the code
Free, open-source voice dictation for macOS. Hold ⌥ Space, speak, release, and the text lands in whatever app you were typing in.
BetterWispr is a private, offline speech-to-text app and an open-source alternative to Wispr Flow. It transcribes on your Mac with Whisper, NVIDIA Parakeet or Apple's on-device speech recognition, so your voice never leaves your computer unless you add an API connection yourself.
If paste can't safely reach the previous app, the text is copied to your clipboard instead, so you never lose a dictation. Recordings stop automatically after two minutes.
Models → Bring your own model → Add connection. Choose a provider, enter the model ID and API key, save, then click Use.
| Provider | Default model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sarvam AI | saaras:v4 | Long recordings are sent in 25-second chunks |
| Smallest AI | pulse | Set an explicit spoken language in Settings |
| OpenAI-compatible | any | Full URL, e.g. http://localhost:8000/v1/audio/transcriptions. HTTPS required except on localhost |
When a connection is in use, your audio goes to that endpoint and its pricing and retention policies apply. Keys are stored in the macOS Keychain. Switch back to a built-in model to return to fully local transcription. BetterWispr never falls back to a cloud provider on its own.
~/Library/Application Support/BetterWispr/workspace.json (not encrypted).Models folder next to it.Build instructions, project layout and guidelines are in CONTRIBUTING.md.
Apache-2.0. Third-party code and model weights keep their own terms;
168 followers · starred Oct 2026
14 followers · starred Oct 2026
Free, open-source, local-first dictation app for macOS. Hold a shortcut, speak, and text is typed into any app. On-device speech-to-text with Whisper, Parakeet and Apple speech. Private, offline, open-source Wispr Flow alternative.
See the code
Free, open-source voice dictation for macOS. Hold ⌥ Space, speak, release, and the text lands in whatever app you were typing in.
BetterWispr is a private, offline speech-to-text app and an open-source alternative to Wispr Flow. It transcribes on your Mac with Whisper, NVIDIA Parakeet or Apple's on-device speech recognition, so your voice never leaves your computer unless you add an API connection yourself.
If paste can't safely reach the previous app, the text is copied to your clipboard instead, so you never lose a dictation. Recordings stop automatically after two minutes.
Models → Bring your own model → Add connection. Choose a provider, enter the model ID and API key, save, then click Use.
| Provider | Default model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sarvam AI | saaras:v4 | Long recordings are sent in 25-second chunks |
| Smallest AI | pulse | Set an explicit spoken language in Settings |
| OpenAI-compatible | any | Full URL, e.g. http://localhost:8000/v1/audio/transcriptions. HTTPS required except on localhost |
When a connection is in use, your audio goes to that endpoint and its pricing and retention policies apply. Keys are stored in the macOS Keychain. Switch back to a built-in model to return to fully local transcription. BetterWispr never falls back to a cloud provider on its own.
~/Library/Application Support/BetterWispr/workspace.json (not encrypted).Models folder next to it.Build instructions, project layout and guidelines are in CONTRIBUTING.md.
Apache-2.0. Third-party code and model weights keep their own terms;
168 followers · starred Oct 2026
14 followers · starred Oct 2026