# Dictato

> Dictato is a private, on-device voice-to-text dictation app for macOS. It transcribes speech with the Whisper, Parakeet, Qwen3, or Apple built-in engine, then cleans it up with on-device proofread and tone rewrites. No cloud, no subscription.

## About

Dictato works system-wide: dictate into any app, any text field on macOS. All transcription happens locally on your device using Apple Silicon's Neural Engine. 19.99€ one-time purchase, lifetime license, macOS 14+ required.

Key features:
- 4 transcription engines: Whisper (OpenAI), Parakeet (NVIDIA), Qwen3, Apple
- Parakeet transcribes far faster than real time, on the Mac's neural engine
- Works in any app via text injection
- Supports 100+ languages
- On-device proofread: punctuation, capitalization, and paragraph breaks added automatically
- On-device tone rewrites (email, concise, social, custom) via the bundled Gemma model or Apple Intelligence
- Per-app profiles: a different engine, tone, translation, or language per app and per website, switched automatically
- Smart number formatting: spoken words become digits, with dates, times, and amounts
- Transcription history with original and processed text
- One-time purchase, no subscription, lifetime updates

## Pages

- [Home](https://dicta.to/): Product overview, pricing, download
- [Blog](https://dicta.to/blog/): Guides and comparisons for dictation on macOS

## Landing Pages

- [How Dictato Works](https://dicta.to/how-dictato-works/): Screen-by-screen manual: dictation, on-device proofread, tones, per-app profiles, transcription engines, and settings.
- [Private Dictation for Healthcare & Legal Professionals on Mac](https://dicta.to/private-dictation-healthcare-legal-mac/): HIPAA-compatible on-device dictation for therapists, lawyers, physicians, and journalists. 100% local, no cloud, no audio uploads.

## Blog Posts

- [AudioPen alternative for Mac: how Dictato compares (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-audiopen/): Looking for an AudioPen alternative for Mac? Dictato runs on your Mac, keeps your speech local, and costs one payment of 19.99 euros with no subscription.
- [How to Dictate in Excel on Mac (and Numbers, Sheets)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictate-in-excel-on-mac/): How to dictate in Excel on Mac, Numbers and Google Sheets: your voice fills the cell, your keyboard moves to the next one. What to type instead of dictating.
- [Dictato vs Whisper Memos: Mac Alternative, Pay Once](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-whisper-memos/): Looking for a Whisper Memos alternative on Mac? Dictato types your speech into the app you are in, on device, 19.99 EUR once, no subscription, no account.
- [Mac Dictation Stops When You Pause: Dictate Long Takes](https://dicta.to/blog/mac-dictation-stops-when-you-pause/): If your Mac dictation stops the moment you pause to think, that is a silence timeout, not a length cap. Here is how to dictate a long paragraph in one take.
- [OpenWhispr Alternative for Mac: Free vs One Payment](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-openwhispr/): Looking for an OpenWhispr alternative on Mac? OpenWhispr is free and open source and you assemble it. Dictato ships one assembled path for 19.99 EUR once.
- [How to Dictate AI Prompts on a Mac (Without Rewrites)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictate-ai-prompts-mac/): Long prompts are slow to type. How to dictate AI prompts on a Mac, keep the clean-up layer off so your wording arrives intact, and recover a lost prompt.
- [Talon Voice Alternative for Mac: Dictation, Not Control](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-talon-voice/): Talon Voice replaces your keyboard and mouse with scripted commands. Dictato just pastes clean text into whatever Mac app has focus, 19.99 EUR once for life.
- [Google Docs Voice Typing on Mac: Limits and the Fix](https://dicta.to/blog/voice-typing-google-docs-mac/): Google Docs voice typing on Mac runs in Chrome, Edge and Safari, but only in English and only in that tab. Here is what it cannot do, and the way around it.
- [Dictato vs VoiceType: Local or Cloud Mac Dictation (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-voicetype/): Dictato vs VoiceType compared for Mac dictation. VoiceType ships Mac and Windows apps and needs an account. Dictato runs on device, 19.99 EUR once, Mac only.
- [Dictate Emails on Mac: The Reply Setup That Stops Rewrites](https://dicta.to/blog/dictate-emails-on-mac-setup/): How to dictate emails on Mac without fixing every line: the settings that handle punctuation, numbers and tone, plus the one to switch on before you reply.
- [Dictato vs Aqua Voice: Offline Mac Dictation Compared](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-aqua-voice/): Dictato vs Aqua Voice: Aqua runs in the cloud with no offline mode and a monthly plan, Dictato transcribes on your Mac for 19.99 EUR once. Full comparison.
- [Mac Dictation History: Where Your Dictated Text Goes](https://dicta.to/blog/dictation-history-mac/): Dictato keeps a searchable dictation history on Mac, with audio, so you can find, replay and paste back what you said, even when nothing appeared on screen.
- [Dictato vs Monologue: Offline Dictation on Mac (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-monologue/): Dictato vs Monologue: Monologue can transcribe locally but its polished formatting needs the network. Dictato keeps both stages on your Mac, 19.99 EUR once.
- [Dictation Not Typing Text on Mac: The Triage Checklist](https://dicta.to/blog/dictation-not-typing-text-mac/): Dictation not typing text on Mac? It is usually Secure Input, a dead Accessibility grant, or the wrong window in focus. Here is the full triage, in order.
- [A Voice In Alternative for Mac That Works Outside Chrome](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-voice-in/): Voice In types into websites in Chrome and Edge only. Looking for a Voice In alternative for Mac? Dictato types into any Mac app, on-device, paid once.
- [Automatic Punctuation and Paragraphs in Mac Dictation](https://dicta.to/blog/automatic-punctuation-dictation-mac/): Tired of lowercase walls of text? See how automatic punctuation dictation on Mac adds commas, capitals, and paragraphs on-device, with zero cloud accounts.
- [Dictato vs Typeless: Offline Typeless Alternative for Mac](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-typeless/): Dictato vs Typeless, compared honestly. Pricing, privacy and rewriting, plus why a Typeless alternative that runs offline on your Mac may suit you better.
- [Fix Dictation Capitalization on Mac (No Manual Edits)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictation-capitalization-mac/): Mac dictation capitalization often goes wrong in web forms and chat boxes. Learn why it guesses and how Dictato fixes casing locally after you turn it on.
- [Dictato vs Speechnotes: browser tab or native Mac app](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-speechnotes/): Looking for a Speechnotes alternative on Mac? Speechnotes is free in a browser tab. Dictato types into any app, offline, on your Mac. Which one fits you.
- [Dictate an Email Address on Mac: Voice Typing That Works](https://dicta.to/blog/dictate-email-address-links-mac/): Learn how to dictate an email address on Mac reliably. No app builds emails from spoken symbols, so create a custom voice shortcut that types the exact text.
- [Dictato vs Notta: The Private Notta Alternative for Mac](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-notta/): Looking for a Notta alternative? Dictato is real-time on-device Mac dictation with a pay-once license and no cloud upload, while Notta records meetings.
- [Mac Dictation Hotkey: Push to Talk vs Toggle Guide](https://dicta.to/blog/mac-dictation-hotkey-hold-vs-toggle/): Learn how to set your Mac dictation hotkey. Compare push to talk (hold) versus toggle mode, pick your key in Settings, and start dictating fully on device.
- [Dictato vs Fireflies.ai: Private On-Device Dictation](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-fireflies/): Dictato vs Fireflies.ai compared: Fireflies is a cloud meeting bot for teams, while Dictato types your own words into any Mac app, on device and pay once.
- [The Best Microphone for Dictation on Mac (Setup Guide)](https://dicta.to/blog/best-microphone-dictation-mac/): Looking for the best microphone for dictation on Mac? Learn how to pick, place and select your mic in System Settings for cleaner, more accurate transcripts.
- [Dictato vs Rev: Live Mac Dictation or Transcription](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-rev/): Dictato vs Rev compared: Rev transcribes your uploaded recordings, while Dictato types your words live into any Mac app, fully on device, pay once license.
- [Translate Speech to Text on Mac: Dictate in One Language](https://dicta.to/blog/translate-speech-to-text-mac/): Translate speech to text on Mac: dictate in one language and type in another. Per-app profiles, 12 languages, 100% on-device, no copy-paste or cloud.
- [Dictato vs Descript: The Local Descript Alternative](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-descript/): Looking for a Descript alternative? Dictato is real-time, on-device Mac dictation that types into any app, no account, pay once for a lifetime license.
- [Remove Filler Words From Dictation: Clean Voice Typing](https://dicta.to/blog/remove-filler-words-dictation-mac/): Remove filler words from dictation on your Mac. Dictato strips um and uh by default and tidies stumbled repeats when you switch it on, all on-device.
- [Dictato vs Otter.ai: A Private Otter Alternative](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-otter/): Looking for an Otter.ai alternative? See how Dictato vs Otter.ai compares: real-time on-device Mac dictation with a pay-once license, no cloud upload.
- [Fix Dictation Not Recognizing Names on Mac (Quick Fix)](https://dicta.to/blog/fix-dictation-names-jargon-mac/): Fix dictation not recognizing names, jargon, and product terms on your Mac. Add a custom vocabulary, set spoken shortcuts, and spell technical words right.
- [How to Dictate Numbers on Mac (Dates and Currency)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictate-numbers-dates-currency-mac/): Learn how to dictate numbers on Mac so prices, dates, times, and percentages come out as clean digits. Fix dictation numbers not working without spoken commands.
- [Dictation Punctuation Commands: The Complete List](https://dicta.to/blog/dictation-punctuation-commands/): A complete dictation punctuation commands list for Mac, Windows, and Google Docs, plus how to stop saying comma and let on-device AI punctuate for you.
- [Krisp vs Dictato: Which Mac Voice Tool Do You Need?](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-krisp/): Krisp vs Dictato compared: Krisp removes call noise and records meetings; Dictato turns speech into text, fully local. Pick the right Mac voice tool.
- [Speechify Alternative for Mac Dictation: Dictato vs Speechify](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-speechify/): Looking for a Speechify alternative that types as you talk? Speechify reads text aloud; Dictato dictates speech to text on your Mac, fully local, no subscription.
- [Per-App Dictation Profiles on Mac with Dictato](https://dicta.to/blog/per-app-dictation-profiles-mac/): Set per-app dictation profiles on Mac to auto-switch tone, engine, and formatting the moment you start recording. No manual steps needed.
- [NVIDIA Parakeet on Mac: Real Dictation App, 80ms, Offline (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/nvidia-parakeet-mac-app/): Run NVIDIA Parakeet locally on your Mac for live dictation. 80ms latency, 25 languages, types into any app. 7-day free trial of Dictato. 19.99€ once, lifetime license, no subscription.
- [Apple vs Whisper vs Parakeet vs Qwen3: We Tested 4 Speech-to-Text Engines on 13,000 Recordings](https://dicta.to/blog/speech-to-text-engine-comparison-mac-2026/): We benchmarked the four speech-to-text engines that ship inside Dictato (Apple SpeechAnalyzer, WhisperKit, Parakeet, and Qwen3-ASR) plus an Apple Intelligence proofread layer, on 13,000 real recordings in 5 languages. Here's which one wins your situation.
- [Best Offline Transcription Apps for macOS 2026 (Live + File)](https://dicta.to/blog/best-transcription-app-macos/): Best offline transcription apps for macOS in 2026. Live dictation and file transcription tools tested for speed, accuracy, privacy. No cloud, no subscription.
- [Voice to Text on Mac: Speech-to-Text & Voice Typing (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/voice-to-text-mac/): Voice to text and speech-to-text on Mac compared. Apple Dictation vs Whisper apps (Dictato, Superwhisper) vs cloud services. Mac voice typing tested in 2026.
- [Best Whisper Apps for Mac: Live & File Transcription (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/whisper-apps-mac/): Best Whisper apps for Mac in 2026. Run OpenAI Whisper locally for live dictation and file transcription. WhisperKit, whisper.cpp, Dictato compared. No cloud.
- [Dictation App for ADHD on Mac: Capture Thoughts Fast](https://dicta.to/blog/best-dictation-app-adhd-mac/): The best dictation app for ADHD on Mac. Capture fast-moving thoughts with offline voice-to-text that works with your brain, not against it.
- [MacWhisper Alternative: Real-Time Mac Dictation (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/macwhisper-alternative/): MacWhisper transcribes files. Need live dictation that types into any Mac app at 80ms? Dictato adds Parakeet engine, no copy-paste, one-time 19.99€, lifetime license, no subscription.
- [SuperWhisper Alternative: Save €210 Over 3 Years (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/superwhisper-alternative/): SuperWhisper costs $85/yr. Dictato runs the same Whisper + Parakeet engines locally for a one-time 19.99€, lifetime license, no subscription. 80ms latency, 4 engines.
- [Wispr Flow Alternative: Offline Mac Dictation, Pay Once](https://dicta.to/blog/wispr-flow-alternative-mac/): Wispr Flow sends audio to the cloud at $144/year. Dictato runs 100% offline on Mac at 80ms with Whisper + Parakeet. Pay once, 19.99€, lifetime license, no account.
- [Dictato vs BetterDictation: Mac Dictation Compared (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-betterdictation/): Compare Dictato and BetterDictation for Mac. Both are local and privacy-focused, but the wait after you stop speaking changes the dictation experience.
- [Dictato vs MacWhisper: Live vs File Transcription (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-macwhisper/): Dictato types your voice into any app at 80ms. MacWhisper transcribes audio files at $69+. Pick by use case: live dictation or file transcription.
- [Dictato vs VoiceInk: Local Dictation Apps Compared (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-voiceink/): Compare Dictato and VoiceInk for Mac. Both are local-first and privacy-focused, but they differ on speed, AI cost, pricing, and setup complexity. Dictato is a 19.99€ lifelong license that runs its AI on-device for free.
- [Dictato vs Willow Voice: Local vs Cloud Dictation (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-willow-voice/): Compare Dictato and Willow Voice for Mac dictation. See how pricing, privacy, latency, and AI features differ between local-first and cloud-first approaches.
- [Dictation for Students on Mac: Faster Notes and Essays](https://dicta.to/blog/dictation-students-academic-writing-mac/): How students use Mac dictation for note-taking, essays, and research papers. Compare free and paid tools, plus tips for academic voice typing. Lifetime license, 19.99€ once.
- [Why Lawyers & Doctors Need Local Dictation on Mac (and What Replaced Dragon)](https://dicta.to/blog/private-dictation-lawyers-doctors-mac/): Cloud dictation breaks attorney-client privilege and HIPAA. Why Dragon died on Mac, what professionals actually need, and how on-device voice-to-text compares for legal and medical work.
- [Dictato vs SuperWhisper: 80ms vs 500ms on Mac (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-superwhisper/): Dictato (19.99€ once, lifetime, 80ms) vs SuperWhisper ($85/yr, 500ms+). Same Whisper engine, very different speed and price. Full Mac dictation comparison.
- [Best Dictation App for Mac (2026): 9 Apps Tested & Ranked](https://dicta.to/blog/best-dictation-app-mac-2026/): 9 Mac dictation apps tested in 2026. Compared by speed (80ms-3s), price ($20-$249), and privacy. Free + paid options, local + cloud. Updated May 2026.
- [How Writers Use Dictation on Mac to Draft 3x Faster](https://dicta.to/blog/dictation-for-writers-mac/): Writers use Mac dictation to draft 3x faster. Learn the voice-first workflow for essays, books, and articles with practical tips and tool comparisons. Try it free.
- [Dictato vs Wispr Flow: Local vs Cloud Dictation (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-wispr-flow/): Compare Dictato and Wispr Flow for Mac voice-to-text. See how pricing, privacy, speed, and features stack up between local-first and cloud-first dictation.
- [Mac Dictation for RSI and Carpal Tunnel: Hands-Free Guide](https://dicta.to/blog/dictation-rsi-carpal-tunnel-mac/): Reduce typing strain with Mac dictation. A practical guide for RSI, carpal tunnel, and accessibility users covering setup, tools, and hands-free workflows.
- [Voice Dictation for Developers on Mac: Code, Docs, and PRs](https://dicta.to/blog/voice-dictation-developers-mac/): How developers use voice dictation on Mac for code comments, documentation, PR descriptions, and Slack messages. 80ms, local, and private. Try it free.
- [Spokenly Free Tier: What It Includes, and What Dictato Adds](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-spokenly/): Spokenly is free for local dictation, but text cleanup is yours to set up: Pro, an API key, or a model you run. Dictato ships it on-device, 19.99€ once.
- [Dictato vs EmberType: Offline Mac Dictation Compared](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-embertype/): Compare Dictato and EmberType for offline Mac dictation. Both are one-time purchase, but they differ on speed, engine options, AI features, and pricing.
- [Dictato vs Voibe: Local Mac Dictation Compared (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-voibe/): Compare Dictato and Voibe for Mac dictation. Both are local and privacy-focused, but they differ on speed, engines, and pricing. See the full breakdown.
- [Apple Dictation Not Working on Mac? Fix + 5 Alternatives](https://dicta.to/blog/apple-dictation-not-working-alternatives/): Apple Dictation broken, slow, or cutting out? Quick fixes that actually work, plus 5 Mac alternatives with offline 80ms speed and no subscription.
- [Parakeet vs Whisper on Mac: 80ms Local AI Dictation (Free Trial)](https://dicta.to/blog/whisper-vs-parakeet-vs-apple-speech-engine/): Dictate on Mac with NVIDIA Parakeet running locally. 10x faster than Whisper, 80ms latency, zero data sent to the cloud. Free 7-day trial of Dictato.
- [How to Set Up Dictation on macOS Sequoia (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/setup-dictation-macos-sequoia/): Step-by-step guide to set up dictation on macOS Sequoia. Configure Apple's built-in dictation, learn its limitations, and discover faster local alternatives.
- [Dictate Into Any App on Mac: No Copy-Paste](https://dicta.to/blog/dictate-into-any-app-mac/): Stop copy-pasting voice transcriptions. Learn how to dictate directly into Slack, Gmail, VS Code, and any macOS app using universal voice input.
- [Dictato vs Dragon: Best Mac Alternative (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-dragon-dictation/): Dragon for Mac died in 2018. Discover how Dictato fills the gap with 80ms local dictation, a one-time 19.99€ lifetime license, and why it's the best Dragon alternative.
- [How 80ms Real-Time Dictation Works on Mac](https://dicta.to/blog/80ms-real-time-dictation-mac/): Discover how 80ms latency in voice-to-text works on Mac. Compare real-time dictation speeds across cloud vs local AI and see why most tools feel slow.
- [Multilingual Voice Typing on Mac: Switch Languages Instantly](https://dicta.to/blog/multilingual-voice-typing-mac/): Dictate in English, Spanish or French and switch mid-sentence, no settings change. Automatic language detection, fully offline. How it works on Mac.
- [Speech-to-Text Cost: Subscriptions vs Buy Once](https://dicta.to/blog/real-cost-speech-to-text/): Calculate the true cost of speech-to-text tools. Compare monthly subscriptions vs one-time purchases. Find the cheapest option for your needs.
- [Why Local Speech-to-Text Matters More Than Ever in 2026](https://dicta.to/blog/why-local-speech-recognition-matters/): Why privacy experts recommend local speech-to-text over cloud apps. Learn the risks of cloud recognition and how on-device transcription protects you.
- [Voice to Text Privacy on Mac: What Happens to Your Audio](https://dicta.to/blog/speech-to-text-privacy-guide-mac/): Your voice data goes somewhere when you dictate. Here's what macOS, Whisper, and Dictato do with it, and how to keep your audio local.
- [Apple Dictation vs Whisper on Mac: Real Test (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-vs-apple-vs-whisper/): We ran the same audio through both: Whisper hits 96-97% accuracy offline, Apple Dictation 92-95% with a cloud delay. Full results and which one to pick.
- [5 Offline Speech-to-Text Apps for Mac, Tested (2026)](https://dicta.to/blog/best-offline-speech-to-text-mac/): We tested 5 offline dictation apps on the same Mac: real accuracy scores, latency down to 80ms, prices from free to lifetime. No cloud, no internet needed.
- [Dictato Review: Private Voice-to-Text for Mac](https://dicta.to/blog/dictato-review/): Honest Dictato review: 19.99€ lifetime voice-to-text for Mac with 80ms speed, 4 engines, and full privacy. See pros, cons, pricing, and competitor comparisons.
- [Mac Dictation for Beginners: Start in Under 5 Minutes](https://dicta.to/blog/beginners-guide-dictation-mac/): Set up voice dictation on Mac and start typing with your voice today. Step-by-step guide covering setup, accuracy tips, and common fixes.

## Technical Details

- Platform: macOS 14+ (Sonoma and later), Apple Silicon required
- Engines: WhisperKit (CoreML), Parakeet-TDT (CoreML), Qwen3 (MLX), Apple SpeechAnalyzer
- On-device text rewrite: bundled Gemma model (MLX) or Apple Intelligence
- Distribution: Direct download, outside App Store
- License: One-time purchase via Polar
- No data leaves the device