How to use VoiceInk on a Mac: from the first dictation to Modes, the Dictionary and History
By Ryleigh Newman · Published
VoiceInk turns speech into text on your Mac with a local model or a cloud provider you connect. Everything it does runs through Modes: a Mode picks the transcription model, the language, optional AI enhancement, and what happens to the text. This guide gets you to a first dictation in four steps, then points to a page for each part of the app.
I built YapToText, a different dictation app for the Mac, so read what I say about VoiceInk with that in mind. Every fact about VoiceInk here comes from its own docs, read on October 10, 2026.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
This guide in other languages: Čeština, Deutsch, Español, Français, Magyar, Bahasa Indonesia, Italiano, 日本語, 한국어, Nederlands, Polski, Português, Русский, ไทย, Türkçe, Tiếng Việt, 简体中文, 繁體中文
Before you start
- macOS. VoiceInk needs macOS 15 or later. Its Apple Speech model needs macOS 26.
- Intel Macs. The app recommends cloud transcription on Intel, because local models do not work reliably there.
- VoiceInk Refine. The local cleanup needs Apple silicon and 16 GB of memory.
- License. Onboarding offers Start 7-day Trial, or you can activate a license. The pricing page lists the prices.
Your first dictation
- Download VoiceInk from tryvoiceink.com, move it to Applications, open it and follow onboarding. If macOS blocks the first launch, approve it in System Settings, Privacy and Security.
- Grant Microphone and Accessibility. Screen Recording is only for screen context, which is optional.
- Make a model available in AI Models. Onboarding starts you on Parakeet V3, a local model.
- Choose a recording shortcut, click into a text field, and use the shortcut to start and stop.
With the default Paste output, the finished text lands at your cursor. The install page covers the steps in detail, including Homebrew.
The shortcut and how it behaves
Set it in Settings, Shortcuts. It can be a key combination, one modifier such as Right Option or Fn, or a middle or extra mouse button, and it can work as Toggle, Push to Talk, Hybrid or Double Tap. While recording, Option 1 to 0 switches between your first ten Modes, and pressing Escape twice cancels. Every VoiceInk shortcut is on its own page.
A page for each part of VoiceInk
Each page is written from VoiceInk's own docs.
| To do this | Read |
|---|---|
| Use different settings per app, website or spoken word | VoiceInk Modes |
| Pick the right model | The best VoiceInk model |
| Clean up text on the Mac | VoiceInk Refine |
| Teach it names and fix words | The VoiceInk Dictionary |
| Give the AI your selection, clipboard or screen | Context Awareness |
| See text while you speak | Live preview |
| Send text to your own script | Custom Commands |
| Find, export or delete old dictations | VoiceInk History |
| Transcribe audio and video files | File transcription |
| Know what leaves your Mac | VoiceInk privacy |
| Activate or find your license | License keys |
| Fix something that stopped working | VoiceInk not working |
Local or cloud, and why it matters
A local transcription model keeps speech processing on your Mac. AI enhancement and Dictionary Auto Learn have their own provider choices, so VoiceInk's docs point out that a local transcription model alone does not make every workflow offline. Check all three before you rely on VoiceInk for something private.
Where YapToText does it differently
VoiceInk from its docs, read October 10, 2026. YapToText from its own settings.
| VoiceInk | YapToText | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | A one-time license after the 7-day trial, or build the GPL source yourself | Free |
| macOS | 15 or later | 14 or later, Apple silicon |
| First key | One you set | Right Command by default |
| Cleanup | Your chosen provider, or Refine on 16 GB Macs | Built in, on the Mac |
| Context from the screen | Optional, by OCR | Not read |
VoiceInk gives you more knobs, Custom Commands and screen context among them. YapToText aims to work with one key and no setup. The VoiceInk alternative page compares the two in full.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
The short version
- Install. tryvoiceink.com, Applications, onboarding.
- Model. Parakeet V3 to start, in AI Models.
- Shortcut. Settings, Shortcuts, then Toggle or Push to Talk.
- Dictate. Click a field, press, speak, press.
- Then. Modes for per-app settings, the Dictionary for names.
If VoiceInk changes how setup works, open an issue on GitHub and I will update this page. Every one gets read.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
Related
Sources
- https://tryvoiceink.com/docs/introduction (checked 2026-10-10)
- https://tryvoiceink.com/docs/installation (checked 2026-10-10)
- https://tryvoiceink.com/docs/shortcuts (checked 2026-10-10)
- https://github.com/ryleighnewman/YapToText (checked 2026-10-10)
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yaptotext/id6786382289 (checked 2026-10-10)
Questions
How do I start using VoiceInk?
Install it from tryvoiceink.com, follow onboarding, make a model available in AI Models, set a recording shortcut, then click a text field and use the shortcut.
What does VoiceInk need to run?
macOS 15 or later. Apple Speech needs macOS 26, and VoiceInk Refine needs Apple silicon with 16 GB of memory.
Which model does VoiceInk start with?
Onboarding uses Parakeet V3, a local model, as its starting point.
Is VoiceInk free?
The ready-built app has a 7-day trial and then needs a one-time license. Its source is public under the GPL v3, so you can build it yourself.
Does VoiceInk work offline?
Transcription can, with a local model. AI enhancement and Auto Learn have their own providers, so check those too.