Typeless vs Handy: the two compared on their own makers' numbers

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Typeless and Handy answer different needs. Typeless is a cloud service that turns rough speech into polished text and charges for volume. Handy is a free, open source app that transcribes on your own computer and does little rewriting.

I built YapToText, a free dictation app for the Mac, so read this knowing I make a rival to both. Each fact comes from the maker's own pages, on the dates under the table.

Download YapToText on the Mac App StoreThis 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.

Side by side

Typeless checked October 5 and 9, 2026, on typeless.com. Handy checked October 5, 2026, on handy.computer and its GitHub repository. YapToText from its own settings. Prices change, so confirm on each maker's site.

TypelessHandyYapToText
Built forCloud dictation that rewrites what you sayFree local dictation you assemble yourselfDictation, with files as plain text
Free8,000 words a week at standard accuracy, with an accountEverything. It is funded by donationsEverything
PaidPro $30 per member a month, or $12 a month billed yearlyNo paid tierNo paid tier
Where speech is processedTypeless's servers. It says audio is discarded after each result and not used for trainingOn your computer, with Parakeet V3 or Whisper modelsOn the Mac
Without internetNoYesYes
CleanupBuilt in, in the cloudExperimental post-processing with a provider and prompt you setBuilt in, on the Mac
PlatformsDesktop and mobile appsMac on Apple silicon and Intel, Windows and LinuxApple silicon Macs, macOS 14 or later
Open source licenseNot statedMITGPL-3.0

Pick by what you need

  • Polished text with no setup. Typeless.
  • Free with no word limit. Handy.
  • Nothing leaves your computer. Handy.
  • Linux. Handy.
  • Phones. Typeless.

For more on each: Typeless and Handy.

The free third option

YapToText does dictation with cleanup and dictionaries on the Mac, free, with no account, and gives plain text from audio and video files. It runs on Apple silicon Macs with macOS 14 or later and nowhere else. If you need Windows, a phone, subtitles or speaker labels, one of the two above fits better. The Typeless alternative page and the Handy one compare each with YapToText directly.

Download YapToText on the Mac App StoreThis 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

  • Typeless. Cloud dictation that rewrites what you say. Pro $30 per member a month, or $12 a month billed yearly.
  • Handy. Free local dictation you assemble yourself. No paid tier.
  • YapToText. Free dictation with cleanup on one Apple silicon Mac.

If a price or feature here has changed, open an issue on GitHub and I will update this page. Every one gets read.

Download YapToText on the Mac App StoreThis 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.

About the author. Ryleigh Newman is a developer whose hands make typing difficult and who dictates every day with YapToText, the app this site describes. Facts about other apps come from their own sites, with the date they were read. More about the project.

Sources

Questions

What is the difference between Typeless and Handy?

Typeless: cloud dictation that rewrites what you say. Handy: free local dictation you assemble yourself.

Is Typeless or Handy free?

Typeless: 8,000 words a week at standard accuracy, with an account. Handy: Everything. It is funded by donations.

Do Typeless and Handy work offline?

Typeless: No. Handy: Yes.

Is there a free app that runs on the Mac?

YapToText is free, with cleanup built in, on Apple silicon Macs.