TypeWhisper vs Handy: the two compared on their own makers' numbers
By Ryleigh Newman · Published
TypeWhisper and Handy are both free, open source dictation apps that run on your own computer. TypeWhisper is the larger toolbox, with paid Premium features. Handy is smaller, entirely free, and under a more permissive license.
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.
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.
Side by side
TypeWhisper checked October 6, 2026, on its GitHub repository and typewhisper.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.
| TypeWhisper | Handy | YapToText | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | A dictation toolbox with many speech engines | Free local dictation you assemble yourself | Dictation, with files as plain text |
| Free | The core app. Premium features need a commercial license | Everything. It is funded by donations | Everything |
| Paid | Premium from 5 euros a month | No paid tier | No paid tier |
| Where speech is processed | On your computer with WhisperKit, Parakeet or Apple's engine, or optional cloud APIs | On your computer, with Parakeet V3 or Whisper models | On the Mac |
| Without internet | Yes, with local engines | Yes | Yes |
| Cleanup | Workflows, through Apple Intelligence, a cloud provider or a local model you add | Experimental post-processing with a provider and prompt you set | Built in, on the Mac |
| Platforms | macOS 14 or later with Intel supported, Windows and iOS, plus an Android beta | Mac on Apple silicon and Intel, Windows and Linux | Apple silicon Macs, macOS 14 or later |
| Open source license | GPL-3.0 | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
Pick by what you need
- Entirely free. Handy.
- Linux. Handy.
- Subtitles and batch files. TypeWhisper.
- iPhone. TypeWhisper.
- The simplest license. Handy, under MIT.
For more on each: TypeWhisper 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 TypeWhisper alternative page and the Handy one compare each with YapToText directly.
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
- TypeWhisper. A dictation toolbox with many speech engines. Premium from 5 euros a month.
- 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.
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://github.com/TypeWhisper/typewhisper-mac (checked 2026-10-06)
- https://www.typewhisper.com/en/pricing/ (checked 2026-10-06)
- https://www.typewhisper.com/en/ (checked 2026-10-06)
- https://wisprflow.ai/pricing (checked 2026-10-06)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/billing/plans (checked 2026-10-06)
- https://github.com/cjpais/Handy (checked 2026-10-05)
- https://handy.computer (checked 2026-10-05)
- https://handy.computer/download (checked 2026-10-05)
- https://handy.computer/docs (checked 2026-10-05)
- https://handy.computer/docs/general (checked 2026-10-05)
- https://handy.computer/docs/advanced (checked 2026-10-05)
- https://handy.computer/docs/history (checked 2026-10-05)
- https://github.com/ryleighnewman/YapToText (checked 2026-10-11)
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yaptotext/id6786382289 (checked 2026-10-11)
Questions
What is the difference between TypeWhisper and Handy?
TypeWhisper: a dictation toolbox with many speech engines. Handy: free local dictation you assemble yourself.
Is TypeWhisper or Handy free?
TypeWhisper: The core app. Premium features need a commercial license. Handy: Everything. It is funded by donations.
Do TypeWhisper and Handy work offline?
TypeWhisper: Yes, with local engines. Handy: Yes.
Is there a free app that runs on the Mac?
YapToText is free, with cleanup built in, on Apple silicon Macs.