VoiceInk vs FluidVoice: the two compared on their own makers' numbers
By Ryleigh Newman · Published
VoiceInk and FluidVoice are both GPL-licensed dictation apps for the Mac that can run entirely on the device. VoiceInk is sold as a ready-built app after a trial. FluidVoice is free and adds voice commands for the Mac itself.
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
VoiceInk checked October 5 and 10, 2026, on tryvoiceink.com and its docs. FluidVoice checked October 6, 2026, on its README and altic.dev/fluid. YapToText from its own settings. Prices change, so confirm on each maker's site.
| VoiceInk | FluidVoice | YapToText | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | Dictation, organized into Modes | Free local dictation with voice commands | Dictation, with files as plain text |
| Free | A 7-day trial, or build the GPL v3 source yourself | Everything. Supported through GitHub Sponsors | Everything |
| Paid | Once: $25 for one Mac, $39 for two, $49 for three, $159 for ten | No paid tier | No paid tier |
| Where speech is processed | A local model on the Mac, or a cloud provider you connect | On the Mac, with a choice of local speech models | On the Mac |
| Without internet | Yes, with a local model | Yes | Yes |
| Cleanup | AI enhancement with your provider, or VoiceInk Refine on the Mac with 16 GB | A local model its README says is privately maintained, an optional 3.5 GB download, or a cloud provider | Built in, on the Mac |
| Platforms | Apple silicon Macs, macOS 15 or later. A separately licensed iPhone and iPad app | macOS 15 or later, Intel Macs through Whisper models. iOS and Windows on a waitlist | Apple silicon Macs, macOS 14 or later |
| Open source license | GPL v3 | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
Pick by what you need
- Free. FluidVoice.
- An Intel Mac. FluidVoice, through Whisper models.
- Control the Mac by voice. FluidVoice's Command Mode.
- Modes with triggers per app and website. VoiceInk.
For more on each: VoiceInk and FluidVoice.
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 VoiceInk alternative page and the FluidVoice 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
- VoiceInk. Dictation, organized into Modes. Once: $25 for one Mac, $39 for two, $49 for three, $159 for ten.
- FluidVoice. Free local dictation with voice commands. 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://tryvoiceink.com/pricing (checked 2026-10-05)
- https://tryvoiceink.com (checked 2026-10-06)
- https://tryvoiceink.com/docs/installation (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://tryvoiceink.com/docs/license-management (checked 2026-10-05)
- https://tryvoiceink.com/ios (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://tryvoiceink.com/privacy (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://tryvoiceink.com/docs/voiceink-refine (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://tryvoiceink.com/docs/recommended-models (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://tryvoiceink.com/docs/transcription-history (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://tryvoiceink.com/docs/introduction (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://tryvoiceink.com/docs/cloud-providers (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://github.com/Beingpax/VoiceInk (checked 2026-10-03)
- 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 VoiceInk and FluidVoice?
VoiceInk: dictation, organized into modes. FluidVoice: free local dictation with voice commands.
Is VoiceInk or FluidVoice free?
VoiceInk: A 7-day trial, or build the GPL v3 source yourself. FluidVoice: Everything. Supported through GitHub Sponsors.
Do VoiceInk and FluidVoice work offline?
VoiceInk: Yes, with a local model. FluidVoice: Yes.
Is there a free app that runs on the Mac?
YapToText is free, with cleanup built in, on Apple silicon Macs.