Comparison · Open-source dictation
TapWisper vs VoiceInk
VoiceInk and TapWisper are both open-source dictation apps with local models, your own API keys and per-app AI modes. VoiceInk is a native Mac app for Apple Silicon (GPL-3.0, paid licence or build it yourself). TapWisper is MIT-licensed and free to download, runs on Mac and Windows, and adds bot-free meeting notes, voice triggers and 100 AI actions.
Side by side
How they compare.
Based on public information as of October 2026. Plans and features change — check VoiceInk’s site for the latest.
| TapWisper | VoiceInk | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (MIT open source); cloud models billed by your provider | One-time licence (from about $29 for one Mac); free to build from source |
| Open source | Yes — MIT licence | Yes — GPL-3.0 |
| Platforms | macOS 12+, Windows 10+ (Linux from source) | macOS 14.4+ on Apple Silicon; iPhone companion app |
| Where AI runs | Your choice: cloud with your own key, local on-device, or self-hosted | On-device and cloud |
| Works offline | Yes, with local models | Yes |
| Choose your models / own API key | OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Together AI, Soniox, 42 local models, any OpenAI-compatible server | Yes — local Whisper, Parakeet, Ollama; own keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Groq and more |
| Dictate into any app | Yes — pastes at the cursor in any app | Yes |
| AI cleanup & tone | Yes — filler words, punctuation, tone by app | Yes — AI enhancement with per-app modes |
| Edit selected text by voice | Yes — select text and speak an instruction | Not confirmed |
| Meeting notes | Yes — bot-free on Mac (macOS 13+) and Windows, live transcript, AI summary | No meeting feature found |
| Account | No account | No (licence key) |
| Languages | 21 + auto-detect and mixed languages (99 with local Whisper) | About 100 (Whisper) |
Which one?
Pick the right tool for you.
Choose TapWisper if
- You want meeting notes as well as dictation.
- You're on Windows or an Intel Mac.
- You want a free download rather than building from source.
- You prefer the permissive MIT licence.
Choose VoiceInk if
- You want a lightweight native Swift app on an Apple Silicon Mac.
- You're happy to pay a small one-time fee or build it yourself.
FAQ
Good questions.
Are TapWisper and VoiceInk both open source?
Yes. TapWisper is MIT-licensed; VoiceInk is GPL-3.0.
Does VoiceInk take meeting notes?
We found no meeting feature in VoiceInk as of October 2026. TapWisper takes bot-free meeting notes with a live transcript and summary.
Sources
Where these facts come from.
Download · v1.2.0
Start talking in a minute.
Free and open-source, no account. Setup walks you through permissions, your microphone and a speech engine — then you just talk.