Spokenly vs Hearsy: Free Dictation vs Local AI Cleanup
Spokenly offers free local transcription with Parakeet and Whisper. Hearsy includes a local LLM for AI cleanup. Compare pricing, features, and privacy.
Quick Verdict
Spokenly and Hearsy run the same engines and have the same transcription speed. Spokenly's free local tier, Agent Mode, and iPhone support make it the better choice for users who want no-cost dictation or voice Mac control. Hearsy's bundled local LLM makes it the better choice for users who want AI-enhanced transcription without cloud dependencies or ongoing costs.
At a glance
| Feature | Spokenly | Hearsy |
|---|---|---|
| Processing | Local (Parakeet + Whisper) | Local (Parakeet + Whisper) |
| Privacy (transcription) | Audio stays on device | Audio stays on device |
| Offline | Yes (local models) | Yes |
| Free tier | Yes (unlimited local transcription) | 3 dictations/day |
| Bundled local LLM | No | Yes (Qwen 2.5 via MLX) |
| AI cleanup offline | No (requires API key or Pro) | Yes (Qwen 2.5 runs locally) |
| Agent Mode | Yes (voice Mac control) | No |
| iPhone support | Yes | No |
| Pricing model | Free local / $9.99/mo Pro | $29 one-time |
| English latency | Under 50ms (Parakeet) | Under 50ms (Parakeet) |
| App Store | Yes | No |
What is Spokenly?
Spokenly is a Mac and iPhone dictation app that offers free, unlimited local transcription using Parakeet and Whisper. It also features Agent Mode for voice-controlled Mac commands and a $9.99/month Pro tier for cloud AI models.
Spokenly grew from roughly 10 monthly brand searches in early 2025 to approximately 2,400 by January 2026 — 240x growth in under a year. It carries a 4.9-star rating with 100,000+ active users reported.
The app supports three usage modes: Local (free, unlimited Parakeet + Whisper), BYOK (free, bring your own API keys from OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq, or Anthropic), and Pro ($9.99/month for cloud models with no API keys required).
Agent Mode is Spokenly's most distinctive feature beyond dictation: voice commands to launch apps, search the web, run Shortcuts — hands-free Mac control that goes beyond pure transcription.
What is Hearsy?
Hearsy is a menu-bar dictation app that runs entirely on your Mac. Press a global hotkey from any app, speak, and transcribed text is pasted at your cursor. No internet connection is used during transcription. Audio is processed in local RAM by one of two AI engines: Parakeet TDT for English (under 50ms latency) or Whisper Large V3 for 99 languages. Optional AI cleanup runs locally via Qwen 2.5 by default, with no API call required.
Privacy
In local mode, Spokenly processes audio on-device with nothing transmitted — equivalent to Hearsy for transcription privacy. Both apps use Parakeet and Whisper locally.
The privacy distinction appears with AI enhancement. Spokenly's BYOK mode sends transcribed text to your chosen API provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.). Pro mode sends text to Spokenly's managed cloud service. In both cases, text leaves your Mac for AI cleanup.
Hearsy ships Qwen 2.5 3B via MLX, running AI cleanup locally with no API keys or cloud calls. For users dictating sensitive content who want both transcription and AI formatting to stay on-device, Hearsy provides the fully local pipeline.
Speed and latency
Both apps use Parakeet TDT for English and Whisper Large for other languages. Transcription accuracy and raw speed are identical — under 50ms for English on Apple Silicon, 1-2 seconds for other languages via Whisper.
The speed difference is in AI post-processing. Spokenly's AI enhancement requires a cloud API call (BYOK or Pro), adding network latency. Hearsy's local LLM (Qwen 2.5) processes on-device in 1-3 seconds for typical dictations, with no network round-trip.
The Privacy-First Alternative
100% local processing. No subscription. One-time purchase. Works in every app on your Mac.
Pricing
| Plan | Spokenly | Hearsy |
|---|---|---|
| Free | No free tier | $0 (3 dictations per day) |
| Local (Free) | $0 (Unlimited, no word limits) | $29 (One-time purchase) |
| BYOK (Free) | $0 (You pay API providers per call) | $29 (One-time purchase) |
| Pro | $9.99/mo (Cloud models included) | $29 (One-time purchase) |
| Cost after 1 year | ~$120 | $29 |
| Cost after 2 years | ~$240 | $29 |
| Model | Subscription | One-time purchase |
Which to choose
Choose Spokenly if:
- •You want free, unlimited local dictation with no payment required
- •You need Agent Mode for voice-controlled Mac commands (app launch, web search, Shortcuts)
- •You use an iPhone and want dictation across both devices
- •You prefer Mac App Store installation and managed updates
- •You already have API keys and want BYOK AI enhancement at no app cost
Choose Hearsy if:
- •You want fully local AI enhancement without any API keys or cloud calls
- •You dictate sensitive content and need the complete pipeline on-device
- •You prefer one-time pricing with AI templates included over a free-plus-subscription model
- •You want structured AI templates (Email, Code Comment, Summary) for predictable output
- •You're a macOS-only user who doesn't need iPhone support or Agent Mode
Frequently asked questions
Is Spokenly free?
Spokenly's local transcription using Parakeet and Whisper is free with no word limits or usage caps. BYOK mode (bring your own API keys) is also free. The Pro subscription for managed cloud AI models costs $9.99/month.
Does Spokenly work offline?
Yes. Spokenly's local Parakeet and Whisper models run on your Mac without internet. AI enhancement features require either BYOK API keys (internet needed) or the Pro subscription. Pure transcription works fully offline.
What is Spokenly Agent Mode?
Agent Mode lets you control your Mac with voice commands — launch apps, search the web, run Shortcuts — all hands-free. It's a distinct capability beyond dictation that makes Spokenly a broader voice control tool.
How does Spokenly compare to Hearsy for privacy?
In local mode, both process audio on-device with nothing transmitted. The difference is AI cleanup: Hearsy includes a local LLM (Qwen 2.5 via MLX) for on-device formatting. Spokenly requires BYOK keys or Pro for AI enhancement, which sends text to cloud servers.
What is the best Spokenly alternative for Mac?
Hearsy is the closest technical alternative — same Parakeet and Whisper engines, local processing, one-time purchase with local AI cleanup included. SuperWhisper uses Whisper only (no Parakeet). For cloud-based options, Wispr Flow and Aqua Voice are alternatives.
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