Dictato

What it does

Dictato is a private, fast voice-to-text dictation application specifically built for macOS. It allows users to transcribe speech directly into any application—such as Gmail, Slack, or VS Code—using a global hotkey. The app operates 100% on-device, meaning no audio data is ever sent to the cloud, ensuring total privacy. It features three different transcription engines (Whisper, Parakeet, and Apple) to balance speed and language support, and it bypasses the standard 60-second limitation found in Apple's built-in dictation. It is designed for professionals who need to capture ideas at the speed of thought without compromising security.

Core features

• ✦100% on-device processing for total privacy
• ✦Three engines: OpenAI Whisper, NVIDIA Parakeet, and Apple SpeechAnalyzer
• ✦Ultra-low 80ms real-time latency
• ✦No dictation time limits (avoids Apple's 60-second timeout)
• ✦Works in any macOS application (Gmail, Slack, VS Code, etc.)
• ✦Support for 25 to 99 languages depending on the engine
• ✦Optional AI proofreading and auto-translation

Use cases

• →Drafting long emails or documents 3x faster than typing
• →Taking confidential notes for legal or medical professions
• →Coding and documentation for developers via voice
• →Reducing wrist strain for users with RSI