EnviousWispr is a free, open-source Mac menu bar app that provides fast, private AI dictation using on-device speech recognition models. It converts spoken words into polished text across any Mac application without requiring an account or sending audio to external servers. (Free)
The app supports two local speech engines: Parakeet, a compact model covering 25 European languages at approximately 484 MB, and WhisperKit, which covers 99+ languages and requires around 1.64 GB of disk space. An EG-1 model of approximately 2.9 GB is also available. Transcription runs fully offline once models are downloaded, making the app suitable for use without an internet connection.
Text polishing supports multiple paths: Apple Intelligence on macOS 26 with Apple Intelligence enabled, bring-your-own-key cloud providers (API requests go directly to the provider with no markup), or local AI. Additional features include a self-learning dictionary, user-defined snippets for frequently used phrases, Smart Formatting, live preview during dictation, paste-last-dictation shortcuts, and a searchable transcription history.
The project is published under GPLv3 and is available on GitHub, where contributions and issue reports are accepted.
System requirements: macOS 14 or later; Apple Silicon (M1 or later) required. WhisperKit model download requires about 1.64 GB of available disk space.
Pricing: (Free)
Limitations: Intel Macs are not supported. First use requires downloading speech model files (484 MB to 2.9 GB depending on model choice). Apple Intelligence polish requires macOS 26 with Apple Intelligence available, restricting it to supported hardware.
Alternatives: Wispr Flow (freemium, 2,000 words/week free tier; Pro $15/month), Superwhisper (free unlimited Whisper tier; Pro adds AI models), Whisper Transcription (App Store, one-time purchase).
Suitable for users who need private, offline-capable dictation on Apple Silicon without a subscription or account requirement.
