The cleanest shortlist for privacy-focused Apple Silicon Mac users who prefer local transcription and a one-time purchase. It is not a Windows or Android option.
Best for: Privacy-first Apple users who want offline/local dictation and no recurring subscription.
Visit official site ↗What the public plan includes
- Public price
- $25 one Mac; $39 two Macs; $49 multi-device, one time
- Free plan or trial
- A free trial download is offered; the public pricing page did not state a time or word limit.
- Platforms
- Apple Silicon Mac with macOS 14.4+; iOS is also available
- Works where
- VoiceInk says it can write in any application on Mac.
- Local, offline, or cloud
- Local transcription is the default and can run offline. Optional cloud transcription or AI enhancement is opt-in and uses user-selected providers/API keys.
- Vocabulary
- Custom words, phrases, replacements, and custom modes.
- AI cleanup and formatting
- Local modes plus optional cloud AI enhancement and OpenAI-compatible endpoints.
- Teams and administration
- Licensed by number of Macs; no centralized business-admin tier was shown on the public pricing page.
What you may pay
One-time licenses are $25 for one Mac, $39 for two Macs, or $49 for the multi-device tier. The pricing page says no subscription.
Confirm the final checkout total, taxes, region, renewal term, and current limits. Public pricing can change after our check date.
Reasons to shortlist VoiceInk
- Local/offline transcription by default
- One-time pricing
- Custom words and replacements
- Optional cloud providers and custom endpoints
Where the privacy decision sits
VoiceInk says local transcription stays on device and it does not operate servers that store user dictation. Local history remains until deleted or an auto-delete interval is configured; optional cloud services follow the chosen provider’s policy.
For confidential, regulated, employment, medical, legal, or client material, verify the exact plan, selected model, retention settings, subprocessors, and contract—not just the homepage claim.
Watch-outs
- Mac app requires Apple Silicon and macOS 14.4 or newer.
- No Windows or Android support.
- Local history is retained until deleted or auto-delete is configured.
- Opting into cloud enhancement changes the privacy path.
Sources checked
These links support the pricing, compatibility, feature, and privacy summary above. A reachable official page does not guarantee the terms remain unchanged.