Wispr Flow alternative for the Mac
inlaut is a free, open-source dictation app for the Mac. As with Wispr Flow, you hold a key, speak, and the text appears in the app you are writing in. The difference: speech recognition runs on your Mac, not in the cloud.
As of 10 October 2026. This page is written by the developer of inlaut. Everything said about Wispr Flow comes from the vendor's own pages, linked below.
In short
- Local instead of cloud: inlaut recognises speech on the Mac, even without internet. Wispr Flow recognises it in the cloud.
- Free without a limit: no subscription, no account, no word cap. Wispr Flow is free on desktop up to 2,000 words per week.
- Open source: the source code is on GitHub under GPL-3.0.
- Less on purpose: inlaut only dictates. It does not rewrite with AI, runs only on Macs with Apple silicon, and understands English and German.
inlaut and Wispr Flow compared
| Property | inlaut | Wispr Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Where is speech recognised? | On the Mac | In the cloud; for Europe in the USA, according to the vendor |
| Internet required? | No. Only for the one-time model download and update checks | Yes |
| Account | None | Sign-in required |
| Price | Free | Free up to 2,000 words per week (desktop); Pro $15 per month or $144 per year |
| Source code | Open (GPL-3.0) | Proprietary |
| Dictation into any app | Yes. Hold a key or hands-free | Yes |
| Systems | Mac with Apple silicon, macOS 26 or later | Mac from macOS 12 (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows, iPhone, Android |
| Languages | English, German, also mixed in one sentence | Over 100; one language per dictation |
| AI post-processing | No, plain dictation | Yes: clean-up, rephrasing, voice commands for editing, styles per app category |
| Custom terms | Replacements | Dictionary and snippets |
| Vendor | Tobias Marks, Germany | Wispr AI, Inc., San Francisco, USA |
Prices as stated by the vendor; taxes and regional prices may differ.
What Wispr Flow does that inlaut does not
Wispr Flow reworks dictated text with AI: it cleans up the text, rephrases and adapts the style to the app. It runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, understands over 100 languages and has features for teams. If you need that, inlaut is not a replacement.
inlaut writes what you say. There is no AI post-processing, no version for Windows or phones, and no language besides English and German. It also needs a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 26.
What inlaut does differently
Your voice stays on the Mac. Speech recognition runs locally on the Neural Engine. Recordings and dictations are neither transmitted nor kept as a history, and the microphone is only active while you dictate.
No account, no subscription, no word limit. You download the app, set it up once and dictate as much as you like.
The source code is open. What inlaut does with your microphone and text can be read on GitHub.
English and German in one sentence. inlaut recognises both languages mixed, without switching. According to Wispr Flow, it uses one language per dictation.
Privacy: where your speech is processed
Wispr Flow recognises speech in the cloud; for users in Europe in the USA, according to the vendor. The vendor lists SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications and offers controls over how data is handled. Whether that fits your requirements, for example at work or for confidential content, is for you or your data protection officer to decide. We do not offer a legal assessment.
With inlaut the question does not arise for dictation: speech does not leave the Mac, and no server processes it. Details are in the privacy policy.
Switching from Wispr Flow to inlaut
- Download and set up. Open the DMG, drag inlaut into the Applications folder and start it. On first start, inlaut downloads the speech model (about 630 MB) and guides you through the microphone and Accessibility permissions.
- Pick your key. A key combination or the fn/Globe key: hold and speak, or tap twice for hands-free dictation.
- Carry over your terms. Names and technical terms you kept in Wispr Flow's dictionary go into inlaut as replacements.
Both apps can stay installed side by side as long as they use different keys, so you can compare at your own pace.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Wispr Flow?
Yes. inlaut is free, with no subscription, no account and no word limit. Wispr Flow is free on desktop up to 2,000 words per week; beyond that, the vendor lists Pro at $15 per month or $144 per year.
Is there an open-source alternative to Wispr Flow?
Yes. inlaut's source code is open under the GPL-3.0 licence on GitHub. Wispr Flow is proprietary software.
Does inlaut work offline?
Yes. Speech recognition runs entirely on the Mac. inlaut only needs the internet to download the speech model (about 630 MB) on first start and to check for updates. Wispr Flow needs an internet connection to dictate.
Can inlaut rewrite text like Wispr Flow?
No. inlaut writes what you say and adds punctuation. It does not clean up or rephrase with AI. For recurring mistakes with names and technical terms, you can set your own replacements.
Does inlaut run on Windows or iPhone?
No. inlaut is only available for Macs with Apple silicon (M1 or later) and macOS 26 or later. Wispr Flow runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android.
Which languages does inlaut support?
English and German, including both mixed in one sentence. inlaut supports no other languages; Wispr Flow supports over 100.
Other alternatives
VoiceInk, Handy, Spokenly, Superwhisper, MacWhisper and the dictation built into macOS can also work locally; VoiceInk and Handy are open source as well. The comparison of dictation apps for the Mac puts ten apps side by side.
Sources
All details were checked on the vendors' pages on 10 October 2026.
- Wispr Flow: Pricing, Data Controls, What is Flow, Supported devices, Languages, Trust Center, Terms of Service
- inlaut: Source code on GitHub, Privacy
Notes
inlaut is not affiliated with Wispr AI. Wispr Flow is a trademark of its owner and is used here only to name the product. Prices and features change; the vendor's own information is authoritative.
Something is out of date or missing? Write to hallo@inlaut.de and we will correct it.