What is AirSpell used for?

AirSpell is a macOS dictation app that transcribes your speech offline with a local Whisper model and pastes formatted text into whichever app you are using. It is a good fit for dictating messages and documents on a Mac, and private voice typing for sensitive work.

Is AirSpell open source?

No. AirSpell is proprietary (closed-source) software. In the Productivity category, open-source options include Zen Browser, Rectangle and Maccy.

Can I self-host AirSpell?

Yes. Although AirSpell is closed source, it can be self-hosted on your own servers.

What are some alternatives to AirSpell?

AirSpell competes with Wispr Flow.

AirSpell: features, pricing and alternatives

About AirSpell

AirSpell is a push-to-talk dictation utility for Mac. You hold the Fn key, speak, and release, and the transcribed text is pasted at the cursor in the app you are using, such as Slack, Notion, Gmail, VS Code or Google Docs, with no plugins required. A small indicator near the notch shows when it is listening.

Transcription uses a local Whisper model, so processing stays on the Mac and the vendor says voice data never leaves the device and works without a cloud connection. The software handles technical terms, proper nouns and natural punctuation, and produces formatted text rather than a raw transcript. AirSpell is a commercial macOS application distributed as a download, with a pricing page on its site.

Key features

Hold Fn to dictate anywhere
Local Whisper model transcription
Works offline without cloud services
Pastes formatted text at the cursor
Handles technical terms and punctuation
Works in any app with a text cursor

Good fit for

→Dictating messages and documents on a Mac
→Private voice typing for sensitive work

Tags: dictation; macos; whisper; offline; speech-to-text; privacy; productivity

AirSpell: questions and answers

What is AirSpell used for?: AirSpell is a macOS dictation app that transcribes your speech offline with a local Whisper model and pastes formatted text into whichever app you are using. It is a good fit for dictating messages and documents on a Mac, and private voice typing for sensitive work.
Is AirSpell free?: Yes. AirSpell has a free plan.
Is AirSpell open source?: No. AirSpell is proprietary (closed-source) software. In the Productivity category, open-source options include Zen Browser, Rectangle and Maccy.
Can I self-host AirSpell?: Yes. Although AirSpell is closed source, it can be self-hosted on your own servers.
What are some alternatives to AirSpell?: AirSpell competes with Wispr Flow.