Best offline dictation apps for Windows in 2026

Offline dictation means the speech model runs on your own PC: you hold a key, talk, and text appears in any app, with no audio sent anywhere. On Windows that is now possible with several apps, free and paid. This list covers the ones that can work offline, and names the popular ones that cannot. We make Saypane, so read our entry with that in mind; facts about the other apps come from their own websites and store listings as read on 27 October 2026.

App	Offline dictation	Free version	Paid	AI rewriting
Saypane	Yes, always	Unlimited dictation	Pro, one-time in-app purchase	No
Handy	Yes, always	Everything, open source (MIT)	None; funded by sponsors	Optional, through an LLM you connect
Spokenly	Yes, with local models	Unlimited with local models	Local+ $29 once; Pro $9.99 a month	Yes, with your own keys or Pro
superwhisper	Yes, with local Whisper	Unlimited with local Whisper	$8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, $249.99 lifetime	Yes, Modes
OpenWhispr	Yes, with local models	Unlimited with local models; 2,000 cloud words a week	Pro $80 a year	Yes, with your own keys or Pro
DictaFlow	In Pro, on supported devices	2,000 cloud words a month	Pro $9 a month, or $84 a year	Yes
WhisperTyping	No, cloud only for individuals	Free minutes, number not stated	From $5 a month, billed yearly	Yes, in Professional
Wispr Flow	No, cloud	2,000 words a week	$15 a month, or $12 billed yearly	Yes
Windows voice typing	No, needs internet	Free, built in	None	Copilot+ PCs, English only

Saypane: free offline dictation plus transcription

Hold a hotkey (or press it once in toggle mode), talk, and the text is pasted at the cursor. Parakeet handles 25 European languages quickly on an ordinary CPU, and Whisper covers the rest, including Japanese, Chinese and Korean. Dictation is free with no word limit. It types character by character in terminals, keeps the text on the clipboard when an administrator window blocks input, and has a custom vocabulary. It does not rewrite your text with AI and has no voice commands. Pro, bought once in the Microsoft Store, adds file and meeting transcription with speaker labels.

Handy: free and open source

Handy is the most popular open source dictation app, MIT licensed with about 34,800 GitHub stars, for Windows, Mac and Linux. It does one job, dictation, with Parakeet V3 and several Whisper sizes, and is free. Pick it if you only need dictation and want open source. Saypane vs Handy.

Spokenly: local models free, cloud extras optional

Spokenly's local Whisper and Parakeet models are free and unlimited, and it has a local-only mode that blocks network requests. Cloud engines and AI cleanup come with your own API keys or the Pro subscription. The Windows version reached the Microsoft Store in September 2026, and its FAQ says the Mac and iOS versions are the most mature. Saypane vs Spokenly.

superwhisper: local Whisper with AI modes

superwhisper's free version gives unlimited dictation with local Whisper. Pro adds Modes, which reformat your speech as a message, an email or by your own instructions with cloud models, and file transcription. It costs $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year or $249.99 lifetime. Saypane vs superwhisper.

OpenWhispr: open source with a cloud subscription

OpenWhispr is MIT licensed and runs local models for free on Windows, Mac and Linux, and also sells a cloud service with meeting notes and an agent mode. Its free plan includes 2,000 cloud words a week; local dictation stays unlimited. Saypane vs OpenWhispr.

DictaFlow: cloud first, offline in Pro

DictaFlow cleans up filler words and spoken corrections with AI. The free plan is 2,000 cloud words a month; offline dictation without word limits is part of Pro, on supported devices. Saypane vs DictaFlow.

Popular apps that do not work offline

Wispr Flow processes speech in the cloud and its website describes no offline mode. Saypane vs Wispr Flow.
WhisperTyping sends audio to cloud speech services, according to its privacy page; a local transcription server is offered only to business customers. Saypane vs WhisperTyping.
Windows voice typing (Win+H) needs an internet connection, Microsoft says. Saypane vs Windows voice typing.

How to choose

Free, open source, dictation only: Handy.
AI that rewrites what you say: superwhisper, Spokenly or OpenWhispr with cloud models, or Wispr Flow if offline does not matter.
Offline dictation and file or meeting transcription in one Windows app, no subscription: Saypane.
Voice commands to control the PC: none of these; Windows Voice Access is built into Windows 11 for that.

Sources: each app's website and pricing page, its Microsoft Store listing where there is one, and its GitHub page for open source apps. See the individual comparisons for links.

Prices and plans of other apps were checked on their websites on October 27, 2026. They change often, so confirm them with the vendor before you buy.

Questions

Is there free offline dictation software for Windows?

Yes. Saypane dictation is free and unlimited, Handy is free and open source, and Spokenly, superwhisper and OpenWhispr are free with their local models. All of them type into other apps without sending audio anywhere.

Does Windows have offline voice typing built in?

No. Windows voice typing (Win+H) needs an internet connection. Offline dictation needs an app that runs the speech model on your PC.

Last updated October 28, 2026.