Mac App Store
In preparationSandboxed edition with the global shortcut, floating control, notes, projects, dictionary and copy to clipboard. Talki Plus will be sold here.
Voice dictation and notes for Mac
Voice to text on your Mac. The original stays.
Talki records first and transcribes second. Say what you mean, get text you can paste into the app you were using, and keep the recording in case the words come out wrong.
Free core · macOS 14 or later · Mac App Store release in preparation
Original firstAudio is saved before any model runs.
On-device optionApple speech recognition on your Mac.
Your modelOr bring your own OpenRouter key.
Free coreRecord, transcribe and keep notes without payment details.
How it works
Five steps between a thought and the page
Every step has a name and a state, so you always know whether your words are recording, saved, processing or copied.
Capture
Press ⌘ ⇧ Space or click the small floating control. The direct edition also listens to Fn.
shortcut · controlSave
The original recording is written to your library before transcription starts.
local libraryTranscribe
Apple on-device speech or the model you choose. Talki records which one did the work.
provider + modelEdit
Your dictionary and optional cleanup produce edited text. The original transcript stays as it was.
transcript keptUse
Paste it where you were typing, copy it, or keep it as a note in a project.
paste · note · Markdown
One note, three layers
See exactly what you said, what the model heard and what you kept
A note in Talki is not one block of text. The recording, the provider's transcript and your edited text sit side by side, and changing one never rewrites the others.
- Replay the original whenever a word looks wrong.
- Run the same recording through another model later.
- Fix names once in the dictionary; the transcript stays as it was.
Features
One small tool for dictation and voice notes
Dictation
Text where you type
Dictate into mail, chat, documents and AI prompts. In the direct edition Talki pastes into the field you started from; if that field changed, the text waits on the clipboard.
Voice notes
Notes that keep their source
Each voice note keeps three layers apart: the recording, the original transcript and the edited text. Add more speech to the same note later.
Projects
A place for every thought
Group notes into projects, search them, replay the audio and export Markdown when an idea is ready to leave.
Dictionary
Your names, spelled right
Add replacements for names and terms. They change the edited text only, never the recording or the original transcript.
Providers
You choose the model
Use Apple's on-device recognition, or connect your own OpenRouter key and pick a speech model and an optional cleanup model.
Recovery
Nothing lost to an error
If a request fails, the audio is still there. Choose another model and retry. Talki never retries a paid request on its own.
Where your voice goes
You decide, per request
Talki tells you which path a recording takes before it leaves your Mac. Recordings and notes live in a local library that we cannot see.
Apple on-device
Stays on this Mac
Talki asks macOS for on-device recognition only. If your language is not available on-device, it tells you instead of uploading.
Your OpenRouter key
Goes to your provider
Audio is sent from your Mac to OpenRouter and the model you picked. Their policies and prices apply.
Library
Local by default
Recordings, transcripts, notes and your dictionary are stored on your Mac. Optional iCloud text sync is in development; audio is never part of it.
Analytics
Off unless you opt in
If you turn usage analytics on, events never contain audio, transcripts, note text or file names.
Get Talki
Two editions, one library each
Talki is in final preparation. Each channel gets its own verified build; this page shows a download only after the build is signed, notarized and checked.
Direct download
Private previewAdds Fn push-to-talk, paste into the original field and learned corrections. A public download appears here after notarization and release checks.
Download for MacHear when Talki ships
One email when the Mac App Store edition or the public download is available. No list, no newsletter: your message stays in our support inbox and we reply to it once.
Compare
How Talki fits next to other dictation apps
Talki is not the only good option. Here is an honest summary; each comparison page lists its sources and the date we checked them.
| Talki | Apple Dictation | Wispr Flow | Superwhisper | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keeps each original recording | Yes, in a local library | Not as a file you can replay | Not documented | Not documented |
| On-device option | Yes, Apple speech | Check Keyboard settings | Not stated on pricing page | Yes, offline models |
| Own API key | Yes, OpenRouter | No | Not listed | Yes, on Pro |
| Platforms today | Mac | Apple devices | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
Guides
Learn the fastest way to write by voice
Guide
How to dictate on Mac
How to turn on dictation on a Mac, which shortcut starts it, how to stop it, and when a dictation app like Talki is the better tool. Step by step.
GuideMac dictation not working
Mac dictation not starting, stopping early or typing nothing? Check the Dictation switch, microphone, shortcut, language, Voice Control and permissions.
GuideFn push-to-talk
Set up Fn push-to-talk dictation in Talki: tap to latch, hold to talk, the 350 ms threshold, Input Monitoring and Accessibility permissions, and fixing Fn conflicts.
GuideYour own OpenRouter key
Connect an OpenRouter API key to Talki to dictate with Whisper and other speech models. Where the key is stored, what it costs, and how to turn it off.
GuideRecover a recording
What happens when a transcription fails, the network drops or the app quits mid-recording, and how to retry without losing what you said.
GuidePersonal dictionary
Teach Talki the names, brands and terms you use. Add, edit and disable replacements, and learn how corrections are applied without changing the original transcript.
Questions
Can I download Talki today?
Not yet. The Mac App Store edition is in preparation and the direct download is in private preview. A download button appears on this page only after the build is signed, notarized and checked. Email us and we will write once when it ships.
Is Talki free?
Yes. Recording, Apple on-device transcription, notes, projects and the dictionary are free. You can also use your own OpenRouter key and pay OpenRouter directly. Talki Plus, a monthly or yearly subscription for managed models without your own key, will be offered in the Mac App Store.
Does Talki work offline?
With Apple on-device speech, recording and transcription work without a network connection when your language is available on-device. Cloud models need a connection; if one fails, the recording stays saved for a retry.
Which languages does Talki understand?
It depends on the provider. Apple's on-device recognition supports the languages installed on your Mac. Speech models available through OpenRouter, such as Whisper, cover many more languages.
Where are my recordings stored?
In Talki's library on your Mac. We do not receive your recordings, transcripts or notes. Moving a note to Trash is reversible; permanent deletion asks for confirmation.
How is Talki different from Mac Dictation?
Mac Dictation is built in and needs no setup. Talki adds a saved original for every dictation, a library of notes and projects, a personal dictionary and a choice of models, with an explicit retry when something goes wrong.
Is there a limit on recording length?
In this version a single recording stops at 5 minutes. You can add more speech to the same note with another recording.
Speak once. Keep the thought. Use the words.
Talki is coming to the Mac App Store. Follow the release on this page or ask a question by email.
Get Talki for Mac