Wren
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Wren vs VoiceInk

A native macOS dictation app with fully local transcription, an AI Assistant mode, and a one-time paid license.

At a glance

Platforms
macOS (Apple Silicon, 14.4+)
Open source
Yes — view source
Free tier
The source is on GitHub under GPL v3.0, so you can build and run VoiceInk yourself for free. There's no hosted free tier for the compiled app.
Paid plans
One-time purchase, no subscription: $25 for one Mac, $39 for two, $49 for three, at current sale pricing (list price $29/$49/$69) as of lastReviewed.

What VoiceInk is good at

VoiceInk is a well-liked, GPL-licensed dictation app built specifically for Apple Silicon Macs. It transcribes with local models (whisper.cpp, Parakeet, or SenseVoice) entirely on-device, and its AI Assistant mode goes past plain dictation into conversational commands and screen-context awareness. The trade-off is reach and price: it's macOS-only, and the compiled app is a paid one-time purchase, though the source is on GitHub and free to build yourself.

How Wren is different

  • Wren is MIT licensed; VoiceInk is GPL v3.0. Both are open source, but GPL's copyleft terms are stricter for anyone building on top of the code.
  • Wren runs on Linux and Windows today, plus an early Apple Silicon macOS build on GitHub Releases. VoiceInk requires macOS 14.4 or later on Apple Silicon and has no Windows or Linux version.
  • Wren's offline transcription is free forever, no purchase or account needed. VoiceInk's compiled app is a one-time paid license, though building it from source yourself is free.
  • Wren's interface is localized in English and Portuguese (pt-BR). VoiceInk's README documents multilingual transcription models but no localized UI.
  • VoiceInk has a built-in AI Assistant mode for conversational commands beyond plain dictation. Wren is dictation-focused and doesn't currently have an equivalent assistant mode.
  • Wren can optionally route to a cloud transcription provider (bring your own API key, including a free Groq option) alongside its offline engine. VoiceInk's transcription is local-only, with no cloud option.

Questions, answered

Is VoiceInk free?

The VoiceInk source code is on GitHub under GPL v3.0, so you can build and run it for free. The compiled, ready-to-run app is a one-time purchase, currently starting around $25 for one Mac, not a subscription.

Does VoiceInk run on Windows or Linux?

No. VoiceInk's own system requirements call for macOS 14.4 or later on Apple Silicon. Wren runs on Linux and Windows today, with an early Apple Silicon macOS build available on GitHub Releases.

Does VoiceInk have features beyond dictation, like an AI assistant?

Yes. VoiceInk includes an AI Assistant mode for conversational, ChatGPT-style commands on top of dictation. Wren is dictation-focused and doesn't currently have an equivalent assistant mode.

Is VoiceInk open source?

Yes, under GPL v3.0. Wren is open source too, under the more permissive MIT license.

Does VoiceInk send audio to the cloud?

No. Per VoiceInk's README, transcription runs entirely on local models like whisper.cpp, Parakeet, and SenseVoice. That matches Wren's default behavior, though Wren also lets you opt into an external cloud provider if you want one, while VoiceInk's transcription is local-only.

Sources

Pricing and features last checked 2026-09-09. Details change — verify against the source before relying on them.

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