Apps similar to HoldToType include Handy STT, which is free and open source. Other options are Vibe Transcribe, OpenWhispr, TypeWhisper and Quobi. There's no shortage of Audio Transcription Tools like HoldToType, with more than 25 alternatives for Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and iPad.
Free open source speech-to-text app for desktop runs fully offline, keeping transcription and audio data private. Extensible and customizable, supports accessibility, cross-platform use, and community-driven modifications. No subscriptions or internet requirement.
United States
Delivers offline transcription of audio and video using local AI for privacy, supports batch processing, multi-language input, real-time preview, multi-format export, English translation, direct printing, system audio, microphone input, CLI, and setup customization on Windows, Linux, or macOS.
Israel
Transforms spoken language into text using Whisper, supporting local and cloud AI, instant transcription, custom dictionaries, auto-paste, privacy-first local processing, cross-platform compatibility, Pro and free tiers, detailed history, and advanced customization options.
United States
Runs privacy-focused speech-to-text locally on macOS, enabling system-wide dictation, batch audio and video file transcription, multi-engine support, drag-and-drop workflows, per-app profiles, searchable history, subtitle export with timestamps, and automation integration.
Germany
EU
Open-source voice dictation transcribes and cleans speech locally using Parakeet and Quill models, offers Verbatim, Tidy, and Formatted modes, ensures privacy, requires no fees, accounts, or cloud, and inserts polished text directly into any application.
Voice recognition software offering real-time transcription across any Mac app, instant customizable shortcuts, support for diverse accents, visual cues, privacy-focused with no hidden data collection, reduces manual typing, fully integrates for note taking, chat, or drafting.
Kazakhstan
Open-source desktop assistant enabling live dictation, customizable AI replies, language translation, screen-aware responses, chat panel, and on-device processing with full privacy controls. Works fully offline or with user-selected models. Hotkeys and settings customizable.
Nepal
Note taking and reading with Speech to Text and Text to Speech.
Processes voice-to-text instantly on Mac with privacy-first local AI, zero delay, no subscriptions, open-source code, optional context-enhanced transcription, direct input into any app, hardware-optimized performance, and full offline control.
Open-source Mac dictation tool offering real-time, private voice-to-text conversion in any app using an Alt+Space shortcut, with hands-free and CLI options. Keeps all data local without accounts or analytics, making it suitable for privacy-conscious users.
United States
Linux desktop voice dictation tool enabling free, 100% offline transcription using whisper.cpp, OpenAI Whisper, or VOSK engines. Offers GPU acceleration on AMD, NVIDIA, Intel, supports X11 and Wayland, real-time text entry, system tray integration, and secure operation.
United States
An open-source, end-to-end speech recognition system trained on 680,000 hours of diverse audio, providing multilingual transcription, to-English translation, language identification, phrase-level timestamps, and high performance in real-world scenarios using transformer architecture.
United States
