swingby.ai/ Just Speak
Mac dictation comparison
Choose Just Speak for offline dictation and one-time pricing. Choose Wispr Flow for cloud intelligence, teams, and more platforms.
Both products let you speak into text fields. Their underlying tradeoffs are different enough that there is no honest universal winner.
Just Speak is deliberately narrow: press a hotkey, transcribe, and paste into the active Mac field. Local Whisper is the default, the trial needs no account, and the app uses one-time pricing.
Wispr Flow is a cloud-powered dictation platform with team features and support across more device types. It is likely the better fit if you want a managed service and broader platform coverage.
The table focuses on practical purchase decisions, not feature-count marketing.
| Decision point | Just Speak | Wispr Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Default processing | Local Whisper on your Mac | Cloud transcription |
| Offline use | Yes, with a downloaded local model | No for transcription |
| Cloud option | Optional OpenAI or Groq with your API key | Core service, managed by Wispr Flow |
| Price | $29 one-time personal license | Pro listed at $15 per user per month, billed annually |
| Free access | 7 days or 50 dictations | Basic plan lists 2,000 words per week; Pro lists a 14-day trial |
| Account | No account for the trial | Account required |
| Platforms | Apple Silicon Mac | Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android |
| Best fit | Private, focused personal dictation | Cross-platform use and organizations |
Wispr Flow facts checked August 12, 2026 from its official plan page, privacy page, and terms. Plans and features can change. Swingby is not affiliated with Wispr Flow.
In Just Speak, local mode means speech recognition happens on the Mac through Whisper. Once the model is downloaded, that workflow does not require an internet connection and does not upload the recording for transcription. This is useful for travel, unstable networks, and conversations you would rather keep off a third-party transcription service.
Local processing has a tradeoff. Speed and accuracy depend on your Mac, the model you select, your microphone, and the language you speak. A cloud service can use larger managed systems without asking your laptop to do the same work.
Just Speak also supports OpenAI and Groq as explicit, bring-your-own-key choices. When you choose one, audio goes directly to that provider under its terms. Your API key and audio do not pass through a Swingby server. There is no automatic provider switch or hidden fallback from local to cloud.
This makes Just Speak flexible without changing its default. You can stay fully local, or decide that cloud speed is worthwhile for a particular workflow. Read the exact handling details in the Swingby Privacy Policy.
Just Speak is not trying to match every feature of a larger dictation platform. It currently targets Apple Silicon Macs. It does not offer a managed team console, an organization-wide vocabulary system, or native mobile and Windows apps. If those are part of your purchase requirement, Wispr Flow is the more complete option.
If your requirement is simpler, speaking into Mail, Slack, Notes, an IDE, or an AI prompt without adding another subscription, the smaller scope can be the advantage.
Local Whisper is the default and works offline after its model is downloaded. Just Speak also offers optional OpenAI and Groq transcription only when you explicitly select a provider and enter your own API key.
No account is required to download Just Speak and use its free trial. A license key unlocks the paid app on one Mac.
Yes. It pastes into the active Mac text field, including editors, terminals that accept standard text input, issue trackers, AI coding tools, and browser forms. See the developer dictation guide.
Wispr Flow is the broader option for teams and people who need Mac, Windows, iPhone, or Android support. Just Speak is focused on individual Apple Silicon Mac users who want a local-first workflow.
Download Just Speak free. Buy the $29 license only if it earns a place in your workflow.