shepetal or Apple Dictation
Apple Dictation comes with macOS and works anywhere you can type, so you already have it on your Mac. shepetal also puts your words into any app you type in, and it processes every dictation on your Mac.
Side by side
| shepetal | Apple Dictation | |
|---|---|---|
| On-device or cloud | On your Mac, and your voice stays there. | On your Mac or on Apple’s servers. Its privacy page says Keyboard Settings show whether dictation is processed on your device; otherwise, Apple’s servers process it. apple.comsupport.apple.comas of |
| Offline | Works offline.You go online once, to download speech recognition. | On a Mac with Apple silicon, for supported languages, says Apple’s guide for macOS Sonoma 14. support.apple.comas of |
| Platforms | Mac, with macOS 14 or later. | Part of macOS and iOS. support.apple.comsupport.apple.comas of |
| Price | $23.99 once. Yours forever.$0.99 a month.You can try it free for 30 days. | Part of macOS, turned on in System Settings. support.apple.comas of |
| Languages | 25 European languages on a Mac with Apple silicon, and English on an Intel Mac. | The languages on Apple’s macOS Feature Availability page. apple.comas of |
| In any app | Works in every app.When an app blocks paste, your words wait for you on the clipboard. | Yes. Its guide: “anywhere you can type it.” support.apple.comas of |
Every line on Apple Dictation here comes from its own pages, and each one links the page and the day we checked it. shepetal is independent of Apple Dictation and of the company that makes it.
Which to pick
Pick Apple Dictation if
- You want to use what is already on your Mac, because Apple Dictation is part of macOS.
- You also dictate on your iPhone and want the same dictation there.
Pick shepetal if
- You want every dictation processed on your Mac, which is the only way shepetal works.
- You want to keep the recording of what you said on your Mac, next to the text it became.
Sources
- On-device or cloud: On your Mac or on Apple’s servers. Its privacy page says Keyboard Settings show whether dictation is processed on your device; otherwise, Apple’s servers process it. https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/ask-siri-dictation/, https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac, checked .
- Offline: On a Mac with Apple silicon, for supported languages, says Apple’s guide for macOS Sonoma 14. https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/14.0/mac/14.0, checked .
- Platforms: Part of macOS and iOS. https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac, https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/dictate-text-iph2c0651d2/ios, checked .
- Price: Part of macOS, turned on in System Settings. https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac, checked .
- Languages: The languages on Apple’s macOS Feature Availability page. https://www.apple.com/macos/feature-availability/, checked .
- In any app: Yes. Its guide: “anywhere you can type it.” https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac, checked .
30 days free
$23.99
once. Yours forever.
$0.99
a month.
If you have more questions, the FAQ and the Privacy Policy answer them.