What are the best free speech-to-text tools that work offline?

Handy and HNS are open-source tools that run speech recognition locally on your machine. Spokenly offers a free tier with unlimited local Whisper and Parakeet models offline, plus optional cloud engines if you bring your own API keys.

Is Spokenly really free?

Yes for local and BYOK use. Spokenly's free tier includes unlimited local transcription with on-device models and cloud transcription when you supply your own API keys (OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq, and others). A paid Pro plan exists for managed cloud models, but you do not need it for local or BYOK workflows.

Are these STT tools private?

Handy and HNS process everything on your computer with no cloud upload. Spokenly can do the same via local models and a Local Only Mode that blocks network requests. If you enable BYOK cloud engines in Spokenly, audio goes to whichever provider's API you configured.

How does Handy work for speech-to-text?

Handy is a desktop application where you press a keyboard shortcut to start dictation, speak your text, and it automatically pastes the transcribed text wherever your cursor is. It supports both push-to-talk and toggle modes with customizable shortcuts.

What's the difference between Handy, HNS, and Spokenly?

Handy is a simple open-source desktop dictation app. HNS is a CLI tool that records speech and copies transcription to the clipboard. Spokenly is a fuller product app for macOS, Windows, Linux, and iOS with local Whisper, BYOK cloud STT, system-wide insertion, and extras like MCP integration for coding agents.

Do these STT tools require an internet connection?

Handy, HNS, and Spokenly's local models all work offline after setup. Spokenly cloud modes need network access and your API key. HNS and Handy never phone home for transcription.

STT Tools You Should Know: Handy, HNS, and Spokenly

⬅️ Back to Tools

📋 TLDR: Privacy-Focused STT Tools

🎙️ Handy - Open-source desktop app with keyboard shortcuts for quick dictation
💻 HNS - Command-line tool for offline speech-to-text
🗣️ Spokenly - Free forever local Whisper or your own API keys; Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS

Key Benefits:

🔒 Local processing options on all three (Spokenly also offers optional BYOK cloud)
🆓 Free tiers: Handy and HNS are open source; Spokenly does not charge for local or BYOK transcription
🌐 Offline-capable local models
⌨️ Text lands in the app you are already typing in

🎙️ Three STT Tools Worth Knowing

🔗 Handy

🎯 What it does

🖥️ Open source speech-to-text app for your computer

⚡ Key Features

⌨️ Press a keyboard shortcut, speak, and it pastes your text
🎙️ Push-to-talk or toggle modes
⚙️ Customizable keyboard shortcuts
🔒 Completely private as everything stays on your computer
🆓 Free and open source

🎯 Best for

Quick dictation anywhere you can type with minimal setup

🔗 HNS

🎯 What it does

💻 Command-line speech-to-text Python tool

⚡ Key Features

🎤 Records voice and transcribes locally
📋 Copies text directly to clipboard
🔌 Works completely offline after initial setup
🌍 Multi-language support
🎯 Simple and focused. Just speech to clipboard
📄 Open source (MIT licensed)

🎯 Best for

Developers or users who prefer CLI tools

🔗 Spokenly

🎯 What it does

🗣️ System-wide voice-to-text for macOS, Windows, Linux, and iOS. Speak in any app; text appears where your cursor is.

⚡ Key Features

🆓 Free forever on local models (Whisper, Parakeet on Apple Silicon) with unlimited offline transcription
🔑 Bring your own API key for cloud engines (OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq, Anthropic, Google) at no Spokenly charge
🔒 Local Only Mode blocks all network requests when you want zero cloud exposure
🌐 100+ languages with automatic detection
🤖 MCP server hooks for AI coding agents (Cursor, Claude Code)
📱 Native iOS app with custom keyboard; one Pro subscription covers Mac and iPhone if you later want managed cloud (optional)

🎯 Best for

Daily dictation across browsers, IDEs, email, and chat when you want a polished app, local Whisper for free, or faster cloud STT on your own API budget

🎉 Conclusion

Handy and HNS are the lean open-source picks: desktop shortcut or terminal to clipboard, no account, no vendor. Spokenly fills the gap when you want a maintained cross-platform app, free local Whisper forever, or BYOK cloud when you need speed without paying Spokenly for inference. All three let you keep voice data off a stranger’s server if you stay on local mode.

Crepi il lupo! 🐺