The best dictation software for Mac

Forget cloud-based dictation tools that charge monthly. Just Parley is a one-time purchase that runs entirely on your Mac. Hold a key, speak, release. Your words appear wherever your cursor is.

Messages
S

Can you review the proposal and send your feedback?

Sure, I just finished reading through it. Overall it looks great — I'll send over my notes in a few minutes.

SpeakingFn
100%
Offline & private
5
Languages supported
<1s
Transcription speed
0
Data sent to the cloud

How Just Parley works

Three steps. No setup. No account.

1

Hold your hotkey

Press and hold the key you choose (default: Right Option).

2

Speak naturally

Talk at normal speed. Just Parley listens locally using a built-in speech model.

3

Release to paste

Your words are pasted into whatever app you're using — instantly.

Features

What makes it the best dictation software

We built Just Parley because every other option was either cloud-based, subscription-priced, or couldn't work across all apps.

Sits in your menu bar

No app to open. No window to find. Just Parley lives quietly in your menu bar, always one hotkey away. It stays out of your way until you need it.

Sits in your menu bar

Completely offline

Your voice never leaves your Mac. No cloud processing, no accounts, no data collection. The speech model runs entirely on your machine.

Completely offline

Data sent to the cloud

Five languages, auto-detect

English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Cantonese. Pick one or let the app detect the language automatically as you speak.

English
中文
日本語
한국어
粵語
Auto

Works everywhere

Any text field, any app. Emails, Slack messages, Google Docs, code editors, search bars — if you can type in it, Just Parley can type in it for you.

MailHi team, just wanted to check in on...
SlackSounds good, let's go with option B...
DocsThe quarterly results show a clear...

How Just Parley compares

Dragon Dictation

Expensive subscription, Windows-focused, cloud-dependent.

One-time $29, built for Mac, fully offline.

Apple Dictation

Breaks in Electron apps (Slack, VS Code, Notion). Sends audio to Apple on Intel Macs.

Works in every app via clipboard. 100% local.

Whisper-based tools

Require Python, CLI setup, and technical knowledge.

Native Mac app. Install and use in 30 seconds.

Otter.ai / Rev

Cloud-only, subscription pricing, not real-time input.

Offline, one-time price, types as you speak.

See it in action

Messages
A
Alex11:42 AM
When can you send the quarterly report?
11:43 AMYou
I'm wrapping it up now. Should have it to you by end of day. I'll include the updated charts too
Y
Dictating with Just Parley

The last dictation tool you'll ever buy.

One-time purchase. No subscription. No cloud.

Early pricing
$29
one-time purchase
Works in every Mac app
100% offline — your voice stays on your Mac
5 languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Cantonese
Use on up to 3 Macs
Free updates for life

30-day money-back guarantee.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best dictation software for Mac?+
Just Parley is built specifically for Mac. It runs offline, works in every app (including Electron apps where Apple Dictation fails), and costs $29 one-time with no subscription.
Is Just Parley better than Dragon for Mac?+
Dragon is subscription-based, cloud-dependent, and primarily designed for Windows. Just Parley is a native Mac app that runs offline, works in every app, and is a one-time purchase.
Does dictation software work offline on Mac?+
Most dictation software requires an internet connection. Just Parley is fully offline — the speech model runs on your Mac's CPU. No data ever leaves your computer.
Can I use dictation in Slack, VS Code, and Notion?+
Yes. Just Parley pastes via the clipboard, so it works in every app — including Electron apps where Apple's built-in dictation fails.
How accurate is Just Parley?+
Just Parley uses SenseVoice, a state-of-the-art speech model with automatic punctuation and capitalization. Transcription completes in about 70ms.
Is there a free trial?+
There's no trial, but there is a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it doesn't work for you, you get a full refund.