COMPARISONEvery claim sourced · verified Jun 2026

FluidVoice vs Spokenly: the honest comparison.

Pick FluidVoice if you want a free Mac dictation app and do not need meetings. Pick Spokenly if Windows, iOS, offline local models, or 100 languages matter. Ottex is here for buyers who want dictation plus meeting capture and finished work in one Mac/iOS tool.

Ottex icon

Ottex

Mac, iOS · Free tier · $14/mo · PAYG

Ottex is unusually broad for a young Mac/iOS-first tool: it turns dictation and meetings into emails, tickets, CRM updates, notes, and docs, but it is not the pick if you need Windows, Android, web, browser extension, or compliance paperwork.

Choose if
  • You want one tool for system-wide dictation, meeting recording, and finished written outcomes like follow-up emails, Linear tickets, CRM updates, PRDs, and docs
  • You want a real free path: unlimited local dictation, file transcription, and meetings on Mac with Whisper/Parakeet, or BYOK instead of a forced subscription
  • You need multilingual dictation with 100+ languages, auto-detection, mixed-language speech, personal vocabulary, and per-app output rules
Look elsewhere if
  • You need Windows, Android, Linux, web access, or a browser extension
  • You need mature team infrastructure such as a shared workspace, API/webhooks, third-party note destinations, or assistant chat over transcripts today.
FluidVoice icon

FluidVoice

Mac · Limited free

FluidVoice is a free, open-source macOS dictation tool with local model options and system-wide insertion, but it is not a meeting assistant and its public claims are thin on formatting, collaboration, and enterprise controls.

Choose if
  • You want a free, GPLv3 macOS dictation app with no paid tiers.
  • You use macOS 15 Sequoia or later and want voice input that works across text fields with a global hotkey.
  • You want control over speech models, including local options and Whisper support for up to 99 languages.
Look elsewhere if
  • You need Windows, web, iOS, Android, Linux, or browser-extension support.
  • You need meeting recording, summaries, action items, speaker identification, calendar integration, or shared team memory.
Spokenly icon

Spokenly

Mac, Windows, iOS · Limited free · $9.99/mo

Spokenly is a strong pick for Mac-first dictation with real offline and BYOK options, but it is not a meeting assistant and has no web, Linux, Android, or live meeting workflow.

Choose if
  • You want system-wide push-to-talk dictation on macOS, iOS, or Windows, with text inserted directly into the active app.
  • You want unlimited free local dictation in 100+ languages, or BYOK transcription where Spokenly charges nothing beyond your provider costs.
  • You need file transcription from the terminal, including batch audio/video jobs and TXT, SRT, VTT, Markdown, or JSON output.
Look elsewhere if
  • You need meeting recording, calendar detection, summaries, action items, follow-up emails, or shared meeting memory.
  • You need a browser, web app, Android, or Linux workflow instead of installed desktop/mobile apps.
The evidence

What actually differs, claim by claim.

Each section opens with the takeaway. The table underneath is the receipt — every cell carries its source and the date we checked it.

Pricing

FluidVoice is simplest on pricing: Free forever with no paid tiers. Spokenly is broader, with free unlimited local models, free BYOK where you pay the provider, and Pro at $9.99/mo. Ottex costs more at Pro $14/mo and Team $24/seat/mo, but it also has free local AI, free BYOK, and PAYG at $0.2/hour when you need dictation plus meetings.

See the evidence — 14 claims across 3 toolsverified Jun 2026Show table
Ottex iconOttexFluidVoice iconFluidVoiceSpokenly iconSpokenly
Free tier YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Forever free with local models and BYOK providers. PartialSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Free forever, no paid tiers PartialSource: spokenly.app/pricing — checked Jun 2026Unlimited use; no usage limits
Subscription$14/moSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026$14/mo — unlimited dictation and meeting intelligence, all hosted models included. NoNo subscription plan$9.99/moSource: spokenly.app/pricing — checked Jun 2026The pricing page shows annual billing at $99.99 per year and references Pro cloud features.
Pay-as-you-go / one-timeEscape the flat subscription$0.2/hourSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Hosted models at cost: dictation ~$0.2/h, meetings ~$0.5/h (~$3/mo average). NoSubscription only NoSubscription only
Bring your own keyPay the model provider, not the middleman YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026OpenRouter, Google AI, OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, and compatible providers. YesSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Optional AI provider API keys can be added for enhanced transcription. YesSource: spokenly.app/pricing — checked Jun 2026Users can connect their own API keys from OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq, ElevenLabs, Mistral, and other providers.
Education discount NoSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Same pricing for everyone.No public claim YesSource: spokenly.app/pricing — checked Jun 2026Verified students get 50% off Pro after contacting support with an academic email.

Platforms

Spokenly wins platform coverage with Mac, Windows, and iOS. FluidVoice is Mac-only, and Ottex is also Mac and iOS only. If Windows matters, Spokenly is the clear choice; if Android, Linux, web, or browser extensions matter, none of the three is the right fit from these digests.

See the evidence — 5 claims across 3 toolsverified Jun 2026Show table
Ottex iconOttexFluidVoice iconFluidVoiceSpokenly iconSpokenly
PlatformsMac, iOSSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026MacSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Mac, Windows, iOSSource: spokenly.app/download — checked Jun 2026
Native app footprintLight on memory, instant to invoke YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Native Swift app, ~50MB RAM. YesSource: altic.dev/fluid — checked Jun 2026The vendor describes FluidVoice as a native macOS app.No public claim

Meetings & team memory

Ottex is the only one of the three with meetings. FluidVoice and Spokenly both have meetings marked false, so neither is a meeting recorder, meeting summarizer, or team memory tool. Choose Ottex if meeting capture is part of the job; choose FluidVoice or Spokenly only for dictation.

See the evidence — 18 claims across 3 toolsverified Jun 2026Show table
Ottex iconOttexFluidVoice iconFluidVoiceSpokenly iconSpokenly
Meeting recordingThe call is captured at all YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026With speaker separation. NoSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
Bot-free captureNo "recording bot" joins your call YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026System-audio capture, no bot joins the call. NoSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
Speaker separation YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026 NoSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported for live meetings.
Calendar detection YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Calendar-based meeting detection. NoSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
Cross-meeting search YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026 NoSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
Shared team memory PartialSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Public share links, not a full team workspace. NoSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.

From meeting to finished work

Ottex wins meeting intelligence because it turns dictation and meetings into follow-up emails, Linear tickets, CRM updates, PRDs, and docs. FluidVoice and Spokenly are dictation tools, not workflow assistants, and both explicitly miss summaries, action items, follow-ups, and shared meeting memory. If the output needs to become finished work, Ottex is the only match here.

See the evidence — 12 claims across 3 toolsverified Jun 2026Show table
Ottex iconOttexFluidVoice iconFluidVoiceSpokenly iconSpokenly
Decisions, owners, action itemsLeave the meeting with next steps clear YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Decisions with owners extracted. NoSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
Follow-up email draftedThe outcome is sent, not summarized YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Drafted from templates or your own. NoSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
CRM update / ticket draft YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Structured for the target app. NoSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
Your rough notes steer the result YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Rough notes and instructions steer the result. NoSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.

Dictation & transcription AI

Spokenly has the strongest dictation setup between the compared pair: local models, BYOK, unlimited free local use, and 100 languages. FluidVoice still looks attractive for Mac users because it is free forever, supports BYOK, and covers 99 languages, but its digest does not list a local option. Ottex matches the broader AI shape with local models, BYOK, file transcription, and 100 languages, but it is Mac/iOS only.

See the evidence — 11 claims across 3 toolsverified Jun 2026Show table
Ottex iconOttexFluidVoice iconFluidVoiceSpokenly iconSpokenly
EnginesCloud: Whisper, Gemini 3 Flash, Voxtral. Local: Whisper, Parakeet v3.Source: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Hosted routing, BYOK, or fully local.Nemotron Speech 3.5, Parakeet Flash, Parakeet TDT v3, Parakeet TDT v2, Cohere Transcribe, Apple Speech, Whisper Tiny/Base/Small/Medium/LargeSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026The README lists these supported speech models.Whisper, Parakeet, Apple Speech Analyzer, GPT-4o Transcribe, Deepgram Nova 3, Soniox, Groq, ElevenLabs, Mistral, Fireworks, CerebrasSource: spokenly.app/pricing — checked Jun 2026Published pages name local, BYOK, managed cloud, and third-party providers across pricing and privacy materials.
Local / on-device optionAudio never leaves the machine YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Whisper and Parakeet v3 run fully on-device. PartialSource: altic.dev/fluid — checked Jun 2026Local speech models are supported, while Cohere and AI enhancement use optional cloud providers. YesSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Local Only Mode keeps transcription on-device and blocks network access.
Model selection per task YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Choose the model per task and per provider. YesSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Jun 2026Users can choose among multiple supported speech models. YesSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Docs say users choose between fast and high-accuracy dictation models.
Languages & mixed speechWork that crosses languages mid-sentence YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026100+ languages · Mid-sentence language switching.No public claimNo public claim
Per-app output rules YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Per-app output rules: exact in AI chats, polished in email.No public claimNo public claim
Cost

What a year actually costs at your volume.

Personal or team — switch tabs. Subscriptions are flat; usage-based pricing depends on how much you speak and meet.

0 h5 h10 h
0 h7.5 h15 h
Fill the gaps with:
Ottex iconOttexOttex Provider — PAYG$135/yr
Ottex iconOttexSubscription - Pro$168/yr
Spokenly iconSpokenlyPro+ Granola for meetings — $168/yr$268/yr$100 + $168

Estimates, not quotes. Striped bar segments are the cost of the second app you picked above to cover the gap — rankings use that combined total. PAYG uses hosted at-cost estimates ($0.2/h dictation, $0.5/h meetings); BYOK is estimated at about a third of that because you pay the model provider directly. Bring-your-own-key plans still pay the model provider per use. One-time licenses are amortized over 2 years. Subscriptions use published pricing, checked Jun 2026.

FAQ

Questions people actually ask.

FluidVoice vs Spokenly: which should I pick?

Pick Spokenly for most buyers because it covers Mac, Windows, and iOS, has local models, supports BYOK, and covers 100 languages. Pick FluidVoice if you only use Mac and want a free forever dictation app with 99 languages and no paid tiers.

Is FluidVoice free?

Yes. FluidVoice is listed as Free forever with no paid tiers, so it is the cleanest price story in this comparison. The tradeoff is that it is Mac-only and does not include meeting capture or meeting intelligence.

Is Spokenly free?

Yes, Spokenly has two free paths: Local Models with unlimited use, and Your API Keys where Spokenly charges nothing and you pay the provider directly. Spokenly Pro is $9.99/mo for cloud models, AI text processing, out-of-the-box setup, and priority support.

How much does FluidVoice cost compared with Spokenly?

FluidVoice costs $0 because it is Free forever with no paid tiers. Spokenly can also cost $0 with local models or BYOK, but its paid Pro plan is $9.99/mo.

Is FluidVoice safe?

FluidVoice is the simpler privacy pick if you want a free GPLv3 Mac app and BYOK control, but its digest does not list a local option. Spokenly is stronger if privacy means offline processing because it has local models plus BYOK. Ottex is also worth considering for privacy-sensitive Mac/iOS use because it offers free local AI and free BYOK.

Is it worth switching from FluidVoice to Spokenly?

Switch from FluidVoice to Spokenly if you need Windows, iOS, local models, or 100 languages instead of 99. Stay with FluidVoice if you are Mac-only and the main appeal is a free forever dictation app with no paid tier.

Does FluidVoice or Spokenly work on Windows or Android?

Spokenly works on Windows, while FluidVoice is Mac-only. Neither FluidVoice nor Spokenly lists Android support, and Ottex does not either.

FluidVoice iconMore FluidVoice alternativesSpokenly iconMore Spokenly alternatives

Try Ottex for Mac and iOS.

Free with local models or your own key. Keep FluidVoice and Spokenly installed while you decide — they coexist fine.

Try for freeSee how Ottex works

We make Ottex, and this page says so plainly. Where FluidVoice or Spokenly is the better pick, we say it by name. Found an outdated claim? Tell us at [email protected] and we'll fix it within a week. Last verified Jun 2026.