COMPARISONEvery claim sourced · verified Aug 2026

FluidVoice vs Spokenly: the honest comparison.

FluidVoice is the simpler free, open-source desktop choice, while Spokenly adds iOS and an optional cloud plan. Neither handles meetings. We make Ottex, shown here as the reference for combining dictation with meeting workflows.

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 · Free tier

FluidVoice is a compelling free, open-source choice for local, system-wide dictation with 99-language model support, but it offers no meeting recording or intelligence.

Choose if
  • You want free, unlimited local dictation without sending voice or transcripts to the vendor.
  • You need system-wide desktop dictation with per-app prompts, voice commands, and custom vocabulary.
  • You want to transcribe audio and video files locally, with TXT or JSON export.
Look elsewhere if
  • You need a meeting assistant for recording, summaries, action items, or team collaboration.
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 wins on simplicity: its only listed plan is free. Spokenly also offers unlimited local models for free and charges nothing for BYOK, while its ready-to-use cloud Pro plan costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year; choose FluidVoice for a purely free product or Spokenly when paid cloud accuracy and AI text processing justify the upgrade.

See the evidence — 15 claims across 3 toolsverified Aug 2026Show table
Ottex iconOttexFluidVoice iconFluidVoiceSpokenly iconSpokenly
Free tier YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Forever free with local models and BYOK providers. YesSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Aug 2026The core app and local inference are free; optional cloud enhancement uses the user's provider key. 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 Aug 2026Users can supply OpenAI, Groq, or custom provider API credentials for optional enhancement. 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. NoSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Aug 2026No separate education discount is published because the product is free. YesSource: spokenly.app/pricing — checked Jun 2026Verified students get 50% off Pro after contacting support with an academic email.

Platforms

Spokenly wins coverage with 3 platforms: Mac, Windows, and iOS. FluidVoice covers Mac and Windows, but its Windows installers are beta prereleases; Ottex supports 2 platforms, Mac and iOS, so it does not close the Windows gap.

See the evidence — 5 claims across 3 toolsverified Aug 2026Show table
Ottex iconOttexFluidVoice iconFluidVoiceSpokenly iconSpokenly
PlatformsMac, iOSSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026MacSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Aug 2026Some platforms in beta/waitlistMac, 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. PartialSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Aug 2026The macOS app is native Swift while the Windows beta uses Flutter with native speech and input components.No public claim

Meetings & team memory

FluidVoice and Spokenly are tied because 0 of the 2 records meetings, provides bot-free call capture, separates speakers, or creates team memory. Ottex is the relevant reference here because its free local path includes meetings on Mac, although its notes do not claim mature shared-workspace infrastructure.

See the evidence — 18 claims across 3 toolsverified Aug 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 Aug 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 Aug 2026Not supported. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
Speaker separation YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026 NoSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Aug 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 Aug 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 Aug 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 Aug 2026Not supported. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.

From meeting to finished work

FluidVoice and Spokenly deliver dictation rather than meeting intelligence, so 0 of the 2 turns recorded calls into summaries, action items, follow-ups, CRM updates, or tickets. Ottex wins this dimension by producing emails, Linear tickets, CRM updates, PRDs, and docs, with a free local path or Pro at $14/month and $168/year.

See the evidence — 12 claims across 3 toolsverified Aug 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 Aug 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 Aug 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 Aug 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 Aug 2026Not supported. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.

Dictation & transcription AI

Spokenly narrowly wins breadth with local models, BYOK, and 100-language support across Mac, Windows, and iOS. FluidVoice remains a strong free alternative with local and BYOK options, 99-language model support, per-app prompts, voice commands, custom vocabulary, and local file transcription.

See the evidence — 12 claims across 3 toolsverified Aug 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 and v2, Cohere Transcribe, Apple Speech, WhisperSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Aug 2026The app publishes seven recognition-engine families with multiple variants.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. YesSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Aug 2026Supported speech models run on the device after any required download. 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 Aug 2026Users select among the supported recognition models during onboarding or in settings. 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. YesSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Aug 2026Different prompt sets can be assigned to different applications.No 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 Aug 2026.

FAQ

Questions people actually ask.

FluidVoice vs Spokenly: which should I choose?

Choose FluidVoice for a free, open-source desktop dictation tool with local file transcription and per-app controls. Choose Spokenly if iOS support, 100-language coverage, or an optional ready-to-use cloud plan matters more.

Is FluidVoice free?

Yes. FluidVoice lists one Free plan and is positioned for unlimited local dictation, without a paid tier in the provided plans.

Is Spokenly free?

Yes. Spokenly offers unlimited local models for free, and its BYOK option adds no Spokenly fee because you pay the model provider directly; Pro costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year.

How much do FluidVoice and Spokenly cost?

FluidVoice lists only a Free plan. Spokenly can also cost nothing with local models or BYOK, while its cloud Pro plan is $9.99/month or $99.99/year.

Is FluidVoice or Spokenly safer for private dictation?

Both support local processing, so either can keep dictation off vendor-hosted transcription services. FluidVoice explicitly emphasizes local voice and transcript handling, while Spokenly also offers real offline local models and BYOK when you prefer your own provider.

Is it worth switching from FluidVoice to Spokenly?

Switch if you need iOS, Spokenly's 100-language coverage, or its $9.99/month cloud Pro workflow. Stay with FluidVoice if free local desktop dictation, custom vocabulary, voice commands, per-app prompts, and local file transcription already cover your needs.

Does FluidVoice or Spokenly work on Windows or Android?

Both work on Windows, although FluidVoice's Windows installers are beta prereleases; Spokenly also supports Mac and iOS. Neither supports Android.

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 Aug 2026.