Ottex
Mac, iOS
Choose if
You want dictated emails to follow your saved writing instructions.
Look elsewhere if
You need voice dictation on a Windows computer.
ComparisonEvery claim sourced · verified Oct 2026
FluidVoice vs VoiceInk: the honest comparison.
Three tools. Different strengths. Find your fit.
Ottex
FluidVoice
VoiceInkAll comparisons
FAQ
At a glance
Which one fits your work?
Each tool takes a different approach. Here’s a quick side-by-side to help you choose based on your workflow, platforms, and goals.
FluidVoice
Mac
Choose if
You want free offline dictation shaped by your instructions.
Look elsewhere if
You need meeting recording in a stable release.
VoiceInk
Mac
Choose if
You want local Mac dictation with a $25 one-time license.
Look elsewhere if
You need recorded meetings turned into automatic summaries.
The evidence
Pricing
FluidVoice is free; VoiceInk costs $25 one-time or is free to build. Ottex offers free app access with local models or your own API key (BYOK); provider usage can cost extra, and Pro costs $14/mo or $168/yr.
See the evidence — 14 claims across 3 toolsverified Oct 2026Show tableHide table
| Feature | Ottex | FluidVoice | VoiceInk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Forever free with local models and BYOK providers. | PartialSource: fluidvoice.org/download — checked Oct 2026no trial, word limit or paid tier | YesSource: github.com/Beingpax — checked Oct 2026The Mac app can be built free from source; no usage allowance is published, automatic updates are excluded, and cloud API usage costs extra. |
| Subscription | $14/moSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026$14/mo — unlimited dictation and meeting intelligence, all hosted models included. | NoNo subscription plan | NoNo subscription plan |
| One-time payment | Not applicableSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Application is free | Not applicableSource: fluidvoice.org/download — checked Oct 2026Application is free | $25 one-timeSource: tryvoiceink.com/buy — checked Oct 2026Lifetime updates |
| Bring your own keyPay the model provider, not the middleman | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026OpenRouter, Google AI, OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, and compatible providers. | YesSource: fluidvoice.org/docs — checked Oct 2026Optional cloud cleanup uses the user's API key and separately billed provider account. | YesSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Oct 2026Cloud transcription and enhancement providers connect through user-supplied API keys, with provider charges excluded from the license. |
| Education discount | NoSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Same pricing for everyone. | No public claim | YesSource: tryvoiceink.com/faq — checked Oct 2026Students can request a discount with a student ID; discounted prices, percentage, and billing terms are not published. |
The evidence
Platforms
FluidVoice supports Mac and a Windows prerelease; VoiceInk supports Mac with an iOS beta companion. Ottex supports Mac and iOS, making FluidVoice the Windows option if you accept a testing build.
See the evidence — 6 claims across 3 toolsverified Oct 2026Show tableHide table
| Feature | Ottex | FluidVoice | VoiceInk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Mac, iOSSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026 | MacSource: fluidvoice.org/download — checked Oct 2026Some platforms in beta/waitlist | MacSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Oct 2026 |
| Native app footprintLight on memory, instant to invoke | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Native Swift app, ~50MB RAM. | PartialSource: raw.githubusercontent.com/altic-dev — checked Oct 2026The macOS application uses SwiftUI and AppKit; the Windows implementation was not verified. | YesSource: github.com/beingpax — checked Oct 2026The Mac application is native. |
The evidence
Meetings & team memory
FluidVoice records without a bot in its macOS beta; VoiceInk cannot record meetings. Ottex records without a bot and offers an experimental, opt-in macOS camera recording watermark, which does not establish consent.
See the evidence — 20 claims across 3 toolsverified Oct 2026Show tableHide table
| Feature | Ottex | FluidVoice | VoiceInk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting recordingThe call is captured at all | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026With speaker separation. | PartialSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Oct 2026FluidMeet records meetings locally in macOS v1.6.10-beta.7. | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026Not supported. |
| Bot-free captureNo "recording bot" joins your call | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026System-audio capture, no bot joins the call. | PartialSource: raw.githubusercontent.com/altic-dev — checked Oct 2026The macOS beta captures meeting-application audio and microphone audio directly on the computer. | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026Not supported. |
| Camera recording watermarkShow recording in your camera video | PartialExperimental macOS virtual camera adds an Ottex icon to video; install/enable the extension, select it and turn video on. Guide covers Meet in Chrome and Zoom desktop; effects may obscure it. | No public claim | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026Not supported. |
| Participant noticesRecording notices in chat or calendar | No public claim | No public claim | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026Not supported. |
| Speaker separation | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026 | PartialSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Oct 2026FluidMeet includes speaker labels in the macOS beta; automatic identification of participants by real name is unverified. | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026Not supported. |
| Calendar detection | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Calendar-based meeting detection. | PartialSource: raw.githubusercontent.com/altic-dev — checked Oct 2026The macOS beta optionally detects Zoom, Teams, Webex, and supported browser meetings, then offers user-started recording. | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026Not supported. |
| Cross-meeting search | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026 | PartialSource: github.com/altic-dev — checked Oct 2026The macOS beta's Global Search includes transcripts across the application. | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026Not supported. |
| Shared team memory | PartialSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Public share links, not a full team workspace. | No public claim | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026Not supported. |
The evidence
From meeting to finished work
FluidVoice generates local meeting summaries in its macOS beta; VoiceInk has no meeting summaries. Ottex uses document templates to structure transcripts and drafts follow-up emails, CRM updates and tickets.
See the evidence — 13 claims across 3 toolsverified Oct 2026Show tableHide table
| Feature | Ottex | FluidVoice | VoiceInk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting template libraryTurn a transcript into a structured document | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Choose a ready-made document template to extract relevant information from a meeting transcript into a structured document, such as a product review or client-call report. | No public claim | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026Ready-made documents that extract and structure recorded meeting transcripts are not supported. |
| Transcript chat prompt libraryReady-made prompts for AI chat about meetings | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Use ready-made reusable prompts in AI chat to ask questions, analyze discussions and extract information from meeting transcripts. | No public claim | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026A reusable prompt library for AI chat over recorded meeting transcripts is not supported. |
| Decisions, owners, action itemsLeave the meeting with next steps clear | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Decisions with owners extracted. | PartialSource: raw.githubusercontent.com/altic-dev — checked Oct 2026The macOS beta offers a Key decisions output, while assignment of decision owners is unverified. | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026Not supported. |
| Follow-up email draftedThe outcome is sent, not summarized | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Drafted from templates or your own. | No public claim | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026Not supported. |
| CRM update / ticket draft | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Structured for the target app. | No public claim | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026Not supported. |
| Your rough notes steer the result | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Rough notes and instructions steer the result. | No public claim | NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/best-typeless-alternatives — checked Oct 2026Not supported. |
The evidence
Dictation & transcription AI
FluidVoice, VoiceInk and Ottex can automatically apply saved rules after dictation. VoiceInk requires compatible enhanced Modes and may skip rules for short dictations; VoiceInk and Ottex expand spoken phrases into saved text.
See the evidence — 30 claims across 3 toolsverified Oct 2026Show tableHide table
| Feature | Ottex | FluidVoice | VoiceInk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engines | Cloud: Whisper, Gemini 3 Flash, Voxtral. Local: Whisper, Parakeet v3.Source: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Hosted routing, BYOK, or fully local. | Nemotron Speech 3.5, Nemotron 3.5 Multilingual, Parakeet Flash Beta, Parakeet TDT v3, Parakeet TDT v2, Cohere Transcribe, Apple Speech, WhisperSource: fluidvoice.org/models — checked Oct 2026The macOS model lineup varies by hardware and operating-system compatibility. | Parakeet, Nemotron, Whisper, Cohere Transcribe, SenseVoice, Apple Speech, BYOK cloud providersSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Oct 2026Transcription models and optional text-enhancement models are selected separately. |
| Local / on-device optionAudio never leaves the machine | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Whisper and Parakeet v3 run fully on-device. | YesSource: fluidvoice.org — checked Oct 2026Local recognition and local cleanup work offline after their required assets are installed. | YesSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Oct 2026Downloaded local transcription models run on the Mac, with Apple Silicon recommended and Intel reliability caveats. |
| Model selection per task | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Choose the model per task and per provider. | YesSource: fluidvoice.org/models — checked Oct 2026Users can download and switch speech models in the application. | YesSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Oct 2026Each Mode selects its transcription model and optional enhancement provider and model. |
| Languages & mixed speechWork that crosses languages mid-sentence | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026100+ languages · Mid-sentence language switching. | PartialSource: fluidvoice.org/docs — checked Oct 202699+ languages · Mid-sentence language switching can produce errors and requires testing with the selected model. | No public claim |
| Automatic formatting | YesSource: ottex.ai/docs — checked Oct 2026Dictation automatically fixes punctuation, groups ideas into paragraphs and formats enumerations as lists. Formatting toggles and profile rules customize output. | PartialSource: raw.githubusercontent.com/altic-dev — checked Oct 2026Optional AI cleanup fixes punctuation and capitalization, while spoken directives create line breaks and list items. | YesSource: tryvoiceink.com/features — checked Oct 2026Modes offer configurable paragraph breaks, while optional AI enhancement can produce punctuated paragraphs and lists. |
| Custom dictionary | YesSource: ottex.ai/docs — checked Oct 2026Add or delete names and specialist terms with preferred spellings; entries provide recognition context during transcription. | YesSource: fluidvoice.org/features — checked Oct 2026Custom Dictionary accepts preferred spellings for names and jargon, with JSON import and export. | PartialSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Oct 2026Editable Vocabulary entries guide supported transcription models and AI enhancement, with support dependent on the selected model. |
| Voice snippetsSay a saved phrase to insert a link or text | YesSource: ottex.ai/docs — checked Oct 2026Save a voice trigger and expansion text; saying the trigger while dictating inserts the saved URL or text in place. | No public claim | YesSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Oct 2026Word Replacements expand spoken phrases into saved URLs, addresses, signatures, or other text after dictation. |
| Custom voice instructionsFree-form rules applied after dictation | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Saved profile instructions automatically process dictation before insertion; rules can include writing examples, personal phrasing and email signatures. | YesSource: fluidvoice.org/docs — checked Oct 2026Saved user-written prompts automatically process dictation before insertion when AI cleanup is enabled. | PartialSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Oct 2026Saved custom prompts automatically process dictation before Paste delivery in compatible enhanced Modes; Refine excludes custom prompts and short dictations can skip enhancement. |
| Tone presetsChoose a predefined writing style | YesSelect built-in Messaging or Email profiles for casual or professional dictation; assigning apps or websites enables automatic profile activation. | No public claim | PartialSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Oct 2026Built-in Default, Chat, and Email prompts provide selectable writing styles through compatible AI-enhanced Modes. |
| Text transforms / AI ShortcutsApply an AI action to existing text | YesSource: ottex.ai/docs — checked Oct 2026Select or copy existing text, open Omnibar and run an AI Shortcut to rewrite, translate, summarize or apply a custom prompt; the result is copied/pasted. | PartialSource: fluidvoice.org/features — checked Oct 2026Write Mode replaces selected text using spoken rewrite instructions in Accessibility-compatible fields, with AI-provider compatibility restrictions. | YesSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Oct 2026A compatible AI-enhanced Mode rewrites selected or clipboard text using saved prompts and spoken instructions, then pastes the result. |
| Per-app output rules | YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Oct 2026Per-app output rules: exact in AI chats, polished in email. | YesSource: fluidvoice.org/docs — checked Oct 2026User-authored per-app instructions are selected automatically for the focused application. | YesSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Oct 2026App and supported-browser website triggers automatically select Modes with different processing and output settings. |
Questions people actually ask.
FluidVoice vs VoiceInk: which should I choose?
Choose FluidVoice for free offline dictation with saved writing rules, or VoiceInk for local Mac dictation with spoken text expansions at $25 one-time. Choose Ottex if you want those expansions plus structured meeting documents and follow-up drafts.
Is FluidVoice or VoiceInk free?
FluidVoice is free with no trial or word cap; VoiceInk is free to build from source, while its Mac licenses start at $25 one-time and its iOS beta is free. Ottex offers free app access with local models or BYOK, though API providers can charge for usage.
How much do FluidVoice and VoiceInk cost?
FluidVoice costs $0 per year; VoiceInk Solo costs $25 once, with Personal at $39 and Extended at $49 once. Ottex has free local-model and BYOK app access, or Pro at $14/mo and $168/yr; API provider charges are separate.
Is FluidVoice safe for private dictation?
Choose FluidVoice if both recognition and cleanup must stay offline after assets are installed. VoiceInk offers local transcription with optional AI-provider enhancement, while Ottex offers on-device Whisper or Parakeet v3; all three also support BYOK through an API provider.
Is it worth switching from FluidVoice to VoiceInk?
Switch to VoiceInk if you need spoken phrases to expand into saved text or its iOS beta companion. Stay with FluidVoice for free offline recognition and cleanup; Ottex also offers those text expansions, iOS support and saved dictation rules.
Do FluidVoice or VoiceInk work on Windows or Android?
For Windows, choose FluidVoice if you accept its 64-bit prerelease testing build; VoiceInk and Ottex support Mac and iOS, with VoiceInk's iOS companion still in beta. Android support is unverified for all three.
Do FluidVoice and VoiceInk work offline?
Yes: FluidVoice supports offline recognition and cleanup after downloading its assets, and VoiceInk can transcribe with downloaded local models. Ottex also runs Whisper or Parakeet v3 on-device; optional API-based processing requires a connection.