COMPARISONEvery claim sourced · verified Jun 2026

Spokenly vs VoiceInk: the honest comparison.

Pick Spokenly for dictation on Mac, Windows, and iOS with 100+ languages. Pick VoiceInk for Apple-only offline dictation with a $25-$49 one-time license. Ottex is our tool, and it adds Mac/iOS meeting capture and finished outputs.

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.
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.
VoiceInk icon

VoiceInk

Mac, iOS · $25 one-time

VoiceInk is a strong pick for Mac-first, privacy-conscious dictation with local/offline transcription and a $25-$49 one-time license, but it is not a meeting assistant and has no Windows, web, Android, or team workflow story.

Choose if
  • You want native macOS dictation on Apple Silicon with local models that can run offline.
  • You prefer a one-time lifetime license: $25 for 1 Mac, $39 for 2 Macs, or $49 for 3 Macs.
  • You want power-user dictation controls like global hotkeys, personal dictionary, snippets, filler-word removal, per-app rules, and searchable transcription history.
Look elsewhere if
  • You need meeting recording, summaries, action items, speaker identification, calendar detection, or follow-up drafts.
  • You need Windows, Android, Linux, browser, or web support instead of a Mac/iPhone/iPad setup dominated by macOS use.
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

VoiceInk is the cleanest one-time buy: $25 for 1 Mac, $39 for 2 Macs, or $49 for 3 Macs. Spokenly is better if you want unlimited free local dictation or BYOK with no Spokenly fee, while Pro is $9.99/mo. Ottex has the widest pricing ladder: free local or own-key use, $0.2/hour PAYG, $14/mo Pro, and $24/seat/mo Team.

See the evidence — 15 claims across 3 toolsverified Jun 2026Show table
Ottex iconOttexSpokenly iconSpokenlyVoiceInk iconVoiceInk
Free tier YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Forever free with local models and BYOK providers. PartialSource: spokenly.app/pricing — checked Jun 2026Unlimited use; no usage limits NoNo free plan
Subscription$14/moSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026$14/mo — unlimited dictation and meeting intelligence, all hosted models included.$9.99/moSource: spokenly.app/pricing — checked Jun 2026The pricing page shows annual billing at $99.99 per year and references Pro cloud features. NoNo subscription plan
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$25 one-timeSource: tryvoiceink.com/buy — checked Jun 2026Lifetime of updates
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: spokenly.app/pricing — checked Jun 2026Users can connect their own API keys from OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq, ElevenLabs, Mistral, and other providers. YesSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Jun 2026Cloud and custom models may require adding the provider API key.
Education discount NoSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Same pricing for everyone. YesSource: spokenly.app/pricing — checked Jun 2026Verified students get 50% off Pro after contacting support with an academic email. PartialSource: tryvoiceink.com/faq — checked Jun 2026Student discount is available by contacting the vendor with student ID; no public percentage is listed.

Platforms

Spokenly wins coverage among the compared pair because it supports Mac, Windows, and iOS. VoiceInk is narrower with Mac and iOS only, which is fine for Apple-only buyers but a blocker for Windows users. Ottex also supports Mac and iOS only, so it does not beat Spokenly on platform reach.

See the evidence — 5 claims across 3 toolsverified Jun 2026Show table
Ottex iconOttexSpokenly iconSpokenlyVoiceInk iconVoiceInk
PlatformsMac, iOSSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Mac, Windows, iOSSource: spokenly.app/download — checked Jun 2026Mac, iOSSource: tryvoiceink.com/faq — checked Jun 2026
Native app footprintLight on memory, instant to invoke YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Native Swift app, ~50MB RAM.No public claim YesSource: github.com/Beingpax — checked Jun 2026The GitHub README describes VoiceInk as a native macOS application.

Meetings & team memory

Ottex is the only one of the three with meetings. Spokenly and VoiceInk both have dictation, but neither offers meeting recording, calendar detection, speaker identification, summaries, action items, or shared meeting memory. If meeting capture matters, Ottex wins this section by default.

See the evidence — 18 claims across 3 toolsverified Jun 2026Show table
Ottex iconOttexSpokenly iconSpokenlyVoiceInk iconVoiceInk
Meeting recordingThe call is captured at all YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026With speaker separation. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/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: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
Speaker separation YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026 NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported for live meetings. NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
Calendar detection YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Calendar-based meeting detection. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
Cross-meeting search YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026 NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
Shared team memory PartialSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Public share links, not a full team workspace. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.

From meeting to finished work

Ottex is the only tool here that moves beyond notes into finished work like follow-up emails, Linear tickets, CRM updates, PRDs, and docs. Spokenly and VoiceInk are dictation tools, not meeting assistants, so they do not cover team memory, follow-ups, or workflow outputs. If the job is post-meeting execution, neither Spokenly nor VoiceInk is the right pick.

See the evidence — 12 claims across 3 toolsverified Jun 2026Show table
Ottex iconOttexSpokenly iconSpokenlyVoiceInk iconVoiceInk
Decisions, owners, action itemsLeave the meeting with next steps clear YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Decisions with owners extracted. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/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: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
CRM update / ticket draft YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Structured for the target app. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.
Your rough notes steer the result YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Rough notes and instructions steer the result. NoSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported. NoSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Jun 2026Not supported.

Dictation & transcription AI

Spokenly wins breadth for dictation because it offers local models, BYOK, and 100+ languages across Mac, Windows, and iOS. VoiceInk wins for Mac buyers who want local/offline transcription, global hotkeys, personal dictionary, snippets, filler-word removal, per-app rules, and a $25-$49 lifetime license. Ottex matches the local and BYOK model with 100+ languages, plus per-app output rules and file transcription on Mac

See the evidence — 12 claims across 3 toolsverified Jun 2026Show table
Ottex iconOttexSpokenly iconSpokenlyVoiceInk iconVoiceInk
EnginesCloud: Whisper, Gemini 3 Flash, Voxtral. Local: Whisper, Parakeet v3.Source: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Hosted routing, BYOK, or fully local.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 models, Groq, ElevenLabs, Deepgram, Parakeet, Gemini, Mistral, Soniox, custom OpenAI-compatible modelsSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Jun 2026VoiceInk lists local, cloud, and custom transcription model options.
Local / on-device optionAudio never leaves the machine YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Whisper and Parakeet v3 run fully on-device. YesSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Local Only Mode keeps transcription on-device and blocks network access. YesSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Jun 2026Local models run directly on the Mac without an internet connection.
Model selection per task YesSource: ottex.ai — checked Jun 2026Choose the model per task and per provider. YesSource: spokenly.app/docs — checked Jun 2026Docs say users choose between fast and high-accuracy dictation models. YesSource: tryvoiceink.com/docs — checked Jun 2026Users can choose and set a default transcription model.
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 claim YesSource: tryvoiceink.com/features — checked Jun 2026Power Mode can automatically apply app or website-specific transcription and enhancement settings.
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.

Spokenly vs VoiceInk: which should I pick?

Pick Spokenly if you need Windows support, 100+ languages, or free unlimited local dictation. Pick VoiceInk if you are Mac-first and want a $25-$49 one-time license with local/offline transcription. Pick Ottex if you want dictation plus meeting recording and finished outputs in one Mac/iOS tool.

Is Spokenly free?

Yes, Spokenly has free local models with unlimited use and a free BYOK mode where Spokenly charges nothing, though you pay your provider directly. Its Pro plan is $9.99/mo for high-accuracy cloud models, AI text processing, and priority support.

Is VoiceInk free?

No free plan is listed for VoiceInk. It is sold as a one-time license: $25 for 1 macOS device, $39 for up to 2, or $49 for up to 3.

How much does Spokenly cost compared with VoiceInk?

Spokenly can cost $0 if you use local models or your own API keys, and Pro is $9.99/mo. VoiceInk costs $25, $39, or $49 one time depending on whether you need 1, 2, or 3 Macs. VoiceInk is cheaper for a Mac-only lifetime purchase, while Spokenly is cheaper if free local or BYOK covers your workflow.

Is Spokenly or VoiceInk safer for private dictation?

Both have strong privacy paths because both support local models, and VoiceInk is especially clear for Mac-first offline transcription. Spokenly also supports local models and BYOK, so privacy-conscious users are not forced into its cloud Pro plan. If privacy plus meetings matters, Ottex also supports local models and BYOK for dictation, file transcription, and meetings.

Does Spokenly or VoiceInk work on Windows or Android?

Spokenly works on Windows, Mac, and iOS, so it is the choice if Windows matters. VoiceInk works on Mac and iOS only. Neither Spokenly nor VoiceInk lists Android support.

Does Spokenly or VoiceInk work offline?

Yes, both can work offline through local models. Spokenly offers unlimited free local dictation, while VoiceInk offers local/offline transcription for Mac-first users. Ottex also supports local models for dictation, file transcription, and meetings.

Spokenly iconMore Spokenly alternativesVoiceInk iconMore VoiceInk alternatives

Try Ottex for Mac and iOS.

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

Try for freeSee how Ottex works

We make Ottex, and this page says so plainly. Where Spokenly or VoiceInk 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.