Precis vs VoiceInk
These two are the closest match: both run on your Mac, both are one payment, neither needs a subscription. The differences are in how they rewrite text, where the recorder sits and which Macs they run on.
Short answer: Choose VoiceInk if you want open source, an iPhone app, or you're on a macOS older than 26.5. Choose Precis if you want text rewritten for each app on your Mac with no API keys or setup, and two Macs for $19.
| Feature | Precis | VoiceInk |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19 once, for 2 Macs | $25 for one Mac, $39 for two, $49 for three |
| Speech engines | Parakeet and Whisper, on your Mac | Local models, including Whisper and Parakeet |
| Rewrites for each app | Built-in Styles, Apple Intelligence on your Mac | Optional AI enhancement; the cloud option sends your text, not your voice |
| Recorder | Beside your text cursor | A mini recorder at the bottom of the screen, or in the notch |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| iPhone app | No | Yes |
| Needs | Apple silicon, macOS 26.5 or later | Apple silicon, macOS 14.4 or later |
VoiceInk details from tryvoiceink.com, checked on 4 October 2026. Product names belong to their owners.
- Open source, with its code on GitHub.
- Runs on macOS 14.4 and later, so it suits Macs that can't update to macOS 26.
- Has an iPhone app.
- Styles shape the text for each app with Apple Intelligence on your Mac: no API key, no provider to choose, nothing sent out.
- The recorder sits beside your text cursor, with the icon of the app it will type into.
- Clean-up removes ums and restarts and applies “no wait” corrections before typing.
- One licence covers 2 Macs for $19. VoiceInk is $39 for two.
Who should pick which
If open source matters to you, or your Mac can't run macOS 26.5, VoiceInk is the one. If you want to talk and get an email, a prompt or a note that's ready to send, without wiring up an AI provider, Precis does that out of the box.
Questions
Is VoiceInk open source?
Yes, its source code is on GitHub. Precis isn't open source.
What do two Macs cost?
VoiceInk is $39 for two Macs. One Precis licence covers 2 Macs for $19.
Do I need an API key for AI rewriting in Precis?
No. Styles are written by Apple Intelligence on your Mac, so there's no key, no account and nothing sent out.
My Mac runs an older macOS. Which should I use?
Precis needs macOS 26.5 or later on Apple silicon. VoiceInk runs on macOS 14.4 and later.
Try Precis free for 7 days
Hold ⌥ Space in any app and talk. No card and no account, then $19 once for 2 Macs.
Free for 7 days, no card. Needs macOS 26.5 on Apple silicon.