Open-source dictation and transcription

5 dictation and transcription whose code is public under an OSI-approved license, rated for privacy with evidence. Picks first, then by score.

1. Buzz Grade B

   Desktop app that transcribes and translates audio and video files or live microphone input offline using Whisper models. It can optionally use the OpenAI Whisper API instead.

   MIT license. Source code

2. Handy Grade B

   Free, open-source desktop app for push-to-talk dictation. Speech is transcribed offline on the device with local Whisper or Parakeet models and typed into the active text field.

   MIT license. Source code

3. Whisper Grade B

   Open-source speech recognition model and Python command-line tool from OpenAI that transcribes and translates audio in many languages on the local computer.

   Code and model weights are MIT-licensed. Source code

4. whisper.cpp Grade B

   C/C++ port of OpenAI's Whisper speech recognition model that runs transcription on the CPU or GPU of the local device. Used as a library and command-line tool, and as the engine inside many dictation apps.

   MIT license. Source code

5. Anarlog Grade D

   Open-source, local-first meeting notepad, formerly Hyprnote, that records device audio without a bot and creates transcripts and AI summaries. Transcription can run on the device on supported Macs or through a chosen cloud provider.

   The app, including the optional hosted services, is MIT-licensed; separate enterprise components are commercially licensed. Source code

Compare all 17 dictation and transcription, open source or not.