Vocado vs Spokenly
Updated
I'm Zam, I make Vocado. Spokenly is a flexible app with a really generous free tier, and it runs on far more platforms than Vocado. If free matters most to you, it's hard to argue with. Here's an honest look at both.
Spokenly facts come from spokenly.app, its pricing page, its docs and its Mac App Store listing, checked 3 November 2026.
Quick answer
- Pick Spokenly if you want free, unlimited dictation with local models, want to bring your own API keys, need Windows, iPhone, Linux or a Chrome extension, or want coding agents to ask you for voice input through MCP.
- Pick Vocado if you want one simple Mac app, no choices to make, fast cloud transcription included, for $4.99 a month.
Side by side
| Vocado | Spokenly | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99/mo or $39.99/yr | Free (local or your own API keys); Local+ $29 once; Pro $12/mo billed yearly ($144) or $15 month to month on its website |
| Free option | 14-day trial, no card | Free forever, no account needed |
| Cloud transcription included | Yes | On Pro, or pay your own provider. A one-time trial allowance lets you try its cloud first |
| Local / offline models | No | Yes: Whisper and Parakeet |
| Bring your own API key | No | Yes: OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq and others |
| AI text processing | No | Yes, with modes and AI Instructions |
| Coding agent integration | Works anywhere you can type, including Claude Code | Also has MCP voice input for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor (in the Mac version from its website, not the App Store one) |
| Platforms | Mac (macOS 14+) | Mac (macOS 13.3+), Windows, iPhone, Linux, Chrome extension |
Where Spokenly is better
Free. Unlimited local transcription with no account and no subscription. Vocado gives you 14 days, then it's paid.
Offline. Local Whisper and Parakeet models work without internet, and there's a Local Only mode that blocks network access. Out of the box its default model is in the cloud, so pick a local one first. Vocado needs a connection either way.
Choice. Pick local, bring your own keys, or pay for Pro's managed cloud models. Vocado makes that choice for you.
Platforms. Mac, Windows, iPhone, Linux and a Chrome extension. Vocado is Mac only.
Agent features. Its MCP voice input lets Claude Code, Codex and Cursor ask you a question you answer by voice (in the version you download from its website). Agentic Actions do voice-controlled macOS automation. Vocado just types text where your cursor is.
Where Vocado is better
Cheaper than Spokenly Pro for cloud. If you want managed cloud transcription without fiddling with API keys, Vocado is $39.99 a year against Spokenly Pro's $144 a year on its website. (Its App Store prices are different, but still more than Vocado's.)
Simpler. There are no tiers to compare, models to download or keys to paste. Install, press a hotkey, talk. Some people enjoy setting up a tool. I wanted one I'd never think about.
Consistent speed. A 30-second note comes back in under 2 seconds via Groq Whisper, on any Mac, Intel or Apple Silicon.
Small and native. 5.7 MB download, about 12 MB installed.
Built by someone who uses it all day. I dictate hours a day into Claude Code with it. If something breaks, I usually notice before you do, and I answer support myself.
Privacy, plainly
Spokenly with local models keeps your audio on your Mac, which is more private than Vocado. Just note its default model runs in the cloud, so switch to a local one if that's why you're picking it. Vocado sends audio to a cloud transcription provider, where it's processed and deleted, not stored. No account, and history stays on your Mac.
Why I built Vocado
I tried the popular dictation apps, and each one had a dealbreaker for how I work. The big one was speed that got worse the longer I used it. So I built the narrowest possible thing: a hotkey, fast cloud transcription and text at the cursor. It's been my daily driver for months.
Try it
If you want dictation that just works without picking models or managing keys, try Vocado free for 14 days. No credit card.
FAQ
Is Spokenly free?
Yes. As of November 2026, Spokenly's local transcription and bring-your-own-key use are free with no account. Local+ is a $29 one-time upgrade, and Pro with managed cloud models is $12 a month billed yearly or $15 month to month on its website.
Is Vocado a good Spokenly alternative?
If you want managed cloud dictation on a Mac with no setup, and for less than Spokenly Pro, yes. If you want free local models, other platforms or MCP agent features, Spokenly is the better fit.
Does Vocado work with Claude Code?
Yes. Vocado types into any app that accepts text, including the terminal and Claude Code. It doesn't have an MCP integration like Spokenly's.
Does Vocado work offline?
No. Vocado needs an internet connection. Spokenly can run local models offline.
Does Vocado support my own API key?
No. Cloud transcription is included in the subscription.
Try Vocado free for 14 days
Native Mac app, 5.7 MB download. No credit card. $4.99/month after that, or $39.99/year.
Download for Mac