JustScribe vs the dictation built into macOS
Updated
Every Mac has Dictation built in: turn it on in System Settings → Keyboard, press the microphone key, and talk. It costs nothing and needs no download. JustScribe is a different take on the same idea, and it is also free, so the honest advice is to try both.
How they compare
| JustScribe | Apple Dictation | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free, included with macOS |
| How you start and stop | Hold a shortcut while you speak; release to finish | Press a key to start; it stops when you press again or after 30 seconds of silence |
| Speech model | Your choice: Parakeet v3, Parakeet English, or Whisper from Tiny to Large v3 | Apple’s, not selectable |
| Where it runs | Always on your Mac | On-device or Apple’s servers; Keyboard settings show which |
| After you finish speaking | A second pass over the whole recording, then optional grammar correction; the result is pasted in one go (or typed as you speak, your choice) | Text stays as dictated |
| Punctuation | From the model, plus optional correction | Automatic in supported languages |
| Edit by voice, voice commands | No | Yes |
| Source code | Open source (GPL-3.0) | Closed |
| Requirements | Apple silicon, macOS 26.2 or later | Any supported Mac |
Apple Dictation details are from Apple’s Dictate messages and documents on Mac as of October 2026.
What JustScribe adds
- Hold to talk. Recording lasts exactly as long as the key is down, so there is no wondering whether the microphone is still listening, and no stray words typed after you stop.
- A choice of models. Pick a small, fast model or a large, careful one, and switch when your needs change. See offline speech to text on Mac.
- A second pass. The words typed while you speak are a first draft. When you release the key, JustScribe transcribes the full recording again and corrects the text in place.
- Grammar correction. Optionally, the finished text is checked for grammar, spelling and punctuation on your Mac. See dictation with grammar correction.
- A microphone order. List your microphones by preference and JustScribe uses the first one that is connected.
What Apple Dictation does better
- It is already installed, and works on Intel Macs and older macOS versions.
- You can edit with your voice and use voice commands.
- It needs no model download and no extra permissions.
Trying both
Install JustScribe, keep Apple’s Dictation on, and give them different shortcuts. Dictate the same paragraph with each, in the app you write in most. The one that needs fewer corrections on your voice and your vocabulary is the right one for you.
Questions
- Why use a dictation app when macOS has Dictation built in?
- Apple's Dictation is free and already on your Mac, and for short text it is often enough. JustScribe is for people who dictate a lot: you hold a key only while speaking, you choose the speech model, and the text can be grammar-checked on your Mac before it lands.
- Is JustScribe more private than Apple Dictation?
- JustScribe always transcribes on your Mac and has no servers. Apple's Dictation can also process on-device; Keyboard settings on your Mac show whether your voice input is processed on the device or sent to Apple.
- Does JustScribe replace Apple Dictation?
- It does not turn it off. Both can be enabled at once with different shortcuts, so you can compare them on your own voice.
Get JustScribe
Free and open source. No account, no subscription, and your voice never leaves your Mac.
macOS 26.2, Apple silicon · 8.4 MB · Release notes