Spokenly Free Version is My Voice-to-Text Daily Driver

Spokenly

My voice-to-text use case is almost exclusively dictation (in English) in lieu of typing. There are a lot of trannoscription apps, many of them very powerful with advanced features for enterprise and academic users in multilingual environments. I don't need that. I just need something dependable and free that works well and saves me from having to type so much. After trying a great many apps, I'm most satisfied with Spokenly.

# Key Features for This Use Case

Requires no account \- just download it [from the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6740315592?pt=118813688&ct=lp-A-2025-10&mt=8), set it up, and start using it. You don't need a username and password for functionality.
Local only, if you want \- If you are privacy-focused, you can download and employ local conversion engines, including Nvidia's Parakeet, even on Intel Macs. I use it regularly on a 2019 MBP. Other local models include:
Various Whisper implementations
Parakeet version for multilingual use
Apple speech analyzer for macOS 26
Bring your own API key for online use \- If you want to use your own API key for OpenAI, Soniox, Grok, or other specialized engines, you can do this and still stay with the free version.
True universal compatibility \- You can dictate text anywhere on the system where you can put a cursor, so Spokenly can fill in forms in your browser, compose emails and messages, and write Reddit posts or blog entries.
Text replacement \- You can set up custom replacements for anything you use regularly that your dictation engine chokes on: proper names, tech terms, place names/addresses, etc.

# Other features

Agentic Control \- If you want to get into setting up workflows that you trigger with your voice, Spokenly has a list of functions that it can automate:
Search Google & YouTube
Query ChatGPT & Claude
Open/Close Apps
Send keystrokes
Open websites
Run Apple shortcuts
Run shell commands
Supports 100 Languages \- I am a native English speaker, but I have rudimentary Spanish skills (thanks to training with the Puerto Rican National Guard when I was in the Army). I can easily include Spanish phrases while dictating in English, and Spokenly changes gears on the fly.
File Upload \- You can upload recorded files and have them transcribed. This is a feature in other apps, and I suggest testing this out if it's something important to you. Uploading a two-minute voice memo you recorded in quiet conditions on your iPhone is going to work differently than a one-hour Teams meeting with 10 different speakers. YMMV.

# Caveats

This is not a plug-and-play app for absolute beginners. You have to choose what model you want to use, and they aren't all the same. Luckily, Spokenly does offer some suggestions. If you go with a local model, you have to download it, and if you're short on hard drive space, the models are about .5 GB on average. If you want advanced online support, you'll need to obtain your own API keys or be prepared to pay for the pro version ($7.99 a month). Also, depending on your configuration, you may experience lag if you're on an older or under-powered device.

https://redd.it/1oy5clg
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How to get ISO file from a DVD

I have been using DiskUtilities in Mac OS to extract ISO from DVD's I got from library.
Now I ran into quite a few DVD's always failed at the end of extraction -- not being able to finish the ISO file.

What should I use, any free safe software I can use to Copy DVD to ISO ? I suspect the newer DVD's have some kind of security features preventing ISO extraction.

https://redd.it/1oy9y29
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Dark Night is Free
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dark-night-mode-for-safari/id1592844577

https://redd.it/1oy9zqd
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app offering page layout in PDF export from reeder mode (no cut images)

hi basically noscript says it all.
Always frustrating when wishing to save to PDF an article from the web only to have images of the article cut in two in overlapping pages.
Any way to kinda do some layout and to rearrange the images so that they fit on a single page ?

https://redd.it/1oyfqfo
@macappsbackup

I’m looking for a simple app that I can set keyboard commands to trackpad gestures.

In Finder you can go back and forth in folders using keyboard commands. I want an app that will allow me to set those commands as swipe gestures.

I know BetterTouchTool does this but I’d really prefer something cheaper or free that isn’t as complicated.

https://redd.it/1oyi88h
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Thanks r/macapps - your feedback made the Gubb app way better

Hey r/macapps! 👋

Just wanted to drop by with a quick appreciation post.

A little while ago I shared my note-taking app Gubb here and gave out some promo codes. The response was honestly way more than I expected - and the feedback was even better. A bunch of you pointed out quirks, tiny bugs, UI oddities, and features that were missing but would make the app feel more “Mac-native.”

So I took all of that, went heads-down for a week, and pushed an update based directly on what this sub suggested. 🙏

# What’s new (thanks to your comments):

🧠 Offline AI Trannoscription
One of the biggest asks here was: “Can we get voice-to-text without an API key?”
So now Gubb supports local AI models for trannoscription — everything happens on-device, no cloud, no data leaving the Mac.

🔤 Better Fonts & Readability
Multiple users mentioned readability issues. Added new font options and improved text rendering across notes & to-dos.

🖥️ System Tray Access
A small but heavily requested improvement - now you can keep it running quietly and open it instantly.

🪲 Bug Fixes
Clipboard quirks, timer visuals, numbered list formatting, some rendering issues - cleaned up.

⚡ Performance Boosts
Local audio processing is now smoother and the whole app feels snappier.

Not trying to promote anything aggressively here - mostly just wanted to circle back and genuinely thank this community. The quality of feedback from mac users is always on another level. 🙌

For anyone who wants to see the updated version, here’s the Mac App Store link:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gubb-notes-timers-tasks/id6746085262?mt=12

And if you want to support the launch, we also just went live on Product Hunt:
https://www.producthunt.com/products/gubb


(No pressure at all - just sharing for anyone interested.)



# Before I jump back into building:

What note-taking or productivity apps on macOS do you swear by?
And for those who tried Gubb already - what would you love to see next?

Always open to feedback - you all clearly know what makes a good Mac app. 🙌

https://redd.it/1oyic6s
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TimeBill is now live

https://redd.it/1oyo9lw
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Petrichor 1.2 adds support 20+ audio file formats and an audio equalizer

https://redd.it/1oypdhi
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