Handy

A free, open-source speech-to-text app that runs offline on Windows, macOS and Linux.

Open sourceAI meeting assistants and transcription tools

Verified facts: 3 of 3
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Handy

Handy does one thing: press a keyboard shortcut, speak, release, and it pastes your words into whatever text field you're typing in. Transcription runs entirely on your machine using Whisper and other open models, with GPU acceleration where available, so it works offline and needs no account, subscription or cloud service. It offers push-to-talk or toggle modes and a few settings for key bindings and models, and it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, which is rare among dictation apps. The project, started by developer CJ Pais, is free and open source and supported by sponsors and donations; the code is written in Rust and Tauri and welcomes contributions. Handy has none of the AI rewriting, modes or meeting features of commercial apps, and accuracy depends on the model your hardware can run. For simple, private dictation at no cost it is hard to beat.

Best for: Anyone who wants simple, private dictation for free on any desktop OS.

What works

Free and open source
Runs offline, no account needed
Works on Windows, macOS and Linux

Why people leave

No AI rewriting or formatting modes
No mobile apps
Accuracy limited by your hardware's model choice

Top Handy alternatives

See all 5

1
VoiceInk
Mac app with more features for a one-time price, also open source.
66.5
2
Superwhisper
Adds AI modes and mobile apps, with local models.
62.6
3
Buzz
Free open-source app for transcribing files and live audio.
59.6
4
Wispr Flow
Polished cloud dictation that cleans up filler words.
57.2
5
MacWhisper
Mac app built on local Whisper models too, adding file and meeting transcription on top of dictation.
55.3

Why people left Handy

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Handy: common questions

Is Handy free?

Yes. Handy is free, open-source software.

Is Handy open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at cjpais/Handy.

What platforms does Handy run on?

Handy is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to Handy?

The highest-ranked Handy alternatives right now are VoiceInk, Superwhisper and Buzz. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 Handy alternatives

Handy facts

3 of 3 verified

Price: Free; Checked Oct 25, 2026handy.computer(opens source in a new tab); “the free and open source app for speech to text download handy apple silicon v0.9.8 Your browser doesn't support HTML video.”
Offline: Yes; Checked Oct 25, 2026handy.computer(opens source in a new tab); “It runs completely offline using Whisper, works across platforms, and doesn’t require subscriptions or cloud services.”
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux; Checked Oct 25, 2026handy.computer(opens source in a new tab); “Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux That’s it.”