Handy
A free, open source (MIT) desktop dictation app that runs entirely on your computer. You hold a shortcut, speak, release: the text is pasted into the active field of any application. Transcription goes through Whisper or Parakeet V3 models running locally, with no audio sent to a cloud. Available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Strengths
- Free, open source (MIT) and no account: no minute cap, no subscription growing with use
- Fully local transcription: your audio does not go to a server, which matters when you dictate client or company data
- Choice of model (Whisper in several sizes, Parakeet V3 for CPU-only) and of shortcut: hold to speak or toggle
Limitations
- No technical vocabulary learned for you and no integration designed for Claude Code: variable and command names depend on the model you pick
- Speed and accuracy depend on your machine: a large Whisper model without a graphics card is noticeable, hence trying the recommended model first
- The video's accuracy test (a single first name) is anecdotal, it says nothing about reliability on your voice and your vocabulary
Best for
- Anyone who wants to try voice dictation without a subscription before deciding whether it joins their habits
- People handling client or internal data who do not want their voice to go through a third-party service
- Dictation in several languages on the same machine, without switching settings each time