SayLocal›Offline dictation on Mac
Offline speech-to-text on your Mac
SayLocal turns your voice into text right on your Mac and types it into any app. Hold the Fn key, speak, let go. No recording leaves your computer.
For Mac and Windows · Trial with an email address, no credit card
How it works on the Mac
- Hold Fn – or any other key you set in SayLocal.
- Speak normally, even quietly. The SayLocal indicator shows that it’s listening.
- Let go – the text appears at the cursor in Mail, Slack, Word, your browser or any other app where you can type.
For long texts, tap the space bar while holding the key and keep dictating hands-free. SayLocal picks the best available microphone automatically – AirPods, headset, USB microphone or the built-in one – or you choose one yourself.
Runs on your Mac’s own chip
On Macs with Apple silicon, the speech recognition runs on the graphics unit of the Apple chip via Metal. Your recording is turned into text on the Mac and then deleted – it is never uploaded or stored.
Intel Macs are supported too, but local recognition is noticeably slower there. That is why, on Intel Macs only, you can switch on an optional cloud recognition: the recording is sent encrypted to Cloudflare, turned into text and not stored. It is off by default, only runs after your explicit tick and can be switched off at any time. On Macs with Apple silicon this option does not exist.
Offline after activation
On first launch, SayLocal downloads about 550 MB once. After that you can dictate without an internet connection. Once or twice a day SayLocal briefly checks your license and looks for updates – only your license key goes over the line, never audio or text. Without a connection it keeps working for up to 7 days. No account is needed.
Stays on your computer
- Your voice recordings – turned into text, then deleted
- Your dictated texts
- Your learned words and word list
- Names read from the window you are replying to – in working memory only, never stored
Goes over the network
- A one-time download of about 550 MB after installation
- A brief license check once or twice a day – only your license key, server in the EU. Without a connection SayLocal keeps working for up to 7 days.
- The update check – new versions install only if they verifiably come from us (can be switched off)
- Only if you agree: anonymous usage figures (no audio, no text), an end-to-end encrypted copy of your word list for your second device, and cloud recognition on less powerful computers
System requirements
| System | macOS 14 Sonoma or later |
| Processor | Apple silicon (M1 or later) recommended. Intel Macs: noticeably slower locally, or with optional cloud recognition |
| Memory | 8 GB (while you dictate, the app uses about 800 MB and frees it again after 20 minutes of pause) |
| Storage | about 1 GB free |
| Permissions | Microphone. On first launch SayLocal asks for permission to type in other apps. |
Learns your words – and syncs them with your PC
Correct a name once and SayLocal spells it right from then on. Your word list stays on your Mac. If you also use SayLocal on a Windows PC, the two can sync their learned words – end-to-end encrypted and only if you want to. One license covers both devices.
Frequently asked questions
Does SayLocal work on a Mac without internet?
Yes. After the one-time download on first launch, dictation works offline. SayLocal checks the license once or twice a day and keeps running for up to 7 days without a connection.
Does SayLocal run on Intel Macs?
Yes, on macOS 14 or later. Local recognition is noticeably slower on Intel Macs, so there you can optionally switch on cloud recognition – off by default and only with your explicit tick.
Which macOS version do I need?
macOS 14 Sonoma or later. A Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later) and 8 GB of memory is recommended.
Can I use a different key instead of Fn?
Yes. Fn is the default; you can set another key in SayLocal.
Are my recordings stored on the Mac?
No. Each recording is turned into text and then deleted. Only the words SayLocal has learned from you are stored – on your Mac.
More about SayLocal
Updated 19 October 2026 · Conto IT, Itzehoe
