SayLocal›Private dictation app
Private dictation app for Mac and Windows: your voice never leaves your computer
SayLocal is a dictation app for people who write a lot and don’t want their voice processed on someone else’s servers. Hold a key, speak, let go – your text appears wherever the cursor is. The speech recognition runs on your own computer.
For Mac and Windows · Trial with an email address, no credit card
How it works
- Hold a key. Fn on the Mac, the right Ctrl key on Windows – or any key you choose.
- Speak. Just as you normally would, even quietly. Silence produces no text.
- Let go. Your text appears at the cursor – in email, Slack, Word, the browser, a ticket system or any other app where you can type. With punctuation, without “um” and “er”.
For longer texts, tap the space bar while holding the key and keep dictating hands-free.
What “private” means here
Many dictation services send every recording to a server and turn it into text there. SayLocal does this step on your computer: on a Mac on the graphics unit of the Apple chip (Metal), on Windows on the graphics card via Vulkan, otherwise on the processor. The recording is then deleted. It is never uploaded and never stored.
You don’t need an account – a license key is enough. Once activated, SayLocal works offline; it only checks your license briefly once or twice a day and keeps running for up to 7 days without a connection.
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
Optional cloud recognition: on Intel Macs and on Windows PCs without a suitable graphics card, local recognition is noticeably slower. There you can switch on cloud recognition: your recording is then 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 and PCs with a suitable graphics card this option does not exist – everything stays with you.
Gets names and technical terms right
If SayLocal misspells a name, type over it once – from then on it spells it correctly. You can also say a difficult word three times in a short sentence so SayLocal adapts to your pronunciation, or add words to your word list before you need them.
When you reply to an email or write in a document, SayLocal reads the names in that window and spells them correctly. This happens in working memory only; nothing is stored or sent. If you use a Mac and a PC, your word list can sync between them – end-to-end encrypted, only you hold the key.
Who it is for
For anyone who writes a lot: emails, reports, notes, tickets, messages. Especially where confidentiality matters – law firms, medical practices, consulting, HR and IT. More on that: dictation for confidential work.
SayLocal understands 28 languages, starts in your system language and lets you switch on a second one.
Mac and Windows
One license covers two of your own devices – Mac, Windows or a mix.
- Mac: macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon recommended, Intel supported. Details: offline dictation on the Mac.
- Windows: Windows 10 (22H2) or 11, 64-bit; a graphics card with Vulkan support is recommended. Details: offline dictation on Windows.
Pricing
Prices include VAT. One license is for one person on up to two of their own devices – Mac, Windows or a mix. Try every feature free for 3 days first, with just your email address and no credit card. Teams and companies: request an offer.
Frequently asked questions
Is my voice sent to the cloud?
No. SayLocal turns your recording into text on your own computer and then deletes it. Recordings are never uploaded or stored. The only exception is an optional cloud recognition for less powerful computers (Intel Macs, PCs without a suitable graphics card), which is off by default and only runs after your explicit tick.
Does SayLocal work offline?
Yes. After activation you can dictate without an internet connection. SayLocal checks your license briefly once or twice a day and keeps working for up to 7 days without a connection.
Do I need an account?
No. A license key is enough. For the free trial you only enter your email address so we can send you the download link and the trial key.
Which apps does SayLocal work in?
In any app where you can type: email, Slack, Word, the browser, ticket systems and more. The text appears at the cursor position.
Which languages are supported?
SayLocal understands 28 languages, including English, German, French, Spanish and Italian. You can switch on a second language.
Who makes SayLocal?
SayLocal is developed by Conto IT, an IT service provider in Itzehoe, Germany. Contact: [email protected].
More about SayLocal
Updated 19 October 2026 · Conto IT, Itzehoe
