Comparison
Diktat vs. VoiceInk
VoiceInk is the special case among Mac dictation apps: one-time purchase, recognition on the device, open source code. You can read the code and see what the app does.
Diktat takes the same stance: recognition on the device, pay once. The scope is different. Diktat covers iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac, not just the Mac.
At a glance.
| Diktat | VoiceInk | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | One-time purchase | One-time purchase |
| Price | €19.99 at launch, later €39.99. One-time purchase for Mac, three Macs included. iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch as a separate app: from €9.99, later €19.99. | $29 / $49 / $69 for 1, 2, or 3 devices (as of 5 August 2026) |
| Free to use | 5 dictations a day, permanently, with all recognitions | Free trial available (“Download Free Trial”, as of 5 August 2026) |
| Where recognition runs | On the device | On the device |
| Account | No account | Not stated on the vendor's site (as of 5 August 2026) |
| Platforms | Mac (Apple Silicon, macOS 15 or newer). The app for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch is a separate purchase. | Mac (iOS version announced as a beta) |
| Apple Watch | Included in the iPhone app. The watch records. The iPhone transcribes. Universal Clipboard carries the text to the Mac. That takes a moment. | Not stated on the vendor's site (as of 5 August 2026) |
| What happens after recognition | No language model runs over your text. No word changes unless you ask. | Optional AI modes (“Cloud Enhancement”) can post-process the text |
Prices and details checked on 5 August 2026 at tryvoiceink.com. Facts, not scores. What the vendor's site does not say, this page does not say either.
The core difference.
VoiceInk and Diktat answer the big questions the same way: recognition runs on the device, and you pay once. Open source code is what VoiceInk adds. That is a real advantage, and one that Diktat does not offer.
Diktat covers the device family instead: the same flow on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. The text always lands in the clipboard. On the Mac it goes into the focused field as well. Recording on the watch and pasting on the Mac works too. The iPhone transcribes in between, so it has to be nearby, and the handover takes a moment. A Mac-only app does not have that chain.
Both are one-time purchases. VoiceInk tiers by device: $29, $49, or $69 for 1, 2, or 3 devices. Diktat for Mac costs €19.99 at launch, later €39.99, and covers three Macs. iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch are a separate purchase. Trying it costs nothing: 5 dictations a day stay free on the Mac, permanently.
When VoiceInk is the better fit.
Open source code matters to you: to read, to weigh in on, or on principle.
You dictate on the Mac only. Then Diktat's device family does nothing for you. VoiceInk covers the Mac, $29 for one device.
You enjoy experimenting with models and community builds rather than settling for a fixed catalog.
When Diktat is the better fit.
You also dictate on the iPhone, iPad, or watch. On the Mac you want the same flow.
You want to try before you buy. 5 dictations a day are free on the Mac and on the iPhone, permanently and without an account.
You want a tool that does not change a word unless you ask. Diktat does not rewrite your words.
Questions about the comparison.
Are both apps local?
Yes, both recognize speech on the device. With Diktat, only four things go over the network: downloading a recognition model, Apple's language assets, unlocking the purchase on the Mac, and the update check. Your dictations never do.
What is different about the pricing models?
Both are one-time purchases, no subscription. VoiceInk tiers by device: $29, $49, or $69 for 1, 2, or 3 devices (as of 5 August 2026). Diktat for Mac costs €19.99 at launch, later €39.99, for three Macs. iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch are a separate purchase.
Is open source a security advantage?
Yes, open source lets you verify what an app does. That is a real advantage of VoiceInk. Diktat is not open source. You can check its architecture instead: no server connection for dictations, no account, and the Mac app is notarized by Apple.
Why choose Diktat over VoiceInk?
Diktat is worth it if you dictate on more than the Mac: the same flow runs on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. 5 dictations a day stay free permanently, so you can try before you buy. If the Mac is all you need, VoiceInk is a good choice. This page says so on purpose.
Try Diktat.
5 dictations a day are free. No account, no subscription. The purchase is one-time.