Truly free, truly cross-platform, no license required
VoiceInk is an impressive offline dictation tool — but it costs up to $49, requires macOS 14 Sonoma, and uses a GPL license that restricts how you can build on it. Echo is completely free, works on macOS, Windows, and Linux, and is MIT-licensed with no restrictions whatsoever.
Download Echo FreeFeature by feature
| Feature | Echo | VoiceInk |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ✓Free forever | ✗$25 Solo · $39 Personal (2 devices) · $49 Extended |
| Platforms | ✓macOS, Windows, Linux | ✗macOS 14 (Sonoma) only |
| Open Source | ✓MIT License | ✗GPL v3.0 (source available, binary paid) |
| Account Required | ✓Never | ✗License purchase required |
| Offline Processing | —100% local — always offline | ✓Yes — local Whisper models |
| Global Shortcut / Auto-Paste | —Yes — push-to-talk, pastes anywhere | ✓Yes — global shortcut auto-paste |
| LLM Post-Processing | —Optional AI refinement | ✓Yes — Power Mode with per-app prompts |
| 100 Languages | —Yes — Whisper supports 100 | ✓Yes — 100 languages |
| Context Awareness | —Not available | ✓Reads on-screen content for context |
| Per-App Configurations | —Not available | ✓Power Mode detects app/URL |
| Smart Replace Shortcuts | —Not available | ✓Yes — expand abbreviations by voice |
| macOS Version Required | ✓Broad macOS compatibility | ✗macOS 14 Sonoma minimum |
Why choose Echo over VoiceInk
Free vs. Paid Binary
VoiceInk publishes its source code under GPL, but you must pay $25–$49 for the binary. Echo is MIT-licensed and completely free — download, compile, or contribute without any payment or license key.
Windows and Linux Support
VoiceInk requires macOS 14 Sonoma — ruling out all Windows and Linux users, and any Mac running an older OS. Echo runs natively on macOS, Windows, and Linux with broad version support.
MIT vs. GPL License
VoiceInk uses GPL v3.0, which imposes copyleft requirements on derivative works. Echo uses the MIT license — the most permissive open-source license, with no restrictions on how you use, modify, or build on it.
Ready to switch?
No account. No cloud. Free forever.
Download Echo FreeFree forever · MIT License · Open source on GitHub