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Last updated May 24, 2026
Glimpse vs Spokenly
Both are local-first dictation apps that run on Mac and Windows. The real differences are openness, pricing structure, and how much built-in cloud you want.
TL;DR
Pick Spokenly if…
- You also want an iPhone app (Glimpse is desktop only today).
- You want premium cloud models built in, without managing your own API keys.
- You want a wide menu of cloud providers in one app (OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq, and others).
Pick Glimpse if…
- You want it open source so you (or anyone) can audit what it does.
- You want it fully free, not even a Pro upsell.
- You'd rather keep things focused: local dictation with optional BYO LLM cleanup, not a full cloud-engine menu.
Side by side
| Glimpse | Spokenly | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free local + BYO. Pro $9.99/mo |
| Free tier | Full app, no limits | Unlimited local; bring your own cloud keys |
| Open source | Yes, AGPL-3.0 audit it on GitHub | |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Local transcription | Yes, by default works fully offline | Yes Apple Silicon |
| Built-in cloud providers | No BYO key for cleanup only | OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq, Anthropic, Google |
| Custom dictionary | ||
| Per-app modes | Limited system-wide focus | |
| Audio / video file import |
Cloud-provider menu
Spokenly's pitch is the buffet. You can route transcription or cleanup to OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq, Anthropic, or Google. If you've already got accounts with several of those and want to mix and match, that's nice. Glimpse keeps the local app focused and lets you bring your own LLM key for cleanup features. Fewer choices, less switching.
Platforms
Both run on Mac and Windows. Spokenly also has an iPhone app, so if you want dictation on your phone with the same account, it's the only option of the two today. Glimpse is desktop only for now.
Openness
Spokenly is closed source. Glimpse is on GitHub under AGPL-3.0. You can read exactly what gets sent where, including the analytics code. If you'd rather verify a privacy claim than trust it, that's the difference.
Pricing
Spokenly has three tiers: free local-only (Whisper and Parakeet on your machine), free with bring-your-own cloud keys (OpenAI, Deepgram, Groq, and others), and Pro at $9.99/mo for premium cloud models without needing your own keys. Glimpse is free with no Pro tier today. The local app will stay free.
Try Glimpse
It's free. If it doesn't fit, you've spent five minutes and zero dollars finding out.