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Last updated May 24, 2026
Glimpse vs VoiceInk
Both are open source and run transcription on your device. The real differences are which platforms they target and how they're priced.
TL;DR
Pick VoiceInk if…
- You're on an Apple Silicon Mac (14.4+) and want a polished local-first app.
- You prefer one-time lifetime pricing over free with optional add-ons.
- You want the Power Mode per-app context switching.
Pick Glimpse if…
- You're on Windows, or on an Intel Mac.
- You want it fully free.
- You want to toggle cloud LLM cleanup on or off with your own key.
Side by side
| Glimpse | VoiceInk | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | One-time $25 to $49 (1 to 3 Macs) |
| Free tier | Full app, no limits | Paid only |
| Open source | Yes, AGPL-3.0 audit it on GitHub | Yes built in public on GitHub |
| macOS | Yes Apple Silicon, 14.4+ | |
| Windows | ||
| iOS | Separate app not in Mac lifetime price | |
| Local transcription | Yes, by default works fully offline | Yes Apple Silicon 14.4+ |
| AI cleanup | Yes, bring your own LLM key optional | Enhancement Modes Polish, Email, Chat, Post |
| Custom dictionary | ||
| Per-app modes | Yes Power Mode | |
| Audio / video file import |
Both open source, both local-first
This is the closest comparison on this site. Both apps are on GitHub, both run transcription on your device by default, both have custom dictionaries and per-app behavior. If you trust open source as a privacy signal, both check that box.
Pricing model
VoiceInk uses one-time perpetual pricing: $25 for one device, $39 for two, $49 for three. No subscription. Glimpse is free, with your own LLM key for cleanup features if you want them. Different ways to land on "no recurring fees."
Platforms
VoiceInk's desktop app is Apple Silicon Mac only, macOS 14.4 or later. Intel Macs aren't supported. They have a separate iOS app that isn't included in the Mac lifetime price. Glimpse runs on Mac and Windows. If you're on a supported Mac, both work. If you're on Windows or an older Mac, Glimpse is the option.
Try Glimpse
It's free. If it doesn't fit, you've spent five minutes and zero dollars finding out.