Looking for a VoiceInk alternative? Retext adds on-device voice dictation to a native Mac text expander.
Retext is a good VoiceInk alternative if you want transcription on your Mac by default, push-to-talk on right Option, and your snippets in the same app.
VoiceInk is open source, sold once, and transcribes files as well as live speech, all on your Mac. Retext also transcribes on-device and adds Teams, plus, in beta, on-device polish in five modes, a hands-free mode that pauses in password fields, and "insert snippet" by voice.
Local by default: your audio is transcribed on your Mac
No audio or transcripts are sent to Retext's server
Polish (beta) runs on your Mac with Apple Intelligence, never in the cloud
Hands-free mode (beta) pauses itself in password fields and password managers
Your text expander and your dictation in one app
| Feature | Retext | VoiceInk |
|---|---|---|
| Voice Dictation | ||
| AI Cleanup & Rewriting | Beta | |
| Audio File Transcription | Not available | |
| Privacy & Local Storage | ||
| Snippet Expansion | ||
| Team Sharing | Not available | |
| Cross-Platform |
| Product | Pricing Model | Price | Free Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retext | Freemium | Dictation and polish on your Mac come with every plan. See the pricing page. | Dictation and polish on your Mac, plus 5 snippets |
| VoiceInk | One-Time | One-time $25 (1 Mac), $39 (2 Macs) or $49 (3 Macs), with lifetime updates | Free trial; source code is free to build yourself |
Migration difficulty: easy
VoiceInk's Smart Replace entries are short phrase swaps. Recreate the ones you use as Retext snippets.
Retext adds on-device voice dictation to a native Mac text expander. VoiceInk is open source, sold once, and transcribes files as well as live speech, all on your Mac. Retext also transcribes on-device and adds Teams, plus, in beta, on-device polish in five modes, a hands-free mode that pauses in password fields, and "insert snippet" by voice.
Doesn't run on Intel Macs; No team features; AI enhancement is a separate cloud option.
Yes. VoiceInk's free option: free trial; source code is free to build yourself. Paid: One-time $25 (1 Mac), $39 (2 Macs) or $49 (3 Macs), with lifetime updates.
Yes. Retext's free plan includes dictation and polish on your Mac, plus 5 snippets. Dictation and polish on your Mac come with every plan. See the pricing page.
VoiceInk is the better choice for local, private dictation with a one-time price, source code you can read or build and a simple dictation app for one Mac.
VoiceInk's Smart Replace entries are short phrase swaps. Recreate the ones you use as Retext snippets.
Download Retext, turn on Voice Dictation in Settings, and hold right Option to talk.
Sources
VoiceInk, checked October 28, 2026: VoiceInk · VoiceInk file transcription · VoiceInk source code
Prices and features change. Check each vendor's site before you buy.