license: cc-by-4.0
language:
- en
pretty_name: Mac Dictation Privacy Matrix
size_categories:
- n<1K
tags:
- dictation
- speech-to-text
- macos
- privacy
- on-device-ai
configs:
- config_name: default
data_files:
- split: train
path: data/mac-dictation-privacy-matrix.csv
Mac Dictation Privacy Matrix
An open, source-reviewed dataset comparing the documented privacy boundaries of 18 Mac dictation products.
The matrix separates questions that are often collapsed into one label:
- where microphone audio becomes a transcript;
- whether an optional cloud, cleanup, assistant, or agent path exists;
- whether the documented speech path works offline after setup;
- what the publisher says it retains;
- which account, subscription, license, or provider boundary applies; and
- which platform requirements and caveats materially qualify the claim.
This repository is a distribution mirror for the canonical research page:
Private Mac Dictation Apps: Local vs Cloud (2026)
Data
| File | Use |
|---|---|
data/mac-dictation-privacy-matrix.csv |
Flat rows for spreadsheets and analysis |
data/mac-dictation-privacy-matrix.json |
Structured metadata, methodology, product rows, caveats, and source records |
DATA_DICTIONARY.md |
Field definitions and interpretation rules |
Current release: 1.5.0
Last reviewed: 2026-07-26
Products: 18
First-party sources: 33
Quantitative snapshot
The JSON edition now publishes named cohorts so every count can be recomputed without interpreting product prose or accepting a hidden score.
| Documentation cohort | Count | Named products |
|---|---|---|
| At least one documented local speech-to-text path | 16/18 | IraVoice, Apple Dictation, Google AI Edge Eloquent, BetterDictation, Spokenly, Superwhisper, MacWhisper, VoiceInk, Voice Type, Whryte, TypeVox, Dicta, MacParakeet, Susurr, Sotto, Megaphone |
| No documented local speech-to-text path in the reviewed sources | 2/18 | Raycast Dictation, Wispr Flow |
| Locally capable and also documents an optional connected path | 10/16 | IraVoice, Google AI Edge Eloquent, BetterDictation, Spokenly, Superwhisper, MacWhisper, VoiceInk, Voice Type, MacParakeet, Sotto |
| First-party sources reviewed | 33 | Product, help, security, privacy, launch, App Store, and repository pages |
The 16-product cohort includes configuration-dependent and optional local paths; it does not mean every mode or feature is local. The connected paths do not all send microphone audio: some send transcript text, selected text, vocabulary data, or a finished specification. These are documentation cohorts, not security certifications or product rankings.
Method
- Review current first-party product, help, security, and privacy pages.
- Separate speech transcription from later cleanup, formatting, assistant, sync, or destination processing.
- Describe configurable modes explicitly instead of transferring a local or retention claim from one mode to every mode.
- State what the reviewed documentation does not establish.
- Publish the same product order in the HTML, CSV, and JSON editions.
Important limitation
This is documentation research published by IraVoice, not an independent security audit, packet inspection, source-code review, or product ranking. IraVoice appears as one row and is identified as the publisher. Verify time-sensitive claims against the linked first-party sources and the active product configuration.
“Local,” “cloud,” “offline,” and “zero retention” are not interchangeable:
- local transcription does not prove that optional cleanup or the destination is local;
- zero retention does not mean audio was never transmitted;
- offline availability may depend on model, app, or license setup; and
- the destination app creates a separate privacy and retention boundary after text is inserted.
Integrity
SHA-256:
ff47165c59fd92996df2dd4a0578bebd8885dd4985e925d7693d69b986e272ec data/mac-dictation-privacy-matrix.csv
fb1112bfb9fac171a91e98eb9e31422ec054ca8c2a64d1153832cb9e5d89952d data/mac-dictation-privacy-matrix.json
Corrections
Open an issue with:
- the product and field that needs correction;
- the exact first-party URL;
- the relevant dated language; and
- the proposed replacement wording.
Unsupported marketing claims, affiliate roundups, and undated third-party summaries are not accepted as primary evidence.
Citation
Use the repository's CITATION.cff, or cite:
IraVoice. Mac Dictation Privacy Matrix: Local vs Cloud. Version 1.5.0, reviewed 2026-07-26; IraVoice row updated 2026-10-01. https://iravoice.com/research/mac-dictation-privacy-matrix
License
The dataset and documentation in this repository are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International.