Dictly

Private, on-device dictation for Mac and iPhone that formats as you speak

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Screenshot of Dictly, Private, on-device dictation for Mac and iPhone that formats as you speak

What is Dictly?

Dictly is a Swift-native dictation app for Mac, iPhone and iPad that turns speech into formatted text entirely on-device. A Quick Capture shortcut, live Workflows and Per-App Profiles shape output before it reaches the cursor. Free core with a one-time $29.99 Pro unlock.

Dictly is a dictation app for macOS, iOS and iPadOS that converts speech into formatted text without sending audio or text to a server. Recognition, formatting and storage all run locally, so the app behaves identically online and in airplane mode. The developer measures roughly 100 ms first-word latency on Apple silicon and a runtime footprint near 50 MB, on a download under 5 MB. The workflow is deliberately short. A configurable keyboard shortcut opens a Quick Capture overlay, the user speaks, and the finished text lands at the cursor through Type-out, Paste, Copy or Auto-Submit. What separates Dictly from plain speech-to-text is the formatting layer: a pipeline of stages cleans filler words, applies Markdown and structures output while the user is still talking. On Pro, those pipelines are user-built Workflows, and Per-App Profiles switch the active Workflow automatically, so Notes gets bullet lists, Mail gets paragraphs and VS Code gets comments. Privacy is the core selling point rather than a feature bullet. There is no telemetry, no third-party SDK and no network traffic at all, with storage handled in local SwiftData and a private CloudKit sync listed as a future addition. That makes the app relevant to people working under confidentiality constraints: healthcare, legal, finance or any environment where cloud dictation is simply not allowed. It competes with cloud transcription services and with the built-in dictation in Apple operating systems. Those options offer broader platform support and heavier language tooling, while Dictly trades that breadth for speed, control over output format and a strict local-only guarantee. Buyers should note the narrow platform scope and demanding system requirements before committing.

How do you use Dictly?

  1. 1Install Dictly on your Apple device
    Download the app from the App Store link on the homepage and install it on a Mac, iPhone or iPad running the required OS version.
  2. 2Open Quick Capture and grant permissions
    Use the configurable shortcut to summon the Quick Capture overlay from anywhere. Approve microphone and speech access when the system prompts appear.
  3. 3Dictate and insert
    Speak naturally into the overlay and watch live transcription build. Choose Type-out, Paste or Copy to place the result at the cursor, with Auto-Submit optional for chat apps.
  4. 4Tune the default Workflow
    Adjust filler removal, Markdown and other stages in the Workflow editor so routine dictation arrives in the format you actually want.
  5. 5Add profiles and dictionaries
    Create Per-App Profiles so each application receives its own formatting, and load custom vocabulary for names, acronyms and technical terms.
  6. 6Upgrade to Pro when limits bite
    The free tier allows one Workflow, a 25-entry dictionary and 10 history sessions. The one-time Pro purchase lifts those caps and adds export and search.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • All speech recognition, formatting and storage happen locally, with no telemetry and no third-party SDKsAI
  • Roughly 100 ms first-word latency and continuous streaming mean text appears while you speakAI
  • Workflows and Per-App Profiles let output change shape automatically between apps such as Mail, Notes and a code editorAI
  • Small footprint: a download under 5 MB and around 50 MB of memory during live dictationAI
  • One-time $29.99 Pro purchase instead of an ongoing subscriptionAI

Cons

  • Limited to Apple platforms with steep requirements (macOS 26+, iOS 26+, iPadOS 26+), so no Windows, Android or older devicesAI
  • The free Core tier is tight: one Workflow, one dictionary capped at 25 entries and only 10 history itemsAI
  • Some headline capabilities are unfinished, including CloudKit sync, which the site itself marks as coming soonAI
  • No API or documented integration path for building dictation into other softwareAI
  • Accuracy will depend on the language and device, and the vendor states performance varies by bothAI

How much does Dictly cost?

Free trial

The free Core tier is a full working version, but the site does not describe it as a time-limited trial.

Learn more

Pricing

Two tiers. Dictly Core is free and covers real-time dictation, Quick Capture, one Workflow, one dictionary of up to 25 entries and 10 history items. Dictly Pro costs $29.99 as a one-time in-app purchase and adds unlimited Workflows, dictionaries and history, Per-App Profiles and export.

Learn more

Integrations

No third-party integrations or API are documented. Dictly inserts text into any app field via typing, paste or clipboard and uses Per-App Profiles instead of connectors.

Features

On-device speech recognition, Quick Capture overlay with configurable shortcut, live formatting Workflows, Per-App Profiles, custom dictionaries, insertion modes (Type-out, Paste, Copy, Auto-Submit), transcription history with search and export on Pro, and optional local analytics on macOS.

Frequently asked questions about Dictly

  • How much does Dictly cost?
    Two tiers. Dictly Core is free and covers real-time dictation, Quick Capture, one Workflow, one dictionary of up to 25 entries and 10 history items. Dictly Pro costs $29.99 as a one-time in-app purchase and adds unlimited Workflows, dictionaries and history, Per-App Profiles and export.
  • Does Dictly offer a free trial?
    The free Core tier is a full working version, but the site does not describe it as a time-limited trial.
  • How do you use Dictly?
    The walkthrough on this page covers 6 steps: 1. Install Dictly on your Apple device 2. Open Quick Capture and grant permissions 3. Dictate and insert 4. Tune the default Workflow 5. Add profiles and dictionaries 6. Upgrade to Pro when limits bite.
  • What platforms does Dictly support?
    Dictly is available on MacOS and iOS.
  • What does Dictly integrate with?
    No third-party integrations or API are documented. Dictly inserts text into any app field via typing, paste or clipboard and uses Per-App Profiles instead of connectors.
  • What are the limitations of Dictly?
    Limited to Apple platforms with steep requirements (macOS 26+, iOS 26+, iPadOS 26+), so no Windows, Android or older devices. The free Core tier is tight: one Workflow, one dictionary capped at 25 entries and only 10 history items. Some headline capabilities are unfinished, including CloudKit sync, which the site itself marks as coming soon.

Status

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Added10/21/2026

Platforms

MacOSiOS

Pricing

FreePaid