Speakmac vs Willow Voice: Which Mac Dictation App Is Right for You?

Looking for a Willow Voice alternative? If you're comparing Mac dictation apps, you've probably heard about Willow Voice—the Y Combinator-backed speech-to-text tool that launched in late 2025. It's polished, fast, and feature-rich. But it's not the only option.

Speakmac takes a completely different approach: offline-first, one-time purchase, and built specifically for Mac users who value privacy and simplicity. Below, we break down every key difference to help you decide.

The Quick Summary

Feature	Speakmac	Willow Voice
Pricing	$19 one-time	$144/year ($12/mo annual)
Processing	100% on-device	Cloud-based
Internet Required	No	Yes
App Size	4 MB	~800 MB
Privacy	Audio never leaves Mac	Audio processed on servers
5-Year Cost	$19	$720

Pricing: One-Time vs Subscription

Willow Voice runs on a subscription model:

• Free trial: 2,000 words (no credit card)
• Monthly: $15/month
• Annual: $12/month (billed yearly = $144)
• Student/nonprofit discount: 30% off

Speakmac uses a one-time purchase model:

• Full app: $19
• No recurring fees
• No word limits
• Free updates included

The Real Cost Over Time

Timeframe	Speakmac	Willow Voice
Year 1	$19	$144
Year 2	$19 (total)	$288 (total)
Year 3	$19 (total)	$432 (total)
Year 5	$19 (total)	$720 (total)

That's 97% savings over five years with Speakmac. And Speakmac pays for itself in less than 6 weeks compared to Willow's monthly cost.

Offline vs Cloud: The Core Difference

This is the fundamental split between these two apps.

Willow Voice requires constant internet:

• Audio is sent to cloud servers for processing
• Fast latency (~1 second), but only with good connectivity
• Won't work on planes, in secure offices, or areas with spotty Wi-Fi
• SOC 2 compliant with encryption, but your voice still travels to remote servers

Speakmac processes everything locally:

• Uses advanced AI models running directly on your Mac
• Zero internet dependency
• Works anywhere—flights, remote locations, locked-down corporate networks
• Audio never leaves your device

If privacy matters to you—whether you're a lawyer, doctor, journalist, or just someone who prefers data sovereignty—this distinction is significant.

App Size & System Resources

One surprising difference: app footprint.

Willow Voice:

• ~800 MB app size
• Reports of ~8% constant CPU usage in background
• Heavier system resource consumption

Speakmac:

• 4 MB total
• Minimal resource usage
• Launches instantly, stays quiet when idle

Speakmac is 200x smaller than Willow Voice. For users who care about keeping their Mac lean, this matters.

Accuracy & Features

Willow Voice strengths:

• Context-aware AI that understands what app you're working in
• AI Mode that transforms brief phrases into fully formed messages
• Auto-formatting and grammar correction
• Filler word removal
• 50+ language support
• Push-to-talk with Fn key

Speakmac strengths:

• 99.7% accuracy on English (US/UK/India)
• Instant transcription with zero latency
• Automatic punctuation and spacing
• Works in any Mac app—Notes, Word, Gmail, Slack, Cursor
• Global hotkey activation
• Pause-friendly dictation (pick up where you left off)

Both apps handle punctuation well. Willow has the edge on multi-language support and AI text enhancement. Speakmac wins on raw speed (no network round-trip) and English accuracy.

Who Each App Is For

Choose Willow Voice if you:

• Need AI to rewrite and enhance your text
• Work primarily with cloud apps and good internet
• Want context-aware features (different handling for different apps)
• Need 50+ language support
• Are comfortable with subscription pricing
• Work in a SOC 2-compliant enterprise environment

Choose Speakmac if you:

• Want to pay once and own the software forever
• Value complete privacy (audio never leaves your Mac)
• Need offline capability—travel, secure environments, unreliable Wi-Fi
• Prefer lightweight, native Mac apps
• Care about subscription fatigue
• Want the highest English accuracy without internet dependency

Common Questions

Can Willow Voice work offline?

No. Willow Voice requires constant internet connectivity for all transcription.

Is Speakmac accurate enough for professional use?

Yes. Speakmac achieves 99.7% accuracy on English dictation using advanced on-device AI models. It handles technical terms, natural speech patterns, and punctuation automatically.

What if I need multiple languages?

Willow Voice supports 50+ languages and handles seamless switching. Speakmac is optimised primarily for English (US/UK/India) with additional language support rolling out.

Is my data safe with Willow Voice?

Willow Voice is SOC 2 compliant with end-to-end encryption. However, audio is still processed on cloud servers. For maximum privacy, Speakmac keeps everything local.

Which is faster?

Speakmac has zero network latency since everything happens on-device. Willow Voice reports sub-1 second latency, which is excellent for cloud processing, but depends on your internet connection.

The Bottom Line

Willow Voice is a polished, feature-rich dictation app with impressive AI capabilities—if you're comfortable with cloud processing and subscription pricing.

Speakmac is for Mac users who want professional dictation without the ongoing cost or privacy trade-offs. It's offline, instant, private, and costs less than two months of Willow.

If you've been searching for a Willow Voice alternative that respects your privacy and your wallet, Speakmac is worth a look.