Best Speech-to-Text for Mac: Why Privacy-First Dictation Matters

When you ask for the best speech-to-text or best dictation app for Mac, accuracy and speed matter. But so does privacy. Many dictation apps send your voice to remote servers for processing. That means your words—meeting notes, medical dictation, personal messages—are stored and processed by third parties. If that bothers you, you need a privacy-first option.

Cloud vs Local Speech-to-Text

Cloud-based dictation (Wispr, Otter, Google Docs voice typing) sends your audio to servers. It's fast and feature-rich, but your data leaves your device. Local dictation (Mellon, MacWhisper, some VoiceInk modes) processes everything on your Mac. Your voice never leaves your computer. No internet required. No data collection.

Why Privacy Matters for Voice Typing

Voice is biometric data. What you dictate can include sensitive information—client names, health details, confidential ideas. The best speech-to-text app for privacy-conscious users keeps that data on your device. Mellon does exactly that: 100% local processing, no cloud, no account, no tracking.

Best Dictation App for Privacy

Mellon is free and runs entirely on your Mac. It works offline, in every app, with 150+ WPM accuracy. If you want the best dictation software that never sends your voice anywhere, Mellon is the answer. Download once, own it forever—no subscription, no strings.