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blabe vs FluidVoice
FluidVoice is a free, open-source Mac dictation app that runs speech models locally. blabe includes transcription and runs on Mac and Windows; the Mac download is 3.8 MB.
The short version
FluidVoice suits you if you want dictation that costs nothing and stays on your Mac. It is free and open source, it transcribes with local models you pick, and its Fluid-1 models can clean up and format the text on your device. FluidVoice says its Windows and iPhone apps are in beta.
blabe suits you if you want nothing to set up. Transcription is included and there is no model to download or choose. It runs on Microsoft’s MAI-Transcribe 2, on Mac and Windows 11.
At a glance
| Feature | blabe | FluidVoice |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.99 a month or $69 a year, no meter or monthly allowance (fair use applies). Free 2-day trial, no sign-up, up to 30 minutes of audio, no card. | Free and open source (GPLv3). Optional cloud AI providers use your own API keys. |
| Cleanup and rewriting | It removes “um” and “uh” (you can turn that off). AI cleanup: Aggressive, Standard or Off. | Its Fluid-1 models strip fillers, fix casing and format the text on your Mac, with prompts you can set per app. |
| Transcription model | Microsoft’s MAI-Transcribe 2, through blabe’s transcription service. | Local models you choose, such as Fluid Speech Mini, Parakeet, Whisper and Apple Speech. |
| Mac requirements | macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon or Intel. | macOS 15 or later, Apple silicon or Intel (Intel Macs use Whisper models). |
| Works offline | No. It needs the internet to transcribe. | Yes, with its local speech models, which process speech on your device. |
| Runs on | Mac (macOS 14 or later) and Windows 11 on x64 PCs. | Mac. Windows and iPhone are in beta. |
Which one to choose
When to choose FluidVoice
- You want free, open-source dictation.
- You need transcription that works offline, on your Mac.
- You want to pick your own speech model, or bring your own keys for cloud AI.
- You want on-device cleanup and formatting, with prompts per app.
When to choose blabe
- You want your exact words. blabe removes “um” and “uh” (you can turn that off), and with AI cleanup off, no language model touches your text.
- You want transcription included, with no model to download or choose, no provider account and no API key.
- Your Mac runs macOS 14. blabe needs macOS 14 or later.
- You want the same app on Windows 11.
Before you pick blabe: it needs the internet, macOS 14+ or Windows 11 (x64), and a subscription after the 2-day trial.
Try blabe free for 2 days.
No card, no email, no sign-up. macOS 14 or later on Apple silicon or Intel, or Windows 11 on an x64 PC.