VoiceInk (often searched as Voice Ink) is an open-source dictation app for Mac that transcribes on device by default. It costs $25 for one Mac, $39 for two or $49 for three, once, and differs from Voice Type mainly in scope: modes, history, a journal, and optional cloud transcription. Voice Type is $19.99 once, runs on macOS 13.4 or later, and keeps audio on the Mac.
Short answer
- VoiceInk for Mac includes a 7-day trial and a 14-day refund window.
- VoiceInk is open source under GPL-3.0; building it from source costs nothing.
- The free VoiceInk on the App Store is the iPhone and iPad app. A Mac licence does not unlock it, and it is a separate purchase path.
- VoiceInk's homepage lists macOS 14.4 and Apple silicon; its docs and README list macOS 15. Voice Type runs on macOS 13.4 or later.
Checked facts
| Voice Type | VoiceInk | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 one time, 7-day trial | $25 (1 Mac), $39 (2 Macs), $49 (3 Macs), one time, 7-day trial, 14-day refund |
| Where to buy | Mac App Store | tryvoiceink.com, Homebrew, or build from source (GPL-3.0) |
| Requirements | macOS 13.4 or later | Homepage: Apple silicon, macOS 14.4 or later. Docs and README: macOS 15 or later |
| Intel Macs | No chip requirement on the App Store listing | Homepage says Apple silicon only. Docs say local models are unreliable on Intel and recommend cloud transcription |
| Where audio is processed | On the Mac | On the Mac by default. Optional cloud transcription sends audio to Groq, Deepgram, Gemini, Mistral, ElevenLabs and others with your own key |
Checked 2026-10-13 against tryvoiceink.com pricing, VoiceInk docs, VoiceInk on GitHub, Voice Type pricing. Prices change. Confirm on the vendor page before buying.
Where Voice Type loses
Where Voice Type loses
VoiceInk is open source, so anyone willing to build it pays nothing, and the paid licence is only $5 more than Voice Type. For that it adds modes per app or website, searchable history, a Markdown journal, word replacements, and a choice of cloud transcription providers. On an Apple silicon Mac running macOS 15, try VoiceInk's 7-day trial first and only pay us if something specific is missing.
The free App Store listing is not the Mac app
Searching the App Store for VoiceInk finds "VoiceInk: AI Dictation", free, version 1.33, 4.2 stars from 36 ratings. That is the iPhone and iPad app. Apple lists it for Macs with an M1 chip or later only because Apple silicon Macs can run iPad apps, and the listing marks it "Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS."
The Mac app is sold on tryvoiceink.com. VoiceInk's docs say a Mac licence does not activate the iPhone app and the two are licensed separately.
Where the practical differences show up
Product surface
- •VoiceInk ships modes triggered by app, website, phrase or shortcut, a transcript history, a Markdown journal, and AI enhancement. Voice Type ships a hotkey, custom vocabulary, and text at the cursor.
Processing options
- •VoiceInk can send audio to a cloud transcription provider with your own key. Voice Type never sends audio anywhere; its optional bring-your-own-key providers only rewrite the finished text.
Licensing
- •VoiceInk licences count Macs: one, two or three. Its iPhone app is licensed separately. Voice Type is a single App Store purchase.
Decision shortcut
- •On an Apple silicon Mac running macOS 15, VoiceInk does more for $5 more. Voice Type wins on older macOS versions and if you want no configuration at all.
Pick by job
Voice Type fits when...
- •The Mac runs macOS 13.4 to 14.3, below every VoiceInk minimum.
- •Audio must stay on the Mac. Voice Type has no cloud transcription option.
- •A hotkey and custom vocabulary are all you want to configure.
VoiceInk fits when...
- •You can build from source, or $25 to $49 for more features is fine.
- •Modes per app, a searchable history, and a journal are wanted.
- •Cloud transcription with your own API keys is part of the plan.
References
Primary sources, each read on 2026-10-13.