The Amical Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about Amical in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

Amical

The Insider’s Guide

Open-source AI dictation with free local models and optional cloud

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among voice dictation apps, read from Amical’s own pages.

Made by Exa Labs LLC · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.8GPA

01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from Amical’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Amical’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

2.8

GPA, above 14 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade

Amical is an open-source dictation app for Mac and Windows, with mobile apps in beta. Hold a key or click its floating widget, speak, and the text lands in whichever app is focused. Speech can be transcribed on the machine with Whisper models, free and without an account, or by Amical's hosted cloud model after sign-in. An optional formatting step, still labelled alpha, reshapes the transcript to suit the app in use.

To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Amical, taken from its own pages and our grades.

No store rating on record, but there's nothing to configure: install it, hold a key, speak.

From our grade for ease of use

1
Best for free open-source dictation on Mac and Windows
Amical is open-source dictation for Mac and Windows: hold a key, talk, and the words land in whatever app you're in.
2
Paid plans start at $7 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $7 per month, billed annually at $84 ($10 billed monthly).
3
There is a free plan
Unlimited dictation with local models on unlimited devices, plus 2,000 words a week of cloud dictation, custom vocabulary and AI formatting. One seat.
4
It runs on 4 platforms
macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
5
Dictation in any app
Hold a key for push-to-talk, or click the floating widget for hands-free recording, and the words are typed into the focused app. The site lists 100+ languages with automatic detection.
6
Local Whisper models
Whisper variants from Tiny (about 78 MB) to Large v3 (about 3.1 GB) download inside the app and run on the computer, with no account and no data leaving the machine.
7
Amical Cloud
After sign-in, audio can be streamed to Amical's hosted speech model instead. Vocabulary and preferences follow the account across devices, and the vendor says audio is not stored or used for training.
8
A 2.8 GPA, above 14 of 27
That is against the other voice dictation apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
9
Keep it
To replace Amical you would be making dictation that types into any app on your computer. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

Amical at a glance

Pricing: Free plan, from $7 per month, billed annually at $84 ($10 billed monthly)
Free plan: Yes
Free trial: None stated
Runs on: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
Made by: Exa Labs LLC
Category: Voice Dictation
Our grade: 2.8 GPA, good

The report card

Best for free open-source dictation on Mac and Windows

Amical is open-source dictation for Mac and Windows: hold a key, talk, and the words land in whatever app you're in. Local Whisper is free with no account, and the cloud model gives 2,000 free words a week. But it's young: the phone apps are betas, AI formatting is labelled alpha, Linux isn't supported, and MCP and custom prompts are still only planned.

ToolGPA report cardAmicalGraded Oct 10, 2026

Subject	Grade	Comment
Value for money	B	Premium is $7 a month billed annually ($84), which is the cheapest quarter of this category, where the middle is $8.33. It adds unlimited cloud dictation, shared vocabulary and email support, and local dictation stays free without it.
Free plan and trial	A	Unlimited local dictation on unlimited devices with no account, plus 2,000 words a week of cloud, custom vocabulary and AI formatting. The main job has no cap at all; only the cloud pauses until the weekly reset.
Features	C	Push-to-talk or hands-free into any app in 100+ languages, Whisper from Tiny to Large v3, custom vocabulary, snippets and a notes panel. But the app-aware formatting is still marked Alpha, and the docs list MCP and custom prompts as planned rather than shipped.
Ease of use	B	No store rating on record, but there's nothing to configure: install it, hold a key, speak. The local models download inside the app, from about 78 MB to 3.1 GB, and need no account.
Platforms and integrations	C	Computers only in practice: Mac and Windows, with the README saying Linux isn't supported. The phone apps are both betas, Android on Google Play and iOS through TestFlight, and the only things it connects to are Ollama and LM Studio.

Grade point averageGood, out of 4.02.8

An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.

Who Amical is for

Fits if you want free, offline dictation on a Mac or Windows PC with no account
Works for small teams that want a hosted cloud model and a shared vocabulary at $7 a month billed annually

Who it is not for

Skip it if you're on Linux, as the README says it's not supported
Not for you if you need a finished phone app, since Android and iOS are both still betas
Tight if you lean on the cloud model for free, because it pauses after 2,000 words a week
Watch out: AI formatting is labelled alpha, and MCP integrations and custom prompts are listed as planned, not shipped
Watch out: Enterprise lists SOC 2 as in progress, and monthly Premium is $10 against $7 billed annually

Good to know

Good for

People who want free, unlimited offline dictation on Mac or Windows
Users who want a hosted cloud model without managing API keys
Small teams that want to share a custom vocabulary

Worth knowing

The Free plan caps cloud dictation at 2,000 words a week; once reached, cloud transcription pauses until the weekly reset while local models keep working.
The mobile apps are betas: Android is a public beta on Google Play, iOS is distributed through TestFlight, and the pricing page still labels mobile apps as coming soon.
The desktop app supports macOS and Windows only; the README says Linux is not supported.
AI formatting is labelled Alpha, and the docs list MCP integrations and custom prompts as planned, not yet shipped.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

A month to start. There is a free plan too

Amical has a free plan. Paid plans start at $7 per month, billed annually at $84 ($10 billed monthly).

It adds unlimited cloud dictation, shared vocabulary and email support, and local dictation stays free without it.

From our grade for value for money

Free
$0
Unlimited local dictation on unlimited devices, 2,000 words a week of cloud dictation, custom vocabulary, AI formatting and community support.
Premium
$7
per month, billed annually ($84), or $10 billed monthly
Unlimited cloud dictation, plus shared vocabulary, team management, email support and priority access to new features.
Enterprise
Custom
Private model hosting, custom models, SSO/SAML, centralized billing, seat-based licenses and volume discounts. SOC 2 is listed as in progress.

The free plan

Unlimited dictation with local models on unlimited devices, plus 2,000 words a week of cloud dictation, custom vocabulary and AI formatting. One seat.

Read from amical.ai on Oct 6, 2026.

Ways to pay less

Annual discount
Save 30% with yearly billing
Premium costs $7 a month when billed annually at $84, against $10 a month billed monthly. The pricing page describes this as 30% off.
Stated on amical.ai

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

Places it runs: macOS, Windows, iOS and Android

Open-source AI dictation with free local models and optional cloud. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, AI features, dictation, notes, text expansion.

But the app-aware formatting is still marked Alpha, and the docs list MCP and custom prompts as planned rather than shipped.

From our grade for features

Dictation in any app: Hold a key for push-to-talk, or click the floating widget for hands-free recording, and the words are typed into the focused app. The site lists 100+ languages with automatic detection.
Local Whisper models: Whisper variants from Tiny (about 78 MB) to Large v3 (about 3.1 GB) download inside the app and run on the computer, with no account and no data leaving the machine.
Amical Cloud: After sign-in, audio can be streamed to Amical's hosted speech model instead. Vocabulary and preferences follow the account across devices, and the vendor says audio is not stored or used for training.
App-aware AI formatting: A language model adds punctuation and structure and fits the output to the focused app, such as email or chat. It is marked Alpha and runs on Amical Cloud or a local model through Ollama.
Custom vocabulary and snippets: Add names and jargon the recognizer should know, and define trigger phrases that are replaced inline with saved plain text such as an address or signature.
Notes panel: A built-in notes panel holds notes with a title and a rich-text body to dictate or type into, plus a floating notes window that stays above other apps.

Where it runs

macOS
Windows
iOS
Android

What it works with

Ollama
LM Studio

Amical is made by Exa Labs LLC.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

14/27

Other voice dictation apps it is graded above

Amical's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 14 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 5.

It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 16 of 27) and worst on features (C, above 0).

Its paid plans start at $7 a month, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 6 of the 16 others that charge start lower.

On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 3 tools score higher and cost less.

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 28 voice dictation apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Amical’s own letter is outlined.

BValue for money
Above 12 of 27
AFree plan and trial
Above 16 of 27
CFeatures
Above 0 of 27
BEase of use
Above 7 of 27
CPlatforms and integrations
Above 5 of 27

Price against what you get

Each dot is one of 22 voice dictation apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Amical is the marked dot.

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

Keep it, or make your own?

Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.

Keep it

To replace Amical you would be making dictation that types into any app on your computer. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

It costs $84 a year. Amical is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.

What you could make

Notes: an app builder makes this well.

What you could not

Dictation that types into any app on your computer.
Text expansion that works in every app.
Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
Hooks into the device itself: widgets.

What this rests on. Amical’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

Part 05 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

OpenWhispr, Wispr Flow, Handy, Aqua Voice and Typeless

The 5 tools Amical is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

3.2GPA
OpenWhispr
Free plan · from $6.67/mo
Open-source dictation with free local models and meeting notes.
- Only Amical lists an Android app.
- Only OpenWhispr lists a Linux app.
- Amical also covers notes and text expansion.
Amical and OpenWhispr compared in full
2.8GPA
Wispr Flow
Free plan · from $12/mo
Voice dictation that cleans up your speech in any app.
- Amical is open source, according to its own site.
- Amical also covers notes.
- Wispr Flow also covers meeting notes and transcription.
Amical and Wispr Flow compared in full
3.0GPA
Handy
Free
Free, open-source offline speech-to-text for desktop.
- Only Amical lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Handy lists a Linux app.
- Amical also covers notes and text expansion.
Amical and Handy compared in full
2.4GPA
Aqua Voice
Free trial · from $8/mo
Cloud voice dictation that formats text for the app you are in.
- Amical has a free plan. Aqua Voice does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Amical lists an Android app.
- Amical is open source, according to its own site.
Amical and Aqua Voice compared in full
2.4GPA
Typeless
Free plan · from $12/mo
AI voice dictation that edits and formats as you speak.
- Only Typeless lists a Linux app.
- Amical is open source, according to its own site.
- Amical also covers notes and text expansion.
Amical and Typeless compared in full

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

Questions, each answered in a line or two

The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.

Is Amical free?

Amical has a free plan. Unlimited dictation with local models on unlimited devices, plus 2,000 words a week of cloud dictation, custom vocabulary and AI formatting.

How much does Amical cost?

Amical lists 3 plans. Free: $0.

What platforms does Amical work on?

Amical is available on macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.

Does Amical offer any discounts?

Amical publicly lists the following: Save 30% with yearly billing.

Does Amical have a Linux app?

No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Amical is listed for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.

Is Amical open source?

Yes. Amical is open source, according to its own site.

Does Amical work offline?

Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.

What does Amical integrate with?

Amical's listing names Ollama and LM Studio. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Who makes Amical?

Amical is made by Exa Labs LLC.

What are the alternatives to Amical?

The closest alternatives to Amical in our directory are OpenWhispr, Wispr Flow, Handy, Aqua Voice and Typeless.

How does Amical compare with other voice dictation apps?

Amical's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 14 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 5.

Is Amical good value for money?

ToolGPA grades Amical B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $7 a month, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 6 of the 16 others that charge start lower.

Could I make my own version of Amical?

To replace Amical you would be making dictation that types into any app on your computer.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Amical’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Amical's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-10.

Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Exa Labs LLC. Prices change, so check amical.ai before you buy.

Part 07 · About

About ToolGPA

Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

3,189

Tools graded, in 94 categories

ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.

Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries

What else is on toolgpa.com

Scan for the live page

Prices and grades as they are today

Quoting this guide?

Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:

ToolGPA, "Amical: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/amical

Know someone choosing between voice dictation apps?

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See our other guides

The best-graded voice dictation apps after Amical, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Amical’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Amical is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Exa Labs LLC. Prices and plans change: check amical.ai before you buy.