# Handy

> Free, open-source offline speech-to-text for desktop

Handy is a free, open-source speech-to-text app for macOS, Windows and Linux. Press a keyboard shortcut, speak, and the transcription is pasted into whichever text field has focus. Transcription runs entirely on the computer with Whisper, Parakeet or other local models, so no audio is sent to the cloud. The project is kept deliberately small so that people can fork and extend it.

- **Category:** Voice Dictation
- **Made by:** CJ Pais
- **Website:** https://handy.computer
- **Runs on:** macOS, Windows, Linux
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 5, 2026

## Pricing

Handy is free to use.

- **Pricing model:** Free
- **Free plan:** Entirely free and open source under the MIT License, with no subscription or cloud service. The project is supported by sponsors and optional donations.
- **Free trial:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Handy | $0 | The full app for macOS, Windows and Linux with every local model. Donations and GitHub Sponsors are optional. |

Read from https://handy.computer/ on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Handy before buying.

## Key features

- **Shortcut-driven dictation:** Press a shortcut to start and stop recording, or hold it for push-to-talk, and the text is pasted into the app you are typing in. Shortcuts can be remapped in settings.
- **Local speech models:** Choose from Parakeet, Whisper, Moonshine and other models that run on the device, with GPU acceleration when available. Parakeet V3 covers 25 European languages and Whisper 99+.
- **Optional AI post-processing:** An experimental feature runs the transcript through a language model to fix grammar or reformat it, using a cloud provider key, an OpenAI-compatible local endpoint or Apple Intelligence.
- **Custom words:** List names and jargon that are often misheard, and Handy corrects similar-sounding words to match. The docs describe this matching as imperfect.
- **Transcription history:** Past transcriptions are kept with a timestamp and the original audio, and entries can be copied, starred or deleted. A limit setting controls how many are stored.
- **Command-line control:** Flags such as --toggle-transcription and --cancel control a running instance, and --start-hidden launches Handy straight to the system tray.

## Good for

- People who want free dictation that never uploads audio
- Dictating on Linux as well as macOS and Windows
- Developers who want a small codebase to fork and extend

## Worth knowing

- It transcribes microphone input only and cannot capture system audio from calls or videos.
- There is no live streaming transcription: Handy records a segment, then transcribes it, and recordings work best under 3 to 5 minutes.
- Spoken punctuation commands are not supported, and AI post-processing is an alpha feature that needs your own API key or a local model.
- There are no mobile apps; downloads cover macOS, Windows and Linux.

## Works with

Raycast, OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter, Groq, Cerebras

**Tags:** Dictation, Open source, Works offline, Local-first

## Alternatives

- [VoiceInk](https://toolgpa.com/tools/voiceink): Open-source Mac dictation with local models and a one-time price. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/handy-vs-voiceink)
- [OpenWhispr](https://toolgpa.com/tools/openwhispr): Open-source dictation with free local models and meeting notes. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/handy-vs-openwhispr)
- [Whispering](https://toolgpa.com/tools/whispering): Open-source dictation app that uses your own models or API keys. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/handy-vs-whispering)
- [Superwhisper](https://toolgpa.com/tools/superwhisper): Voice-to-text app with offline models and custom AI modes. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/handy-vs-superwhisper)
- [MacWhisper](https://toolgpa.com/tools/macwhisper): Mac transcription and dictation app that runs models locally. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/handy-vs-macwhisper)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026:

- https://handy.computer/
- https://handy.computer/download
- https://handy.computer/about
- https://handy.computer/docs
- https://handy.computer/docs/models
- https://handy.computer/docs/post-processing
- https://handy.computer/docs/advanced
- https://handy.computer/docs/history
- https://handy.computer/docs/faq
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cjpais/Handy/main/README.md

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/handy
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).