The Handy Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Handy 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.
Handy
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source offline speech-to-text for desktop
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among voice dictation apps, read from Handy’s own pages.
Made by CJ Pais · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 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 Handy’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Handy’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 20 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Handy, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's free, open source and runs on your computer, Linux included.
- 1
Best for free offline dictation on Mac, Windows or Linux
Handy does one job: press a shortcut, speak, and it pastes what you said into the text box you're in.
- 2
It is free
Handy has no paid plan at all. Entirely free and open source under the MIT License, with no subscription or cloud service. The project is supported by sponsors and optional donations.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
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.
- 5
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+.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 20 of 27
That is against the other voice dictation apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Handy is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Handy at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- CJ Pais
- Category
- Voice Dictation
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for free offline dictation on Mac, Windows or Linux
Handy does one job: press a shortcut, speak, and it pastes what you said into the text box you're in. It's free, open source and runs on your computer, Linux included. But there's no live text as you talk, no spoken punctuation, microphone input only, no phone app, and AI clean-up is an alpha that needs your own key. The docs advise recordings under 3 to 5 minutes.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under the MIT License, with no subscription and no cloud bill, in a category where $8 a month is the going rate. Sponsors and optional donations keep it going, and every local model is included. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full app, with every local model, on all three desktop systems, for nothing. There's no paid tier above it holding anything back and no minutes being counted, so what you download is the whole thing. |
| Features | C | The basics of dictation: push-to-talk, a choice of local models covering 99+ languages, custom words and a history that keeps the audio. The docs list the gaps. No live text as you talk, no spoken punctuation, microphone only, and AI clean-up is alpha and needs your own key. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, but there's barely anything to set up: install it, press the shortcut, talk. The settings are short and the shortcut can be remapped if it clashes with something. The docs advise recordings under three to five minutes. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A desktop program and nothing else. macOS, Windows and Linux are all covered, but there's no phone app and no web version, so wherever you are without your computer, you're without Handy. It does work with Raycast and takes keys for OpenAI, Anthropic and others. |
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 Handy is for
- Fits if you want free dictation that never uploads your audio
- Works for Linux users, and for developers who want a small codebase to fork
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to see words appear as you speak, because it records a segment and then transcribes it
- Not for you if you say your punctuation out loud, as spoken punctuation commands aren't supported
- Too light for capturing calls or videos, since it only listens to the microphone
- Tight if you dictate long stretches, as the docs advise keeping recordings under 3 to 5 minutes
- Watch out: AI clean-up is an alpha feature that needs your own API key or a local model, and there's no phone app
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Handy is free to use.
Sponsors and optional donations keep it going, and every local model is included.
Handy
$0
The full app for macOS, Windows and Linux with every local model. Donations and GitHub Sponsors are optional.
The 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.
Read from handy.computer on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free, open-source offline speech-to-text for desktop. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, dictation.
No live text as you talk, no spoken punctuation, microphone only, and AI clean-up is alpha and needs your own key.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Raycast
- OpenAI
- Anthropic
- OpenRouter
- Groq
- Cerebras
Handy is made by CJ Pais.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
20/27
Other voice dictation apps it is graded above
Handy's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 20 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).
Handy has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 28 voice dictation apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Handy’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 15 of 27
- AFree plan and trialAbove 16 of 27
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 27
- BEase of useAbove 7 of 27
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 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. Handy 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
Handy is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 20 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade.
What you could not
- Dictation that types into any app on your computer.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Raycast, OpenAI and Anthropic among them.
What this rests on. Handy’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
VoiceInk, OpenWhispr, Whispering, Superwhisper and MacWhisper
The 5 tools Handy is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
VoiceInk
Free trial · from $25 one-time
Open-source Mac dictation with local models and a one-time price.
- Handy has a free plan. VoiceInk does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Handy lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only VoiceInk lists an iOS app.
- 3.2GPA
OpenWhispr
Free plan · from $6.67/mo
Open-source dictation with free local models and meeting notes.
- Only OpenWhispr lists an iOS app.
- OpenWhispr also covers meeting notes and transcription.
- 2.8GPA
Whispering
Free
Open-source dictation app that uses your own models or API keys.
- Only Whispering lists a web app.
- 2.8GPA
Superwhisper
Free plan · from $8.49/mo
Voice-to-text app with offline models and custom AI modes.
- Only Handy lists a Linux app.
- Only Superwhisper lists iOS and Android apps.
- Handy is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
MacWhisper
Free plan · from €65 one-time
Mac transcription and dictation app that runs models locally.
- Only Handy lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Handy is open source, according to its own site.
- MacWhisper can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 Handy free?
Yes. Handy is free to use.
How much does Handy cost?
Handy lists one plan. Handy: $0.
What platforms does Handy work on?
Handy is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Handy have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Handy is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Handy have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Handy is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Handy open source?
Yes. Handy is open source, according to its own site.
Does Handy 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 Handy integrate with?
Handy's listing names Raycast, OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter, Groq and Cerebras.
Who makes Handy?
Handy is made by CJ Pais.
What are the alternatives to Handy?
The closest alternatives to Handy in our directory are VoiceInk, OpenWhispr, Whispering, Superwhisper and MacWhisper.
How does Handy compare with other voice dictation apps?
Handy's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 20 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 5.
Is Handy good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Handy A for value for money. Handy has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Handy?
Handy is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Handy’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Handy's own site, docs and README on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-08.
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 CJ Pais. Prices change, so check handy.computer 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
- Handy, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/handy
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
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, "Handy: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/handy
Know someone choosing between voice dictation apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/handy/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded voice dictation apps after Handy, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Voice Dictation Insider's GuideEvery one of the 28 voice dictation apps we grade, compared
- OpenWhispr Insider's GuideOpen-source dictation with free local models and meeting notes3.2 GPA
- TypeWhisper Insider's GuideOpen-source dictation with local engines for Mac, Windows and iOS3.2 GPA
- FluidVoice Insider's GuideFree, open-source on-device dictation for macOS3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Handy’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. Handy is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by CJ Pais. Prices and plans change: check handy.computer before you buy.