Vibe review (2026): is it any good?
Free open-source desktop app that transcribes audio offline
Vibe report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 12, 2026
Best for free offline transcription of files and audio
Vibe is a free, open-source desktop app that transcribes audio and video on your own machine with Whisper models. It's a transcription app, not one that types into other apps, and it's desktop only.
Who Vibe is for
- Fits if you want to transcribe recordings or meetings on your own computer
- Works for people who'd rather their audio never left the machine
Who Vibe is not for
- Skip it if you want to dictate straight into other apps, since this is a transcription app
- Not for you if you want a phone or web version, as it's desktop only
- Watch out: summaries through Claude need your own connection to that service; Ollama keeps them local
- Watch out: pull requests are limited to a few collaborators, per the README
Why Vibe gets a 2.8
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree to download and run, with no paid tier. A program anyone can download counts as free.
- AFree plan and trialNothing is locked: it's free and open source, and it runs offline.
- CFeaturesOffline transcription from files, microphone and system audio, several models, summaries, speakers, export formats, a CLI and an HTTP API. It does not type into other apps, which is what dictation tools do.
- CEase of useNo store rating on record. You install it and choose a model, and summaries need a connection to Ollama or Claude.
- CPlatforms and integrationsDesktop only: macOS, Windows and Linux. No web, iOS or Android app.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Vibe's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/vibe#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/vibe.svg" alt="Vibe: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Vibe stands among voice dictation apps
Vibe's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 22 of the 42 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 25 of 42) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Vibe has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 43 voice dictation apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Vibe’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 21 of 42, level with 21
- AFree plan and trialAbove 25 of 42, level with 17
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 42, level with 19
- CEase of useAbove 2 of 42, level with 10
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 8 of 42, level with 18
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 32 voice dictation apps. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep Vibe, or make your own?
Keep it
Vibe is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- Dictation that types into any app on your computer.
- Speech turned into text you can trust.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Ollama, Claude and YouTube among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. Vibe’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.
What is Vibe?
Vibe is an MIT-licensed desktop app for transcribing audio and video files, microphone input and system audio on your own computer. It runs Whisper, Parakeet and Nemotron models locally, and exports captions or documents in several formats.
Worth knowing
- It is a transcription app, not a system-wide dictation tool that types into other apps.
- Desktop only: macOS, Windows and Linux are listed, with no web, iOS or Android app.
- Summaries through the Claude API need your own connection to that service; Ollama keeps them local.
- Pull requests are limited to a few collaborators, per the repository's README.
Key features
- Offline transcription
- The README says transcription is fully offline and that no data leaves your device.
- Several local models
- Supports Whisper, Nemotron 3.5 and Parakeet TDT v3 models, with custom models addable in settings.
- Files, microphone and system audio
- Transcribes audio and video files in batches, microphone input and system audio, with a realtime preview.
- Export formats
- Saves transcripts as SRT, VTT, TXT, HTML, PDF, JSON or DOCX, and can translate to English.
- Summaries and speakers
- Speaker diarization is built in; summaries use the Claude API or a local Ollama model.
- CLI and HTTP API
- A command-line interface and an HTTP API with Swagger docs let scripts drive transcription.
Vibe pricing
As of Nov 12, 2026, Vibe is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Open-source app under the MIT license; no paid plan is listed. |
Read from github.com on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Vibe before you buy.
Works with
Vibe alternatives
- Vibe vs MacWhisper
Free plan · from €65 one-time
- Vibe vs Handy
Free
- Vibe vs VoiceInk
Free trial · from $25 one-time
- Vibe vs OpenWhispr
Free plan · from $6.67/mo
Common questions
Does Vibe have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Vibe is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Vibe have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Vibe is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Vibe open source?
Yes. Vibe is open source, according to its own site.
Does Vibe 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.
Does Vibe have an API?
Yes. Vibe offers a public API, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026.