Checked 28 October 2026 · Sources linked below
Quiet Dictation vs Voicy
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TL;DR
- Choose Quiet Dictation if you want dictation that is private by default: every word is transcribed on your laptop, with no cloud mode to remember to turn off.
- Choose Voicy if you need dictation on your phone, in Chrome or on Linux as well as your desktop.
- Price: Voicy Pro is listed at $8.49 a month on annual billing, or $260 for lifetime. Quiet Dictation is $5 a month or $39 a year.
- Privacy: Voicy's normal online dictation sends audio to Groq for transcription. Its Offline mode keeps audio on your device after you download the model.
The short answer
Voicy is a capable, well-supported dictation tool that runs almost everywhere: Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome, iPhone and Android. Its default online mode sends your recording through Voicy's servers to Groq for transcription, and it offers an Offline mode on desktop if you choose it. Quiet Dictation is narrower and simpler: it only runs on Mac and Windows laptops, and it only transcribes on your own computer. There is no setting to get wrong. It also costs less, at $39 a year versus Voicy's annual Pro pricing.
Best for
| Use case | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Confidential work | Quiet Dictation | On-device only. Audio is never sent to a server, so there is no mode to switch. |
| Lowest yearly price | Quiet Dictation | $39 a year versus Voicy Pro at $8.49 a month billed annually. |
| Phone and browser dictation | Voicy | Voicy has iPhone, Android and Chrome apps. Quiet Dictation is desktop only. |
| Linux | Voicy | Voicy offers a Linux app. Quiet Dictation runs on Mac and Windows. |
Cloud by default versus on-device always
Voicy's privacy policy says recorded audio is sent to the Groq API for transcription, and its security policy says audio goes through Voicy servers to Groq. Voicy also has an Offline mode in its Mac, Windows and Linux apps, where the speech model runs on your computer. That is a fair option, but it is a choice you have to make and keep. Quiet Dictation has no online mode at all. After a one-time setup download it transcribes on your laptop, with or without internet.
Price
| Plan | Quiet Dictation | Voicy |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $5/month | Check their site |
| Annual | $39/year | $8.49/month billed annually |
| One-time | $79 launch lifetime | $260 lifetime |
| Free option | 14-day trial, no card | 30 minutes of recording time |
Where Voicy is genuinely better
- Runs on more platforms: phone, Chrome and Linux as well as Mac and Windows.
- Team plan and student or disability discounts.
- Extra writing tools such as rewriting and custom modes.
Where Quiet Dictation is genuinely better
- Private by default: your voice never leaves your computer, in every mode.
- Simpler: hold a hotkey, speak, release. No cloud setting to manage.
- Cheaper: $39 a year, and $79 for lifetime instead of $260.
- Record and transcribe meetings, and a personal dictionary that improves as you use it.
Sources
Checked 28 October 2026. Prices in USD; taxes and regional prices may vary.
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