Speak. It Types.
Everywhere.
Open source voice dictation in every desktop app — offline or cloud. No subscription. No data harvesting. Your voice, your words, your way.
Windows
macOS
Dictation that feels like magic
Press a hotkey, speak naturally, release — your words appear instantly wherever your cursor is.
Everything you need.
Nothing you don't.
100% Offline Capable
Run a local Whisper model on your machine. Your audio never leaves your device — not even for a millisecond.
Bring Your Own Key
Prefer cloud speed? Plug in your Groq or OpenAI API key. You control the provider, the cost, and the data flow.
Smart Privacy Mode
Auto mode detects sensitive apps — banking, password managers — and switches to local processing automatically.
Type Into Any App
Slack, Word, Chrome, VS Code, Notion — Kalam types wherever your cursor is. No browser extension needed.
Built-in Workspace
Notes, tasks, snippets, and reminders — all voice-powered. A productivity hub that lives alongside your dictation.
Rust-Powered Speed
Built with Tauri and Rust. Sub-second startup, minimal memory footprint, and battery life your laptop will thank you for.
Up and running in under a minute
Download & Install
Grab the installer for your OS. One click, no account required, no sign-up wall.
Choose Your Mode
Go fully offline with the built-in Whisper model, or add your API key for blazing-fast cloud transcription.
Hold, Speak, Release
Press your hotkey, talk naturally, let go. Your words appear wherever your cursor is — any app, any field.
Smart Privacy in Action
Watch Kalam's Auto mode switch from fast cloud transcription to fully local processing the moment you open a sensitive app. Your audio stays on your device — automatically.
Every Platform, Every App
Windows,
macOS,
Linux
— Kalam works identically across all three. Dictate into
Slack,
Word,
PowerPoint,
Notepad,
or any application that accepts text input.
The App in Action
Dashboard, dictation history, notes, tasks, reminders, snippets, and settings — all designed to stay out of your way.
Works everywhere you do
Windows macOS Linux Slack
Discord
Teams
Zoom
Notion
Obsidian
Chrome
VS Code Word PowerPoint
Excel
Outlook
Figma
Telegram Windows macOS Linux Slack Discord Teams Zoom Notion Obsidian Chrome VS Code Word PowerPoint Excel Outlook Figma TelegramSee how Kalam stacks up
Kalam is free and open source. You can read the code, audit every byte, and self-host your workflow. Commercial tools like Wispr Flow and Superwhisper optimize for polish and managed AI — here's where Kalam differs.
| Feature |
Kalam
Open Source
|
Wispr Flow | Superwhisper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free app, BYOK | Freemium, limits | Freemium, limits |
| Linux desktop | Native support | No | No |
| Dictate into any app | Global hotkey | System-wide | System-wide |
| Offline / local STT | 100% offline capable | Primarily cloud | Offline available |
| BYOK (your API keys) | Groq, OpenAI | Billed through Wispr | Pro tier only |
| Workspace extras | Notes, tasks, snippets | Command mode, snippets | Modes, vocabulary |
| Mobile apps | Desktop-first | iOS & Android | iOS companion |
Competitor features and pricing change — confirm on wisprflow.ai and superwhisper.com.
Loved by people who type a lot
"I used to pay $15/mo for Wispr Flow. Kalam gives me the exact same speed with my own Groq key, plus I can use it on my Linux machine at home. The offline mode is just icing on the cake."
"Dragon was too clunky and Mac Voice Control wasn't accurate enough. Kalam's offline Whisper model is incredibly precise. I write 5,000+ words a day and it hasn't skipped a beat."
"Privacy is non-negotiable in my field. The fact that Kalam runs 100% locally means I can dictate patient notes without violating compliance. A massive step up from cloud-only alternatives."
"Superwhisper is great but the premium tier is pricey. Kalam being open-source and completely free for personal use is amazing. It occasionally misses a highly technical acronym, but otherwise flawless."
"For anyone with RSI, this is a lifesaver. The hotkey toggle makes hands-free typing across Windows and Mac seamless. A free tool that types anywhere on the desktop — this should be standard."
"I love the built-in snippets! Being able to dictate a shortcut and have it expand into a full email template saves me hours every week. Best free tool I've downloaded this year."
"I used to pay $15/mo for Wispr Flow. Kalam gives me the exact same speed with my own Groq key, plus I can use it on my Linux machine at home. The offline mode is just icing on the cake."
"Privacy is non-negotiable in my field. The fact that Kalam runs 100% locally means I can dictate patient notes without violating compliance. A massive step up from cloud-only alternatives."
"I love the built-in snippets! Being able to dictate a shortcut and have it expand into a full email template saves me hours every week. Best free tool I've downloaded this year."
Questions? Answered.
Yes — completely free and open-source for personal, educational, and non-profit use under the MIT license. Small teams of up to 2 people can use it commercially at no cost too. Larger organizations need a commercial license.
Only if you choose cloud mode. In Offline mode, everything is processed locally on your machine using a Whisper model. Kalam itself never stores your audio or sends it to our servers — ever.
Kalam is an open-source alternative with no subscription. Unlike Wispr Flow, Kalam supports Linux, lets you bring your own API keys, and offers full offline capability. See the comparison table above.
Windows 10+, macOS 11+, and Linux (AppImage and .deb). Kalam is desktop-first — no mobile apps at this time.
Only for cloud transcription. Bring your own Groq or OpenAI key for blazing-fast cloud STT. Offline mode requires no key and no internet connection at all.
Press and hold your hotkey (default: Right Ctrl), speak naturally, then release. Your words appear wherever your cursor is — any app, any text field. You can also use toggle mode for hands-free dictation.
Kalam stores dictation history and workspace data locally on your device. Audio is never written to disk. In Auto mode, Kalam detects sensitive apps and automatically switches to local processing. Read our full privacy policy.
Simple, transparent pricing
Dual-licensed to support both the open-source community and commercial needs.
Noncommercial
For personal, educational, and non-profit use.
- MIT License
- Full feature access
- Community support
- Open source code
Small Team
For independent professionals and small startups.
- Commercial use allowed
- Up to 2 team members
- Full feature access
- Self-hosted or local
Enterprise
For larger organizations, resale, or product integration.
- Separate written license
- Unlimited team members
- Priority email support
- Integration assistance