Mac
SnailText for Mac.
Voice typing in any text field. Audio never leaves your machine. Notarised by Apple — no security prompts on first launch.
.dmg installer · ~20 MB
No account needed to start. Free with the compact local models.
Intel Macs aren't supported yet — we only ship and test on Apple Silicon (M1 or later). If you need Intel support, email support@snailtext.app and we'll prioritise it based on demand.
Three steps after install
- 1
Open the .dmg, drag SnailText into Applications, launch it.
- 2
Grant Accessibility permission when prompted — that's how the global hotkey works without focusing the app window.
- 3
Press ⌥ Space in any app and start talking.
System requirements
- Operating system
- macOS 12 (Monterey) or newer
- Architecture
- Apple Silicon (M1 or later)
- RAM
- 4 GB minimum
- Disk space
- ~150 MB plus model files
Notarised by Apple — no security warnings on first launch. Intel Macs are not supported.
On a Windows machine? Download for Windows →
What's in the download
One hotkey. Everything else included.
-
Two recognition models, free forever
The compact Whisper models — Standard (148 MB) and Fast (75 MB) — handle most everyday dictation: code comments, Slack messages, emails, notes. Pro adds three larger Whisper models plus NVIDIA Parakeet TDT v3 for higher accuracy in 25+ European languages.
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GPU-accelerated by default, CPU fallback always
Whisper models pick the fastest backend on your machine automatically — Metal on Apple Silicon, Vulkan on Windows GPUs (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel Arc). On a GPU, Whisper Standard transcribes a short phrase in under a second; the larger Pro models stay comfortable too. Without a GPU it falls back to CPU and still works — slower on the bigger models, fine on the compact ones. Parakeet TDT v3 is CPU-only by design and stays fast there because the model is built for it.
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A global hotkey that works anywhere
One key combination invokes voice typing in any text field on your machine — browsers, messaging apps, text editors, IDEs, terminal. No per-app integration, no extension to install in each tool. Press, speak, paste.
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Local-only by default
Audio is captured into RAM, transcribed by the model on your device, and discarded. Nothing uploads, nothing logs to a server, no API key required. Free is unlimited — no recording cap, no trial timer, no watermark. Pro starts at $7.49 / month and covers up to 3 devices on one subscription.
What happens after the download
Three steps to your first dictation
Open the .dmg, drag SnailText into Applications, launch it. The app is notarised by Apple, so macOS doesn't show a security warning on first launch — you go straight to setup. The recognition pill appears at the bottom of your screen.
On first launch macOS asks for Accessibility permission. SnailText needs it to read the global hotkey when another app is focused — without that permission the hotkey won't work outside our own window. Granting it takes one click in System Settings; nothing else gets read.
Pick a recognition model size in the setup screen. Standard (148 MB) is the recommended free option and covers most everyday dictation; bigger Pro models download in the background while you start using the app. Then press Option+Space anywhere on your Mac and start talking.
Mac questions
Common questions before you install
Does SnailText work on my Mac if I have an Intel processor?
Where does SnailText install, and can I uninstall it cleanly?
Why does SnailText need Accessibility permission?
Want more depth? Read Dictation for Mac — voice typing in any app, no cloud for benchmarks, Apple Silicon performance, and how third-party local dictation compares to Apple's built-in.