Pepys Dictate and Aqua Voice
An Aqua Voice alternative that runs on your Mac and costs $9.99 once
Per its Mac page, Aqua Voice processes audio in the cloud. It is sold by subscription, with Windows, iOS, Edit Mode and a realtime view. Pepys Dictate runs on the Mac, is Mac only and is a single payment.
Is Pepys Dictate a good Aqua Voice alternative?
Choose Pepys Dictate if you want speech recognition to run on your Apple silicon Mac and prefer $9.99 once to a monthly plan. Choose Aqua Voice if you need Windows or iOS, 49 languages, Edit Mode, custom instructions, or Realtime Mode on the Max plan.
Aqua Voice is a dictation app for Mac, Windows and iOS built around its own Avalon model. You dictate, and cleaned-up text appears in the app you are using. Its Mac page says Aqua processes audio in the cloud, where Avalon runs, and that there is no offline mode.
Pepys Dictate takes the opposite route: recognition and formatting both run on your Mac, with no account and a single $9.99 payment for Pro. Per its pricing page, Aqua's Starter gives 1,000 free words and Pro is $8 a month billed annually, or $10 month to month. What you give up with Dictate is reach: other platforms, 49 languages, Edit Mode and Realtime Mode.
Pepys Dictate and Aqua Voice, side by side
Aqua Voice facts come from its own pages, read on October 5, 2026. Where something is not publicly stated, the cell is a dash.
| Feature | Pepys Dictate | Aqua Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Pro is $9.99 once, plus tax where applicable. | Pro is $8 a month billed annually or $10 monthly. Max is $24 annual or $30 monthly (per its pricing page). Students get 70% off Pro and Max. |
| Free plan | 2,000 words a week with smart formatting and all 25 languages. Resets each Monday. | Starter: 1,000 free words and the Avalon model, no card. Its Mac page says that is about 7 minutes of talking. |
| Billing model | One-time licence for up to 3 Macs. Not a subscription. | Subscription with monthly or annual billing, plus a free word-capped tier. |
| Where speech recognition runs | On your Mac, with no cloud transcription. Audio and text are not uploaded by default. | Cloud, per its Mac page: audio is processed where the Avalon model runs. |
| Works offline | Yes. Recognition and formatting need no connection once the models are downloaded. | Its Mac page says there is no offline mode. Its FAQ says offline availability varies by platform and mode. |
| Platforms | Mac only (Apple silicon, macOS 13 or later). | Mac (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows and iOS. Android is waitlist-only. |
| Minimum macOS | macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon. | Not found on the pages we read. |
| Languages | Dictation in 25 languages. Smart formatting in English, German, French and Spanish. | 49 languages, with auto-detect available. |
| Text cleanup and instructions | Removes fillers, applies spoken corrections, formats lists and numbers. Polished mode and tones, per-app styles. | Avalon corrects grammar in real time. Custom Instructions on Pro and up set tone, filler removal and spelling rules. |
| Editing and realtime | Spoken corrections while you dictate, and "delete that". | Edit Mode (select text, say the change) is free on Mac and Windows. Realtime Mode and "Send it" are on Max. |
| Meetings and notes | No meeting recording or notes. | Not found on the pages we read. |
| Team and compliance | No team, admin, SSO or compliance features. | States a SOC 2 Type II report, ISO 27001, GDPR and HIPAA; confirming HIPAA plans and a BAA means contacting support. Team enforces Privacy Mode. SSO/SAML and SCIM on Business. |
Where Pepys Dictate is different
Audio stays on the Mac by default
Pepys Dictate recognises speech and formats text on your Mac. There is no cloud transcription and no account, and by default no audio or text is uploaded. An optional advanced setting can send a transcript to an AI provider you configure. Dictate goes online only to download models, activate a licence and check for updates.
Pay once, not monthly
Pro is $9.99 once for unlimited words on up to 3 Macs. The free plan gives 2,000 words a week, and each new install starts with a 7-day trial of the paid features.
Works without a connection
Recognition is local, so Dictate keeps working when the network does not. Aqua's Mac page says there is no offline mode, and that it processes audio in the cloud. Its FAQ is less definite, saying offline availability varies by platform, app version and mode.
Spoken corrections, built in
Say "Friday, no wait, Monday" and Dictate types Monday. Say "delete that" and the last thing disappears. Lists, numbers and "new paragraph" are handled the same way, on the Mac in about a tenth of a second.
Where Aqua Voice is the better choice
Platforms and Intel Macs
Aqua Voice runs on Mac, Windows and iOS, and one subscription covers desktop and iPhone. Its Mac app has native builds for Apple silicon and Intel. Pepys Dictate is Mac only and needs Apple silicon. If you dictate on a PC or an iPhone, Aqua is the fit.
Edit Mode and Realtime Mode
Aqua's Edit Mode lets you select text, hold the Aqua key and speak the change, free on Mac and Windows. Realtime Mode, on the Max plan, shows your words as you speak.
Customization and languages
On Pro and up, Custom Instructions set your tone, filler removal and spelling rules. Aqua also has a Custom Dictionary, optional Deep Context from on-screen content, and 49 languages. Dictate has per-app styles, tones and a personal dictionary, and 25 languages.
Privacy Mode, developer tools and compliance
Aqua's Privacy Mode stores nothing on its servers, and Team plans enforce it. It offers a remote MCP server and a terminal CLI, plus a stated SOC 2 Type II report, ISO 27001, GDPR and HIPAA compliance. Dictate has no compliance features.
Choose Pepys Dictate if
- You want speech recognition to run on your own Apple silicon Mac, where Aqua's Mac page says it processes audio in the cloud.
- You would rather pay $9.99 once than a monthly or annual plan.
- You want dictation to keep working without an internet connection.
- You dictate on one Mac, in English or another European language.
Choose Aqua Voice if
- You also dictate on Windows or iPhone, or use an Intel Mac, and want one subscription across devices.
- You want Edit Mode to rewrite selected text by voice, or Realtime Mode on Max.
- You need Custom Instructions, or any of its 49 languages outside Dictate's 25.
- Your team needs SSO, SCIM, enforced Privacy Mode or a stated SOC 2 Type II report.
Common questions about Aqua Voice and Pepys Dictate
Is Pepys Dictate a good Aqua Voice alternative?
Choose Pepys Dictate if you want speech recognition to run on your Apple silicon Mac and prefer $9.99 once to a monthly plan. Choose Aqua Voice if you need Windows or iOS, 49 languages, Edit Mode, custom instructions, or Realtime Mode on the Max plan.
How much does Aqua Voice cost?
Per its pricing page, Pro is $8 a month billed annually or $10 month to month, and Max is $24 annual or $30 monthly. Starter is free with 1,000 words, and students get 70% off Pro and Max. Pepys Dictate Pro is $9.99 once, plus tax where applicable.
Is Aqua Voice free?
Yes, with a cap. The Starter plan includes 1,000 free words and the Avalon model, no credit card needed. Aqua's Mac page puts that at about 7 minutes of talking. Pepys Dictate's free plan is 2,000 words a week, resetting every Monday.
Does Aqua Voice process audio in the cloud?
Per its Mac page, yes: Aqua processes audio in the cloud, where the Avalon model runs. Its terms state it does not train on your content unless you agree. Its privacy policy says transcripts may be stored on its servers when Privacy Mode is off, and that Privacy Mode stores nothing there. By default, Pepys Dictate keeps audio on your Mac.
Does Aqua Voice work offline?
Its Mac page says there is no offline mode. Its FAQ is less definite, saying offline availability varies by platform, app version and mode. Pepys Dictate recognises speech on the Mac, so it works offline once its models are downloaded.
Does Aqua Voice work on Windows and iPhone?
Yes. Aqua Voice is available for Mac, Windows and iOS, and Android is waitlist-only. Pepys Dictate is Mac only, for Apple silicon Macs on macOS 13 or later.
Where these facts came from
- Aqua Voice pricing (read October 5, 2026)
- Aqua Voice for Mac (read October 5, 2026)
- Aqua Voice FAQ (read October 5, 2026)
- Aqua Voice terms of service (read October 5, 2026)
- Aqua Voice privacy policy (read October 5, 2026)
- Aqua Voice Realtime Mode (read October 5, 2026)
- Aqua Voice Edit Mode (read October 5, 2026)
- Aqua Voice MCP server (read October 5, 2026)
Products change. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
Compare more dictation apps
Try Pepys Dictate on your Mac
Free for 2,000 words a week, or $9.99 once, plus tax where applicable, for unlimited use on up to 3 Macs. Speech recognition and formatting run on your Mac.
Apple silicon, macOS 13 or later. More about Pepys Dictate