A dictionary for your terminology
Names, acronyms, products and technical vocabulary: add the words other transcription tools tend to miss.
ParauFree · local · native for macOS
Speak.
It’s written.
Voice dictation that turns speech into text in every app, with no subscription and no voice data sent to the cloud.
macOS 14+ · Preview 0.3.0 · no account required
GraphQL
next.js
macOS
I’m listening⌥ Space
01Your words stay private
Transcription runs locally on your Mac.
02One shortcut, everywhere
Speak in Mail, Safari, Notion, VS Code or Messages.
03Free today and tomorrow
No quota, no subscription and no account.
Try the gesture
Two ways to speak.
One pace: yours.
Start a continuous dictation session, or hold the button only while you speak. The demo below simulates the experience without asking for microphone access.
Click the button, then speak naturally…
GraphQLNext.jsParau
Click to start
Built for your vocabulary
Your words.
Written the right way.
Next.jsTypeScriptGraphQLPostgreSQLSaaSWebhooksOpenAImacOSDockerFigmaNotionGitHub
Fast without weighing down your Mac
A native Swift app, optimized models and local processing keep Parau discreet in your menu bar.
Private by default
No mandatory account. The local engine keeps transcribing even when your connection cannot.
The clear choice
Parau or Wispr Flow?
Flow is an excellent cloud product. Parau takes a different approach: a free, local Mac app with no mandatory account.
| Feature | Parau | Wispr Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — no subscription | 2,000 words/week, then Pro at $15/month |
| Local transcription | Yes, on your Mac | No, Internet connection required |
| Works in every app | Yes | Yes |
| Press to start + push to talk | Both modes | Dictation shortcut |
| Custom dictionary | Included | Included |
| Apple Silicon + Intel | Two native builds | macOS application |
| Mandatory cloud account | No | Yes |
Comparison verified on July 30, 2026 using Wispr Flow’s official pricing and offline availability pages. Plans may change.
Frequently asked questions
Before you
speak up.
Missing an answer? Visit the project and start a discussion on GitHub.
View GitHubIs Parau really free?
Yes. The app is free, with no subscription, weekly quota or account to create.
Which version should I download?
The same universal download works on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Parau requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Does my voice leave my Mac?
Not with the default local transcription. The speech model is downloaded once, then processing can work offline. Optional cloud enhancements can remain disabled.
Which applications work with Parau?
Any macOS app with a text field: browsers, messaging, notes, development tools and more. You can configure the global shortcut that works for you.
How can I improve names and technical terms?
Add them to the custom dictionary. Parau can then preserve the names, acronyms, products and technologies you use regularly.
Why does macOS request permissions?
Microphone access lets Parau hear your voice, while Accessibility access lets it insert text into the active app. Parau uses a stable application identifier so macOS can retain permissions between updates.
Why might macOS show a warning on first launch?
This preview is locally signed but not yet notarized by Apple. On first launch, right-click Parau and choose Open. A notarized version will replace this test build for public distribution.
Ready to speak?
Your voice deserves
better than a keyboard.
Download Parau for free, install the app, configure your shortcut — and speak.