You can dictate text on your Mac without Siri, without Apple servers, and without an internet connection. Chirp is a standalone dictation app that processes all speech locally using whisper.cpp. No Apple ID required, no data leaves your machine, and it works in any application.
The Problem with macOS Built-In Dictation
Apple's built-in dictation feature on macOS is tied to Siri and Apple's cloud infrastructure. When you enable dictation in System Settings, macOS sends your audio to Apple's servers for processing. Apple states this in their own documentation — your voice data is transmitted to improve speech recognition.
This creates several practical issues:
- Privacy. Your spoken words are processed on Apple's servers. Even if Apple anonymizes the data, it still leaves your device.
- Internet dependency. No Wi-Fi means no dictation. If your connection drops mid-sentence, the transcription fails.
- Apple ID requirement. You need to be signed in with an Apple ID for dictation to work. Not everyone wants to link their dictation to their Apple account.
- Limited app support. Built-in dictation works in most Apple apps and some third-party text fields, but it is inconsistent across applications. It does not reliably work in terminal emulators, some Electron apps, or custom text inputs.
The Alternative: Fully Local Dictation with Chirp
Chirp replaces macOS dictation with a fully offline, fully private alternative. It runs as a lightweight menubar app and uses a global hotkey to start and stop recording. When you stop, the transcribed text is automatically pasted at your cursor position — in any app.
How to Set Up Chirp as Your Dictation Tool
Step 1: Download and Install
Go to chirp.la and download the macOS version for your chip (Intel or Apple Silicon). Open the .dmg and drag Chirp to Applications.
Step 2: Grant Permissions
On first launch, macOS will ask for microphone access and accessibility access. Microphone access lets Chirp hear you. Accessibility access lets it paste text into your active application. Both are required.
Step 3: Disable Apple Dictation (Optional)
If you want to fully replace Apple's dictation, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation and turn it off. This prevents any accidental audio being sent to Apple's servers. Chirp operates independently from this system feature, so disabling it has no effect on Chirp.
Step 4: Start Dictating
Press the Fn key to start recording. Speak naturally. Press Fn again to stop. Your transcribed text appears instantly at your cursor. That is the entire workflow.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Siri Dictation vs. Chirp
| Feature | Siri Dictation | Chirp |
|---|---|---|
| Processing | Cloud (Apple servers) | 100% local (whisper.cpp) |
| Internet Required | Yes | No |
| Apple ID Required | Yes | No |
| Works in Any App | Limited | Yes (auto-paste) |
| Data Leaves Device | Yes | Never |
| Transcription History | No | Yes (searchable) |
| Platforms | macOS only | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Cost | Free (with Apple ID) | 28 free, then $9.99/year |
Why This Matters for Privacy-Conscious Users
If you dictate meeting notes, personal journal entries, patient records, legal observations, or anything else you would not want on someone else's server, local processing is not a nice-to-have — it is a requirement. With Chirp, the audio goes from your microphone to the whisper.cpp engine running on your CPU or GPU, and the result stays in local memory. No network requests are made. No telemetry is sent.
Works Without Internet, Forever
Once Chirp is installed, you can disconnect from the internet permanently and it will keep working. This is particularly useful for air-gapped environments, travel situations, or simply for anyone who does not want background services calling home. The whisper.cpp model (ggml-tiny.en, roughly 30 MB) ships with the app — there is nothing extra to download.
Getting Started
Chirp includes 28 free transcriptions so you can try the full experience before deciding. After that, an annual license is $9.99/year for unlimited dictation across up to 5 devices. Download it at chirp.la.