Listen Orb vs. Apple Dictation
Apple Dictation is already on your Mac and can process speech on-device in supported configurations. Listen Orb adds Fn push-to-talk, custom spoken forms, and optional AI polish with local models or your OpenAI or xAI API key.
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required · $99 one time
See Listen Orb working
A short, recorded demonstration of Listen Orb inserting text using the Fn key for push-to-talk.
Watch Listen Orb turn the Fn key into push-to-talk dictation in most standard Mac text fields.
On-screen captions · Sound optional
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
For a developer task, dictate an instruction, select the passage to refine, and begin the next spoken instruction with “Orb”. You review the text; Listen Orb does not submit it or execute code. See the developer workflow and selected-text command guide.
The Mac license and provider billing are separate. Read the dated OpenAI transcription cost example and exclusions before estimating your own usage. xAI usage is billed by xAI and is not in that example.
At-a-glance comparison
| Topic | Listen Orb | Apple Dictation |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 one time; $99 regular one-time price | Included with macOS; no separate Dictation purchase or per-use charge |
| Getting started | Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. Local needs no key; cloud requires an OpenAI or xAI API key and separate API billing | Turn it on in Keyboard settings; no third-party API key or separate dictation license |
| Platforms | Apple-silicon Macs; cloud on macOS 13+, Local on macOS 14+ | Built into macOS |
| Control | Hold Fn or F13 for push-to-talk; double-tap for hands-free listening | Press the Microphone key or a configurable Dictation shortcut to start and stop |
| Processing path | Local on your Mac, or directly to OpenAI or xAI using your API key | Keyboard settings indicates whether general text Dictation is processed on-device or sent to Apple servers |
| Internet | Local processing works offline after model downloads; OpenAI or xAI requires internet | Depends on the Mac, language, and configuration; Keyboard settings reports whether internet is required |
| Vocabulary | Custom written terms with multiple local spoken forms, plus optional vocabulary packs | Standard Dictation does not document a custom-vocabulary editor; the separate Voice Control feature supports custom terms in eligible languages |
| Text shaping | Local or cloud Standard and optional Contextual AI polish; cloud provider usage billed separately | Auto-punctuation in supported languages plus spoken punctuation, emoji, and simple formatting commands |
| Account | No Listen Orb account; no provider key for Local; your own API account for cloud | No separate Dictation account or speech-provider signup |
Who each option suits
Choose Listen Orb if
Choose Apple Dictation if
Where Apple Dictation does more
Dictation is included with macOS, with no separate app license or metered speech bill.
On supported Macs and languages, Keyboard settings can show that general text Dictation is processed on-device and does not need an internet connection.
Apple lets you configure multiple Dictation languages and switch among them while dictating. Availability varies by language and region.
Apple's separate Voice Control accessibility feature adds Mac navigation, commands, and—in supported languages—custom vocabulary with recorded pronunciation.
Things to verify on your Mac
Apple tells you in Keyboard settings whether audio and transcripts for general text Dictation stay on-device. Otherwise, dictated content is sent to Apple for processing.
Dictation, on-device processing, auto-punctuation, and emoji support have different language and region lists.
Apple documents custom vocabulary under Voice Control, not the standard Keyboard Dictation workflow. Voice Control language support also varies.
Standard Apple Dictation starts and stops with a key press or shortcut. Listen Orb is centered on hold-to-talk, with an optional double-tap listening lock.
Things to consider with Listen Orb
It is a paid third-party Mac app, not part of macOS.
An OpenAI or xAI API key and separate provider billing are required for cloud processing.
Local transcription works offline after model downloads on macOS 14 or later.
There is no iPhone, iPad, Windows, or Android app.
Current compatibility is Apple silicon; cloud on macOS 13+, Local on macOS 14+.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary entry
Spoken
“Send the revised launch notes to mick allister.”
Inserted
Send the revised launch notes to McAllister.
Made for technical terms
Teach a spoken form such as “post gress Q L” for PostgreSQL. Vocabulary replacements are designed to avoid recognized code, commands, URLs, email addresses, handles, identifiers, and paths.
Spoken forms are not sent during ordinary app requests. Vocabulary exports include them. Preferred terms may be sent as transcription hints.
Privacy and billing
Local needs no API key. Your cloud OpenAI or xAI API key is stored in macOS Keychain. Listen Orb has no mandatory account and does not operate a speech backend or sell OpenAI or xAI usage.
Listen Orb records only while you dictate. Your OpenAI and xAI keys are stored in Keychain. Settings and vocabulary stay on your Mac.
Local processes audio and text on your Mac. With OpenAI or xAI, audio goes directly to that provider using your key. Preferred written terms may be sent as hints; Contextual polish may send a short nearby-text excerpt. Cloud usage is billed by that provider.
Finished text returns to Listen Orb and appears in the active field.
Current Listen Orb pricing
Simple ownership
Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required. One license works on up to 3 Macs.
Pay once for the Mac app. There is no recurring Listen Orb fee.
Local processing has no API usage fees. For cloud, pay the active provider separately for API usage. OpenAI and xAI each bill the account that issued the key. ChatGPT subscriptions and SuperGrok are not API credit. Listen Orb does not resell usage. Understand API billing or see a real seven-day example.
One-time Mac license
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
One license for up to 3 Macs. No Listen Orb account or subscription. Local needs no API key. For cloud, your OpenAI or xAI API key is stored in macOS Keychain; that provider bills usage separately. Applicable tax is shown at checkout.
License and purchase details · Recover a license · Contact support
Verification and independence
Listen Orb is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple. Features and processing behavior were checked September 4, 2026 and may vary by Mac, language, region, and macOS version.
Try it in the apps you already use
Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required.
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
Listen Orb vs. Apple Dictation
Apple Dictation is already on your Mac and can process speech on-device in supported configurations. Listen Orb adds Fn push-to-talk, custom spoken forms, and optional AI polish with local models or your OpenAI or xAI API key.
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required · $99 one time
See Listen Orb working
A short, recorded demonstration of Listen Orb inserting text using the Fn key for push-to-talk.
Watch Listen Orb turn the Fn key into push-to-talk dictation in most standard Mac text fields.
On-screen captions · Sound optional
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
For a developer task, dictate an instruction, select the passage to refine, and begin the next spoken instruction with “Orb”. You review the text; Listen Orb does not submit it or execute code. See the developer workflow and selected-text command guide.
The Mac license and provider billing are separate. Read the dated OpenAI transcription cost example and exclusions before estimating your own usage. xAI usage is billed by xAI and is not in that example.
At-a-glance comparison
| Topic | Listen Orb | Apple Dictation |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 one time; $99 regular one-time price | Included with macOS; no separate Dictation purchase or per-use charge |
| Getting started | Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. Local needs no key; cloud requires an OpenAI or xAI API key and separate API billing | Turn it on in Keyboard settings; no third-party API key or separate dictation license |
| Platforms | Apple-silicon Macs; cloud on macOS 13+, Local on macOS 14+ | Built into macOS |
| Control | Hold Fn or F13 for push-to-talk; double-tap for hands-free listening | Press the Microphone key or a configurable Dictation shortcut to start and stop |
| Processing path | Local on your Mac, or directly to OpenAI or xAI using your API key | Keyboard settings indicates whether general text Dictation is processed on-device or sent to Apple servers |
| Internet | Local processing works offline after model downloads; OpenAI or xAI requires internet | Depends on the Mac, language, and configuration; Keyboard settings reports whether internet is required |
| Vocabulary | Custom written terms with multiple local spoken forms, plus optional vocabulary packs | Standard Dictation does not document a custom-vocabulary editor; the separate Voice Control feature supports custom terms in eligible languages |
| Text shaping | Local or cloud Standard and optional Contextual AI polish; cloud provider usage billed separately | Auto-punctuation in supported languages plus spoken punctuation, emoji, and simple formatting commands |
| Account | No Listen Orb account; no provider key for Local; your own API account for cloud | No separate Dictation account or speech-provider signup |
Who each option suits
Choose Listen Orb if
Choose Apple Dictation if
Where Apple Dictation does more
Dictation is included with macOS, with no separate app license or metered speech bill.
On supported Macs and languages, Keyboard settings can show that general text Dictation is processed on-device and does not need an internet connection.
Apple lets you configure multiple Dictation languages and switch among them while dictating. Availability varies by language and region.
Apple's separate Voice Control accessibility feature adds Mac navigation, commands, and—in supported languages—custom vocabulary with recorded pronunciation.
Things to verify on your Mac
Apple tells you in Keyboard settings whether audio and transcripts for general text Dictation stay on-device. Otherwise, dictated content is sent to Apple for processing.
Dictation, on-device processing, auto-punctuation, and emoji support have different language and region lists.
Apple documents custom vocabulary under Voice Control, not the standard Keyboard Dictation workflow. Voice Control language support also varies.
Standard Apple Dictation starts and stops with a key press or shortcut. Listen Orb is centered on hold-to-talk, with an optional double-tap listening lock.
Things to consider with Listen Orb
It is a paid third-party Mac app, not part of macOS.
An OpenAI or xAI API key and separate provider billing are required for cloud processing.
Local transcription works offline after model downloads on macOS 14 or later.
There is no iPhone, iPad, Windows, or Android app.
Current compatibility is Apple silicon; cloud on macOS 13+, Local on macOS 14+.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary entry
Spoken
“Send the revised launch notes to mick allister.”
Inserted
Send the revised launch notes to McAllister.
Made for technical terms
Teach a spoken form such as “post gress Q L” for PostgreSQL. Vocabulary replacements are designed to avoid recognized code, commands, URLs, email addresses, handles, identifiers, and paths.
Spoken forms are not sent during ordinary app requests. Vocabulary exports include them. Preferred terms may be sent as transcription hints.
Privacy and billing
Local needs no API key. Your cloud OpenAI or xAI API key is stored in macOS Keychain. Listen Orb has no mandatory account and does not operate a speech backend or sell OpenAI or xAI usage.
Listen Orb records only while you dictate. Your OpenAI and xAI keys are stored in Keychain. Settings and vocabulary stay on your Mac.
Local processes audio and text on your Mac. With OpenAI or xAI, audio goes directly to that provider using your key. Preferred written terms may be sent as hints; Contextual polish may send a short nearby-text excerpt. Cloud usage is billed by that provider.
Finished text returns to Listen Orb and appears in the active field.
Current Listen Orb pricing
Simple ownership
Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required. One license works on up to 3 Macs.
Pay once for the Mac app. There is no recurring Listen Orb fee.
Local processing has no API usage fees. For cloud, pay the active provider separately for API usage. OpenAI and xAI each bill the account that issued the key. ChatGPT subscriptions and SuperGrok are not API credit. Listen Orb does not resell usage. Understand API billing or see a real seven-day example.
One-time Mac license
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
One license for up to 3 Macs. No Listen Orb account or subscription. Local needs no API key. For cloud, your OpenAI or xAI API key is stored in macOS Keychain; that provider bills usage separately. Applicable tax is shown at checkout.
License and purchase details · Recover a license · Contact support
Verification and independence
Listen Orb is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple. Features and processing behavior were checked September 4, 2026 and may vary by Mac, language, region, and macOS version.
Try it in the apps you already use
Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required.
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.