Listen Orb vs. VoiceInk
VoiceInk offers local models, optional cloud providers, rich modes, history, files, and open source code. Listen Orb is a narrower Mac app built around Fn push-to-talk and a direct OpenAI connection.
14-day trial · no card required · $69 launch price through September 3
At-a-glance comparison
| Topic | Listen Orb | VoiceInk |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $69 launch price through September 3; $99 regular one-time price for up to three Macs | One-time licenses for one, two, or three Macs. The official page showed sale prices of $25, $39, and $49 (regularly $29, $49, and $69) during this check |
| Trial or refund | 14-day full trial; no card required | Free trial offered, but the checked pricing page does not state its length; 14-day refund policy |
| Requirements | Apple silicon and macOS 13 or later | Apple silicon and macOS 14.4 or later; 8 GB RAM recommended |
| Transcription | OpenAI Realtime transcription using your API key | Local Parakeet, Whisper, Apple Speech, and imported models, plus optional cloud providers |
| Internet | Required for transcription | Local models can work offline after setup; cloud models require internet |
| Provider setup | OpenAI key required, stored in Keychain; OpenAI usage billed separately | Local transcription needs no provider key; optional cloud providers use customer keys stored in Keychain and bill under their own terms |
| Account and license | No Listen Orb account; trial or Polar license plus your OpenAI API account | Commercial download activates with a license key; source code can also be built under GPLv3 |
| Vocabulary | Custom written terms with multiple local spoken forms, plus optional vocabulary packs | Vocabulary context for AI-enhanced modes plus deterministic word replacements that can accept several original forms |
| Controls and modes | Fn or F13 push-to-talk, hands-free lock, and global or per-app polish modes | Toggle, push-to-talk, or hybrid shortcuts; modes can trigger by app, website, spoken phrase, or shortcut |
| History and files | No transcript history, saved audio, or file-transcription workflow | Searchable local history with retention controls plus queued audio and video file transcription |
Who each product suits
Choose Listen Orb if
Choose VoiceInk if
Where VoiceInk does more
VoiceInk supports several on-device model families, local AI tools, custom endpoints, and customer-key cloud providers for transcription or enhancement.
Recording can be toggle, push-to-talk, or hybrid. Modes can change model, language, enhancement, context, output, and triggering by app, website, spoken phrase, or shortcut.
VoiceInk documents searchable local history, audio retention controls, queued media-file transcription, custom commands, and assistant-style responses.
Its source is published under GPLv3, while paid compiled builds add automatic updates and support. Commercial plans start below Listen Orb's regular one-time price.
Things to verify before choosing VoiceInk
VoiceInk requires Apple silicon and macOS 14.4 or later, recommends 8 GB RAM, and lets users select models with different speed and accuracy characteristics.
When a cloud transcription model is selected, audio goes to that provider. AI enhancement sends transcript text and enabled context to the selected enhancement provider.
Enabled modes can read selected text, clipboard text, or visible screen text. VoiceInk says screen OCR happens locally before the text is sent to the enhancement provider.
VoiceInk can save transcript text, metadata, and audio in local history. Its documented retention controls remove records at the app level and do not promise forensic erasure of prior database bytes.
Things to consider with Listen Orb
No offline or on-device transcription model.
No provider choice beyond OpenAI.
No transcript history, saved audio, or file transcription.
No user-defined prompts, website triggers, or custom commands.
It is proprietary, and its regular license costs more.
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 to OpenAI. Vocabulary exports include them. Preferred terms may be sent as transcription hints.
Privacy and provider path
The OpenAI API key is stored in macOS Keychain. Audio goes directly to OpenAI, which bills your API project; Listen Orb operates no speech backend.
Listen Orb records only while you dictate. Your OpenAI key is stored in Keychain. Settings and vocabulary stay on your Mac.
Audio goes directly to OpenAI using your key. Preferred terms may be sent as hints. Contextual polish may also send a short nearby-text excerpt. OpenAI bills your API project.
Finished text returns to Listen Orb and appears in the active field.
Current Listen Orb pricing
Simple ownership
Try every feature for 14 days with no card. One license works on up to 3 Macs.
Pay once for the Mac app. There is no recurring Listen Orb fee.
Pay OpenAI separately for API usage. ChatGPT subscriptions do not include API usage. Listen Orb does not resell it. Understand API billing.
One-time Mac license
Verification and independence
Listen Orb is not affiliated with or endorsed by VoiceInk. Pricing and features were checked August 31, 2026 and may change.
Sources · checked August 31, 2026
Try it in the apps you already use
Try every feature for 14 days. No card required.
Listen Orb vs. VoiceInk
VoiceInk offers local models, optional cloud providers, rich modes, history, files, and open source code. Listen Orb is a narrower Mac app built around Fn push-to-talk and a direct OpenAI connection.
14-day trial · no card required · $69 launch price through September 3
At-a-glance comparison
| Topic | Listen Orb | VoiceInk |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $69 launch price through September 3; $99 regular one-time price for up to three Macs | One-time licenses for one, two, or three Macs. The official page showed sale prices of $25, $39, and $49 (regularly $29, $49, and $69) during this check |
| Trial or refund | 14-day full trial; no card required | Free trial offered, but the checked pricing page does not state its length; 14-day refund policy |
| Requirements | Apple silicon and macOS 13 or later | Apple silicon and macOS 14.4 or later; 8 GB RAM recommended |
| Transcription | OpenAI Realtime transcription using your API key | Local Parakeet, Whisper, Apple Speech, and imported models, plus optional cloud providers |
| Internet | Required for transcription | Local models can work offline after setup; cloud models require internet |
| Provider setup | OpenAI key required, stored in Keychain; OpenAI usage billed separately | Local transcription needs no provider key; optional cloud providers use customer keys stored in Keychain and bill under their own terms |
| Account and license | No Listen Orb account; trial or Polar license plus your OpenAI API account | Commercial download activates with a license key; source code can also be built under GPLv3 |
| Vocabulary | Custom written terms with multiple local spoken forms, plus optional vocabulary packs | Vocabulary context for AI-enhanced modes plus deterministic word replacements that can accept several original forms |
| Controls and modes | Fn or F13 push-to-talk, hands-free lock, and global or per-app polish modes | Toggle, push-to-talk, or hybrid shortcuts; modes can trigger by app, website, spoken phrase, or shortcut |
| History and files | No transcript history, saved audio, or file-transcription workflow | Searchable local history with retention controls plus queued audio and video file transcription |
Who each product suits
Choose Listen Orb if
Choose VoiceInk if
Where VoiceInk does more
VoiceInk supports several on-device model families, local AI tools, custom endpoints, and customer-key cloud providers for transcription or enhancement.
Recording can be toggle, push-to-talk, or hybrid. Modes can change model, language, enhancement, context, output, and triggering by app, website, spoken phrase, or shortcut.
VoiceInk documents searchable local history, audio retention controls, queued media-file transcription, custom commands, and assistant-style responses.
Its source is published under GPLv3, while paid compiled builds add automatic updates and support. Commercial plans start below Listen Orb's regular one-time price.
Things to verify before choosing VoiceInk
VoiceInk requires Apple silicon and macOS 14.4 or later, recommends 8 GB RAM, and lets users select models with different speed and accuracy characteristics.
When a cloud transcription model is selected, audio goes to that provider. AI enhancement sends transcript text and enabled context to the selected enhancement provider.
Enabled modes can read selected text, clipboard text, or visible screen text. VoiceInk says screen OCR happens locally before the text is sent to the enhancement provider.
VoiceInk can save transcript text, metadata, and audio in local history. Its documented retention controls remove records at the app level and do not promise forensic erasure of prior database bytes.
Things to consider with Listen Orb
No offline or on-device transcription model.
No provider choice beyond OpenAI.
No transcript history, saved audio, or file transcription.
No user-defined prompts, website triggers, or custom commands.
It is proprietary, and its regular license costs more.
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 to OpenAI. Vocabulary exports include them. Preferred terms may be sent as transcription hints.
Privacy and provider path
The OpenAI API key is stored in macOS Keychain. Audio goes directly to OpenAI, which bills your API project; Listen Orb operates no speech backend.
Listen Orb records only while you dictate. Your OpenAI key is stored in Keychain. Settings and vocabulary stay on your Mac.
Audio goes directly to OpenAI using your key. Preferred terms may be sent as hints. Contextual polish may also send a short nearby-text excerpt. OpenAI bills your API project.
Finished text returns to Listen Orb and appears in the active field.
Current Listen Orb pricing
Simple ownership
Try every feature for 14 days with no card. One license works on up to 3 Macs.
Pay once for the Mac app. There is no recurring Listen Orb fee.
Pay OpenAI separately for API usage. ChatGPT subscriptions do not include API usage. Listen Orb does not resell it. Understand API billing.
One-time Mac license
Verification and independence
Listen Orb is not affiliated with or endorsed by VoiceInk. Pricing and features were checked August 31, 2026 and may change.
Sources · checked August 31, 2026
Try it in the apps you already use
Try every feature for 14 days. No card required.