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, with local models or a direct OpenAI or xAI connection.
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 | VoiceInk |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 one time; $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 | Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required | Free trial offered, but the checked pricing page does not state its length; 14-day refund policy with eligibility conditions in the terms |
| Platforms | macOS only | macOS app; a separate iPhone and iPad companion is also available in beta |
| Requirements | Apple silicon; cloud on macOS 13+, Local on macOS 14+ | Apple silicon and macOS 14.4 or later; 8 GB RAM recommended |
| Transcription | Local speech models, or OpenAI Realtime or xAI using your API key | Local Parakeet, Whisper, Apple Speech, and imported models, plus optional cloud providers |
| Internet | Local processing works offline after model downloads; cloud requires internet | Local models can work offline after setup; cloud models require internet |
| Provider setup | No key for Local; cloud key stored in Keychain, with 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 license, with no API key for Local and your own API account for cloud | 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 | Session-only recent dictations and audio recovery; no persistent transcript history or file transcription | 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
Local requires Apple silicon, macOS 14 or later, and downloaded models.
Local includes transcription, polish, and Orb Commands; cloud choice is OpenAI or xAI.
No transcript history, saved audio, or file transcription.
No user-defined mode prompts or website triggers. Orb Commands refine selected text; they do not run shell 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 during ordinary app requests. Vocabulary exports include them. Preferred terms may be sent as transcription hints.
Privacy and provider path
Local audio and text stay on your Mac. For cloud, the OpenAI or xAI API key is stored in macOS Keychain; that provider bills your API account. Listen Orb operates no speech backend.
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 VoiceInk. Pricing and features were checked September 4, 2026 and may change.
Sources · checked September 4, 2026
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. 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, with local models or a direct OpenAI or xAI connection.
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 | VoiceInk |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 one time; $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 | Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required | Free trial offered, but the checked pricing page does not state its length; 14-day refund policy with eligibility conditions in the terms |
| Platforms | macOS only | macOS app; a separate iPhone and iPad companion is also available in beta |
| Requirements | Apple silicon; cloud on macOS 13+, Local on macOS 14+ | Apple silicon and macOS 14.4 or later; 8 GB RAM recommended |
| Transcription | Local speech models, or OpenAI Realtime or xAI using your API key | Local Parakeet, Whisper, Apple Speech, and imported models, plus optional cloud providers |
| Internet | Local processing works offline after model downloads; cloud requires internet | Local models can work offline after setup; cloud models require internet |
| Provider setup | No key for Local; cloud key stored in Keychain, with 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 license, with no API key for Local and your own API account for cloud | 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 | Session-only recent dictations and audio recovery; no persistent transcript history or file transcription | 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
Local requires Apple silicon, macOS 14 or later, and downloaded models.
Local includes transcription, polish, and Orb Commands; cloud choice is OpenAI or xAI.
No transcript history, saved audio, or file transcription.
No user-defined mode prompts or website triggers. Orb Commands refine selected text; they do not run shell 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 during ordinary app requests. Vocabulary exports include them. Preferred terms may be sent as transcription hints.
Privacy and provider path
Local audio and text stay on your Mac. For cloud, the OpenAI or xAI API key is stored in macOS Keychain; that provider bills your API account. Listen Orb operates no speech backend.
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 VoiceInk. Pricing and features were checked September 4, 2026 and may change.
Sources · checked September 4, 2026
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+.