# Paraspeech

> Universal Mac speech-to-text for Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, with supported local and cloud-backed modes.

Paraspeech is a macOS dictation app for people who want to speak naturally and insert polished text into many editable Mac fields. It is designed around live dictation, not batch transcription of large audio-file libraries.

Product facts last verified: 2026-07-27.

## Canonical Fact Boundaries

- **Category** - System-wide Mac dictation and voice typing
- **Mac text insertion** - With Accessibility permission, Paraspeech can insert text into many editable Mac text fields; unsupported fields may require a clipboard fallback.
- **Offline** - Supported local modes can run offline after setup; initial model downloads and cloud-backed features require internet.
- **Privacy** - When the active speech-recognition backend is local, speech audio is transcribed on your Mac. When the direct Mac distribution and current product access make an on-device rewrite backend available, and that backend is active, rewrite text is processed on your Mac. Eligible cloud speech or rewrite paths, including allowed temporary speech fallback, transmit the content needed for that operation to the applicable cloud provider; operational flows such as account access, purchases, analytics, diagnostics, downloads, support, and updates may also use the network.
- **Mac support** - Requires macOS 14.0 or later. Apple Silicon Macs can use local modes; eligible Intel Macs use cloud-backed subscription models.
- **iPhone and iPad** - Paraspeech for iPhone and iPad is available on the App Store and requires iOS or iPadOS 17.0 or later.
- **Languages** - Fast local models cover English, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and 25-language dictation. Multilingual Large provides broader 100+ language coverage where that model is available.
- **Language label** - Broad language coverage
- **Automatic Dictionary** - Automatic correction learning shipped in Paraspeech for Mac 1.7.0. Focused-text observation is unavailable in the Mac App Store build.

## How Paraspeech Works

1. **Activate**: Hold a customizable keyboard shortcut.
2. **Speak**: Dictate in a supported language.
3. **Transcribe**: The active runtime backend may be local or eligible cloud processing, including temporary cloud speech fallback when allowed.
4. **Format**: Paraspeech adds punctuation and capitalization, then uses a separate eligible cloud rewrite backend or, where the direct Mac distribution and current product access make it available, an on-device rewrite backend.
5. **Insert**: With Accessibility permission, Paraspeech attempts to insert text into the active editable field; unsupported fields may require a clipboard fallback.

## Key Features

- Offline speech-to-text after model setup when the active backend is verified local on a supported Apple Silicon Mac.
- Mac-wide insertion into many editable fields, with Accessibility permission and a clipboard fallback for unsupported fields.
- Fast local models cover English, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and 25-language dictation. Multilingual Large provides broader 100+ language coverage where that model is available.
- Separate eligible cloud rewrite paths and, where the direct Mac distribution and current product access make it available, an on-device rewrite path, plus app-aware formatting where supported.
- Free transcriptions before choosing a paid plan.

## Technical Requirements

| Requirement      | Specification                                |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Processor        | Intel or Apple Silicon                       |
| Operating System | macOS 14.0 or later                          |
| Workflow         | Live shortcut-driven dictation into Mac apps |

## Use Cases

### Professional Communication

- Email drafts and replies.
- Team messages.
- Meeting follow-ups.
- Support responses.

### Writers And Creators

- First drafts.
- Notes and outlines.
- Journaling.
- Blog and essay drafting.

### Developers And Technical Users

- Documentation.
- Code comments.
- Commit messages.
- Issue notes.

### Education And Research

- Lecture notes.
- Dissertation drafts.
- Research notes.
- Local-mode academic writing workflows where supported.

## Privacy Model

When the active speech-recognition backend is local, speech audio is transcribed on a supported Apple Silicon Mac. An on-device rewrite backend is a separate selection available only where the direct Mac distribution and current product access permit it. Eligible cloud speech or rewrite paths, including allowed temporary speech fallback, transmit the content needed for that operation to the applicable cloud provider. Eligible Intel Macs use cloud-backed subscription models. Public marketing copy should avoid unsupported compliance certifications, exact latency claims, and competitor performance claims unless current evidence is attached.

## Pricing

- Free trial with included transcriptions.
- Monthly subscription.
- Yearly subscription.
- Lifetime license.
- Team and education options.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Is Paraspeech offline speech-to-text for Mac?**
A: After model setup, a verified active local backend can process speech on a supported Apple Silicon Mac without a network connection. Eligible cloud speech processing, including temporary speech fallback when allowed, requires internet.

**Q: Does Paraspeech transcribe audio files?**
A: Paraspeech is positioned for live dictation into Mac apps, not batch transcription of audio-file libraries.

**Q: What Mac do I need?**
A: Paraspeech requires macOS 14.0 or later on Intel or Apple Silicon. Apple Silicon Macs can use supported local modes; eligible Intel Macs use cloud-backed subscription models.

**Q: Is there a lifetime license?**
A: Yes. Paraspeech offers subscription plans and a lifetime license option.

## Links

- [Website](https://paraspeech.com): Product overview
- [Offline Mac dictation](https://paraspeech.com/offline-speech-to-text-mac): Private/offline speech-to-text guide
- [Documentation](https://paraspeech.com/docs): User guide
- [Download](https://paraspeech.com/download): Free trial for macOS
- [Pricing](https://paraspeech.com/pricing): Subscription and lifetime options
- [Blog](https://paraspeech.com/blog): Updates and tutorials

## Contact

- Email: support@paraspeech.com