Speak. It types.
Everywhere.
Voice dictation in every desktop app — offline, your keys, or Kalam Cloud. Free forever at its core. No data harvesting. Your voice, your words, your way.
Dictation that feels like magic
Press a hotkey, speak naturally, release — your words appear instantly wherever your cursor is.
Everything you need.
Nothing you don't.
100% offline capable
Run a local Whisper model on your machine. Your audio never leaves your device — not even for a millisecond.
Hosted AI, zero setup
On Max, transcription and AI polish run through Kalam Cloud. No API keys, no configuration — it just works.
Smart privacy mode
Sensitive app detection auto-switches to local processing. Context awareness locks down, AI calls are blocked — your data stays on-device.
Profiles & Polish
Create unlimited dictation profiles — Email, Slack, Code Comments — each with its own AI instructions. Toggle Polish on any profile for grammar cleanup.
Notes inbox
Voice capture into Notes on the same dictation hotkey — say "new note" without leaving your flow. Snippets and history stay local.
Rust-powered speed
Built with Tauri and Rust. Sub-second startup, minimal memory footprint, and battery life your laptop will thank you for.
Download & install
Grab the installer for your OS. One click, no account required, no sign-up wall.
Choose your engine
Go fully offline with the built-in Whisper model, bring your own API key, or let Kalam Cloud handle everything on Max.
Hold, speak, release
Press your hotkey, talk naturally, let go. Your words appear wherever your cursor is — any app, any field.
The app in action
Dashboard, dictation history, notes, tasks, reminders, snippets, and settings — all designed to stay out of your way.
Smart privacy in action
Watch Kalam's Auto mode switch from fast cloud transcription to fully local processing the moment you open a sensitive app. Your audio stays on your device — automatically.
Windows today — more platforms soon
Windows is available now;
macOS and
Linux builds are on the way. Dictate into
Slack,
Word,
PowerPoint,
or any application that accepts text input.
Works everywhere you do
See how Kalam stacks up
Kalam is free at its core, with paid tiers that stay cheaper than the competition — whether you bring your own keys or let Kalam host the AI. Here's how it compares to Wispr Flow and Superwhisper.
| Feature | Kalam Free core | Wispr Flow | Superwhisper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free · Pro $4.99 · Max $11.99 (hosted AI) | $8.49/mo (includes compute) | $8.49/mo (includes compute) |
| Free dictation | Unlimited (local or BYOK) | Limited free tier | Limited (small models) |
| No API keys needed | Max tier — Kalam-hosted STT + AI | Included in subscription | Included in subscription |
| Dictation profiles | Unlimited custom profiles (Pro) | No custom modes | 7 built-in + custom |
| Polish (AI cleanup) | Toggle on any profile (Pro) | Baked into each mode | Baked into each mode |
| Context awareness | Toggle on any profile (Pro) | No | Super Mode only |
| Voice-activated editing | Highlight → speak (Pro) | No | Available |
| Offline / local STT | 100% offline capable | Primarily cloud | Offline available |
| BYOK (your API keys) | Groq, OpenAI, more | Billed through Wispr | Pro tier only |
| Notes, tasks & workspace | Built-in, free | No | No |
| Multi-device sync + stats | All paid plans | No | No |
| Linux desktop | Planned (Windows available now) | No | No |
Competitor features and pricing change — confirm on wisprflow.ai and superwhisper.com.
Loved by people who type a lot
"I used to pay $15/mo for Wispr Flow. Kalam gives me the exact same speed with my own Groq key, plus I can use it on my Linux machine at home. The offline mode is just icing on the cake."
"Dragon was too clunky and Mac Voice Control wasn't accurate enough. Kalam's offline Whisper model is incredibly precise. I write 5,000+ words a day and it hasn't skipped a beat."
"Privacy is non-negotiable in my field. The fact that Kalam runs 100% locally means I can dictate patient notes without violating compliance. A massive step up from cloud-only alternatives."
"Superwhisper is great but the premium tier is pricey. Kalam being completely free for everyday dictation is amazing. It occasionally misses a highly technical acronym, but otherwise flawless."
"For anyone with RSI, this is a lifesaver. The hotkey toggle makes hands-free typing across Windows seamless. A free tool that types anywhere on the desktop — this should be standard."
"I love the built-in snippets! Being able to dictate a shortcut and have it expand into a full email template saves me hours every week. Best free tool I've downloaded this year."
"I used to pay $15/mo for Wispr Flow. Kalam gives me the exact same speed with my own Groq key, plus I can use it on my Linux machine at home. The offline mode is just icing on the cake."
"Privacy is non-negotiable in my field. The fact that Kalam runs 100% locally means I can dictate patient notes without violating compliance. A massive step up from cloud-only alternatives."
"I love the built-in snippets! Being able to dictate a shortcut and have it expand into a full email template saves me hours every week. Best free tool I've downloaded this year."
Three tiers. Zero surprises.
Dictation is free — always. Pro adds the smart AI layer with your own keys. Max includes Kalam-hosted speech-to-text and AI, no keys needed.
Free
Unlimited dictation with local or BYOK engines, one profile, and the full workspace.
Download freePro
AI polish, unlimited profiles, context awareness, voice editing, and multi-device sync. BYOK.
Start 14-day trialMax
Everything in Pro plus Kalam-hosted STT and AI. No API keys, generous monthly limits.
Compare plansRolling out a team? See Kalam for Teams for volume licensing.
Is Kalam really free?
Yes — core dictation is completely free, forever. Voice mode, local & BYOK transcription, notes, tasks, snippets, and the full workspace are all free. Pro ($4.99/mo) adds AI polish, unlimited dictation profiles, context awareness, and multi-device sync. Max ($11.99/mo) adds Kalam-hosted speech-to-text and AI — no API keys needed.
Does my audio leave my device?
Only if you choose a cloud mode. In Offline mode, everything is processed locally using Whisper. Kalam never stores your audio.
How does it compare to Wispr Flow?
Kalam has a genuinely free core, a $4.99/mo Pro tier (bring your own keys and control your AI costs), and an $11.99/mo Max tier with hosted AI included. Wispr charges $8.49/mo with compute bundled and no free unlimited dictation. See the comparison table.
Which platforms are supported?
Windows 10+ is available for download now. macOS and Linux installers are in development — coming soon. Desktop-first — no mobile apps. See the download page.
Do I need an API key?
No. Offline mode needs no key, and Max includes Kalam-hosted transcription and AI. BYOK (Groq, OpenAI) remains available on every plan if you prefer it.
How do I start dictating?
Press and hold your hotkey (default: Right Ctrl), speak, then release. Words appear wherever your cursor is.
Is my data safe?
Kalam stores history and workspace data locally. Audio is not written to disk. Read our privacy policy.
Type at the
speed of speech.
Download Kalam for free. No account, no credit card, no strings attached.