Wave
A native macOS dictation app that turns your voice into text instantly. Local Whisper for complete privacy or Groq for real-time speed. No accounts. No friction.
Wave
What is Wave?
Wave vs Similar AI Tools
| Pricing Model | Free | Free | Free, Freemium, Free Trial | Free |
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How to use Wave?
- 1Hold the Right Option key to start dictation.
- 2Speak clearly or describe what you want to write.
- 3Release the key to insert text at your cursor.
- 4For selection mode, highlight text first, then hold the shortcut and speak an instruction to rewrite it.
Wave Key Features
- One-key activation: press and hold Right Option to start dictation
- Privacy: Whisper runs on-device, no cloud processing
- AI Mode: describe intent and get polished text
- Groq speed: option for low-latency transcription with Groq
- Offline: works without internet when using Whisper
- Direct insertion: text appears at cursor without extra paste
- Selection mode: highlight text and speak to rewrite in place
- Free and open source
Wave Use Cases
- Drafting emails and messages
- Taking notes in meetings or class
- Writing documents and articles
- Creating content in any macOS app that accepts text input
- Quickly entering text while multitasking
Wave Pricing & Free Credits
Wave currently operates on a Free model.
This tool is completely free to use
Wave Pros & Cons
Pros
- 100% free and open source
- Privacy-focused with on-device processing
- Works offline with local Whisper
- Simple one-key activation
- AI mode for intent-based writing
- Selection mode for inline rewriting
- No account required
- Low latency with optional Groq
Cons
- macOS only (no Windows or Linux support)
- Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later
- Local Whisper may be slower on older Macs
- No built-in text editing or formatting
What is Wave best for?
- Privacy-conscious users
- Offline dictation needs
- Writers and content creators
- Developers and professionals
- Anyone looking for a lightweight dictation tool
Wave FAQ
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Best alternatives AI Tools to Wave
Yap is a blazing-fast, open-source voice dictation app for macOS that runs entirely on-device, with no cloud, no API keys, and no account needed.
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