
Amical vs Wispr Flow
Wispr Flow is the polished, cloud-first dictation app a lot of people compare us to. Amical matches it on accuracy and speed, runs entirely on your machine, and ships free and open-source.
The short version
Pick Amical if…
Pick Amical if you want top-tier dictation accuracy and snappy response without sending every word to a hosted service, with code you can read on GitHub and no subscription to renew.
Pick Wispr Flow if…
Pick Wispr Flow if you specifically want a closed-source hosted product, are comfortable uploading audio to their servers, and prefer a single vendor managing everything for you end-to-end.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Amical | Wispr Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Local-first by default | No, cloud only | |
| Open source | Yes, MIT licensed | No, closed source |
| Price | Free | ~$15/mo |
| Transcription accuracy | Top-tier | Top-tier |
| Latency | Near-instant, on-device | Fast on a good network, degrades otherwise |
| Works offline | ||
| AI text rewrites | Yes, local or BYO key | Yes, hosted |
| Custom vocabulary | ||
| Data retention | Stays on your machine | Stored on their servers |
| Platforms | macOS · Windows · Android · iOS | macOS · Windows |
Where Amical wins
Local-first by default, cloud when you want it
By default your microphone audio and transcripts stay on your machine — no hosted account, no server-side logs. If you want cloud transcription or rewrites for a bigger model, it is an explicit opt-in, not a forced default. You get the choice instead of the lock-in.
Open source you can inspect
Every line of Amical is MIT licensed on GitHub. You can audit how audio is handled, fork it, run it in air-gapped environments, or land a fix upstream. With a closed cloud product you are trusting a privacy policy you cannot verify against the actual implementation.
Free, community-built
Amical costs nothing and is built in the open with help from people who use it daily. No seat licences, no per-month bill, no usage caps. That keeps it accessible to students, indie developers, and anyone who would rather not pay a subscription to dictate into their own apps.
Experience the future of dictation
Local and Cloud Models
Choose from powerful cloud-based AI models or run everything locally for maximum privacy and control. Switch seamlessly between providers to find the perfect balance of speed, accuracy, and security.
Custom Vocabulary
Customize the AI to recognize your specific terminology, jargon, and proper nouns for industry-specific accuracy and personalized transcription results.
Custom Shortcuts
Create personalized voice commands and shortcuts to streamline your workflow and boost productivity with hands-free operation.
Multi Language Support
Transcribe and dictate in 100+ languages with native-level accuracy. Switch between languages seamlessly or use mixed-language dictation.
Frequently asked questions
Other Amical comparisons
Built for the way you work
Loved by builders
From San Francisco to Tokyo — what real users are saying about Amical.
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