---
title: "Spokenly vs SpeechBee (2026): free local dictation or a finished app?"
description: "Spokenly offers free unlimited local dictation, Local+ for $19 once and Pro at $99.99 a year. SpeechBee is on-device dictation plus Read Aloud for Mac, iPhone and iPad at $79 a year or $99 once. Which one fits."
url: "https://speechbee.app/compare/spokenly-vs-speechbee"
---

# Spokenly vs SpeechBee

SpeechBee is our own app. Both can dictate with models that run on your own Mac. Spokenly gives you the parts for free and lets you choose models and cloud keys yourself. SpeechBee is one setup that also reads text aloud.

By the SpeechBee team, who make SpeechBee. Prices checked on 13 October 2026.

> ### The short answer
>
> - **Pick Spokenly** if you want unlimited local dictation for $0, enjoy choosing your own models, want to plug in your own OpenAI, Deepgram or Groq keys, or need Windows or Linux.
> - **Pick SpeechBee** if you want dictation that is set up in minutes with a dictionary and snippets, text read back to you in natural voices, and one plan for Mac, iPhone and iPad.

## Side by side

| | Spokenly | SpeechBee |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Local+ $19 once; Pro $99.99/yr | $9/mo, $79/yr, or $99 once |
| Where speech is processed | Local models, or the cloud with your keys or Pro | On your device |
| Works offline | Yes, with local models | Yes, after a one-time model download |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone | Mac, iPhone, iPad |
| AI cleanup | Free with Apple Intelligence or your own key; managed models on Pro | Optional on-device cleanup on Macs with Apple Intelligence, off by default |
| Filler removal | Through AI cleanup | 44 languages on Mac; English, German, Spanish and French on iPhone |
| Settings sync | Local+ and Pro | Dictionary and snippets, optional private iCloud sync |
| Read text aloud | No | Yes, natural local voices |

## Free versus finished

Spokenly's free tier is generous: local Whisper and Parakeet models, no word limit, no account and no trial. A local-only mode blocks every network request. Local+ adds recording styles and settings sync for $19 once, and Pro adds managed cloud models for $99.99 a year.

SpeechBee is a paid app with a free week. You get one model chosen for you, a dictionary for names, snippets for phrases you repeat, filler removal, and Read Aloud, all set up in a short onboarding. Choosing models yourself is not part of it.

## Privacy

With local models, Spokenly keeps your voice on the device; with cloud models or your own keys, audio goes to that provider. SpeechBee always transcribes on your device, never uploads audio and never records it.

## Reading, not just writing

SpeechBee also reads. Select text in any Mac app and press your reading key, and a natural local voice reads it. Spokenly has no text to speech.

## Price

Spokenly's local dictation costs nothing; Local+ is $19 once and Pro $99.99 a year. SpeechBee is $9 a month, $79 a year or $99 once. If $0 is the goal, Spokenly wins. If you want dictation and Read Aloud in one app across your Apple devices, SpeechBee's $99 once is the comparison.

[Compare any apps in the interactive tool](https://speechbee.app/compare/tool)

## Questions

### Is Spokenly really free?

Yes. Local dictation with Whisper and Parakeet models is free with no word limit. You pay only for Local+ extras or Pro's managed cloud models.

### Is SpeechBee a good Spokenly alternative?

Yes, if you would rather not pick models and want Read Aloud, a dictionary and snippets, and an iPad app. Not if you need Windows or Linux or want to bring your own API keys.

### Do both work offline?

Yes. Spokenly works offline with local models, and SpeechBee works offline after its speech model has downloaded once.

## Keep comparing

- [Spokenly alternatives](https://speechbee.app/compare/spokenly-alternatives)
- [Free speech to text on Mac](https://speechbee.app/guides/free-speech-to-text-mac)
- [The best dictation apps for Mac](https://speechbee.app/compare/best-dictation-app-mac)

## More on dictation

- [Every dictation guide and comparison](https://speechbee.app/guides/voice-typing-mac)
- [superwhisper alternatives](https://speechbee.app/compare/superwhisper-alternatives)
- [superwhisper pricing](https://speechbee.app/compare/superwhisper-pricing)
- [superwhisper vs SpeechBee](https://speechbee.app/compare/superwhisper-vs-speechbee)
- [superwhisper vs Spokenly](https://speechbee.app/compare/superwhisper-vs-spokenly)
- [Typeless vs SpeechBee](https://speechbee.app/compare/typeless-vs-speechbee)
- [Every read-aloud guide and comparison](https://speechbee.app/guides/read-text-aloud)

## Sources

Checked on 13 October 2026.

- [Spokenly pricing](https://spokenly.app/pricing) and [Spokenly](https://spokenly.app/)
- SpeechBee facts from our [homepage](https://speechbee.app/) and [privacy policy](https://speechbee.app/privacy)