What is the age requirement?

OpenWhispr is intended for users aged 13 and over. If you are under 18, you confirm that your parent or legal guardian has read these Terms and agrees to them on your behalf.

What is the difference between Cloud and local?

Cloud is the quick option: it gives top accuracy and speed without downloading a local model. Local runs on the device and works offline. Choose the setup that fits the writing session.

Does OpenWhispr keep Cloud audio?

No. OpenWhispr Cloud receives audio only to transcribe it, then immediately discards the transcription audio. Local transcription keeps the audio on your device.

Will it work without Wi-Fi?

Yes, when you choose a local transcription model. Local models run entirely on the device, so the teen can keep dictating without an internet connection.

What if it gets a name or word wrong?

Review the text with the teen before they keep writing. You can add names, places and other useful words to OpenWhispr's custom dictionary to help with future transcripts.

What does the Free plan include?

Free includes unlimited local AI models, 2,000 words of OpenWhispr Cloud transcription each week, 5 hours of meeting recordings each month, 100+ languages and a custom dictionary. Pro adds unlimited OpenWhispr Cloud transcription, sync and mobile.

Speech-to-text software for kids

Say the story. Get it on the page.

Help a teen aged 13 and over speak a story, journal entry or note, then let them review and revise the editable text. Choose Cloud for quick setup and fast transcription, or local when working offline.

Open source · 80,000+ downloads

Common writing tools:

Google DocsMicrosoft WordApple PagesMicrosoft OneNoteGoogle SlidesCanva

When typing slows a teen's first draft

The idea is ready. Help them get it onto the page.

Set up the tool, let a teen aged 13 and over say the words while they are fresh, then give them editable text to review and revise.

The idea is there. The keyboard gets in the way.

A story opening, a journal thought or a list of ideas can be easy to say and slow to type. OpenWhispr turns spoken words into editable text for the teen to review.

An offline writing session needs a practical option.

Choose a local model for an offline writing session. The device processes the audio, so the teen can keep working without an internet connection.

Speech-to-text is the start, not the finished work.

Help the teen say the opening out loud. The editable text gives them something to reread, change and build on.

Cloud is the quick, no-download option.

Cloud avoids a local model download and gives fast transcription. The transcription audio is discarded immediately afterward.

What you get

Help a teen get the words down. Then let them make them theirs.

Use Cloud for a fast, no-download start, or local processing for an offline writing session. Both leave the teen with editable text to check and improve.

A teenager working at a laptop at a wooden dining table in a bright kitchen

Cloud transcription without a local model download

Help a teen speak an opening, a list of ideas or a personal note into the microphone. Cloud is the no-download option for fast transcription, then discards the transcription audio immediately.

A teenager pointing at a laptop screen at a dining table in the evening, with city lights outside the window

Local processing for offline work

Choose a local model when working offline. The device processes the audio, then the teen can reread and edit the words.

A teenager speaking at a laptop in a school workshop, with a robotics kit on the bench

Set a hotkey to start dictation

Set the hotkey once, then help the teen say what they want to write and review the text before they keep going.

Audio sent to us in local mode

None

in local mode, transcription never leaves your device

Cost to get started

unlimited local dictation, free forever

Setup takes

5 min

from download to your first dictated sentence

How it works

From a spoken idea to editable text.

Start free, choose Cloud for the quickest no-download setup or local for offline work, then help a teen aged 13 and over turn a spoken idea into text.

A teenager speaking at a laptop beside an open notebook on a kitchen counter

Set it up once.

Download on Mac, Windows or Linux. Choose Cloud for no local model download or local for offline work.

Help them say the idea.

The teen speaks the words they want to get down. OpenWhispr turns their voice into editable text.

Let them review and revise.

Read the words together, fix what needs fixing, then let the teen keep writing in the document.

No convincing needed

10 ways OpenWhispr helps parents and educators

Speech-to-text should help a teen aged 13 and over get an idea onto the page, then leave them with words they can still shape themselves.

A local mode for offline work

Set up a local model and the audio stays on the device. No internet connection is required for transcription.

Free local dictation

Try unlimited local AI models on the Free plan, with no monthly charge.

One hotkey to start dictation

Set a hotkey to start dictation while the teen is writing. Review the resulting text before they keep going.

No Wi-Fi required in local mode

Choose a local model when the connection drops. Transcription continues on the device.

Start with the sentence they can say

Help the teen speak the opening line, the tricky description or the next thought. Then let them edit the text in their own voice.

Editable words to reread straight away

OpenWhispr turns what the teen says into text, so they can reread the words before deciding what to write next.

Cloud audio is not kept

Cloud audio is sent only to transcribe it, then immediately discarded.

Open source, so you can inspect it

The app is MIT-licensed and its code is available on GitHub.

A custom dictionary for names and terms

Add names, places and words that matter to the teen so OpenWhispr has a better chance of getting them right.

100+ languages

Choose from 100+ supported languages for multilingual speech-to-text.

Before you download

Questions parents and educators consider for teens aged 13+.

Straight answers on age requirements, setup, working offline and helping a teen review editable text.

What users say

For parents and educators helping teens get words onto the page.

These are generic OpenWhispr reviews. The words, names and handles are unchanged.

to start with local dictation

The Free plan includes unlimited local AI models. Start with the words you want to get onto the page.

Started using OpenWhispr with my local models and hardware. I have to say, this is better than typing.

0xSero@0xSero

I switched to voice input for my Claude Code chats. Even when I stumble and rephrase mid-sentence, the transcription comes out clean and polished.

j3iiifn@j3iiifn

I needed a local model for when I'm travelling or have no WiFi, and this perfectly solves it. The UI and performance are great.

Gabe@gabe__perez

Pricing

Free forever.
Upgrade when you want more.

Compare OpenWhispr plans for parents and educators supporting teens
	FreePopular $0No card details needed Loading...	Pro $6.67/user/mo$80/user billed annually Start with Pro	Business $13.33/user/mo$160/user billed annually Start with Business
Best for	Parents and educators supporting teens aged 13+ who want a useful free start with local dictation and limited Cloud transcription	Parents and educators supporting teens aged 13+ who want unlimited Cloud transcription plus mobile, sync, and API/MCP access	Teams recording at volume with Agent mode and chat over data
Main reason to choose	A useful free start with local dictation and limited Cloud transcription	Unlimited Cloud transcription plus mobile, sync, and API/MCP access for adults managing the setup	Unlimited meeting recordings plus Agent mode and chat over data
Offline speech-to-text	Included	Included	Included
Cloud speech-to-text	2,000 words/week via OpenWhispr Cloud, or unlimited using your own API keys	Unlimited OpenWhispr Cloud speech-to-text	Unlimited OpenWhispr Cloud speech-to-text
Meeting recordings	5 hours/month	20 hours/month	Unlimited
Privacy & data handling	Offline audio stays on your device. Cloud audio is sent only to transcribe it, then never stored.	Offline audio stays on your device. Cloud audio is sent only to transcribe it, then never stored.	Offline audio stays on your device. Cloud audio is sent only to transcribe it, then never stored.
Setup experience	Hands-on: install app, choose local models, optionally add API keys	Easy: install app, upgrade, use unlimited cloud speech-to-text	Moderate: configure users, Agent mode, and data workflows
Advanced features	Custom dictionary improves names/terms 100+ languages multilingual speech-to-text	Custom dictionary improves names/terms 100+ languages multilingual speech-to-text Device sync use across devices Mobile companion app dictate on mobile API / MCP access connect tools/workflows	Custom dictionary improves names/terms 100+ languages multilingual speech-to-text Device sync use across devices Mobile companion app dictate on mobile API / MCP access connect tools/workflows Agent mode automate actions Chat over your data ask about files/transcripts
Team management	None	None	Basic team / workflow use
Support	Community support	Email support	Priority support

Need SSO, compliance features, admin controls, or dedicated support for a larger team?

We also offer a custom Enterprise plan with managed onboarding and tailored features.

Talk to us

Built in the open

Some ideas are easier to say. Help a teen get them into editable text.

For parents and educators helping teens aged 13 and over, OpenWhispr turns a spoken idea into editable text. The teen can then review, change and shape the words.

We build in public. The app is MIT-licensed and its code is available on GitHub. Local transcription runs on your device, and the code is there for anyone to inspect.

And if anything breaks, you talk to the people who built it, in Discord.

Free · open source · local-first

Help a teen get the idea onto the page.

Download OpenWhispr, help a teen aged 13 and over say the first draft out loud, then let them make the editable words their own.

Takes 5 minutes to set up. If it doesn't work, we'll fix it with you in Discord. Free forever on Mac, Windows & Linux.