Pathology dictation software
Dictate the findings. Get report text at your cursor.
Keep the specimen or slide in view. Dictate the macroscopic description, microscopic findings or final diagnosis. OpenWhispr types into supported fields. You review and sign out.
Open source · 80,000+ downloads
The problem with typing pathology reports
The slide is in focus. The keyboard pulls you away.
The finding is clear. The field is empty. Every trip to the keyboard interrupts the read.
Your eyes leave the slide for the keyboard.
You see the finding, then look away to type it. OpenWhispr lets you speak the report text while the morphology is still in view.
The gross description waits on your hands.
Measurements, margins, sections and the block key arrive in sequence at the cut-up bench. Dictate each observation while it is in front of you, then review the text before it enters the final report.
Structured fields still need precise prose.
Synoptic fields capture element-response pairs. Free-text microscopic descriptions, comments and addenda can still need your words. OpenWhispr transcribes those words without building or validating the protocol.
One unfamiliar term becomes a correction loop.
Specimen labels, eponyms and local abbreviations recur case after case. Add them to the custom dictionary as context hints, then check every occurrence before sign-out.
What you get
Keep the case in view. Put the words in the report.
Pathology dictation software should fit the reporting screen already open. OpenWhispr turns speech into text at the active cursor. It does not replace your LIS, protocols or judgment.
Report text at the active cursor
Open an editable report field, place the cursor and press the hotkey. OpenWhispr pastes the transcript when the field and session support automatic paste. Otherwise it copies the text for manual paste.
Local transcription when you choose it
Download a local speech model and select Local in Settings. With cloud fallback disabled, dictation stays on the workstation and continues without internet after the model is installed.
Your recurring terms as context hints
Add specimen names, eponyms, stains and local abbreviations to the custom dictionary. OpenWhispr feeds them to supported speech models as hints. It does not promise specialist terminology accuracy.
Direct LIS integrations included
None
OpenWhispr uses active-cursor paste in compatible fields instead
Cost per pathologist
$0
unlimited local dictation on every desktop plan
Setup takes
5 min
from download to your first dictated report text
How it works
Findings in the report before you leave the case.
Speech becomes editable text in the report field. You check it against the case and complete sign-out in the reporting system.
Download for free.
Mac, Windows or Linux. Pick a local model during setup.
Dictate the findings.
Put the cursor in an editable field, press the hotkey and speak the macroscopic description, microscopic findings, ancillary-study results, addendum or diagnosis text.
Review, then sign out.
Check the text against the specimen, slides, ancillary studies and required report elements. The final report remains your call.
No convincing needed
10 reasons OpenWhispr fits pathology reporting
A pathology report carries exact observations and a final professional judgment. OpenWhispr stays in the narrower lane of turning your speech into editable text.
Automatic paste in supported fields
Use the same hotkey in a compatible report field, an email or a document. If automatic paste is unavailable, OpenWhispr leaves the text on your clipboard.
No direct LIS plug-in required
Compatible editable fields use desktop dictation and automatic paste. OpenWhispr does not claim a direct integration with Epic Beaker, PathNet, PowerPath, WinPath or another LIS. Test your reporting system and virtual-desktop setup.
A local transcription path
Choose Local in Settings and keep cloud fallback disabled. The speech model runs on the workstation and the dictation audio is not uploaded for transcription on that path.
Works offline after model setup
Once a local model is downloaded, dictation continues without internet at the microscope, gross bench or home workstation.
A dictionary for recurring terms
Add specimen names, stains, eponyms and abbreviations as context hints. The pathologist still checks the transcript before sign-out.
Unlimited local dictation at $0
Every desktop plan includes unlimited use of local speech-to-text models.
Mac, Windows and Linux
Use OpenWhispr on the desktop operating system your reporting workstation already runs.
Open source, inspectable by IT
The desktop app code is public on GitHub, so your technical team can inspect the local and cloud transcription paths.
100+ languages
OpenWhispr supports 100+ languages. Availability varies by local model and cloud provider.
Local or cloud in Settings
Choose the transcription path during setup and change it later in Settings. Cloud audio is sent only to transcribe it and is never stored by OpenWhispr.
Before you download
What pathologists ask before changing dictation software.
Straight answers on reporting fields, terminology, diagnostic boundaries, local processing and cost.
Does OpenWhispr integrate with my LIS or digital pathology viewer?
Does it generate a diagnosis or complete a synoptic report?
Will it recognize pathology terminology?
Where is the dictation processed?
Will it work without internet?
Is it actually free?
What users say
The dictation is fast. The judgment stays yours.
Existing OpenWhispr user feedback. These testimonials are about the tool, not pathology reporting.
0
Diagnostic decisions made by OpenWhispr
OpenWhispr transcribes what you say. It does not interpret a specimen or slide, choose a diagnosis or sign out a report.
Started using OpenWhispr with my local models and hardware. I have to say, this is better than typing.
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.
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.
Pricing
Free forever.
Upgrade when you want more.
FreePopular $0No card details needed | 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 | Pathologists who want free offline dictation at the active report cursor | Pathologists who want unlimited OpenWhispr Cloud transcription | Laboratories and teams documenting at volume |
| Main reason to choose | Unlimited local report dictation at $0 | Unlimited cloud transcription without managing local models | Unlimited recordings and priority support for a team |
| Offline speech-to-textOffline speech-to-text runs entirely on your own device, it works without internet connection, and it's unlimited and free. | Included | Included | Included |
| Cloud speech-to-textCloud speech-to-text sends audio to OpenWhispr Cloud, with no local models to download. | 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 and OpenWhispr features |
| Advanced features |
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| Team management | None | None | Basic OpenWhispr team use |
| Support | Community support | Email support | Priority support |
Need SSO, SAML, SCIM, audit logs, retention controls, admin controls, or dedicated support for a larger team? These are enterprise security and data-governance options, not clinical or regulatory certification.
We also offer a custom Enterprise plan with managed onboarding and tailored features.
Talk to us
Built in the open
The report remains yours. OpenWhispr handles the typing.
OpenWhispr handles the mechanical part: speech becomes editable text at your cursor. The interpretation, structured elements, final diagnosis and sign-out remain with the pathologist and the laboratory's reporting system.
OpenWhispr is open source under the MIT License, and its source is available on GitHub. When we say dictation can run locally, your laboratory can inspect the code.
And if anything breaks, you talk to the people who built it, in Discord.
Free · open source · local-first
Finish the report while the case is still on screen.
Put the cursor in the editable field, dictate the findings and review every word before sign-out.
Loading...Takes 5 minutes to set up. If it doesn't work with your workstation, ask us for help in Discord. Free forever on Mac, Windows & Linux.