# Epilude

> Epilude is a voice productivity app for Mac. Press a key, speak naturally, release, and formatted text appears in any app. It runs in Cloud Mode by default, or in a fully on-device Local Mode where your audio never leaves your Mac.

## Key facts

- Platform: macOS. Local Mode (fully on-device) requires Apple Silicon; full on-device AI cleanup needs a 16GB+ Mac.
- What it does: voice dictation, AI cleanup of filler and punctuation, Tone Match, Vocabulary, Shortcuts, and more, across any app.
- Privacy: Local Mode runs fully on-device and works offline. Cloud Mode (the default) has zero data retention and never trains on your data.
- Languages: 30+ with mid-sentence code-switching.
- Pricing: Pro is $12/month billed annually ($18 month to month). Pay Once is $59 one time and unlocks Local Mode, on-device dictation. Free for 1,000 words and 10 meeting notes, no credit card required.

## Core pages

- [Epilude](https://www.epilude.com): What Epilude is and how press-to-dictate works.
- [Voice Dictation](https://www.epilude.com/features/dictation): Press-to-dictate into any app on your Mac with a global shortcut.
- [AI Smart Edits](https://www.epilude.com/features/ai-smart-edits): Cleans filler, punctuation, and mid-sentence corrections as you speak.
- [Local Mode and privacy](https://www.epilude.com/features/privacy): Fully on-device dictation that works offline; your audio never leaves your Mac.
- [Pricing](https://www.epilude.com/pricing): Pro is $12/month billed annually. Pay Once is $59 one time for Local Mode. Free for 1,000 words and 10 meeting notes.
- [Best dictation app for Mac](https://www.epilude.com/best-dictation-app-for-mac): Honest comparison of Epilude, Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, MacWhisper, Aqua Voice, and built-in dictation.
- [Help Center](https://www.epilude.com/help): Setup, troubleshooting, and how-to documentation.
- [Changelog](https://www.epilude.com/help/changelog): What shipped recently.

## Comparisons

- [Epilude vs Wispr Flow](https://www.epilude.com/compare/wispr-flow)
- [Epilude vs Superwhisper](https://www.epilude.com/compare/superwhisper)
- [Epilude vs MacWhisper](https://www.epilude.com/compare/macwhisper)
- [Epilude vs Aqua Voice](https://www.epilude.com/compare/aqua-voice)

## Alternatives

- [Wispr Flow alternative for Mac](https://www.epilude.com/alternatives/wispr-flow)

## Blog

- [Epilude product update: August 2026](https://www.epilude.com/news/august-2026-product-update): August brought Notetaker to every account, separate Cloud and Local controls, faster dictation, and clearer settings across the app.
- [Introducing EP-1: our first local model that summarises meetings](https://www.epilude.com/news/introducing-ep-1): EP-1 builds on Epilude Model 4.1, bringing transcription, Cleanup, and meeting summaries together in one on-device model for your Mac.
- [Best bot-free meeting note takers for Mac](https://www.epilude.com/news/best-bot-free-meeting-note-takers-for-mac): We compared seven bot-free meeting note takers for Mac, including local transcripts, summaries, consent, exports, and capture with headphones.
- [Best Granola alternatives for private local meetings](https://www.epilude.com/news/granola-alternatives-for-private-meeting-notes): We tested six private Granola alternatives for Mac, comparing local transcription, local summaries, bot-free capture, storage, and exports.
- [Best local AI meeting note takers for Mac](https://www.epilude.com/news/best-local-ai-meeting-note-takers-for-mac): Compare eight local and bot-free AI meeting note takers for Mac. Epilude is our top overall pick for transcripts, summaries, and action items.
- [Where does your AI meeting audio actually go?](https://www.epilude.com/news/where-ai-meeting-audio-goes): We trace meeting audio through capture, transcription, summaries, storage, and deletion, and explain what bot-free, local, and private really mean.
- [Introducing Notetaker](https://www.epilude.com/news/introducing-meeting-notes): A notepad that listens. Type what matters during the call, and Epilude writes it up with every line traced back to the moment it was said.
- [Epilude product update: July 2026](https://www.epilude.com/news/july-2026-product-update): A better on-device model for Local Mode, Pay Once as a way to buy it outright, Actions for editing any text by voice, and a steadier dictation loop.
- [Why Bluetooth dictation misses your first words](https://www.epilude.com/news/bluetooth-dictation-dead-zone): Bluetooth microphones can take a second or two to start on a Mac. Here is why, what Epilude fixed, and when another mic works better.
- [Introducing Actions](https://www.epilude.com/news/introducing-actions): Select text in any app, say the change you want, and Actions rewrites it in place. Voice editing without leaving the document you're in.
- [Tighter on-device Cleanup with Model 4.1](https://www.epilude.com/news/introducing-model-4-1): A sharper Local Mode cleanup model for longer dictations, with fewer critical errors, the same 1.5 GB download, and nothing leaving your Mac.
- [Best voice dictation for Cursor and VS Code on Mac](https://www.epilude.com/news/best-voice-dictation-for-cursor-vscode-mac): We compared six Mac dictation apps for Cursor and VS Code prompts, PRs, docs, comments, terminal agents, file names, local use, and code context.
- [Best dictation software for lawyers on Mac](https://www.epilude.com/news/best-dictation-software-for-lawyers-on-mac): We compared six dictation apps for legal work on Mac, including local processing, cleanup, vocabulary, app coverage, and confidential writing workflows.
- [Introducing Epilude Model 4: our best on-device dictation model yet](https://www.epilude.com/news/introducing-model-4): The fourth generation of the model that powers Local Mode: a measurably better writer, with 56 percent fewer critical errors, and nothing you say ever leaving your Mac.
- [Best Wispr Flow alternatives for Mac in 2026](https://www.epilude.com/news/wispr-flow-alternatives): We tested eight Wispr Flow alternatives for Mac, comparing writing cleanup, app coverage, offline use, privacy, and price. Epilude is our top pick.
- [7 best Willow Voice alternatives for Mac](https://www.epilude.com/news/willow-voice-alternatives-for-mac): We compared the best Willow Voice alternatives for Mac, including private offline dictation, polished text, cross-platform apps, and free options.
- [How to dictate on your Mac: the 2026 guide](https://www.epilude.com/news/how-to-dictate-on-mac): Three ways to dictate on a Mac: built-in dictation, cloud dictation apps, and on-device apps. Setup steps, honest limits, and how to choose.
- [MacWhisper vs Epilude: which Mac voice app fits?](https://www.epilude.com/news/macwhisper-vs-epilude): We compared MacWhisper and Epilude for live dictation, file transcription, meetings, local processing, cleanup, exports, and everyday Mac writing.
- [15 product updates from June 2026](https://www.epilude.com/news/june-2026-product-update): In June, Epilude moved on-device with Local Mode, made Cleanup faithful to your exact words, and rebuilt how it picks your microphone.
- [Best offline dictation apps for Mac in 2026](https://www.epilude.com/news/best-offline-dictation-apps-for-mac): We compared six offline dictation apps for Mac, including local cleanup, cursor insertion, privacy, and what works without Wi-Fi. Epilude is our top pick.
- [Spell it right every time with Vocabulary](https://www.epilude.com/news/introducing-vocabulary): Teach Epilude how to spell the names, brands, and jargon you use, and it gets them right on every dictation, in any app on your Mac.
- [Keep your voice private with Local Mode](https://www.epilude.com/news/introducing-local-mode): Local Mode runs entirely on your Mac. Your audio never leaves it, and dictation keeps working with Wi-Fi off.
- [Epilude vs Superwhisper vs VoiceInk](https://www.epilude.com/news/epilude-vs-superwhisper-vs-voiceink): We compared Epilude, Superwhisper, and VoiceInk on Mac using the same corrections, lists, names, technical phrases, and long-form dictation.
- [Best Mac dictation apps without a subscription](https://www.epilude.com/news/best-mac-dictation-apps-without-subscription): We compared one-time and free Mac dictation apps by cleanup, offline use, updates, licence terms, cursor insertion, and the work each purchase suits.
- [Best Mac dictation software for clean, ready-to-send text](https://www.epilude.com/news/best-dictation-software-for-mac): Compare 13 Mac dictation apps for grammar fixes, filler removal, app coverage, and privacy. Epilude is our top pick for clean, ready-to-send text.
- [New in May: dictation that sounds the way you write](https://www.epilude.com/news/may-2026-product-update): In May we shipped Tone Match and Cleanup, two dials for the tone and polish of every dictation, plus a Home dashboard that keeps your stats on your Mac.
- [Whisper is a model, not a complete dictation app](https://www.epilude.com/news/whisper-model-vs-dictation-app): We explain what Whisper does, what a Mac dictation product adds around it, and why capture, cleanup, context, cursor insertion, privacy, and updates matter.
- [How to dictate in Slack, Gmail, Notion, and any Mac app](https://www.epilude.com/news/dictate-in-slack-gmail-notion-on-mac): Use one Mac dictation shortcut inside Slack, Gmail, Notion, Docs, Mail, and other apps. We cover setup, app tone, insertion, and common failures.
- [Best Apple Dictation alternatives that clean up speech](https://www.epilude.com/news/apple-dictation-alternatives-for-mac): We compared six Mac dictation options for filler removal, grammar, false starts, lists, tone, privacy, and writing directly in Slack, Gmail, and Notion.
- [Introducing Cleanup](https://www.epilude.com/news/introducing-cleanup): Four levels of editing intensity, controlled from Settings, that work alongside Tone Match to give you the right output per app.
- [Introducing Tone Match](https://www.epilude.com/news/introducing-tone-match): Pick how dictation should be formatted per app category. Epilude applies the right tone automatically based on the app you're in.
- [Why dictation failed](https://www.epilude.com/news/why-dictation-failed): Dictation has been five years away for thirty years. Two breakthroughs finally arrived at the same time, and almost no one noticed.
- [Epilude is now open to everyone](https://www.epilude.com/news/introducing-epilude): Epilude turns your voice into polished, formatted text in any Mac app. After months with design partners, it's now available to everyone.

## Help articles

- [What is Epilude?](https://www.epilude.com/help/getting-started/what-is-epilude)
- [Installation](https://www.epilude.com/help/getting-started/install)
- [Quick start](https://www.epilude.com/help/getting-started/quickstart)
- [Smart formatting](https://www.epilude.com/help/dictation/smart-formatting)
- [Cleanup](https://www.epilude.com/help/dictation/cleanup)
- [Local Mode](https://www.epilude.com/help/dictation/local-mode)
- [Tone Match](https://www.epilude.com/help/dictation/tone-match)
- [Shortcuts](https://www.epilude.com/help/dictation/shortcuts)
- [Vocabulary](https://www.epilude.com/help/dictation/vocabulary)
- [Actions](https://www.epilude.com/help/dictation/actions)
- [Hands-free dictation](https://www.epilude.com/help/dictation/hands-free)
- [Dictation history](https://www.epilude.com/help/dictation/history)
- [Send text to submit](https://www.epilude.com/help/dictation/send-text-to-submit)
- [Languages](https://www.epilude.com/help/dictation/languages)
- [How Notetaker works](https://www.epilude.com/help/notetaker/how-notetaker-works)
- [Record a meeting](https://www.epilude.com/help/notetaker/record-a-meeting)
- [Getting consent to record](https://www.epilude.com/help/notetaker/getting-consent)
- [Summaries and action items](https://www.epilude.com/help/notetaker/summaries-and-action-items)
- [Manage your meeting library](https://www.epilude.com/help/notetaker/manage-your-library)
- [Export and auto-save](https://www.epilude.com/help/notetaker/export-and-autosave)
- [Troubleshooting Notetaker](https://www.epilude.com/help/notetaker/troubleshooting)
- [Adjusting your hotkeys](https://www.epilude.com/help/configuration/hotkeys)
- [Audio & microphone setup](https://www.epilude.com/help/configuration/audio-setup)
- [Choosing a microphone](https://www.epilude.com/help/configuration/choosing-a-microphone)
- [Dictate quietly and discreetly](https://www.epilude.com/help/configuration/discreet-dictation)
- [Text not inserting](https://www.epilude.com/help/troubleshooting/text-not-inserting)
- [Transcription issues](https://www.epilude.com/help/troubleshooting/transcription-issues)
- [Dictation is slow or stuck](https://www.epilude.com/help/troubleshooting/dictation-delays)
- [Microphone problems](https://www.epilude.com/help/troubleshooting/microphone-problems)
- [AirPods and Bluetooth audio](https://www.epilude.com/help/troubleshooting/airpods-bluetooth-audio)
- [Memory and processor use](https://www.epilude.com/help/troubleshooting/performance)
- [How Epilude handles your data](https://www.epilude.com/help/privacy/data-handling)
- [Plans and billing](https://www.epilude.com/help/support/plans-and-billing)
- [Getting help](https://www.epilude.com/help/support/getting-help)