Open-source alternative to Wispr Flow and Superwhisper for AI voice input, rewriting, and voice Q&A on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Press a hotkey, speak naturally, and get clean text in the app you are already using.
Or ask a one-shot voice question and get a concise AI answer without opening a chat app.
If OpenTypeless helps your workflow, a GitHub star helps more people discover the project.
Dictate anywhere · Rewrite selected text · Ask one-shot voice questions · Bring your own keys or use managed cloud words
## What's New in v1.1.49
OpenTypeless now understands more of the workflow around your voice, not only the words you said:
- **App-aware writing** detects the active application locally and adapts structure and tone for email, chat, documents, issue trackers, coding tools, and more.
- **Voice intent routing** distinguishes dictation, selected-text editing, translation, Ask Anything, and supported voice actions in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.
- **Multiple shortcuts per workflow** let you assign and reorder more than one binding for Dictation, Ask Anything, and Translation.
- **Switchable translation targets** make it faster to move between the languages you use instead of keeping one fixed output language.
- **A stronger local dictionary** adds correction rules plus dictionary import/export, so recurring names, terminology, and transcription mistakes stay under your control.
- **Per-app style mappings** let you override the built-in app category when a detected app needs a different writing style.
All application detection, mappings, dictionary entries, and correction rules are stored locally. App-aware polish sends only the internal app category and approved style metadata to the configured LLM path; raw window titles and document contents are not sent to the LLM or stored in history.
## Ask Anything
Ask Anything is a shortcut-first voice Q&A flow, not a chat tab. Press the Ask Anything hotkey, speak a question, stop recording, and OpenTypeless transcribes it, sends a one-shot request to the LLM, then shows only the final answer in a small floating note.
It is designed for quick answers with no chat history, no input box, and no extra send step. If selected-text context is enabled, Ask can also answer questions about the text currently selected in another app.
Default shortcuts now follow the Typeless-style flow:
| Platform | Dictation | Ask Anything | Translate selected text |
| -------- | --------- | ------------ | ----------------------- |
| macOS | `Fn` | `Fn+Space` | `Fn+LeftShift` |
| Windows | `Right Alt` | `Right Alt+Space` | `Right Alt+LeftShift` |
| Linux | `Ctrl+/` | `Ctrl+.` | configurable |
Linux keeps conservative Ctrl-based defaults because global Right Alt handling is less reliable across desktop environments, especially on Wayland.
## Visual Tour
| App-aware AI polish | Local dictionary and corrections |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| | |
Onboarding and voice workspace
| Onboarding | Voice workspace |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| | |
---
## What OpenTypeless Does
OpenTypeless gives you four voice-first desktop workflows:
| Workflow | What happens |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Dictation | Hold a hotkey, speak, transcribe, optionally polish with an LLM, then type or copy the result into the active app |
| Ask Anything | Start a one-shot voice question, transcribe it, send it to the LLM, and show only the final answer in a small panel |
| Selected-text editing | Select text in another app, speak an instruction, and let the LLM rewrite, summarize, translate, or fix that selection |
| Translation | Use a dedicated shortcut, speak or select text, and send the result to one of your configured target languages |
Use it for emails, chat replies, meeting notes, issue comments, prompts, documentation drafts, quick answers, multilingual translation, and any workflow where speaking is faster than typing.
```mermaid
flowchart LR
Hotkey["Global hotkey"] --> Capture["Audio capture"]
Capture --> Mode{"Voice mode"}
Mode -->|"Dictation"| STT["Speech-to-text"]
STT --> Polish{"AI polish?"}
Polish -->|"Yes"| Context["Local app category + style mapping"]
Context --> LLM["Context-aware LLM rewrite"]
Polish -->|"No"| Output["Keyboard / clipboard output"]
LLM --> Output
Mode -->|"Ask Anything"| AskSTT["Transcribe question"]
AskSTT --> AskLLM["One-shot LLM answer"]
AskLLM --> Panel["Answer-only panel"]
Mode -->|"Selected text"| Selection["Capture selected text"]
Selection --> EditLLM["Apply spoken instruction"]
EditLLM --> Output
```
## Why OpenTypeless?
Most desktop dictation tools stop at transcription. OpenTypeless adds the AI rewrite layer, provider choice, and open-source control that power users need.
| | OpenTypeless | macOS Dictation | Windows Voice Typing | Whisper Desktop |
| ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------- | -------------------- | --------------- |
| AI text polishing | ✅ Multiple LLMs | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Ask Anything voice Q&A | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| STT provider choice | ✅ Cloud, Deepgram, AssemblyAI, Whisper-compatible, Doubao, and more | ❌ Apple only | ❌ Microsoft only | ❌ Whisper only |
| Works in any app | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Copy-paste |
| Translation mode | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Selected-text rewrite | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| App-aware writing | ✅ Local detection and mappings | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Multiple shortcuts | ✅ Per voice workflow | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Open source | ✅ MIT | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cross-platform | ✅ Win/Mac/Linux | ❌ Mac only | ❌ Windows only | ✅ |
| Custom dictionary | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Self-hostable | ✅ BYOK | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
## Features
| Area | Highlights |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Voice capture | Native Fn / Right Alt hotkeys on macOS/Windows, Linux Ctrl defaults, multiple bindings per workflow, hold or toggle mode, floating capsule states, idle auto-hide |
| AI rewriting | App-aware writing, local per-app style mappings, polish styles, streaming polish, selected-text context, and custom instructions |
| Ask Anything | One-shot voice question flow: record in the capsule, think, then show a small answer note with copy support |
| Voice actions | Deterministic English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese routing for editing, translation, Ask, and supported actions |
| STT providers | Cloud STT, Apple Speech on macOS, Deepgram, AssemblyAI, GLM-ASR, OpenAI Whisper, Groq Whisper, SiliconFlow, Volcengine Doubao, custom endpoints |
| LLM providers | Cloud LLM or OpenAI-compatible APIs including OpenAI, DeepSeek, Claude via OpenRouter, Gemini, Groq, Qwen, Moonshot, Ollama, and more |
| Output | Keyboard simulation, clipboard paste/copy-only, Windows SendInput, clipboard restore, and output-failure diagnostics |
| Language | Auto-detect speech, dedicated translation shortcut, switchable target languages, and 20+ translation targets |
| Dictionary | Custom terms, import/export, and local correction rules for recurring transcription mistakes |
| Scenes | Built-in scenes, local custom scenes, active scene metadata, import/export for reusable writing styles |
| Privacy | Local app detection and mappings, provider keys in the OS credential vault where available, plus BYOK and local/self-hosted paths |
| Account and quota | Optional Pro and Lifetime Starter plans with shared cloud words for voice and AI |
| Desktop polish | Dark/light/system theme, onboarding, local history search, auto-start, auto-update, cross-platform Tauri app |
UI localization currently ships with complete English and Chinese copy, plus additional locale files that may still fall back to English for newer advanced features.
## How The App Thinks
```mermaid
sequenceDiagram
participant User
participant Desktop as OpenTypeless Desktop
participant STT as STT Provider
participant LLM as LLM Provider
participant App as Active App
User->>Desktop: Hold dictation hotkey and speak
Desktop->>Desktop: Detect local app category and style
Desktop->>STT: Send audio via BYOK or Cloud
STT-->>Desktop: Raw transcript
Desktop->>LLM: Optional context-aware polish / translate / rewrite
LLM-->>Desktop: Final text
Desktop->>App: Type or copy result
```
> [!TIP]
> **Recommended Configuration for Best Experience**
>
> | | Provider | Model |
> | ------------ | -------- | ------------------------ |
> | 🗣️ STT | Groq | `whisper-large-v3-turbo` |
> | 🤖 AI Polish | Google | `gemini-2.5-flash` |
>
> This combo delivers fast, accurate transcription with high-quality text polishing — and both offer generous free tiers.
## Try It in 5 Minutes
1. Download the latest build for your platform from [Releases](https://github.com/tover0314-w/opentypeless/releases).
2. Choose **BYOK** for full provider control or **Cloud** if you want managed quota without API keys.
3. Pick speech recognition and AI polish providers in Settings.
4. Set one or more shortcuts for Dictation, Ask Anything, and Translation.
5. Open any desktop app, press the hotkey, speak, and let OpenTypeless type the polished result.
## Download
Download the latest version for your platform:
**[Download from Releases](https://github.com/tover0314-w/opentypeless/releases)**
| Platform | File |
| -------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Windows | `.msi` installer or `.exe` setup |
| macOS | Universal `.dmg` for Apple Silicon and Intel |
| Linux | `.AppImage` / `.deb` / `.rpm` |
## Installation Notes
Release signing differs by platform while distribution is being improved. Always download from the official [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/tover0314-w/opentypeless/releases) page.
### Windows
Windows SmartScreen may show "Windows protected your PC":
1. Click **More info**
2. Click **Run anyway**
If the installer shows a publisher validation warning:
1. Right-click the `.msi` file → **Properties**
2. Check **Unblock** at the bottom → **Apply**
3. Run the installer again
### macOS
macOS builds are Developer ID signed. If Gatekeeper still blocks first launch while notarization/stapling catches up, remove the quarantine attribute:
```bash
xattr -cr /Applications/OpenTypeless.app
```
Then open the app normally.
### Linux
**Ubuntu/Debian** — install the `.deb` package:
```bash
sudo apt install ./OpenTypeless_x.x.x_amd64.deb
```
**AppImage** — make it executable and run:
```bash
chmod +x OpenTypeless_x.x.x_amd64.AppImage
./OpenTypeless_x.x.x_amd64.AppImage
```
**NVIDIA + Wayland users:** The app auto-detects this configuration and applies a workaround. If it still crashes on startup, run:
```bash
WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1 ./OpenTypeless
```
**Wayland users:** global hotkeys and automatic paste are limited by the desktop environment. OpenTypeless shows this in Settings and falls back to tray/app controls or copy-only clipboard output where needed.
## Prerequisites
- [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/) 20+
- [Rust](https://rustup.rs/) (stable toolchain)
- Platform-specific dependencies for Tauri: see [Tauri Prerequisites](https://v2.tauri.app/start/prerequisites/)
## Getting Started
```bash
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Run in development mode
npm run tauri dev
# Build for production
npm run tauri build
```
The built application will be in `src-tauri/target/release/bundle/`.
## Configuration
All settings are accessible from the in-app Settings panel:
- **Speech Recognition** — choose STT provider and enter your API key
- **AI Polish** — choose an LLM provider and model, enable app-aware writing, manage per-app style mappings, and configure selected-text context
- **General** — manage multiple Dictation, Ask Anything, and Translation shortcuts, output mode, auto-start, and idle capsule visibility
- **Dictionary** — add or import custom terms, export your dictionary, and create local correction rules for recurring transcription mistakes
- **Scenes** — built-in and local prompt templates with import/export for reusable writing styles
- **Account / Upgrade** — sign in, check cloud words, manage Pro or Lifetime Starter access
API keys are stored locally in the OS credential vault where available, with a local fallback for unsupported environments. No BYOK keys are sent to OpenTypeless servers — STT/LLM requests go directly to the provider you configure.
### Cloud Option
OpenTypeless also offers optional managed cloud access so you do not need your own provider keys. Pro and Lifetime Starter plans include shared cloud words for speech recognition and AI rewriting. BYOK remains fully supported.
[Learn more about Pro](https://www.opentypeless.com)
### BYOK vs Cloud
| | BYOK Mode | Cloud (Pro) Mode |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------- |
| STT | Your own API key or local endpoint | Managed cloud words |
| LLM | Your own API key or local endpoint | Managed cloud words |
| Cloud dependency | None — all requests go directly to your provider | Requires connection to www.opentypeless.com |
| Cost | Pay your provider directly | Optional Pro or Lifetime Starter |
All core features — recording, transcription, AI polish, keyboard/clipboard output, dictionary, history — work entirely offline from OpenTypeless servers in BYOK mode.
### Self-Hosting / No Cloud
To run OpenTypeless without any cloud dependency:
1. Choose any non-Cloud STT and LLM provider in Settings
2. Enter your own API keys
3. That's it — no account or internet connection to www.opentypeless.com is needed
If you want to point the optional cloud features at your own backend, set these environment variables before building:
| Variable | Default | Description |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------- |
| `VITE_API_BASE_URL` | `https://www.opentypeless.com` | Frontend cloud API base URL |
| `API_BASE_URL` | `https://www.opentypeless.com` | Rust backend cloud API base URL |
```bash
# Example: build with a custom backend
VITE_API_BASE_URL=https://my-server.example.com API_BASE_URL=https://my-server.example.com npm run tauri build
```
## Architecture
**Desktop pipeline:**
```mermaid
flowchart TB
UI["React + TypeScript UI"] --> Tauri["Tauri commands"]
Hotkeys["Global shortcuts"] --> Tauri
Tauri --> Audio["Rust audio capture"]
Audio --> Providers["STT providers"]
Providers --> Pipeline["Pipeline orchestration"]
Pipeline --> LLMs["LLM providers"]
Pipeline --> Storage["SQLite history + dictionary"]
Pipeline --> Output["Keyboard / clipboard output"]
Account["Account + updater + cloud quota"] --> UI
Account --> Tauri
```
```
src/ # React frontend (TypeScript)
├── components/ # UI components (Settings, History, Capsule, etc.)
├── hooks/ # React hooks (recording, theme, Tauri events)
├── lib/ # Utilities (API client, router, constants)
└── stores/ # Zustand state management
src-tauri/src/ # Rust backend
├── audio/ # Audio capture via cpal
├── stt/ # STT providers (Deepgram, AssemblyAI, Whisper-compat, Cloud)
├── llm/ # LLM providers (OpenAI-compat, Cloud)
├── output/ # Text output (keyboard simulation, clipboard paste)
├── storage/ # Config (tauri-plugin-store) + history/dictionary (SQLite)
├── app_detector/ # Detect active application for context
├── pipeline.rs # Recording → STT → LLM → Output orchestration
└── lib.rs # Tauri app setup, commands, hotkey handling
```
## Roadmap
- [ ] Usage summary UI for aggregate audio time and word counts
- [ ] More provider-specific setup diagnostics
- [ ] Better Linux desktop-environment guidance
- [ ] More workflow presets for writing, coding, and support replies
- [ ] Plugin-style provider extensions
## FAQ
**Is my audio sent to the cloud?**
In BYOK mode, audio goes directly to your chosen STT provider or local endpoint. Nothing passes through OpenTypeless servers. In Cloud mode, audio is sent to the managed proxy for transcription and quota accounting.
**Can I use it offline?**
With a local Whisper-compatible STT endpoint and a local OpenAI-compatible LLM such as Ollama, the app can run without OpenTypeless cloud services.
**Which languages are supported?**
STT supports 99+ languages depending on the provider. AI polish and translation support 20+ target languages.
**Is the app free?**
Yes. The app is fully functional with your own API keys (BYOK). Cloud plans are optional.
## Community
- 💬 [Discord](https://discord.gg/V6rRpJ4RGD) — Chat, get help, share feedback
- 🗣️ [GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/tover0314-w/opentypeless/discussions) — Feature proposals, Q&A
- 🐛 [Issue Tracker](https://github.com/tover0314-w/opentypeless/issues) — Bug reports and feature requests
- 📖 [Contributing Guide](CONTRIBUTING.md) — Development setup and guidelines
- 🔒 [Security Policy](SECURITY.md) — Report vulnerabilities responsibly
- 🧭 [Vision](VISION.md) — Project principles and roadmap direction
## Contributing
Contributions are welcome! See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for development setup and guidelines.
Looking for a place to start? Check out issues labeled [`good first issue`](https://github.com/tover0314-w/opentypeless/labels/good%20first%20issue).
## Star History
## Built With
- [Tauri](https://tauri.app/) for the desktop shell
- [React](https://react.dev/) and [TypeScript](https://www.typescriptlang.org/) for the UI
- [Rust](https://www.rust-lang.org/) for audio capture, providers, hotkeys, output, and local storage
- [i18next](https://www.i18next.com/) for multilingual UI
## License
[MIT](LICENSE)
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