Whisper
- Supports 99 languages and detects them automatically.
- Works on every Mac and iPhone version KeyVox supports.
- A well-established, widely used speech model.
- A dependable default if you are not sure which to pick.
Product · Dictation models
Whisper and Parakeet in KeyVox
Two multilingual, on-device choices. One supports more languages, while the other favors newer hardware and speed.
100% Local
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Dual AI Models
MIT License
KeyVox includes two multilingual, on-device dictation models: Whisper and Parakeet. Whisper supports 99 languages and works on every Mac and iPhone version KeyVox supports. Parakeet supports 25 European languages and is a faster, newer option for Macs with macOS Sonoma (14) or later, and for supported iPhones.
Both models detect the language you are speaking automatically, so there is no language setting to choose before you dictate. You can also use a different model on each device you own.
Whisper and Parakeet Side by Side
| Whisper | Parakeet | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | On-device, Mac and iPhone | On-device, Mac and iPhone |
| Mac version needed | macOS 13.5 (Ventura) or later | macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later |
| Typical strength | Broad compatibility across supported Macs | Speed on newer hardware |
| Languages | 99 languages | 25 European languages |
| Language selection | Automatic | Automatic |
| Model source | OpenAI’s published Whisper models | NVIDIA’s published Parakeet models |
| Cost to use | Included with KeyVox dictation | Included with KeyVox dictation |
Languages Each Model Supports
You do not need to pick a language in KeyVox. Speak normally, and the model you chose detects the language automatically.
| Model | Supported languages |
|---|---|
| Whisper Base (99) | Afrikaans, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Assamese, Azerbaijani, Bashkir, Basque, Belarusian, Bengali, Bosnian, Breton, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Faroese, Finnish, French, Galician, Georgian, German, Greek, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hausa, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Javanese, Kannada, Kazakh, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Latin, Latvian, Lingala, Lithuanian, Luxembourgish, Macedonian, Malagasy, Malay, Malayalam, Maltese, Maori, Marathi, Mongolian, Myanmar, Nepali, Norwegian, Nynorsk, Occitan, Pashto, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Sanskrit, Serbian, Shona, Sindhi, Sinhala, Slovak, Slovenian, Somali, Spanish, Sundanese, Swahili, Swedish, Tagalog, Tajik, Tamil, Tatar, Telugu, Thai, Tibetan, Turkish, Turkmen, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Welsh, Yiddish, and Yoruba. |
| Parakeet v3 (25) | Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian. |
How to Pick One
If you are not sure, Whisper is the safer starting point because it supports every Mac version KeyVox supports. If your Mac runs Sonoma or later and you want a faster, newer option, Parakeet is worth trying.
You are not locked in. KeyVox lets you download and switch models later from settings, and each of your devices can use a different one.
Setup and Storage
Both models require a one-time download while you have an internet connection. Depending on the model you choose, that download uses roughly 190 to 480 MB of storage on Mac or iPhone.
After the download finishes, dictation with either model runs locally and does not need an internet connection.
Strengths of Each Model
Parakeet
- Supports 25 European languages and detects them automatically.
- Built for speed on newer Macs.
- Requires macOS Sonoma (14) or later on Mac.
- A good option once your Mac meets that requirement.
Common questions
Questions people ask
Which model should I use, Whisper or Parakeet?
Whisper works on every supported Mac and iPhone version. Parakeet is a faster newer option for Macs with macOS Sonoma (14) or later, and for supported iPhones.
Can I switch models later?
Yes. You can download and switch dictation models from KeyVox settings at any time.
Do I need to choose a language before dictating?
No. Whisper and Parakeet detect the language you are speaking automatically.
Does switching models change privacy?
No. Both Whisper and Parakeet transcribe on your device once installed.
Do Mac and iPhone need to use the same model?
No. Each device can use the model that fits it best.
Is KeyVox Free?
Yes. KeyVox is free to use with no recurring fee for dictation or weekly limit.
Free your voice
Pick the model that fits your device.
Download KeyVox and choose between Whisper and Parakeet for on-device dictation.
No KeyVox account. Dictation has no recurring subscription.