nowfound

Work · March 8, 2026

UA

Utter, a local-first dictation app for Mac and iPhone

I use dictation a lot for writing, notes, and prompting agents. After trying a bunch of dictation tools, I kept running into the same issues: recurring cost, unclear privacy/data handling, and not much control over how the final text was cleaned up. So I built Utter. The main idea is simple: it should work as both a fast dictation tool and a longer-form voice note / meeting capture tool, while still giving the user control over where processing happens and what the output looks like. A few things it does today: - global dictation with customizable shortcuts - saved modes for…

Visit utter.toAlternativestop 20% of March 2026

What it does

In the maker’s words, at launch

I use dictation a lot for writing, notes, and prompting agents. After trying a bunch of dictation tools, I kept running into the same issues: recurring cost, unclear privacy/data handling, and not much control over how the final text was cleaned up. So I built Utter. The main idea is simple: it should work as both a fast dictation tool and a longer-form voice note / meeting capture tool, while still giving the user control over where processing happens and what the output looks like. A few things it does today: - global dictation with customizable shortcuts - saved modes for different workflows, with different prompts/models - remembers the last mode used per app - meeting recording with speaker-labeled transcripts, summaries, and action items - file transcription for audio/video - saved audio/transcripts with export options - prompt-based post-processing for turning raw speech into notes, messages, summaries, etc. - built-in note editor - iPhone app with dictation keyboard A big motivation was being able to use it locally. It supports local transcription, optional local post-processing, BYOK, or cloud providers depending on the workflow. I also wanted phone-to-desktop capture to feel simple, so it syncs through iCloud and doesn’t require an account. Curious to hear from people who use dictation heavily, especially on: - where current dictation tools still fall short - whether the “modes” idea makes sense in practice

Does the same job

all alternatives →
  • DictlyOct 2025 · ▲240

    Private, on-device dictation — fast, styled and 100% offline

  • DictatoFeb 2026 · ▲93

    Local instant voice-to-text for every Mac

  • Dictation2018 · ▲118

    The fastest and most accurate speech recognition software

  • Smart Dictation2025 · ▲90

    Multilingual transcription & translation for Mac

  • dictate.Mar 2026 · ▲103

    Replace your iPhone keyboard with AI voice typing

  • Voicr for MacApr 2026 · ▲107

    Dictate and get improved or translated text

More work this month

the category →
  • Let agents source clips from terabytes of your local video

    Work · 18d ago · clipto.com

  • Free local transcription that is 100% Private

    Work · 17d ago · hynote.ai

  • The app store for voice native apps that lives in your notch

    Work · 28d ago · voiceos.com

  • Ask any question, get a video back instantly

    Work · 24d ago · scrimba.com

  • Handle all of the work before, during, and after meetings

    Work · 17d ago · calendly.com

Launched alongside, March 2026

the whole month →
  • AI-native CRM that builds itself and does work for you

    AI · Mar 2026 · lightfield.app

  • Tobira.ai730

    A network where AI agents find deals for their humans

    AI · Mar 2026 · tobira.ai

  • Switch from ChatGPT to Claude with import memory feature

    AI · Mar 2026 · claude.com

  • The AI assistant that already knows your work

    AI · Mar 2026 · littlebird.ai

  • Your AI Coworker that proactively executes tasks

    AI · Mar 2026 · viktor.com

  • Jupid664

    File your taxes with Claude Code

    Commerce · Mar 2026 · jupid.com