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Dictate and translate speech to text instantly in any app

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Tracked since2026
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The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free, no paid tier

Biggest pro

Extremely fast — dictation and translation are near-instantaneous

Biggest con

Requires internet connection — transcription runs in the cloud

TL;DR - Lispr

  • Hold a key to dictate in any app; add a second key to translate on the fly.
  • Supports ~99 languages for dictation and 32 languages for translation.
  • Free, no account, no subscription, and lives quietly in the menu bar.
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups

What is Lispr?

Editorial review
Lispr is a free macOS menu bar app that turns speech into text in any application. Hold the right Option key to dictate in your native language, or add the Control key to translate mid-speech into one of many target languages. Text appears instantly at your cursor without copy-paste or switching apps. Built on advanced models for speech recognition, it supports many languages for dictation and numerous polished languages for translation. The app is tiny (~4 MB), requires no account or subscription, and is notarized by Apple. It's ideal for anyone who types all day — developers, writers, customer support, or multilingual communicators — and wants a frictionless way to get thoughts into text.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Extremely fast — dictation and translation are near-instantaneous
  • Works in any app with a blinking cursor, including Terminal and Figma
  • Completely free with no subscription or account

Cons

  • Requires internet connection — transcription runs in the cloud
  • Only available on macOS (an older version or newer)

Key Features

Push-to-talk dictation with a single key (right Option)Real-time translation by tapping a second key mid-speechText lands at the cursor in any macOS appCustom vocabulary support for product names and code identifiersClipboard-safe — restores copied text after insertionMenu bar app with ~4 MB footprint, no window or popupsApple-notarized for securityNo account or sign-up required

Pricing

Free

Lispr is completely free to use with no hidden costs.

View pricing

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Lispr FAQ

What permissions does Lispr need on my Mac?

Lispr requires two permissions: Microphone access (to hear you) and Accessibility access (to type into other apps). It walks you through granting both on first launch.

Does Lispr work offline?

No — transcription runs in the cloud for speed and accuracy. The round trip is about 200 ms, so it's not usable without an internet connection.

How do I switch between dictation and translation?

Hold the right Option key to dictate verbatim. To translate, add the Control key while still holding Option — Lispr will type your sentence in your target language instead.

How many target languages can Lispr translate into?

Lispr supports 32 polished target languages for translation. You can pin your top two to slot keys in Settings and pick any of the rest from the menu.

Can I add custom words like product names or code identifiers?

Yes — Lispr supports a custom vocabulary. Words you add are respected by both dictation and translation, so technical terms or client names are transcribed correctly.

Is Lispr safe to install?

Yes — every release is notarized by Apple (scanned for malware) and built by Codebridge, a real company. No account is required, and audio is encrypted in transit and discarded after transcription.

Which Macs are supported?

Lispr runs on macOS 11 Big Sur or newer, on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. The entire app is about 4 MB.

Does Lispr interfere with my clipboard?

No — Lispr inserts your dictated or translated text, then restores whatever you had copied before. Your clipboard content is preserved.

Source: lispr.ai

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