Wave

Wave: The Ultimate Native macOS Dictation App for Instant Voice-to-Text

In the modern digital workspace, speed and efficiency are paramount. Wave emerges as a powerful, native macOS dictation app designed to streamline the way you interact with your computer. By turning your voice into text instantly, Wave eliminates the friction of traditional typing, allowing your thoughts to flow directly onto the screen. Whether you are looking for complete privacy through local processing or ultra-fast results via the cloud, Wave provides the right option for your every word.

Built specifically for macOS 14 Sonoma or later, Wave is a free and open-source tool that stays out of your way while providing high-performance transcription capabilities. With no accounts to create and no telemetry tracking your usage, Wave is the professional choice for users who value both productivity and data sovereignty.

What’s Wave?

Wave is a native macOS dictation app that transforms the spoken word into written text with zero friction. Unlike standard dictation tools that often require complex menus or cloud-heavy processing, Wave is built for speed, simplicity, and privacy. It lives in the background of your Mac, ready to be activated at any moment with a single keystroke.

At its core, Wave offers two distinct transcription paths. For users who prioritize privacy, local Whisper runs entirely on-device, ensuring that your voice never leaves your machine. For those who require real-time, ultra-fast speed, Wave integrates with Groq, providing near-instant transcription through a hosted API. Because it is open-source and native to macOS, Wave integrates seamlessly into your existing workflow, working in any application where you can type.

Key Features of Wave

Wave is packed with features designed to make voice-to-text feel natural and effortless. Every detail is engineered to help you get your words out fast and privately.

• One-key activation: Forget navigating menus. Simply hold the Right Option (⌥) key, speak your mind, and release to insert text.
• Completely private: By utilizing OpenAI Whisper locally on your Mac, your audio is processed in memory and never stored or sent to the cloud.
• AI writes from intent: Through its specialized AI Mode, Wave doesn't just transcribe; it understands. Speak your intent, and Wave turns it into polished, ready-to-send text.
• Groq for speed: When latency is a concern, switch to Groq for ultra-fast transcription that keeps up with the fastest speakers.
• Works offline: Because Whisper runs locally on your hardware, you can use Wave’s core dictation features without an internet connection.
• Streams directly to your cursor: Wave eliminates the need for a "copy and paste" step. Your words appear exactly where your cursor is currently active.

Advanced Dictation Modes

Wave goes beyond simple transcription by offering intelligent modes that help you refine your communication on the fly.

AI Mode: Speak the Intent, Not the Draft

In AI Mode, you don’t have to dictate every comma or period. Instead, you can simply describe what you need, and Wave will handle the composition. This mode is perfect for turning rough thoughts into professional correspondence.

• How it works: You describe the goal (e.g., "Standup," "Meeting reply," or "Leave request").
• The Result: Wave generates clean, contextually appropriate text directly at your cursor.

Example: You say: “Write an email to apply for leave tomorrow, doctor appointment in the morning.” Wave writes: "Hi Sarah, I'd like to take tomorrow off for a doctor appointment. I'll wrap up anything urgent before I leave today."

This mode ensures your writing sounds exactly like you meant it, without the need for manual editing.

Selection Mode: Highlight, Speak, and Replace

Selection Mode allows you to edit existing text using only your voice. This is ideal for fixing grammar, shortening long sentences, or changing the tone of a message.

• How it works: Highlight any text in any app, hold the shortcut, and speak your instruction (e.g., "Make more professional" or "Fix grammar").
• The Result: Wave replaces the selected text with the improved version instantly.

This feature works across all your favorite applications, including Emails, Tweets, Slack messages, Code comments, and Docs.

How to Use Wave

Wave is designed to be invisible until you need it. There are no launchers to open or complex modes to switch between. The entire interaction is handled through a single key.

1. Hold Right Option (⌥): Wave runs in the background. Press and hold the Right Option key from any app or screen to begin.
2. Say it out loud: Speak in full sentences or rough, disjointed thoughts. Wave transcribes in real time, allowing you to stay focused on your work.
3. Release to insert: Once you let go of the key, your words instantly appear at the cursor.

Wave is compatible with virtually any application where you can type, including:

• Communication: Mail, Messages, Slack
• Productivity: Notion, Notes, Linear
• Design & Browsing: Figma, Arc

Privacy: Your Voice Stays Yours

Privacy is the foundation of Wave, not an afterthought. The app is built to ensure that your data remains under your control at all times.

• Local Whisper: Wave uses OpenAI Whisper running locally on your Mac. Audio data is processed in your computer's memory, is never stored on a disk, and is never sent to a remote server.
• Groq Option: If you choose to use the Groq API for faster processing, you remain in control. You supply your own API key, and Wave only uses it when you specifically request hosted features.
• No Tracking: Wave collects zero user data. There are no analytics trackers, no crash reporters, and no usage metrics being sent back to the developers. It is a clean, private tool for your macOS device.

FAQ

Is Wave itself paid?

No. Wave is 100% free and open source. You can download and run it locally on your Mac without any subscription or purchase fees.

When do I pay for Groq?

You only pay for Groq if you choose to use their hosted transcription or AI rewrite features. Local usage of Whisper on your machine remains free forever.

Can I use Wave fully offline?

Yes. Local dictation with Whisper works entirely offline. An internet connection is only required if you switch to Groq-hosted speech or LLM-based AI features.

Do I need an account to use Wave?

No. No account is required to use the Wave app. If you decide to use Groq-hosted features, you simply provide your own Groq API key.

What are the system requirements?

Wave requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later and is compatible with both Apple Silicon and Intel processors.