Aqua Voice Alternative: Offline Dictation for Mac, Windows and Linux (2026)
Short answer: If you want an Aqua Voice alternative that keeps your audio on your own computer, use Whisper. Whisper is a desktop dictation app for Mac, Windows and Linux. The speech model runs on your device, so it works with no internet connection and no account. It costs $39 a year. Aqua Voice is a cloud-first dictation app with a free tier and paid plans from $10 a month on annual billing. Its FAQ says cloud dictation needs an internet connection.
Prices and features below come from Aqua Voice's own pricing page and FAQ, read on 27 October 2026.
Aqua Voice vs Whisper at a glance
| Aqua Voice | Whisper | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, 1,000 words | No |
| Paid price | Pro $10/month billed annually ($12 month-to-month); Max $19/month billed annually ($24 month-to-month) | $39 a year |
| Team price | Business $19/seat/month billed annually, minimum 2 seats | $29 a year for each extra device |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android | Mac (Apple Silicon), Windows 10/11, Linux |
| Where speech is turned into text | Cloud dictation; offline "varies by platform, app version, and mode" (Aqua FAQ) | Always on your computer |
| Works with no internet | Not for cloud dictation | Yes |
| Account needed | Yes | No, a licence key only |
Why do people look for an Aqua Voice alternative?
Three reasons come up most often.
- Privacy. Aqua's FAQ says "Cloud dictation needs an internet connection." Your voice goes to a server to be transcribed. Aqua offers a Privacy Mode, and its homepage says that with Privacy Mode on "nothing is stored on our servers at all." The audio still has to travel to the server first.
- Price over time. Aqua Pro is $120 a year on annual billing ($10 x 12) or $144 a year month-to-month. Max is $228 a year on annual billing. Whisper is $39 a year.
- No connection. On a plane, on a train, or on a locked-down work network, a cloud dictation app can stop. An on-device app keeps typing.
How is Whisper different from Aqua Voice?
Whisper does one job: you press a hotkey, you speak, and the text appears where your cursor is. It works in email, documents, browsers, chat apps and code editors, because it types at the cursor instead of plugging into one app.
The speech model runs on your own computer. No audio and no transcript is sent to us. There is no cloud fallback. A connection is only needed to download the app, check the licence and get updates.
Other facts:
- 99+ languages with automatic detection.
- Custom word lists for names and terms.
- Drop in audio files (WAV, MP3, FLAC, M4A, AAC, OGG) to transcribe them.
- Default hotkey: Option+Space on Mac, Ctrl+Space on Windows and Linux.
- Yearly licence that renews automatically. Cancel any time.
When is Aqua Voice the better choice?
Be honest with yourself about what you need.
- You dictate on your phone. Aqua has an iPhone voice keyboard and an Android app on Google Play. Whisper is desktop only.
- You want a free plan. Aqua has one. Whisper does not.
- You need a vendor with a SOC 2 Type II report or a BAA. Aqua's pricing page lists a SOC 2 Type II audit report and ISO 27001, and says to contact them about BAA terms. Whisper holds no SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification. Whisper's answer to the same problem is different: the audio never reaches us, so there is nothing for us to process.
When is Whisper the better choice?
- You do not want your voice to leave your computer, ever.
- You work offline or on a network that blocks cloud tools.
- You use Linux. Aqua does not list Linux.
- You want one fixed yearly price instead of a monthly plan.
How do I switch from Aqua Voice to Whisper?
- Buy a licence at get-whisper.com. You get a licence key by email.
- Download the app for your system and enter the key.
- Pick a speech model. The first download needs internet. After that, dictation works offline.
- Set your hotkey. If Aqua used the same shortcut, quit Aqua first.
- Add your names, product terms and jargon to the word list.
Frequently asked questions
Does Aqua Voice work offline?
Aqua's FAQ says "Cloud dictation needs an internet connection" and "Offline availability varies by platform, app version, and mode." It asks you to contact support to check your setup. Whisper works offline on every supported platform, because all transcription runs on your device.
How much does Aqua Voice cost in 2026?
On 27 October 2026 the Aqua pricing page listed: Free $0 (1,000 words), Pro $10/month billed annually or $12 month-to-month, Max $19/month billed annually or $24 month-to-month, and Business $19/seat/month billed annually with a 2-seat minimum.
Is there a free Aqua Voice alternative?
Yes. Aqua's own free plan gives 1,000 words, and some open-source projects run Whisper models locally for free if you are happy to set them up yourself. Whisper is a paid app at $39 a year. You pay for a finished, supported app with no setup.
Does Whisper work on iPhone or Android?
No. Whisper is a desktop app for Mac, Windows and Linux. Android is not released.
Is Whisper the same thing as OpenAI Whisper?
No. OpenAI Whisper is an open-source speech recognition model. Whisper (get-whisper.com) is a desktop dictation app that runs Whisper models on your own computer and types the result wherever your cursor is.
Can I use Whisper on more than one computer?
Yes. The first device is $39 a year. Each extra device is $29 a year.
The bottom line
Aqua Voice is a capable cloud dictation app with mobile apps and a free plan. If the reason you are looking for an alternative is privacy, offline use or price, Whisper keeps every word on your computer for $39 a year.
→ Get Whisper for $39 a year
Sources, read on 27 October 2026: aquavoice.com/pricing, aquavoice.com/info/faq, aquavoice.com.