What you get for free
Everything. On-device dictation in every app, voice control of your Mac, and the full assistant. There is no paid tier that unlocks the real features, no watermark, no word cap, and no credit card. The on-device models cost nothing to run because they run on your hardware. If you later want to call a frontier cloud model for a specific task, you can plug in your own API key and pay that provider directly, but nothing about core dictation requires it.
How it works
Press a hotkey (default Fn). Speak. Release. The text appears wherever your cursor is, in Mail, Notes, Slack, Notion, Google Docs, Word, VS Code, anywhere you can type. There is no phrase limit and no cut-off mid-sentence, so you can dictate a one-line reply or a three-paragraph email in a single take.
How it compares to other free options
Apple Dictation is the obvious free starting point and it is fine for short notes, but it tops out around 50 words per phrase and around 6.8% word error rate on technical content, and its server mode sends audio to Apple. Jarvis has no phrase limit, runs at about 3.1% word error rate, and stays on-device. For a side-by-side, see Apple Dictation vs Jarvis.
Why it is actually free
Jarvis is open source. The dictation engine that runs on your Mac is free for everyone, with no monthly fee behind it. Because the code is open, you can verify there is no hidden telemetry and no audio leaving your machine.
Accuracy and speed
The model is Whisper-derived and optimized for Apple Silicon. On an M3 Pro it returns text in well under 300ms from hotkey release, faster than cloud dictation because nothing has to round-trip to a server. Accuracy holds up on names, acronyms, and code where Apple Dictation tends to slip.
Works in every app
Any Mac app with a text field. Mail, Messages, Slack, Notion, Google Docs, Word, Pages, VS Code, Cursor, Xcode, Terminal, Discord, ChatGPT desktop. If you can type there, you can dictate there. For the deep dive, see voice to text on Mac.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jarvis dictation really free?
Yes. Jarvis is free and open source, with no paid tier gating dictation, voice control, or the assistant. The on-device models run on your Mac at no cost. Optional cloud models are the only thing you would ever pay for, and only if you choose to add your own API key. There is no signup or credit card to download it.
Is it better than Apple's free dictation?
For anything beyond short notes, yes. Apple Dictation caps phrases around 50 words and runs about 6.8% word error rate on technical content. Jarvis has no phrase limit and runs around 3.1%, and it stays on-device. Apple Dictation is more convenient for a quick one-liner since it is already built in.
Does the free dictation work offline?
Yes. Core dictation runs on-device, so it works with no internet connection, on a plane or anywhere else. See offline speech to text on Mac.
What is the catch?
Two honest ones. Jarvis is Mac-only (Apple Silicon M1 to M4 and Intel, macOS 12 or later), and Jarvis 2.0 is currently in private beta, so expect some rough edges. The dictation itself is free with no catch.
How do I install it?
Download the .dmg from the download page, drag Jarvis to Applications, and grant Microphone and Accessibility permissions on first launch. The whole thing takes under a minute. Full steps are in how to install Jarvis on Mac.