SabreVoice
SabreVoice is a free, open-source dictation app that types spoken words into the active text input.
What SabreVoice is
SabreVoice is a free, open-source dictation app that types spoken words into the active text input. Local speech-to-text models process audio on the device, enabling offline dictation, while silence and pause detection transcribes continuous speech in chunks. AI prompt formatting can turn text into an email, correct spelling and grammar, or create bullet-point summaries through local or cloud language models. The app includes a draggable Tkinter HUD with active-application detection, equalizer bars, and layout controls. Listed engines include Moonshine Tiny, Moonshine Streaming Medium, Nemotron Speech 3.5, and OpenAI or Groq Whisper. Moonshine is English-only; Nemotron is listed for 40+ languages and cloud Whisper for 99+ languages. Whisper requires internet access and an API key. SabreVoice supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. Windows uses a 64-bit Windows 10/11 tray app, macOS requires version 15 or later with Apple Silicon, and Linux setup is Python-based for Ubuntu, Debian, and Mint.
Good
- Free and open source
- Offline on-device dictation
- Supports Linux, macOS, and Windows
- AI formatting for emails and summaries
- Multiple speech engines
Watch out
- Whisper requires internet and an API key
- Moonshine models are English-only
- macOS requires version 15 or later
- macOS requires Apple Silicon
Who it suits
SabreVoice suits users who want free dictation with offline processing and optional text formatting. It is appropriate for Linux, macOS, or Windows users who can meet the platform-specific requirements.
Verdict
SabreVoice offers cross-platform dictation with local processing, formatting prompts, and several speech engines. Platform requirements and the online dependency of Whisper determine which setup fits a user.
Plans and prices
From SabreVoice's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 100% free · open source · GPLv3 |
The facts
Each one read from SabreVoice's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Cloud requirement
- OpenAI or Groq Whisper requires an active internet connection and an API key.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Continuous dictation
- Silence and pause detection transcribes and types speech in chunks.checked 9 Oct 2001
- HUD overlay
- The app includes a draggable Tkinter HUD overlay with active target application detection, equalizer bars, and layout controls.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Language limits
- Moonshine models are English-only; the page lists Nemotron Speech 3.5 for 40+ languages and cloud Whisper for 99+ languages.checked 9 Oct 2001
- License
- The app is licensed under GPLv3, allowing users to use, inspect, and modify its code.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Offline dictation
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2001
- Offline processing
- Local speech-to-text models process audio on-device without an internet connection.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Privacy model
- hybridchecked 20 Sep 2001
- Purpose
- SabreVoice is a free, open-source dictation app that types speech into text inputs.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Speech engines
- Listed engines include Moonshine Tiny, Moonshine Streaming Medium, Nemotron Speech 3.5, and OpenAI or Groq Whisper.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Text entry method
- On macOS it uses accessibility controls; on Windows and Linux it uses the clipboard and simulated paste keystrokes to enter text in the active window.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Text formatting
- AI prompt formatting can rewrite text as emails, correct spelling and grammar, or summarize it into bullet points using local or cloud LLMs.checked 9 Oct 2001
The company
- Company
- Sabre Products says it is a family-owned and run business registered in 2006.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Founded
- 2006checked 28 Sep 2001
- Headquarters
- Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africachecked 28 Sep 2001
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2001
Where it runs
- Linux support
- Linux setup is Python-based for Ubuntu, Debian, and Mint; the page says it was tested on Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04.checked 9 Oct 2001
- macOS support
- The native SwiftUI macOS client supports macOS 15.0 or later and Apple Silicon.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Supported platforms
- Windows,macOS,Linuxchecked 20 Sep 2001
- Windows support
- The Windows app is a standalone background tray app for 64-bit Windows 10/11.checked 9 Oct 2001
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