Download Yap

Dictate text and automatically paste it into any application. Private local transcription with whisper.cpp or cloud-based with OpenAI — completely free.

View on GitHub Read the Docs

macOS

A universal binary that works on both Apple Silicon and Intel machines. Requires macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or later.

Universal Binary

Windows

Native Windows application. Requires Windows 10 or later.

Installer (.exe) Portable (.exe)

Linux

Choose a pre-built package for quick setup, or build from source for complete control.

AppImage Build From Source

Features

Built with Go and React. Local Whisper AI for privacy. OpenAI API for accuracy. Every feature designed for seamless dictation.

Local Transcription

Run Whisper AI locally for privacy-first, offline transcription. All audio is processed on-device — no data ever leaves your machine.

OpenAI Whisper Integration

Switch to cloud mode with OpenAI's Whisper API for maximum accuracy when you need it. Your choice, your workflow.

Auto-Paste to Any App

Transcribed text is automatically copied to clipboard and pasted into whatever app has focus — your editor, terminal, Slack, or browser.

Multiple Model Sizes

Choose from 5 Whisper models: tiny (75MB) for speed, up to large-v3 (3GB) for highest accuracy. Download only what you need.

Floating Window

Always-on-top compact window for easy access while working in other apps. Start and stop recording without switching context.

Transcription History

Review, replay, and copy past transcriptions. Never lose track of what you've dictated — your history is always accessible.

Screenshots

Frequently Asked Questions

A free, open-source desktop dictation app built with Wails (Go + React). It uses whisper.cpp for local transcription or OpenAI's Whisper API for cloud-based transcription. Text is automatically pasted into whatever app has focus.

In local mode, yes — all audio is processed on-device via whisper.cpp. No data leaves your machine. Cloud mode sends audio to OpenAI's API over HTTPS. You choose which mode to use.

macOS (11.0+), Windows (10+), and Linux. Built with Wails and Go for native cross-platform support.

5 models from tiny (75MB) to large-v3 (3GB). English-only models (e.g., base.en) are available for faster, more accurate English transcription.

No. Yap works with any microphone, including built-in laptop mics. PortAudio is required for audio capture on macOS (install via Homebrew).

Yes. Yap is completely free and open source. Local transcription is free forever. Cloud mode requires your own OpenAI API key.

Build From Source

Prerequisites

Make sure you have Go 1.21+ and Node.js 18+ installed, then install the Wails CLI:

go install github.com/wailsapp/wails/v2/cmd/wails@latest

Build

Clone the repository and build the application:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ApplauseLab/yap.git
cd yap
# Build the app
wails build
# Run the app (macOS)
open build/bin/Yap.app
# Run the app (Linux/Windows)
./build/bin/Yap

Development

Run in development mode with hot reload:

wails dev

Requirements

macOS: macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or later
Windows: Windows 10 or later
Linux: Most modern distributions with glibc 2.31+
For local transcription: PortAudio (macOS: brew install portaudio)
Optional: whisper.cpp CLI for local transcription, or use your OpenAI API key