On-device speech recognition
Yap uses Apple’s on-device Speech framework so dictation is processed locally on your Mac instead of sending audio to a server.
Overview
Yap is a macOS voice dictation app that turns speech into text wherever you can type. It is built for people who want fast dictation without sending audio off their machine.
The product page describes Yap as private, free, and open source. It uses Apple’s on-device Speech framework, works offline, and pastes text directly into the field you were already using, from browser windows to terminal sessions.
The homepage emphasizes local control: there is no account, no API key, no telemetry, and no network code. Yap also saves transcripts on the Mac so past dictation remains searchable and reusable.
Frigade says it built Yap for its own daily use, including prompting coding agents, writing emails, and sending Slack messages, then open sourced it for others who want the same workflow on macOS.
What Yap does
Single shortcut control
Start recording and stop recording with a single hotkey. The shortcut can be rebound to a different key if needed.
Pastes into the active app
The dictated text is pasted into the app or field you were already using, whether that is a browser, editor, terminal, or another text field.
Private by default
Yap does not require an account or API key, and the page states that it has no telemetry and no network code.
Local transcript history
Each transcript is stored locally on the Mac, making past dictation searchable and available for reuse.
Works without a connection
Because it has no network code, Yap is designed to work offline as well as online.
Common ways to use Yap
Rapid text entry across apps
Use Yap when you want to dictate faster than typing, but still keep the text inside the app you are already working in.
Developer and terminal workflows
The page specifically mentions prompting coding agents and using a terminal, so Yap fits voice input for development workflows where you want local text insertion.
Email and team messaging
Frigade says it uses Yap for writing emails and firing off Slack messages, which makes it useful for short written communication on a Mac.
Offline dictation
Because dictation is processed on-device and works offline, Yap is suitable when you want speech-to-text without network dependence, including travel or low-connectivity situations.
Reusable voice notes and snippets
Saved local transcripts make Yap useful when you want to reuse previous dictated text instead of starting from scratch.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Runs locally with Apple’s on-device Speech framework, keeping audio on the Mac.
- No account or API key is required to start using it.
- The dictated text can be pasted into any current text field, which makes it broadly usable across apps.
- Local transcript history lets you revisit and search previous dictation.
- It is free and open source, with installation options shown directly on the page.
Cons
- The page only supports macOS, with a noted requirement for Apple Silicon and macOS 26 (Tahoe) on the download callout.
- The source does not describe advanced formatting, editing, or multi-device sync features.
- No integrations beyond local paste behavior are documented on the homepage.
FAQ
How does Yap keep dictation private?
Yap uses Apple’s on-device Speech framework and runs entirely on your Mac. The page says there is no account, no API key, no telemetry, and no network code involved.
Where can I use Yap?
The page says Yap can paste text into whatever field you are in, from terminal to browser. It is designed to work anywhere you can type on macOS.
How do I control recording in Yap?
Yap starts and stops with one shortcut, and the shortcut can be rebound to any key you like.
Does Yap save my transcripts?
Yes. Yap saves each transcript locally on your Mac, and the page says the history is searchable and ready to reuse.
How do I install Yap?
The homepage describes Yap as free and open source. It also shows installation options for macOS, including a download button, GitHub, and Homebrew.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Voice dictation
- Platform
- macOS
- Distribution
- Free and open source
- Privacy model
- Local/on-device processing; no telemetry or network code
- Install options
- Download for macOS, GitHub, and Homebrew cask
- Source domain
- frigade.com
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