Spokenly vs AudioPen
Spokenly types into your apps. AudioPen does that, and saves your thinking.
Both let you talk instead of type. Spokenly drops a transcript into whatever app you are in. AudioPen voice-types too, and it adds a separate notes library that turns rough speech into finished writing in any style or language.
Free to start. Loved by over 200,000 people.
The verdict
Which one should you use?
Spokenly is a dictation tool. It types what you say into any app on Mac, Windows, and Linux, and into any iPhone app through its own keyboard. It runs free local Whisper and Parakeet models that keep transcription private and offline, and it can transcribe audio and video files. With bring-your-own API keys and an MCP server for coding agents, it is a strong fit for technical users who want fast voice typing.
AudioPen does two separate things. It voice-types into any app too, but where Spokenly cleans up text with instructions you write, AudioPen gives you ready-made styles. It also keeps a running history of what you dictated. And it's a notes app: record a thought inside AudioPen and it comes back as finished writing in your personal library. On Prime, you can restyle it later. Its native apps have an offline transcription option for voice typing and notes.
AudioPen is for people who think out loud. Pick a style and the ramble comes back as a finished email, list or note. Your notes also follow you to every device, while Spokenly's history stays on the one you dictated on.
Where each one wins
Two tools, different strengths.
Where Spokenly wins
- System-wide dictation that types into any app on Mac, Windows, and Linux, plus an iPhone keyboard
- Free local models (Whisper, Parakeet) for unlimited offline, private transcription
- Bring your own API keys, plus an MCP server for Cursor and Claude Code
- Transcribes audio and video files on Mac, Windows, and Linux, and audio files on iPhone through the share sheet
- Voice-controlled Mac automation with Agent Mode
Where AudioPen wins
Voice-types into Gmail, Slack, and Notion on Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, and Android, with a history of every dictation
- Types in a style you choose: ramble, and it lands at your cursor as a formal email, bullet points, or your own style
- A separate notes library where recordings are saved so you can search and reuse them, and restyle them on Prime
- On Prime, reshapes a saved note into finished writing in your own style, on demand
- Any output language: speak in your language and pick another to write in
Voice typing, in any style
Dictation that writes it up for you.
Spokenly types what you say into any app. AudioPen does too, and it has styles built in, so a loose, spoken thought can land at your cursor already written the way you need it.
Talk the way you think. Start mid-thought, circle back, change your mind halfway through. AudioPen types your exact words when you want them, or writes it up in a style you pick, right at your cursor.
“so there's this bug, um, it only happens when you, like, log in with google and then you switch accounts, and then the token, the token doesn't refresh, so you're basically stuck as the old user? I think the fix is just clearing the session when you switch”
• Steps: sign in with Google, then switch accounts • Expected: the session moves to the new account • Actual: the auth token does not refresh, so the previous user stays signed in • Suggested fix: clear the session on account switch
Works in any app, on every device: a hotkey on Mac and Windows, the AudioPen keyboard on iPhone and iPad, and a floating bubble on Android.
Rewrite level
Writing that reads exactly how you want it to.
Set how much AudioPen edits, then pick a style and a length. Keep your exact words, or polish it until it sounds like you.
“So, um, I found the bug with the export button. When a user has more than 500 rows, the CSV export just, like, times out after 30 seconds and they get a blank file. It only happens on, on the Safari build. Chrome works fine. I think it's because we're building the whole file in memory before the download starts. My plan is to stream the rows in batches of 100 instead, and, you know, I'll also add a test for the 500 row case. Jordan can review it tomorrow, since it don't need to go out until the Thursday release.”
Rewrite level
Retains structure where possible, rewritten in your chosen style
Create your own style
Ask AudioPen to write like your favorite author. Or give it a sample of your own writing, and it will match your voice. If you can describe a style, AudioPen can write in it.
I found the export button bug. With more than 500 rows, the CSV export times out after 30 seconds and returns a blank file. It only happens on Safari; Chrome is fine. The likely cause is building the whole file in memory before download. I'll stream rows in batches of 100 and add a 500 row test. Jordan can review tomorrow, ahead of Thursday's release.
Free to start, on every device.
Feature by feature
Spokenly vs AudioPen, side by side.
| Feature | Spokenly |  AudioPen |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | SpokenlyVoice typing on desktop and iPhone | AudioPenVoice typing plus saved writing |
| Faithful transcription | Spokenly | AudioPen |
| Voice-type into other apps | SpokenlyMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, iPad | AudioPenMac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android |
| History of what you dictated | Spokenly | AudioPen |
| Separate notes library for saved recordings | Spokenly | AudioPen |
| Types in a style you choose, even when you ramble | SpokenlyVia AI prompts | AudioPenBuilt-in and custom styles, every device |
| Rewrites saved notes into custom styles | Spokenly | AudioPenWith Prime |
| Restyle a saved note later | Spokenly | AudioPenWith Prime |
| Upload audio files to transcribe | SpokenlyMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone | AudioPenWith Prime |
| Offline, local transcription | Spokenly | AudioPenOptional on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Speak one language, write another | SpokenlyWith a prompt you write | AudioPen |
| MCP server | SpokenlyMac, for coding agents | AudioPenPrime, for your notes |
| Windows app | Spokenly | AudioPen |
| Android and Chrome | Spokenly | AudioPen |
| Free tier | SpokenlyUnlimited local dictation | AudioPenYes, with limits |
| Paid pricing | SpokenlyPro $8.33/mo, billed yearly | AudioPenPrime from $33 for 3 months |
Where AudioPen works
One account, every device.
Voice type into any app on Mac and Windows, use the AudioPen keyboard on iPhone and iPad, tap the floating bubble on Android, or open your notes in the web app.
- Web appAny browser
- MacVoice type in any app
- WindowsVoice type in any app
- iPhoneApp and voice keyboard
- iPadApp and voice keyboard
- Apple WatchRecord from your wrist
- AndroidApp and floating bubble
- ChromeBrowser extension
One Prime account covers all of them. Your notes sync across every device, so whatever you capture on one is waiting on the next.
This is by far the greatest and most useful tool I have ever had! I have severe ADHD and it’s able to translate my rambling into a well written and concise note. I feel more organized and less anxious!
I love it. Once AudioPen knows my style, everything I write sounds like me, but better.
I used to manually summarize my transcribed brainstorming sessions. Took hours. AudioPen automates everything to the point where I am almost done with my article after talking about a topic for 10min. Magic.
I use AudioPen mainly as a way of clearing my mind.
I am a natural speaker. My ideas flow faster when I speak. I record my voice notes and with my accent, it is perfect all the time.
Testimonials
Loved by people who think out loud
Read what real users have to say about AudioPen.
No product has fundamentally changed the way I work over the last 12 months more than Audiopen. Home Screen on iPhone.
I can now create 95% of my blog posts and have minimal editing. In my tone of voice. This saves so much time
I’ve been using AudioPen to talk through my ideas, have them summarized and then use the summarization as a draft for blog posts. 13 out of 10. Highly recommend for the “blank page” problem.
This is probably the best product I’ve come across in the past 18 months. So useful and it just keeps getting better.
Simple, but effective. The best tool to convert rambling into structured text, while keeping what you rambled intact.
I freakin love AudioPen.ai. If you are not using it yet, get on it.
Most helpful AI tool = audiopen. Been using it daily to do things like: turn voicenotes into action items, content ideas (magic for this), summarize calls, giving feedback. The UI is also so clean that it’s an absolute joy to use.
You speak to it as thoughts come in. It stitches a fine narrative from the rant. Writers can edit a ‘wrong’ page, not a ‘blank’ page. AudioPen gets you to 90% and then you do the rest.
OH MY GOSH. I just learned about AudioPen today, and it’s already a GAME CHANGER. If you write, create, or do any serious thinking, this tool is for you.
This is one tool that has dramatically changed the way I think. It has allowed me to get the thoughts out of my head and down on paper.
I can’t say enough good things about the AudioPen app. It’s been my go-to app for getting ideas down without having to type. Not only does it arrange even the most inarticulate nonsense into readable sentences, it’s the best dictation app I’ve ever used.
I’ve been writing online for over 10 years and tried virtually every writing app, productivity, note-taking, and idea-capture system out there. Nothing comes close to the amount of time AudioPen saves me.
Best buy in 2023: AudioPen from @louispereira. Hats off.
Switched from Superwhisper to Audiopen Mac App within 20 minutes of using the Mac App.
Tried it out, and paid for the prime version because it is SO good and simple to use. The product has made it so much easier to track my various thoughts throughout my day.
AudioPen is able to clear my spoken thoughts into text in Estonian, one of the most complicated languages in the world! Shut Up And Take My Money!
Already not sure what I did before I had AudioPen. If you often have thoughts you want to capture in writing, check it out. Cost is super reasonable too.
Questions
Everything you might want to know
Straight answers to the questions people ask before they start.