Speak. It types.
Everywhere.
Kalam is free, open-source voice typing for your computer—Windows, Mac, and Linux. It turns your voice into text and types it into any app: email, Slack, VS Code, Notion, your browser. Press a hotkey, talk, done. No switching windows. No copy-paste.
100% open source. Zero cost. Bring your own API key (free tier works) or run fully offline. No subscriptions, no lock-in, no catch.
The voice dictation app that doesn’t spy on you or charge you.
Focus on what you say. We’ll handle the rest.
Powerful Features
Built with Rust and Tauri for maximum performance and minimal resource usage.
Lightning Fast
Speak up to 4x faster than typing. Kalam captures your voice and injects the text instantly into whatever application you're using.
Privacy First
Your audio is never stored to disk. Choose between secure cloud processing (zero retention) or completely offline local models.
Dual-Engine STT
Use Groq's lightning-fast Whisper API for cloud processing, or switch to SenseVoice/Whisper.cpp for entirely on-device transcription.
Global Hotkeys
Activate dictation from anywhere with a simple keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Win / Ctrl+Cmd). No need to switch windows.
More than just dictation.
Kalam isn't just a pass-through tool. It's a complete voice-first workspace. Manage your life without touching the keyboard.
Smart Notes
Capture fleeting thoughts instantly. Tag, pin, and organize your voice notes in a dedicated, searchable workspace.
Task Management
Brain dump your to-dos with your voice. Kalam organizes them into actionable checklists you can manage later.
Voice Reminders
Set reminders completely hands-free. Never forget a follow-up, meeting, or random idea again.
Text Snippets
Create voice shortcuts for things you type often. Say a short trigger phrase to instantly paste long templates or links.
Local History & Search
Everything you dictate is securely saved to a local, encrypted SQLite database. Easily search past transcriptions, copy them, or turn them into notes and tasks after the fact.
How Kalam compares
Stacked against the voice tools you’ve heard of: Wispr Flow, Otter.ai, and Superwhisper.
If you search for Wispr Flow open source or Whisperflow for computer, Kalam is the free, open-source option that runs on desktop with BYOK or full offline.
Scroll horizontally to see all columns →
(desktop only)
Sources: Wispr Flow (flow in every app, subscription pricing); Otter.ai (AI Notetaker for meetings, free / Business $19.99/mo); Superwhisper (any-app dictation, offline, BYOK on Pro). Kalam is the only one that’s free, open source, includes Linux, and gives you BYOK and full offline at no cost.
Note: Kalam is desktop only (Windows, macOS, Linux). We are not building for Android or iOS.
How It Works
Three simple steps to faster typing.
Press the Hotkey
Hit Ctrl+Win (or Ctrl+Cmd on Mac) from any application.
Speak Naturally
Talk normally. Kalam captures your voice and processes it instantly using advanced AI models.
Text Injected
Perfectly transcribed text is automatically typed into your active window, ready to send or format.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Kalam free?
- Yes. Kalam is open source and free. You can use cloud transcription with your own API key (Groq has a free tier) or run fully offline with local models—no subscription.
- Is Kalam like Wispr Flow or Whisperflow?
- Yes—same idea (voice typing in any app). Kalam is free, open source, and runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux (desktop only); Wispr Flow is paid and also on mobile.
- What platforms does Kalam support?
- Kalam runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux (desktop only). We are not building for Android or iOS.
- Does Kalam work offline?
- Yes. You can use a local STT model (SenseVoice or Whisper) so no audio leaves your device. No API key required for offline mode.
- Do I need an API key?
- Only for cloud transcription (e.g. Groq). Sign up at Groq Console, get a free key, and add it in Settings → STT Provider. For local mode, no key is needed.
- Is my audio stored or sent somewhere?
- Audio is not stored to disk (in-memory only). In cloud mode it’s sent to the provider over TLS and not retained. In local mode, nothing leaves your machine.
- How do I start dictating?
- Press Ctrl+Win (Windows) or Ctrl+Cmd (macOS), hold while you speak, then release. Text is typed into the app that had focus when you pressed the key.
Documentation
Setup, API keys, building from source, and a full user manual that explains every feature. Everything lives on this site—no third-party docs.
View documentation