Which open-source dictation apps run on Windows?

Handy and Murmure are the two open-source dictation apps we could verify on Windows, and both work without an internet connection once installed. nerd-dictation, which often comes up in searches for Windows, is written for Linux. Check each project's release page before you install, because the Windows details below are as the projects described them on 2026-10-16.

Handy lists Windows as one of its platforms

Handy describes itself as a free, open-source speech-to-text application that works completely offline ¹. Its README lists Windows, macOS and Linux as platforms ², which makes it the most direct answer to this question. You press a shortcut, speak, and your words appear in any text field ³.

Handy also offers a Parakeet V3 model that its README describes as CPU-optimized ⁴. NVIDIA's model card says the Parakeet family is designed and optimized for NVIDIA GPU-accelerated systems ⁵. So the CPU build and NVIDIA's GPU-first design are both claims, and you should test the speed on your own machine.

Murmure ships a Windows installer and needs Windows 10 or later

Murmure's README says it turns your voice into text with no internet connection and zero data collection ⁶. For Windows, the README points you to an installer on the release page: download the latest Murmure_x64.msi or Murmure_x64-setup.exe and run it ⁷.

Murmure requires Windows 10 or later. The README says that older versions such as Windows 8.1 are not supported ⁸, so check your version before you download.

nerd-dictation is a Linux tool for now

nerd-dictation describes itself as a speech to text utility for Linux, built on the VOSK-API ⁹. Its README lists support for Windows and macOS only as a possible future item ¹⁰. For now, the answer for Windows is no. If you need it on Windows, use Handy or Murmure instead. Check the README again before you plan around Windows support, because a future item is not a release.

Murmur is a name we could not verify

Some software directories list a Windows app called Murmur that describes itself as offline dictation with Whisper. We found no official project page for it, and the listings are third-party pages. We do not recommend it until you can confirm the publisher. Murmure, covered above, is a different project with a similar name.

Compare the apps by what they cover

If you have recordings to convert rather than dictation to do, read our question on whether there is a Whisper app for Windows, which covers Buzz and the command-line options.

Test an app before you trust it

Install the app from its release page, then turn off Wi-Fi and Ethernet. Dictate two minutes of ordinary writing, and count the wrong, missing and invented words. Repeat the test with background noise, because accuracy can drop there. Offline transcription does not prove privacy, because an app can work offline and still check for updates or send reports. Read the app's privacy policy, and watch its network activity during the first test.

For a wider comparison, see our guide to offline speech to text on Windows and the Windows dictation overview. The dictation glossary entry defines the terms used here. If you are deciding between a free built-in tool and an app, read whether Windows voice typing works offline and how to install Whisper on Windows.