Official documentation
iannuttall/natter: README
Ian Nuttall, GitHub, 2026
Read the originalRead on October 22, 2026
- What it is
- The README of Natter, a macOS dictation app published on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license. It describes the local speech model, the optional local writing models, the dictionary and the spoken correction commands.
- How much weight it carries
- The maker's own repository README, read on 2026-10-22. The README describes the code in the repository at that date. It names no price, so no plan figure is taken from it.
Facts taken from this source
- Natter's README says it uses Accessibility to identify the text field that had focus.
“Accessibility lets it identify the text field that had focus.” (Install section, permissions list)
- Natter's README says audio and transcripts stay on the Mac.
“Audio and transcripts stay on the Mac.” ('Nothing you say leaves your Mac' section)
- Natter's README says its dictionary stores preferred spellings locally.
“The dictionary stores preferred spellings locally.” ('Teach it your words' section)
- Natter's README says its Rewrite mode asks the local 9B model to restructure the transcript.
“Rewrite asks the local 9B model to restructure the transcript using that mode's editable instructions.” ('Dictation modes' section)
- Natter's README says nothing the user says leaves the Mac, and that the app has no cloud transcription.
“Nothing you say leaves your Mac ... There is no account, cloud transcription, telemetry” ('Nothing you say leaves your Mac' section)
- Natter's README says nothing the user says leaves the Mac, and that the app has no account, cloud transcription or telemetry.
“Nothing you say leaves your Mac ... There is no account, cloud transcription, telemetry” ('Nothing you say leaves your Mac' section)
- Natter's README says the app transcribes speech locally, cleans it up, and types into the app the user was already using.
“Natter is a native macOS menu bar app that transcribes speech locally, cleans it up, and types into the app you were already using.” (Opening paragraph)
- Natter's README says the spoken lowercase command is consumed and lowercases the next word.
“Natter consumes the command and lowercases the next word” ('Teach it your words' section)