Free Mac dictation

Say it before you start typing.

You already know what you want to say. Vara removes the typing: hold a key, talk freely, let go — and the text lands where your cursor is. As a message, email, note or prompt.

Free. No account. No subscription. For macOS 14+.

Free because we needed it ourselves.

We built Vara for our own emails, notes, prompts and messages. Now we are giving it away: no monthly price, no account, no ads. Just a tool we use every day.

Forged in Denmark by Brokk & Sindre — and used by us every day.

More than raw dictation

Same voice. Different text.

You do not have to speak perfectly to get useful text. Say it naturally, and let Vara write it for the situation.

Raw when speed matters

Get exactly what you said into a note, thought or draft. No polish, no rewrite, just onto the screen.

Clear when someone will read it

Talk loosely and get a message or email that sounds like you on a good day: clear, warm and ready enough to send.

Precise when AI needs to understand

Explain what you want built, researched or changed, and get it shaped as a sharp prompt instead of a messy thought.

How it works

Three moves. Thought to text.

01

Hold the key

Press your shortcut when you would normally start typing. Vara listens only while you hold it.

02

Say it out loud

Speak in full thoughts, half sentences or loose notes. You do not have to make it perfect first.

03

Let go and continue

The text lands where you are already working, ready to send, save or build on.

Use it all day

Use it where you would otherwise write later.

A quick reply, a better email, a loose note, a precise prompt — directly where you are already working. Hold the key, say it, let go.

The chat reply

Get the short message out of your head and sent without turning every thread into a writing task.

The client email

Say what you mean and get a calm, clear email that is ready enough to send on.

The meeting note

Capture the decision, idea or next step while you still remember why it mattered.

The prompt for your AI

Explain the task like you would to a person, and get it down as a sharp brief.

The raw thought

When you just need the words down, you get them fast and without a filter.

Why Vara

Built for a Danish workday.

Vara is made in Denmark for people who move between Danish, English, æ, ø, å, email, chat, documents and prompts all day.

Not another subscription.

We wanted fast Mac dictation without a monthly bill. That is why Vara is free.

Your words are not the business model.

Vara requires no account, shows no ads and builds no profile from what you say.

Get it free

Try it on the next message you were going to type anyway.

It takes a few minutes to install. Then the test is simple: hold the key, say the message you have been putting off, and see whether you miss the keyboard.

Free · for macOS 14 or newer · no account.

FAQ

The things you’re probably wondering

Is Vara really free?
Yes. The app is free, and there is no subscription. We built Vara because we needed it in our own work, and now we are giving it away to others. No account, no ads, nothing hidden.
How do I install it?
Download the .dmg, open it, and drag Vara into Applications. The first time you open it, macOS may ask you to confirm — so right-click Vara and choose Open. After that it launches like any other app.
Do I need to understand anything technical to use it?
No. The first time you open Vara, it guides you through the few choices that matter. After that you just use it: hold a key, talk, let go.
Does it work well in Danish?
Yes. Vara is made in Denmark with Danish as a real first-class language, æ, ø and å included. You can speak Danish, English or move between them during the day.
What about privacy?
What you say is yours. Vara requires no account, shows no ads and builds no profile of you. If you want both voice and text to stay on your own Mac, you can choose that during setup.
Which Mac do I need?
macOS 14 or newer. The most private, fully local options need a recent Apple Silicon Mac (M-series); the regular setup works on macOS 14+.