Kivo

Key facts: Kivo launched on Product Hunt on November 5, 2026 as free on-device dictation for any Mac app. Hold a key, say it, let go, and your words land at the cursor, wherever the cursor is, as one edit. It cleans up filler words as it types, and one undo takes the whole dictation back. The microphone opens when you press and closes when you let go.

Plans: Free to use, with no account and no credit card. Download for Mac from the official site.

Best for: Mac users who think in sentences and would rather speak than type. Who should skip it: Windows users, since it is Mac only.

Pros

• Free to use, with no account and no credit card
• Dictation stays on your Mac, and the microphone is on only while you hold the key
• Works in any Mac app, landing words at the cursor as one edit
• Cleans up filler words as it types, and one undo removes the whole dictation

Watch out for

• Mac only, with no Windows version
• A small app that does one thing: no transcription library, summaries or editing tools
• A brand-new launch, so long-term support is still being proven

Best for

Mac users who think in sentences and would rather speak than type. Who should skip it: Windows users, and anyone who wants a full transcription or meeting-notes tool rather than plain dictation.

Pricing

Free to use. No account, no credit card. Download for Mac from the official site.

FAQs

What is Kivo? Free on-device dictation for any Mac app: hold a key, speak, let go, and your words appear at the cursor.

Is Kivo really free? Yes, free to use with no account and no credit card.

Where does my audio go? Nowhere: dictation stays on your Mac, and the microphone is on only while you hold the key.

What if it gets something wrong? One undo takes the whole dictation back.