Our verdict: Handy does one job well: it turns speech into text in whatever app you are typing in, entirely offline. Setup is a shortcut and a model download. It does not rewrite or format your words with AI the way paid dictation apps do, but nothing you say leaves your computer.
About Handy
Handy is an open-source speech-to-text app under the MIT license by CJ Pais. Press a configurable keyboard shortcut, hold it while you speak or tap to toggle, and the transcribed text is pasted into the active text field. Silero voice activity detection filters out silence.
Transcription runs locally with your choice of model: Whisper Small, Medium, Turbo or Large with GPU acceleration when available, or the CPU-optimized Parakeet V3 with automatic language detection. Models are downloaded inside the app on first use and can also be installed manually. No account is needed and no audio is sent to the cloud.
What it does well
- Push-to-talk shortcut. Hold or toggle a global shortcut to dictate into any app.
- Offline models. Whisper Small to Large or Parakeet V3 run entirely on your PC.
- Silence filtering. Silero voice activity detection skips silent parts.
- Automatic paste. Puts the transcribed text straight into the active text field.
- Command-line flags. Control a running instance and startup options from the command line.
Who it is for
Good fit
Writers, developers and people with RSI who want free, private dictation in every app.
Look elsewhere
Users who want AI rewriting, tone modes or meeting transcription; Handy only types what you say.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free and open source (MIT)
- Fully offline, no account
- Works in any app via a shortcut
- Fast CPU model available
Cons
- No AI formatting or rewriting
- Version 0.x, still evolving quickly
- Large Whisper models are slow without a GPU
How to install Handy
The button downloads the 64-bit Windows installer; an MSI and an ARM64 build are on the download page. After installing, allow microphone access, set your shortcut in Settings and download a model. Parakeet V3 is fast on the CPU; Whisper models are faster with a GPU. The winget package is not maintained by the Handy developers.
Questions about Handy
Is Handy free?
Yes. Handy is open source under the MIT license and completely free, with no paid tier.
Does Handy send my voice to the cloud?
No. Speech is transcribed on your own computer with Whisper or Parakeet; the internet is only used to download models.
