# Yaps

> The local-first, privacy-first macOS voice assistant with optional cloud features.

Yaps is a native macOS application for voice-first productivity with account-backed subscriptions. Core workflows can run locally on your Mac, with optional cloud voices and advanced features when enabled.

Yaps provides speech-to-text dictation, text-to-speech reading, voice notes, a studio editor for audio generation, smart searchable history, and voice commands integrated with macOS Shortcuts.

## Privacy and Offline Architecture

- Local-first processing: Core dictation, notes, and offline voices can run on-device
- Offline capability: Core workflows remain available without internet once local models are installed
- Cloud optional: Premium voices and selected features can use cloud processing when enabled
- Account required: Sign-in is used for subscriptions, usage limits, and billing management
- Privacy controls: You can choose local or cloud-capable options per feature

## Key Features

- Speech-to-Text: Hold Fn and speak. Words appear wherever your cursor is, polished and punctuated.
- Text-to-Speech: Select text, hold Option+Fn, and hear it read in a natural voice. Offline voices included.
- Voice Notes: Capture thoughts with Ctrl+Fn. Quick, searchable, always accessible.
- Studio Editor: Write text, pick a voice, generate production-quality audio. Export as MP3, WAV, SRT, or VTT.
- Smart History: Every dictation, reading, and note is timestamped and searchable.
- Voice Commands: Create calendar events, set reminders, run macOS Shortcuts by speaking naturally.

## Pricing

- Free: $0/forever — 2K words/week dictation, voice notes, 3 offline voices
- Basic: $15/month — Unlimited dictation, 10+ premium voices, studio editor
- Pro: $50/month — Voice cloning, meeting transcription, all premium voices

## System Requirements

- macOS 14.6 or later
- Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) optimized — also runs on Intel Macs
- Core workflows available offline with on-device models
- Less than 200 MB memory footprint

## Links

- Homepage: https://yaps.ai
- Blog: https://yaps.ai/blog
- RSS Feed: https://yaps.ai/blog/rss.xml
- Sitemap: https://yaps.ai/sitemap.xml

## Blog Posts

- [Why Your Voice Data Is More Sensitive Than You Think (And How to Protect It)](https://yaps.ai/blog/voice-data-privacy-protect-yourself): Voice data reveals far more than words — biometric identity, emotional state, health conditions, and behavioral patterns. Learn why voice privacy matters in 2026, the risks of cloud-based voice assistants, and how on-device processing protects you.
- [Voice Input as Assistive Technology: How Speech-to-Text Helps People with RSI, Carpal Tunnel, and Repetitive Strain](https://yaps.ai/blog/voice-input-rsi-accessibility): For people with RSI, carpal tunnel, or repetitive strain injuries, voice input is not a productivity hack — it is essential assistive technology. This guide covers setup strategies, workflow adaptations, and how voice-first tools can help you keep working without pain.
- [Voice Notes Are the Best Way to Capture Ideas (Here's Why You're Not Using Them)](https://yaps.ai/blog/voice-notes-capture-ideas): Voice notes are faster, richer, and more natural than typed notes for capturing ideas. This guide explains why voice notes work better for idea capture, how to build a voice note habit, and practical workflows for organizing and finding your notes.
- [Best Dictation Apps for Mac in 2026: The Honest Comparison (Yaps vs Wispr Flow vs Apple Dictation vs Others)](https://yaps.ai/blog/best-dictation-apps-mac-comparison): A detailed, honest comparison of the best dictation apps for Mac in 2026 — covering Yaps, Wispr Flow, Apple Dictation, ParaSpeech, Dragon, and more. We compare accuracy, privacy, offline capability, pricing, and real-world performance.
- [Introducing Yaps: The Private, Offline Voice Assistant for macOS](https://yaps.ai/blog/introducing-yaps): Yaps is a privacy-first, offline macOS voice assistant with on-device speech-to-text, text-to-speech, voice notes, and voice commands. No internet required. No data leaves your Mac. Ever.
- [Voice Input for Developers: A Practical Guide to Dictating Code Comments, Commit Messages, and Documentation](https://yaps.ai/blog/voice-productivity-for-developers): A practical guide for developers who want to use voice input in their daily coding workflow. Covers dictating commit messages, code comments, documentation, Slack replies, PR descriptions, and meeting notes — with real examples and keyboard shortcuts.
- [Voice-First Workflows: How Dictation Can 4x Your Productivity (2026 Guide)](https://yaps.ai/blog/voice-first-workflows-productivity): Voice dictation vs typing speed isn't even close — 150 WPM vs 40 WPM. Learn how voice-first workflows save 250+ hours per year, reduce RSI, and why the best dictation apps for Mac work offline.
- [How Does Speech Recognition Work? The Complete Technical Guide to On-Device Speech-to-Text](https://yaps.ai/blog/technology-behind-speech-recognition): A comprehensive deep dive into how speech recognition works — from acoustic models and neural networks to on-device processing on Apple Silicon. Learn why offline, private speech-to-text is now as accurate as cloud alternatives.

## Optional

- llms-full.txt: https://yaps.ai/llms-full.txt