JustVoice vs Aiko
JustVoice vs Aiko, live dictation vs free file transcription
Aiko is a free Whisper-based file transcription app. JustVoice is system-wide live dictation that types into any Mac app, plus file transcription on top.
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TL;DR
The verdict
JustVoice is the right pick over Aiko if you want live system-wide dictation that types into any Mac app as you speak. Aiko is brilliant at one thing, free file transcription, but lacks a hotkey, custom vocabulary, snippets, and code mode. The honest caveat: if free, batch file transcription is your only need, Aiko is hard to beat.
At a glance
Side-by-side summary
JustVoice
Local Whisper on macOS. Free · $5 Plus · $9 Pro. 5,000 free words/month. Code mode, app profiles, custom vocabulary.
Aiko
Free Whisper-based audio file transcription for Mac and iOS. Free. macOS, iOS.
Aiko is a free, well-loved Whisper file-transcription app for Mac and iOS by Sindre Sorhus. Drop in an audio file, get text out, clean, fast, and free. JustVoice solves a different job: hold a hotkey and dictate into any app on macOS in real time. Aiko has no system-wide hotkey, no live dictation, no custom vocabulary, and no code mode.
Why switch
Is JustVoice a good Aiko alternative?
Yes, for most Mac users switching from Aiko, JustVoice covers the same core voice-to-text job and adds local Whisper processing, a real free tier (5,000 words/month), custom vocabulary, voice-activated snippets, and code dictation with IDE detection on Pro. Fit depends on your platform needs and the trade-offs below.
- Real-time system-wide dictation into any Mac app
- Push-to-talk hotkey, no need to record-then-transcribe
- Custom vocabulary for technical, medical, legal terminology
- Voice-activated snippets with variable substitution
- Code dictation mode with IDE detection (Pro)
- File transcription bundled, covers the Aiko job too
When to stay
When should I pick Aiko over JustVoice?
An honest comparison means flagging where Aiko still wins outright. If any of these are deal-breakers for you, stay on Aiko.
- Completely free, no subscription, no upgrade prompts
- iOS app, JustVoice is Mac-only today
- Built and maintained by a well-respected indie developer
Bottom line: Aiko is the right tool if your only need is free, occasional audio file transcription. JustVoice is the right tool if you want to dictate into any app while you work.
Features
JustVoice vs Aiko, feature-by-feature
| Feature | JustVoice | Aiko |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time system-wide dictation | ||
| Push-to-talk hotkey | ||
| File transcription (MP3/WAV/M4A) | ||
| Custom vocabulary | ||
| Voice-activated snippets | ||
| Code dictation mode | ||
| iOS support | ||
| FreeJustVoice has paid upgrades | ||
| Local processing |
Bottom line
The takeaway
Aiko is a great free utility for one-off file transcription. JustVoice is the tool you reach for when you want to dictate into any app, all day long.
FAQ
Common questions
- Yes. JustVoice covers the same core voice-to-text job, system-wide dictation on macOS, and adds GPU-accelerated local Whisper transcription, custom vocabulary, voice-activated snippets, and a free tier with 5,000 words per month. Most users switching from Aiko cite price, privacy, or features as the deciding factor.
- Absolutely. JustVoice is a one-time download with a free tier, there's no risk in installing it alongside Aiko and trying both for a week. Most users settle on one, but they can coexist on the same Mac without conflict.
- Five minutes. Download JustVoice from justvoice.ai/download, sign in (or use the free tier without an account beyond email), grant microphone and accessibility permissions, set a hotkey, and you're dictating into any app immediately. Custom vocabulary and snippets carry no migration overhead, they're entered as you go.
- Yes. JustVoice supports file transcription (MP3, WAV, M4A and more) on top of live dictation. Aiko is purpose-built for file transcription and is free, so if that's your only need it's a fine pick. JustVoice covers both jobs in one app.
- Because the products do different things. Aiko transcribes files. JustVoice gives you a hotkey-driven, system-wide dictation experience with custom vocabulary, snippets, code mode, none of which Aiko offers. JustVoice also has a free tier with 5,000 words/month, so you can compare them at zero cost.
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Ready to switch from Aiko?
Try JustVoice free with 5,000 words a month. No credit card required.