JustVoice vs Aiko
JustVoice vs Aiko, live dictation vs file transcription
Aiko is a $24 one-time Whisper file-transcription app for Apple devices. 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, on-device file transcription for $24 once, but lacks a hotkey, custom vocabulary, snippets, and code mode. The honest caveat: if low-cost, batch file transcription across Apple devices is your only need, Aiko is hard to beat.
At a glance
Side-by-side summary
JustVoice
Local Whisper on macOS. $35 once, lifetime license, no subscription. Code mode, app profiles, custom vocabulary.
Aiko
On-device Whisper file transcription for Apple devices, $24 once. $24 one-time (Mac, iPhone, Vision Pro). macOS, iOS, visionOS.
Pricing verified May 24, 2026 from the official source.
Aiko is a well-loved $24 one-time Whisper file-transcription app for Mac, iPhone, and Vision Pro by indie developer Sindre Sorhus. Drop in an audio file, get text out, clean, fast, and private. 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 fully local Whisper processing (your voice never touches the cloud), custom vocabulary, voice-activated snippets, and code dictation with IDE detection, all included in one $35 lifetime license. 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
- One-time purchase too: $35 for a lifetime licence
- 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.
- Cheaper: $24 one-time, and it works across Mac, iPhone, and Vision Pro
- Excellent Shortcuts integration for automation
- Built and maintained by a well-respected indie developer
Bottom line: Aiko is the right tool if your only need is low-cost, occasional audio file transcription with Shortcuts automation. 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) | ||
| Shortcuts automation | ||
| Custom vocabulary | ||
| Voice-activated snippets | ||
| Code dictation mode | ||
| iOS / visionOS support | ||
| One-time purchase$35 vs $24 | ||
| Local processing |
Bottom line
The takeaway
Aiko is a great low-cost utility for one-off file transcription across Apple devices. 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, and voice-activated snippets, all for a $35 one-time lifetime licence. Most users switching from Aiko cite price, privacy, or features as the deciding factor.
- Absolutely. JustVoice is a $35 one-time purchase with no subscription, less than three months of a typical cloud dictation plan, so there's little 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, activate your $35 lifetime licence, 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, runs fully on-device, and is a one-time $24 purchase, so if that's your only need it's a fine pick. JustVoice covers both jobs in one app for $35 one-time.
- Aiko is a one-time $24 purchase that works across Mac, iPhone, and Vision Pro for file transcription. JustVoice is also a one-time purchase, $35 for a lifetime licence, for live system-wide dictation with custom vocabulary, snippets, and code mode. Both are pay-once tools for different jobs.
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Compare with other apps
Ready to switch from Aiko?
JustVoice is $35 once, a lifetime license, no subscription. Your voice never leaves your Mac.