The source is public under FSL-1.1-MIT, which converts to MIT two years after each release. That is source available rather than open source in the strict sense. VoiceInk's GPL v3 is more permissive today and we are not going to blur that.

Do both use the same Whisper models?

Yes, both run Whisper on device, and both let you choose a model size. Accuracy tracks the model you pick more than the app around it.

Yes. Give them separate keys. There is no conflict beyond that.

Dictation apps

Juno vs VoiceInk

The closest thing to Juno's dictation, minus the part where it goes and does the job.

VoiceInk is the one we point people at when they want dictation and nothing more. It is GPL v3, it runs Whisper on device, you can build it yourself, and the prebuilt version is a modest one time cost. No subscription and no server.

Juno's dictation half works the same way and for the same reasons. Local Whisper, no upload, no account.

The difference is scope rather than philosophy. VoiceInk is a dictation app that is very good at being a dictation app. Juno is a computer use agent that happens to contain one.

Side by side

	Juno	VoiceInk
Transcription runs locally	Yes	Yes
Works with no internet	Yes, for dictation	Yes
Can carry out what you said	Yes, drives any app on screen	No, it types the words
Wake word	Yes, and you choose it	No
Sees your screen	Yes, during a task you started	No
Price	Free	Free to build, or roughly $25 to $49 once
Licence	FSL-1.1-MIT, becomes MIT	GPL v3
Platforms	macOS 14+	macOS

Transcription runs locally
Juno
Yes
VoiceInk
Yes
Works with no internet
Juno
Yes, for dictation
VoiceInk
Yes
Can carry out what you said
Juno
Yes, drives any app on screen
VoiceInk
No, it types the words
Wake word
Juno
Yes, and you choose it
VoiceInk
No
Sees your screen
Juno
Yes, during a task you started
VoiceInk
No
Price
Juno
Free
VoiceInk
Free to build, or roughly $25 to $49 once
Licence
Juno
FSL-1.1-MIT, becomes MIT
VoiceInk
GPL v3
Platforms
Juno
macOS 14+
VoiceInk
macOS

Where VoiceInk is the better pick

The licence. GPL v3 today beats a licence that becomes MIT later, if that distinction matters to you, and for some people it should.
It is small and it stays out of the way. No permissions beyond the microphone.
Pay once, or build it from source and pay nothing.
If you want dictation with the smallest possible surface area, this is the honest answer.

Where Juno pulls ahead

The same trigger can act instead of type.
Wake word listening, so you do not have to reach for a key.
It can read what is on screen and work from that.
The CLI gives Claude Code, Cursor and other agents control of your desktop.
Free, with no build step and a signed release.

Not really rivals

VoiceInk and Juno want different things. If your answer to what do you need is dictation, full stop, install VoiceInk and be happy. Install Juno when the answer turns into dictation, and also I keep describing tasks out loud that I then go and do with my hands.

Questions people ask

Is Juno open source?: The source is public under FSL-1.1-MIT, which converts to MIT two years after each release. That is source available rather than open source in the strict sense. VoiceInk's GPL v3 is more permissive today and we are not going to blur that.
Do both use the same Whisper models?: Yes, both run Whisper on device, and both let you choose a model size. Accuracy tracks the model you pick more than the app around it.
Can I run both?: Yes. Give them separate keys. There is no conflict beyond that.

Free, and the source is public. macOS 14+.

Download Juno