Humm
free, private realtime speech-to-text
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What is Humm?
Humm is a local speech-to-text application that transcribes audio on your computer without sending data to external servers by default. It works offline, requires no account signup, and offers optional cloud transcription models for extended language support. Designed for hands-free dictation across any app with a customizable hotkey.
Humm pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Free to use with no subscription. Optional cloud transcription models available with user's own API key, billed by the provider (not by Humm).
Humm pros
- Free with no account signup or credit card required
- Works fully offline by default with zero telemetry and HIPAA/GDPR compliance
- Real-time transcription as you speak with live text streaming
- Works across any application via hotkey (Alt+R) with automatic paste-to-active-window
- On-device AI cleanup to improve transcription quality
- Built-in history, playback, and usage statistics computed entirely on your machine
Humm cons
- Limited default language support (English locally; full 25-language or ~100-language support requires selecting different Parakeet or Whisper models)
- macOS version requires manual security bypass on first run since app is not notarized by Apple
- Optional cloud transcription requires user to provide their own API key and pay the cloud provider directly
Frequently asked questions about Humm
Is Humm really free?
Yes. Humm is free to use with no account or card required. Optional cloud models run on your own API key and are billed by the provider, not by Humm.
How private is Humm?
Humm works without the internet and has no backend. Audio only leaves your machine if you deliberately enable a cloud model with your own API key, and it goes directly to that provider, never through Humm.
Do I need to sign up?
No. Humm has no account system. Settings, history, and recordings are stored as files on your disk, and Humm does not collect what you say.
Which platforms are supported?
Windows and macOS. The Mac build requires Apple Silicon (M1 or newer).