Hex

Open source alternative to Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Willow Voice and Aqua Voice

3.3K stars
MIT
Active this week
Last commit today

Last verified Nov 2, 2026

Transform speech to text locally on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Hold a shortcut, speak, and Hex pastes the transcript wherever your cursor is. MIT licensed.

Visit website GitHub3.3K

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ

who it's for

Who Hex is for#

Linux users who need cross-platform voice dictation

Linux has no mainstream voice dictation tool. Hex fills that gap with the same shortcut-triggered, paste-anywhere workflow available on macOS. The Linux build supports x86_64 and ARM64, with packages for Debian, Fedora, Arch (AUR), and Nix-based distributions.

Skip if:

You work exclusively on macOS and want deeper system integration or more mature features; Superwhisper's macOS-focused build offers more established capabilities.

Privacy-conscious users handling sensitive content

Hex routes no audio to external servers after the initial model download. Medical, legal, financial, and client-confidential dictation stays on your device. This is the clearest case for Hex over paid cloud alternatives: the local model is not a tradeoff, it is the feature.

Skip if:

You need AI-assisted features like smart reformatting, tone correction, or transcription editing built into the dictation workflow; those require cloud processing that Hex does not provide.

Users who want dictation without a recurring subscription

Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Aqua Voice, and Willow Voice all charge a subscription or one-time purchase fee. Hex is free to download and run indefinitely. For individuals or small teams who dictate occasionally but do not want a recurring expense, Hex is the only zero-cost option in the category with cross-platform coverage.

Skip if:

You dictate heavily and need enterprise features, team administration, or AI-assisted editing in the workflow; paid tools remain ahead on those capabilities.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Voice dictation tools typically force a choice between polished paid services that process audio on remote servers and limited OS-level dictation that works only in specific contexts. For anyone who handles sensitive content, works offline regularly, or needs dictation on Linux, the existing options leave an unmet need.

The privacy gap is the most common pain: cloud-based transcription means spoken words pass through a third-party server, creating exposure for sensitive professional or personal content. The cross-platform gap follows: several leading paid tools in this category focus on macOS, leaving Linux users with no mainstream option and Windows users with fewer choices.

how Hex solves it

How it solves it#

On-device speech recognition

Hex downloads a speech model on first launch and runs all transcription locally from that point forward. Audio never reaches a remote server. This matters for dictating anything you would not want routed through a third-party service: passwords, medical notes, client communication, or draft text for later editing.

Shortcut-triggered paste into any app

Hold the configured keyboard shortcut, speak, and release. Hex transcribes and pastes the result into whatever application currently has focus, with no mode-switching or confirmation step. This works in terminals, text editors, browsers, and any app that accepts keyboard input.

Cross-platform coverage including Linux

Hex runs on macOS (Apple silicon, macOS 15 or later), Windows (x64 and ARM64), and Linux (x86_64 and ARM64, with Debian packages, Fedora packages, AUR, and Nix options). It is the only MIT-licensed voice dictation tool in this category that covers all three operating systems.

Multiple install methods across all platforms

macOS: Homebrew cask. Windows: signed installer or PowerShell install script. Linux: shell script, .deb, .rpm, AUR, or Nix. Both Stable and Dev channel builds are available, with Dev updating itself automatically from the development channel.

MIT license with no subscription fee

The MIT license means there are no usage fees, no per-seat costs, and no subscription required. You can inspect the source code, fork the project, and use it commercially without restriction.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Fully offline after initial model downloadAfter the first launch downloads the speech model, every subsequent transcription runs entirely on your device. There is no requirement to remain connected to the internet, making Hex viable in air-gapped environments, on flights, or wherever a reliable connection is unavailable.
MIT license with zero ongoing costWispr Flow, Superwhisper, Aqua Voice, and Willow Voice are all paid products. Hex is MIT licensed and free to run without any subscription. There are no per-seat fees, no usage limits, and no account required. The license also permits commercial use and forking without restriction.
Cross-platform coverage absent from competing toolsHex runs on all three major operating systems. It is the only option among the listed alternatives that covers Mac, Windows, and Linux. Linux users in particular have no other mainstream dictation tool in this category.

Trade-offs

-macOS requires Apple silicon and macOS 15 or laterThe macOS build runs only on Apple silicon (M1 and later) with macOS 15 or later installed. Intel Mac users cannot run Hex. This is documented on the product website and limits the macOS audience to machines made after late 2020 that have been updated to a recent OS release.
-Young project with 58 open issuesHex was created in July 2026 and has 58 open issues at the time of writing. As a project under four months old, rough edges and missing features are expected. Experimental capabilities are gated behind the Labs section in the sidebar and are not production-ready.
-No external code contributions acceptedThe project does not accept pull requests. Bugs and feature requests go through GitHub Issues, where the team handles them. For users who need to apply local patches or want to contribute code directly, this limits the contribution model compared to typical open source projects.

versus alternatives

Hex vs alternatives#

Hex vs Wispr Flow

Wispr Flow is a cloud-connected subscription dictation tool. Hex covers the same core use case (shortcut trigger, speak, paste) with on-device transcription, MIT licensing, and Linux support.

Feature	Hex	Wispr Flow
License	MIT	Proprietary
Transcription	On-device	Cloud
Platforms	Mac, Windows, Linux	Mac, Windows
Price	Free	Subscription

Hex is the better choice when audio privacy, offline operation, or Linux support matter. Wispr Flow is worth considering for its AI-powered smart editing features, which rely on cloud processing that Hex deliberately avoids.

Hex vs Superwhisper

Superwhisper runs local speech models on macOS, making it the closest feature analog to Hex on Apple hardware. Both tools transcribe on-device. Superwhisper is macOS-only and proprietary; Hex extends the same on-device approach to Windows and Linux under the MIT license.

Feature	Hex	Superwhisper
License	MIT	Proprietary
Platforms	Mac, Windows, Linux	macOS only
Transcription	On-device	On-device
Price	Free	Paid

For macOS users who want deep system integration and a more established feature set, Superwhisper remains a strong option. For anyone on Windows or Linux, or for users prioritizing the MIT license and zero recurring cost, Hex is the better fit.

install · quick start

Quick start#

bash

Install Hex on macOS via Homebrew or on Linux via the install script.
```bash
brew install --cask anomalyco/tap/hex
curl -fsSL https://anoma.ly/hex/install-linux.sh | sh
```

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: JavaScriptPythonRustSwiftTypeScript
Frameworks: React

frequently asked

FAQ#

Is Hex free to use?

Yes. Hex is MIT licensed and free to download and use with no subscription, usage fees, or account required. The only resource cost is disk space for the speech model downloaded on first launch.

Does Hex work without an internet connection?

After the first launch, yes. Hex downloads a speech model on the first run. From that point, all transcription happens locally and no internet connection is required. The initial model download is the only network operation.

Does Hex run on Intel Macs?

No. The macOS build requires Apple silicon (M1 or later) and macOS 15 or later. Intel Mac users cannot run Hex. Windows and Linux have no such hardware restriction and support both x64 and ARM64 architectures.

How does Hex compare to Superwhisper?

Both tools run speech models on the device rather than routing audio through the cloud. Superwhisper is macOS-only and a paid product; Hex is MIT licensed and runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux with no subscription. Superwhisper's macOS integration and feature maturity are genuine advantages for macOS-only users. Hex is the better choice for cross-platform coverage and zero ongoing cost.

What is the difference between the Stable and Dev builds?

Stable is the current release build. Dev is the newest build from the development channel and updates itself automatically from that channel. Experimental features are available in the Labs section of the sidebar in either build. Dev is for users who want new capabilities before they reach the Stable release.

Looking for more

Other ways to replace Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Willow Voice and Aqua Voice#

Handy

#1 in the Wispr Flow guide

Cross-platform offline dictation on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with the largest community of the eight

35,089

VoiceInk

#2 in the Wispr Flow guide

Apple Silicon Mac dictation with local AI enhancement and no subscription

6,992

FluidVoice

#3 in the Wispr Flow guide

macOS 15+ dictation with live transcription preview and optional on-device AI cleanup

12,601

OpenWhispr

#4 in the Wispr Flow guide

Cross-platform dictation with documented meeting transcription, live diarization, and optional cloud processing

10,514

All 14 Wispr Flow alternatives 8 open source Wispr Flow alternatives, ranked

by category

Open source tools in these categories#

233

12,855 GitHub stars
Licence AGPL-3.0
#Email

rakazo

Alternative toGrok Bot

AI teammates you own: your keys, your model, your machine.

6,568 GitHub stars
Licence Apache-2.0
#AI Agents

SnitchFeed

Live monitoring on LinkedIn, X, Reddit & more. Agentic social listening for startups.

Marketing & Growth

Advertise your product

The projects we add and every new guide. Free, unsubscribe any time.

Find open source alternatives to paid software

Hex vs Wispr Flow

Wispr Flow is a cloud-connected subscription dictation tool. Hex covers the same core use case (shortcut trigger, speak, paste) with on-device transcription, MIT licensing, and Linux support.

Feature	Hex	Wispr Flow
License	MIT	Proprietary
Transcription	On-device	Cloud
Platforms	Mac, Windows, Linux	Mac, Windows
Price	Free	Subscription

Hex vs Superwhisper

Feature	Hex	Superwhisper
License	MIT	Proprietary
Platforms	Mac, Windows, Linux	macOS only
Transcription	On-device	On-device
Price	Free	Paid

Who Hex is for#

Linux users who need cross-platform voice dictation

Skip if:

Privacy-conscious users handling sensitive content

Skip if:

Users who want dictation without a recurring subscription

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

On-device speech recognition

Shortcut-triggered paste into any app

Cross-platform coverage including Linux

Multiple install methods across all platforms

MIT license with no subscription fee

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

Hex vs alternatives#

Hex vs Wispr Flow

Hex vs Superwhisper

Quick start#

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Other ways to replace Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Willow Voice and Aqua Voice#

Open source tools in these categories#

Business & Productivity

Developer Tools

Find open source alternatives to paid software

Who Hex is for#

Linux users who need cross-platform voice dictation

Skip if:

Privacy-conscious users handling sensitive content

Skip if:

Users who want dictation without a recurring subscription

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

On-device speech recognition

Shortcut-triggered paste into any app

Cross-platform coverage including Linux

Multiple install methods across all platforms

MIT license with no subscription fee

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

Hex vs alternatives#

Hex vs Wispr Flow

Hex vs Superwhisper

Quick start#

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Other ways to replace Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Willow Voice and Aqua Voice#

Open source tools in these categories#

Business & Productivity

Developer Tools

Find open source alternatives to paid software