A Speechify and Wispr Flow alternative for Mac, paid once
I built Univocal for sentences that mix languages. Dictate in English with Korean, Japanese, Mandarin or Spanish mixed in, then listen back in a reading panel that highlights each word.
Reading and dictation work offline after setup. Your text and voice stay on your Mac for speech processing. Setup downloads, licensing and updates may use the network.
Apple silicon · macOS 14 or later · 14-day trial, no credit card required
If you mostly dictate
Keep your cursor in the message or document you're writing. Hold the right Option key, speak, then let go to enter the text. Right Option is the default shortcut, and you can change it. An English email can include a Korean name without rewriting the sentence around one language.
Dictation needs Microphone and Accessibility permission in macOS.
If you mostly read
Select the text you want to hear, or copy it, then press Option-Shift-R to open Univocal's reading panel. That is the default shortcut, and you can change it. If text is selected, Univocal reads the selection; otherwise it reads what you copied. Reading selected text needs Accessibility permission in macOS.
Each word is highlighted as it is spoken. Use it for an article, your own draft or a long AI answer.
A few ways to use both
- Dictate a draft, then listen back for a missing word.
- Read a long answer from an AI chat while following the highlighted words.
- Listen to selected or copied text from different apps in the same panel.
When another option may fit you better
Start with your Mac's free Speak Selection if its built-in voices do what you need. It can highlight words, sentences or both. If you haven't set it up, this guide walks through it.
If you also want apps for your phone or the web, or AI podcasts, look at Speechify. If you need dictation on Windows, iPhone or Android, look at Wispr Flow. If choosing between local and cloud dictation models matters to you, look at superwhisper.
Univocal is for Apple silicon Macs on macOS 14 or later. It has no Windows, iPhone or Android app and does not make summaries.
Compare the parts you'll use
| Option | What to check before choosing |
|---|---|
| Univocal | Mixed-language dictation, selected or copied text in a reading panel with word-by-word highlighting, local speech processing after setup, one-time purchase for up to three Macs. Source: purchase page and privacy page |
| macOS | Free Speak Selection reads selected text with a shortcut and can highlight words, sentences or both. Source: Apple, Mac User Guide, checked 10 Nov 2026 |
| Speechify | Reading on Mac with text highlighting, voice typing, apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows and the web, and AI podcasts. Check its current free and paid features. Source: speechify.com/mac, checked 10 Nov 2026 |
| Wispr Flow | Dictation on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, with a free weekly word allowance and a paid plan for unlimited use. Where speech is processed: not documented on its home page, so check before choosing. Source: wisprflow.ai, checked 10 Nov 2026 |
| superwhisper | Dictation with local models that work without a connection and optional cloud models, on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. Check the current free and paid options. Source: superwhisper.com/docs, checked 10 Nov 2026 |
Can I use a free Speechify alternative?
Try macOS Speak Selection first. Univocal has a 14-day free trial, followed by a one-time purchase.
Does Univocal work offline?
Reading and dictation work offline after initial setup. Downloads, licensing and updates may connect to the internet.
Do I need an account?
You don't need an account. A purchase gives you a licence key for up to three Macs.
Apple silicon · macOS 14 or later · 14-day trial, no credit card required
Written by the maker of Univocal. Univocal is not affiliated with the other products mentioned here; their names belong to their owners.