Vocalinux
Linux finally gets hold-to-talk dictation with an AppImage, Wayland support and no cloud alibi.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-10
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- AGPL-3.0
- Hosting Model
- Local (on your machine)
- Platforms
- desktopone-click install
- Installation
- Interactive shell installer, AppImage, or AUR package
- Operational Setup
- Linux text injection is the first snag: the user may need IBus, wtype, ydotool, or xdotool depending on Wayland or X11, in addition to downloading a model.
- Where Your Data Lives
- Audio is processed in memory and discarded; configuration is stored as YAML under ~/.config/vocalinux, and the app intentionally has no transcript-history database.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- It is Linux-only and deliberately has no cleanup, app-context rewriting, transcript history, glossary, or cloud synchronization.
Replaces 1 paid app
up to $15/mo ($180/yr) in subscriptions
Vocalinux FAQ
Common questions
Is Vocalinux free and open source?+
Vocalinux is an open-source tool licensed under AGPL-3.0 that runs on local. Linux finally gets hold-to-talk dictation with an AppImage, Wayland support and no cloud alibi.
What paid software does Vocalinux replace?+
Vocalinux serves as a free replacement for 1 paid SaaS application: Wispr Flow, saving up to $15/month ($180/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Vocalinux?+
Installation: Interactive shell installer, AppImage, or AUR package. Setup notes: Linux text injection is the first snag: the user may need IBus, wtype, ydotool, or xdotool depending on Wayland or X11, in addition to downloading a model.
What is the catch or trade-off with Vocalinux?+
It is Linux-only and deliberately has no cleanup, app-context rewriting, transcript history, glossary, or cloud synchronization.