Local or cloud dictation on Mac: what stays on your device?

With local dictation, speech recognition runs on your Mac. With cloud dictation, audio is sent to a provider for transcription. Optional AI features can also send text or images for processing, even when your speech model is local.

Here's where each NoteFlux feature runs:

Feature	Where processing happens
Local dictation	On your Mac
Cloud dictation	Through NoteFlux's servers to a transcription provider
AI cleanup and voice editing	Through NoteFlux's servers to an AI provider
Ask AI, including screenshot questions	Through NoteFlux's servers to an AI provider
Screenshot-to-text	On your Mac

Local dictation turns speech into text on your Mac

With a local speech model selected, the transcription happens on your device. Your audio and the resulting transcript do not leave your Mac for that transcription step.

Local models need to be downloaded before use, and their speed depends on your hardware and the model you choose. Check that the model is available before you rely on it without an internet connection.

Local transcription in NoteFlux is always free, with no subscription required. You can keep using local models without upgrading. Cloud transcription and AI features have separate plan limits; see pricing for the current details.

Cloud transcription sends audio for processing

When you choose a cloud speech model, your audio passes through NoteFlux's servers to a transcription provider. The provider returns the text to your device.

Our privacy policy states that NoteFlux does not store or log that audio or transcript, and providers are configured not to retain the input or output. The data still leaves your device to be processed.

Cloud transcription needs an internet connection. To compare models for your own work, dictate the same short paragraph with each and check names, punctuation and how long the result takes to appear. Performance varies by model, recording and hardware.

AI cleanup is a separate step

AI cleanup can remove filler words, adjust grammar or format a draft. These features use third-party AI providers. The text passes through NoteFlux's servers for processing.

That means a workflow can combine local speech recognition with cloud text processing. If your aim is to keep the entire writing step local, check the optional AI processing you've enabled as well as the speech model you've selected.

For work documents, check that your chosen model and optional processing steps meet your workplace's rules.

Voice editing and Ask AI use cloud AI

Editing by voice sends the text you've selected, a little surrounding context and your instruction to an AI provider through NoteFlux's servers. Ask AI sends your question and, when you include one, your screenshot.

Use only the context needed for the task. The privacy policy has the current processing details.

The voice writing guide shows how dictation and editing fit together without treating them as the same operation.

Screenshot-to-text stays local

Extracting text from a screenshot uses text recognition on your Mac. The image stays on your device for this operation.

Asking AI about the same screenshot is different: the image is included in the AI request. If you only need to copy a paragraph, local text extraction may be enough. If you want an explanation, decide whether you want to send that image before using Ask AI.

Our screenshot guide explains both workflows with practical examples.

Choose a workflow, then check its boundaries

Before your first session, check three things:

1. Which speech model is selected: local or cloud?
2. Is an optional AI cleanup or editing step part of what you're doing?
3. Are you extracting text from an image, or sending the image to Ask AI?

NoteFlux also uses account and usage information to operate the service, and product analytics as described in the privacy policy. Keeping transcription local does not imply that the app has no network activity at all.

Start with the features you need, and review these settings when you switch between personal and work material.