Roundhand and Raycast Dictation
Two dictation apps, compared on where speech is recognised, what each stores, how it writes for each app and how its dictionary works.
Choose Roundhand if you want a dictation app on its own, with speech always recognised on your own computer and writing styles already set up for code editors, terminals, chat and email. Choose Raycast if you already work in Raycast, want dictation on your iPhone through its keyboard, or want to bring your vocabulary over from another dictation app.
| Compared on | Roundhand | Raycast Dictation |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Mac: a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 14 or later. Windows: a PC with Windows 11 and an x64 (Intel or AMD) processor. | Raycast Dictation works on the Mac, and on iPhone and iPad through the Raycast KeyboardSource: manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation |
| Where speech is recognised | On your computer. Your audio is never uploaded. | The Raycast dictation page does not state where speech is recognised. It says audio is not retained on its servers and that your voice is never used to train AI modelsSource: manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation |
| Stored dictation | Dictation history, and meetings you record, stay in a database on your computer. Roundhand's own servers never receive audio or transcript text. | Raycast says your transcriptions and statistics are stored locally on your device, and that every transcription is saved to Dictation History until you delete itSource: manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation |
| Cloud cleanup | Optional. It sends text, never audio, to the cleanup provider. | The Raycast dictation page does not state whether cleanup sends text to a provider. It says each style has a prompt that tells the AI how to clean up your transcriptSource: manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation |
| Writing style per app | Four built-in styles (Terminal, IDE and AI chat, Chat, Prose) picked by the app you are in, and changeable per app. | Raycast's Auto Styling picks the style for the app or website you are dictating into, with built-in Email and Messaging styles and custom styles you can write for chosen apps and websitesSource: manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation |
| Personal dictionary | A Dictionary where you set how words you say are written, such as a product name. | Raycast Dictation has a vocabulary of up to 50 words, each up to 20 characters, and can import your vocabulary and hotkey from other dictation apps it finds installedSource: manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation |
Each Raycast Dictation statement is taken from the Raycast Dictation page it links to, as that page read on 2026-10-09.
Where your speech is recognised
Roundhand recognises speech on your computer. After the speech model has downloaded once, dictation and the built-in cleanup keep working with Wi-Fi off, on a plane or behind a strict network. Dictation audio is never uploaded or saved to disk. The Raycast dictation page does not state where speech is recognised. It says audio is not retained on its servers and that your voice is never used to train AI models (manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation). Roundhand states it plainly: speech is recognised on your computer every time, and only cloud cleanup, if you turn it on, sends text.
What each app stores
Roundhand keeps your dictation history, and the meetings you record, in a database on your computer, where you choose how long it is kept or clear it. Roundhand's own servers hold your account, never audio or transcript text. If you turn on cloud cleanup, the text of each dictation (never the audio) goes to the cleanup provider to be tidied. Raycast says your transcriptions and statistics are stored locally on your device, and that every transcription is saved to Dictation History until you delete it (manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation). Roundhand never saves your dictation audio, only the text.
How each one writes for the app you are in
Roundhand looks at the app your cursor is in and picks one of four writing styles. Chat apps such as Slack get short, casual messages. Mail, Notes, Pages and Google Docs get full sentences, which cloud cleanup can also split into paragraphs. Visual Studio Code, Cursor, Xcode, Windsurf and Zed get the IDE and AI chat style, and terminals get a single line with commands and paths left as you said them. You can change the style for any app, or switch Roundhand off for one. Raycast's Auto Styling picks the style for the app or website you are dictating into, with built-in Email and Messaging styles and custom styles you can write for chosen apps and websites (manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation).
Platforms and what you need
Roundhand is a Mac app for Apple silicon, running macOS 14 or later. Intel Macs are not supported. Roundhand for Windows installs from the Microsoft Store. Raycast Dictation works on the Mac, and on iPhone and iPad through the Raycast Keyboard (manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation).
Questions about switching
- Where does Raycast Dictation recognise my speech?
- The Raycast dictation page does not state where speech is recognised. It says audio is not retained on its servers and that your voice is never used to train AI models (manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation, checked on 2026-10-09). Roundhand recognises speech on your computer and never uploads audio.
- Can I move my Raycast vocabulary to Roundhand?
- Roundhand has no import from Raycast, so you add your words to Roundhand's Dictionary yourself. Each entry sets how a word you say is written, such as a name or product spelled your way.
- Is Roundhand available on Windows or iPhone?
- Roundhand runs on Macs with Apple silicon, and Roundhand for Windows installs from the Microsoft Store. There is no phone app.