Straight answers.
Everything worth knowing before you try oto: setup, privacy, permissions, languages, engines, files, pricing, and support.
How does oto work?
Press your hotkey, speak naturally, and oto places the finished text at your cursor. It works in any app that accepts text: Mail, Slack, Notes, Docs, Cursor, ChatGPT, and more.
You can tap to toggle, hold for push-to-talk, or use single-key hotkeys when Input Monitoring is enabled.
What hardware do I need?
oto requires macOS 14 or later. It is optimized for Apple Silicon Macs and also supports Intel Macs.
Can I try oto free?
Yes. You can try oto through TestFlight before buying. It is the full app, with no auto-charge.
Why is "oto" lowercase?
oto is meant to be quiet software: present when you need it, out of the way when you do not. The name also means "sound" in Japanese.
How private is oto really?
Transcription runs locally on your Mac. oto does not require an account, does not include app telemetry, and does not upload audio for transcription.
Does any audio leave my Mac?
No. Whisper, Parakeet, and Apple SpeechAnalyzer run on your hardware. If you enable optional cloud AI cleanup, only transcript text is sent to the provider you configured. Audio is not sent for that feature.
What permissions does oto need?
Microphone is required for live dictation. Accessibility is used for global hotkeys and placing text where your cursor already is. Input Monitoring is used for single-key hotkeys. Files are used only when you choose an audio or video file to transcribe.
Do you collect any data?
The app does not include product analytics SDKs. App Store payments are handled by Apple. If you email support, oto receives the email address and message you send so we can reply.
What languages does oto support?
oto supports 100+ languages with automatic detection through Whisper models. You can speak in supported languages and mix languages in a single recording.
Does oto translate?
Yes. Whisper models can translate supported speech to English. Parakeet v3 and Apple SpeechAnalyzer output text in the language you speak.
What audio formats can I transcribe?
oto supports common audio and video formats including WAV, MP3, M4A, AIFF, AAC, FLAC, CAF, MP4, and MOV.
What's the difference between the three engines?
Whisper supports 100+ languages and can translate to English. Smaller models are faster; larger models are more accurate.
Parakeet v3 is a fast local engine for supported languages. Apple SpeechAnalyzer is Apple's on-device speech engine on supported macOS versions.
Does oto work offline?
Yes. Dictation and file transcription run offline after the app and model are available on your Mac. Optional cloud AI cleanup requires internet only if you turn it on.
Why $8 one-time when other apps charge monthly?
oto runs transcription on your hardware instead of charging for a cloud transcription service by default. The product is intentionally sold as one purchase, not a subscription.
Is it really $8 forever?
Yes. One Mac App Store purchase unlocks the full app. There is no subscription and no separate Pro tier.
Can I get a refund?
Refunds are handled through Apple. You can also try oto through TestFlight first if you want to test the full app before purchasing.
Does oto support Family Sharing?
Yes. One purchase can cover up to five family members through Apple's Family Sharing.
Still deciding?
Try the full app free through TestFlight, or download oto from the Mac App Store.
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