Best ElevenLabs Alternative for Mac in 2026

ElevenLabs has built an impressive text-to-speech platform. But if you're here, you're probably looking for something different: a voice AI tool that respects your privacy, runs locally, and doesn't charge monthly fees.

ElevenLabs vs. Andak: What's the Difference?

The most important distinction: ElevenLabs is text-to-speech (TTS), while Andak is speech-to-text (STT). They serve opposite sides of the voice AI problem. ElevenLabs generates audio from text. Andak captures your voice and turns it into formatted text.

If you're looking for an alternative because of cost, privacy, or cloud dependency, Andak addresses all three — just for voice input rather than voice output.

The Cost Problem

ElevenLabs starts at $5/month for limited usage and scales to $330/month for professional use. Over a year, that's $60 to $3,960. And if you exceed your quota, you pay overage fees.

Andak is $20, once. No subscriptions, no API costs, no usage limits. Every word you dictate after purchase is free.

The Privacy Problem

ElevenLabs processes everything in the cloud. Your text, your voice samples, your API calls — all pass through external servers. For developers handling sensitive code, medical professionals, or anyone who values privacy, this is a concern.

Andak runs 100% on your Mac. No audio is uploaded. No data leaves your device. It works offline, on a plane, in a coffee shop — anywhere.

When to Use Each Tool

• Use ElevenLabs when you need to generate realistic voice audio, clone voices, or build voice-enabled apps.
• Use Andak when you need to capture your voice as text — for emails, code, notes, or any writing task.
• Use both if you're building voice applications and also want fast local dictation for your own workflow.

Why Developers Are Switching

Developers who previously relied on cloud voice APIs are discovering that local speech-to-text has caught up in quality — and surpassed the cloud in speed and privacy. With Whisper models optimized for Apple Silicon, Andak delivers real-time transcription with context-aware formatting.

See the full comparison or download Andak to try it yourself.