sayhushLocal history and local transcription are different
A dictation app can store your text on the Mac while sending audio to a remote service for recognition. Sayhush follows that model: optional encrypted history is local, transcription needs internet. Do not infer offline recognition from the words “local history.”
When local recognition matters
If your requirement is that audio never reach a remote speech service, select and verify an on-device option. Handy describes local transcription; VoiceInk describes local speech models; Superwhisper advertises offline operation. Review each product’s optional enhancement or cloud settings separately before using it for sensitive material.
What cloud recognition changes
Cloud transcription depends on a working connection and the provider’s service availability. On a weak network, finishing can take longer or fail. A cloud app may be convenient to install without managing a local model, but that convenience is not a guarantee of better recognition. Check the privacy notice and supported languages for the exact product.
What a useful test looks like
Dictate the same original paragraph with your normal microphone. Include words you actually use. Review corrections, time to finished text, and insertion behavior. If an app claims offline support, perform a separate offline test after its required models are downloaded. Do not disconnect the network during an important unsaved draft.
Decide on constraints first
Use an on-device candidate when offline operation or local-only audio is non-negotiable. Consider Sayhush when online personal dictation, a pauseable dock and the prepaid model fit your workflow. Sayhush is not a local-only option. Use the free allowance to evaluate the workflow in your own apps.