Frequently asked questions.
Answers to common questions about Yap. Learn what it needs, how it handles your voice and what it costs. See how it compares with other dictation apps for Mac.
Using Yap
Which Macs does Yap work on?
Yap needs a Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later) and macOS 26 Tahoe or newer. On an older version of macOS, update for free in System Settings › General › Software Update.
How do I use Yap?
Hold Right Option, speak, then let go. Yap transcribes your speech and cleans it up with AI on your Mac. Then it pastes the text where your cursor is.
Which apps does Yap work in?
Yap works in any app where you can type. This includes Mail, Messages, Slack, Notes, your browser and your code editor.
Why does Yap ask for Accessibility access?
Accessibility access lets Yap detect when you hold Right Option in other apps. It also lets Yap put your words where you type. macOS asks for your permission before any app gets this access.
Privacy and offline use
Does my voice stay on my Mac?
Yes. Speech recognition and AI clean-up both run on your Mac. Yap never sends your audio or text anywhere, and audio is never saved. Yap goes online only to finish setup, activate your licence and check for updates.
Does Yap work offline?
Yes. A one-time setup downloads Apple’s speech model. After setup, no internet connection is required.
Does Yap use ChatGPT or another cloud AI service?
No. The AI clean-up uses a small model that comes with Yap and runs on your Mac. There are no API keys to set up and no per-word costs. No third party sees what you say.
How Yap compares
How is Yap different from my Mac’s built-in dictation?
Mac Dictation is free, and on Apple silicon it runs on your Mac. It adds punctuation but doesn’t rewrite what you say. Yap also runs on your Mac, and its AI clean-up removes false starts and filler words. See Yap and Mac Dictation side by side.
How is Yap different from Wispr Flow?
Wispr Flow transcribes and cleans up your words in the cloud. It needs an account and costs $15 a month. Yap does both on your Mac, works offline, needs no account and costs $19 once. See Yap and Wispr Flow side by side.
How is Yap different from MacWhisper?
MacWhisper transcribes recordings and meetings as well as dictation. Its AI clean-up needs Pro, which costs €64 once, and an AI service you set up yourself. Yap is for dictation, and its AI clean-up is built in and runs on your Mac. See Yap and MacWhisper side by side.
How is Yap different from superwhisper?
superwhisper’s free plan transcribes on your Mac but has no AI clean-up. Pro adds AI clean-up from $8.49 a month and uses superwhisper’s cloud models by default. Yap’s AI clean-up is included and always runs on your Mac. See Yap and superwhisper side by side.
How is Yap different from VoiceInk?
VoiceInk also dictates on your Mac and is open source. It’s a one-time purchase, from $25 for 1 Mac to $49 for 3. Its AI clean-up needs a model you download or your own API key. Yap’s AI clean-up is built in, and $19 covers 3 Macs. See Yap and VoiceInk side by side.
Buying Yap
How much does Yap cost?
Yap costs US$19 once, tax included. You get every feature and every future update on up to 3 of your Macs. The 7-day free trial needs no card. Refunds are available within 30 days.
How many Macs can I use Yap on?
You can use Yap on up to 3 of your own Macs. To move to another Mac, choose Deactivate This Mac in Yap on the old Mac. This frees a place for your new Mac.
Do I need an account?
No. There’s nothing to sign up for or log in to. The trial starts automatically. When you buy, you paste a licence key into Yap.
Are future updates included?
Yes. Every future version of Yap is included with your licence. There are no upgrade fees and no subscription.
Which languages does Yap understand?
Yap understands English only.
What if Yap isn’t right for me?
You can try Yap free for 7 days with no card. If you buy it and change your mind within 30 days, you get a full refund.