Free Mac Dictation With Your Own Groq API Key (2026)

DeckVoice includes a free on-device engine that works offline in English. But if you want sub-second transcription across 99 languages, you can plug in your own free Groq API key — your account, your data, and DeckVoice never sees the key traffic. Here's exactly how.

Why bring your own Groq key?

Speed. Groq's Whisper endpoints are famously fast — dictation feels near-instant.
99 languages. The on-device model is English; Groq covers the rest.
Your account, your data. The audio goes to your Groq account under your key. There's no DeckVoice middle-man and no per-word markup.
Free tier. Groq offers a generous free allowance that covers ordinary daily dictation for most people; beyond it, transcription is a few cents per hour billed by Groq directly.

Step by step

STEP 1

Create a free Groq account

Go to console.groq.com and sign up. It's free and takes a minute.

STEP 2

Generate an API key

Open the API Keys page, click Create API Key, give it a name like "DeckVoice", and copy the key. It starts with gsk_. Copy it now — Groq only shows it once.

STEP 3

Paste it into DeckVoice

Open DeckVoice settings, choose the Groq cloud engine, and paste your key. Pick your language if it isn't English.

STEP 4

Hold, speak, release

Hold your talk key (Right ⌘, a custom shortcut, or the spacebar), say your sentence, and release. The text appears at your cursor in whatever app is focused — usually in well under a second.

Prefer to keep everything offline? You don't need Groq at all. DeckVoice's built-in on-device Whisper transcribes English on your Mac with no key and no internet — audio never leaves the machine. The Groq key is purely an optional speed-and-languages upgrade.

Is my key safe?

Your Groq key is stored locally in DeckVoice's settings on your Mac and used only to send your audio to your own Groq account. DeckVoice has no server that sees your key or your transcriptions. If you ever want to revoke it, delete the key in the Groq console and it stops working instantly.

One app. Free offline engine, or your own Groq speed.

$19 launch price (regular $29) · one-time · 14-day trial · 7-day refund · macOS 12+.

Get DeckVoice — $19, once

Frequently asked

Do I have to use Groq?

No. The on-device English engine is free and needs no key. Groq is an optional upgrade for speed and 99 languages.

Is the Groq free tier really free?

Groq provides a free allowance that covers typical daily dictation for most people. Anything beyond it is billed by Groq directly, at a few cents per hour — DeckVoice adds nothing on top.

Which languages are supported?

English on-device; 99 languages via the Groq path.

Is DeckVoice a subscription?

No — $19 one-time (regular $29), lifetime license, free updates.

Groq is a trademark of Groq, Inc., referenced here only to describe an optional integration. DeckVoice is an independent app by Samic Ventures LLC and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Groq. Free-tier limits and pricing are set by Groq and may change.