Local speech to text for Linux

Hold a hotkey, speak, and OiPer types your words into any Linux app: your terminal, editor, browser or chat. Transcription runs locally with on-device Whisper models, so it works offline and your audio never leaves your machine.

Updated October 11, 2026

Download for Linux Read the docs

Made for the Linux desktop

A polished dictation app that installs like any other package.

A build for every distro

Install the AppImage on any distribution, the .deb on Debian and Ubuntu, or the .rpm on Fedora and RHEL.

Read about Installation

X11 and Wayland

OiPer types with a system tool you already know: wtype, kwtype, dotool or ydotool on Wayland, and xdotool or ydotool on X11.

Read about Installation

Local, on-device Whisper models

Download a model once, from the 75 MB Tiny to Large v3 Turbo, and transcribe on your own CPU or GPU without a connection.

Read about Models

Works in any app

Text is typed where your cursor is, so dictation works in the terminal, VS Code, Firefox, Slack and everything else.

Start dictating in minutes

Three steps from download to your first sentence.

1. Install a typing tool

Pick the one that matches your session, for example ydotool, which works on both X11 and Wayland.

2. Install OiPer

Download the package for your distribution and launch the app.

3. Pick a local model and a hotkey

The setup guides you through downloading an on-device speech model and choosing the shortcut you hold to dictate.

Read about Quickstart

Questions, answered

What people ask before they start dictating with OiPer.

Does OiPer work on Wayland?

Yes. On Wayland OiPer types the transcript with wtype, kwtype, dotool or ydotool. On X11 it uses xdotool or ydotool. Install one of them before your first dictation.

Does it work offline on Linux?

Yes. In local mode OiPer transcribes on-device with a Whisper model stored on your computer, so dictation keeps working without an internet connection.

Is OiPer free on Linux?

Local, on-device transcription is free and unlimited on every platform, and no account is required. Paid plans add hosted transcription and formatting models.

Where does OiPer store its files on Linux?

Settings, history, downloaded models, audio and logs stay on your device in ~/.config/com.oiper.desktop. Deleting that folder resets the app completely.

Made for the Linux desktop

A polished dictation app that installs like any other package.

A build for every distro

Install the AppImage on any distribution, the .deb on Debian and Ubuntu, or the .rpm on Fedora and RHEL.

Read about Installation

X11 and Wayland

OiPer types with a system tool you already know: wtype, kwtype, dotool or ydotool on Wayland, and xdotool or ydotool on X11.

Read about Installation

Local, on-device Whisper models

Download a model once, from the 75 MB Tiny to Large v3 Turbo, and transcribe on your own CPU or GPU without a connection.

Read about Models

Works in any app

Text is typed where your cursor is, so dictation works in the terminal, VS Code, Firefox, Slack and everything else.

Start dictating in minutes

Three steps from download to your first sentence.

1. Install a typing tool

Pick the one that matches your session, for example ydotool, which works on both X11 and Wayland.

2. Install OiPer

Download the package for your distribution and launch the app.

3. Pick a local model and a hotkey

The setup guides you through downloading an on-device speech model and choosing the shortcut you hold to dictate.

Read about Quickstart

Questions, answered

What people ask before they start dictating with OiPer.

Does OiPer work on Wayland?

Yes. On Wayland OiPer types the transcript with wtype, kwtype, dotool or ydotool. On X11 it uses xdotool or ydotool. Install one of them before your first dictation.

Does it work offline on Linux?

Yes. In local mode OiPer transcribes on-device with a Whisper model stored on your computer, so dictation keeps working without an internet connection.

Is OiPer free on Linux?

Local, on-device transcription is free and unlimited on every platform, and no account is required. Paid plans add hosted transcription and formatting models.

Where does OiPer store its files on Linux?

Settings, history, downloaded models, audio and logs stay on your device in ~/.config/com.oiper.desktop. Deleting that folder resets the app completely.