Voice to text for Claude Code
Claude Code works best when you explain things in full. OiPer lets you say the prompt instead of typing it: hold a hotkey in your terminal, speak, release, and the text lands in the Claude Code input. Transcription can run locally on your machine, and it works the same on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Updated
Claude Code’s /voice or OiPer
Claude Code has its own dictation. Both are good; they suit different setups.
What /voice does
Run /voice in Claude Code, then hold Space to talk or tap it to start and send. It streams your audio to Anthropic for transcription, is tuned for coding words, and adds your project and git branch names as hints.
When /voice is the better fit
You sign in with a Claude.ai account, you only dictate into Claude Code, and you are happy with cloud transcription. It needs no extra app and does not use your Claude messages or tokens.
When OiPer is the better fit
You want transcription on your own device, you run Claude Code with an API key, Bedrock or another provider, you work over SSH, or you want the same dictation in your editor, browser and chat apps too.
Local and offline
In local mode OiPer runs a Whisper model on your CPU or GPU. Your audio never leaves your machine, and dictation keeps working without a connection.
Read about ModelsSet up a Claude Code profile
One hotkey that turns speech into a sent prompt.
1. Pick the Prompt preset
Formatting with the Prompt preset restructures what you said into a clear, organised prompt before it is typed. Leave formatting off if you want your exact words.
Read about Formatting2. Auto submit with Enter
Claude Code sends a prompt on Enter. Set the profile’s auto submit to Enter and the prompt sends itself as soon as the text is inserted.
Read about Profiles3. Match your terminal’s paste key
Most Linux terminals paste with Ctrl + Shift + V, not Ctrl + V. If text does not appear, change the Insert method in Settings to Ctrl+Shift+V.
Read about Settings4. Give it its own hotkey
Profiles are chosen by hotkey, so a Claude Code profile can sit next to a plain dictation profile for email and chat.
Read about ProfilesSpell your repo right
Library names and internal services are where speech models slip.
Dictionary for project names
Add repo, package and service names with the exact spelling, such as PostgreSQL or tRPC. The dictionary is used in cloud and OiPer modes.
Read about DictionarySnippets for local mode
Local Whisper does not use the dictionary. Add a snippet that rewrites a common misspelling, or switch the profile to a larger model.
Read about SnippetsSnippets for repeated prompts
Say a short shortcut and OiPer expands it into a prompt you use every day, like your review or test checklist.
Read about SnippetsOiPer vs Claude Code /voice
Feature by feature. Based on public information, checked October 2026.
| Feature | OiPer | Claude Code /voice |
|---|---|---|
| Where speech is transcribed | On your device in local mode, or a cloud you choose | Anthropic’s servers |
| Works offline | Yes, in local mode | No |
| Sign-in needed | None for local mode | Claude.ai account |
| Claude Code with an API key or Bedrock | Yes | Not available |
| Claude Code over SSH | Yes, OiPer types into your local terminal | Not available |
| Works outside Claude Code | Any app with a text field | Claude Code CLI and VS Code extension |
| Push to talk | Yes, any hotkey | Yes, Space by default |
| Press to start and stop | Yes | Yes, tap mode |
| Send the prompt automatically | Yes, auto submit | Yes |
| Rewrite speech into a clean prompt | Yes, Prompt preset | No |
| Custom vocabulary | Dictionary in cloud and OiPer modes | Project and branch names added automatically |
| Languages | Any language your Whisper model supports | 20 languages |
| Price | Local mode is free | Included, uses no Claude tokens |
Questions, answered
What people ask before they start dictating with OiPer.
Does Claude Code have voice input?
Yes. Run /voice in the Claude Code CLI and hold Space to dictate. It needs a Claude.ai sign-in and sends your audio to Anthropic for transcription.
Why use OiPer instead of /voice?
OiPer can transcribe on your own device, works offline, and does not depend on how Claude Code is signed in. It also types into every other app, not only Claude Code.
Can OiPer send the prompt for me?
Yes. Set auto submit to Enter on your Claude Code profile and OiPer presses Enter right after the text is inserted.
Does OiPer work with Claude Code over SSH?
Yes. OiPer runs on your computer and types into your local terminal window, so the text reaches Claude Code on the remote machine like normal typing.
Does OiPer work with Claude Code on Linux?
Yes. OiPer runs on Linux with X11 and Wayland and types into whichever terminal has focus. In most Linux terminals set the Insert method to Ctrl+Shift+V.
Is my code sent anywhere when I dictate?
Not in local mode. The Whisper model runs on your machine, and nothing is uploaded unless you pick a cloud provider for that profile.