Choose cloud speed or local privacy.
Walkie gives you two explicit modes. Fast Mode sends audio for cloud transcription and formatting in one step. Local Mode runs speech-to-text on your own hardware.
You speak
Audio is captured by your microphone and held in local memory until Walkie processes it according to the mode you chose.
Fast or Local processing
In Local Mode, 7+ speech recognition models run on your CPU or GPU. In Fast Mode, audio is sent for cloud transcription and formatting with zero data retention.
Text appears
The final text is pasted into your active app. Local Mode stays on-device. Fast Mode returns fully formatted text. History remains optional and under your control.
What Walkie Never Does
Why Local Mode Matters
Cloud-only dictation tools force every recording through someone else's infrastructure. That can be fine for speed, but it is the wrong fit for sensitive work, offline environments, and teams that need on-device processing.
Walkie gives you an explicit local path. Use Local Mode when audio must stay on-device. Use Fast Mode when you want cloud speed and automatic formatting. The important part is that the tradeoff is clear and under your control.
| Risk | Walkie (local) | Cloud dictation |
|---|---|---|
| Server breach | No server to breach | Your audio on their servers |
| Network interception | No network transmission | Data in transit (even with TLS) |
| Third-party access | No third parties involved | LLM providers see your data |
| Data retention | You control local storage | Provider retention policies |
| Employee access | N/A — no server-side data | Internal access controls |
| Subpoena / legal request | No data to hand over | Provider may be compelled |
| Screen content exposure | Never captured | Some tools read active app |
Bring Your Own API Keys
Walkie's Fast Mode handles cloud transcription and formatting. Free users get 4,000 words/week; Pro users get unlimited. You can also connect your own API keys for supported cloud formatting workflows under your own account.
Local Mode remains fully on-device with no weekly cap. If you need offline dictation or stricter privacy guarantees, use Local Mode.
Compliance & Regulated Industries
Walkie's Local Mode simplifies compliance-sensitive workflows because speech-to-text stays on-device. Teams that cannot use cloud processing can keep transcription fully local.
Healthcare (HIPAA)
Walkie never receives, processes, or stores Protected Health Information (PHI) on any server. Since no PHI leaves your device, the typical HIPAA compliance requirements around data transmission, server security, and Business Associate Agreements are significantly simplified. Healthcare professionals can dictate patient notes, clinical observations, and medical records without exposing data to third-party infrastructure.
Legal & Financial
Attorney-client privilege and financial confidentiality require that sensitive information stays under the organization's control. Walkie ensures dictated content — case notes, contracts, financial analyses — never touches external servers. Your IT team controls the device; you control the data.
Software Development
Developers frequently dictate while working on proprietary codebases, internal documentation, or pre-release features. Cloud-based dictation tools that read screen content or send audio to third parties create intellectual property exposure. Walkie processes everything locally — your code stays yours.
Government & Defense
Organizations operating in air-gapped, classified, or restricted network environments need dictation tools that work completely offline. Walkie requires no internet connection after the initial model download. It can operate in secure facilities where cloud connectivity is prohibited.
What We Do Collect
Transparency matters. Here is exactly what Walkie collects if you choose to create an account:
- Device identifier — a randomly generated ID, not tied to your hardware serial number
- App version and OS — so we know which platforms and versions to prioritize
- Feature usage events — which model was selected, which settings were changed (no content)
This data does not include audio, transcription text, or any voice data. If you don't sign in, nothing is sent anywhere.
For full legal details, see our Privacy Policy.
Security FAQ
Is my audio ever sent to a server?
Only if you choose Fast Mode. Local Mode keeps speech-to-text on your device. Fast Mode sends audio for cloud transcription and formatting, then returns the final text with zero data retention.
What is Fast Mode?
Fast Mode sends audio for cloud transcription and formatting in one step. Free users get 4,000 words/week; Pro users get unlimited Fast Mode. If you need everything to stay on-device, switch to Local Mode instead.
Can I use Walkie for HIPAA-regulated work?
If your workflow requires speech-to-text to stay on-device, Local Mode is the relevant mode to evaluate. It keeps transcription local and avoids sending audio to the cloud. Consult your compliance team for your specific use case.
Does Walkie work offline?
Local Mode works completely offline after the initial model download. Fast Mode requires an internet connection because transcription and formatting happen in the cloud.
Does Walkie capture screenshots or read my screen?
No. Walkie only accesses your microphone (when you activate recording) and your clipboard (to paste transcribed text). It does not capture screenshots, read screen content, or monitor other applications.
What happens to my transcription history?
Transcription history is stored locally on your device and managed through the app's settings. You can view, export, or delete it at any time. It is never uploaded to any server.
Does Walkie have SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification?
Not currently. These certifications are designed for cloud services that handle customer data on their servers. Since Walkie processes everything locally and our servers never receive voice data or transcriptions, the traditional certification model doesn't directly apply. We are evaluating formal certifications as we grow our enterprise offering.
How is Walkie free if it's private?
Walkie is free because Local Mode runs on your machine. Your CPU does the transcription and your storage holds the models. Fast Mode uses cloud infrastructure and is free up to 4,000 words/week; Pro users get unlimited Fast Mode for $7/month.
Private by architecture, not by policy.
Download Walkie and use Local Mode whenever your audio needs to stay on-device.