Howl

Download for Mac

Works on macOS 26 or later, with your own API key or a local model.Howl is a Mac app for macOS 26 or later. Open sayhowl.com on your Mac to download it.

  1. Howl refines your words and types them for you.

Howl
Download for Mac

Works on macOS 26 or later, with your own API key or a local model.Howl is a Mac app for macOS 26 or later. Open sayhowl.com on your Mac to download it.

Howl Cloud beta

Howl Cloud runs Howl on our servers, with no API key or local model needed. For now, it’s available by invitation only.

We only use your email for your Howl Cloud invite.

Questions

How do I use Howl?

Hold fn where you’re typing and speak; when you let go, the cleaned-up sentence is typed at your cursor. fn + shift writes with what’s on your screen in mind, and with translation turned on, fn + option writes in a language other than the one you spoke. control + option, control + option + shift and control + command do the same.

Where does my voice become text?

On your Mac, with Apple’s speech recognition. Recordings are never sent off your Mac.

What leaves my Mac?

To clean up your words, Howl sends the transcript, the app and window names, and an image of the window you’re working in. With your own API key it goes to that AI provider; with Howl Cloud (invitation only) it goes through Howl’s server to Google Gemini. With a local model, nothing leaves your Mac. Howl doesn’t capture the screen in password managers.

How much does it cost?

Howl is free. With your own API key you pay that AI provider’s rates; a local model costs nothing extra.

Which languages can I speak?

Any language Apple’s speech recognition supports on your Mac. Howl starts with your Mac’s language. Translation can target any language you choose.

What do I need?

macOS 26 or later, plus your own API key or a local model that runs on your Mac. On first launch Howl asks for Microphone (to record your voice), Accessibility (for the shortcut and typing) and Screen Recording (to read the window you’re in).

What stays on my Mac?

Dictations that haven’t been typed yet are kept encrypted on your Mac, recording and text, so they can be inserted again; they’re deleted once delivery is confirmed. API keys are stored in the Keychain. Howl collects no usage analytics.