Eko · Comparison
Aqua Voice vs Eko
Aqua Voice is a fast, accuracy-focused cloud dictation tool built for coders and technical writers, but it's cloud-only, subscription-only, and Mac/Windows/iPhone-only. Our take on Aqua Voice: 3.4/5.
Get Eko for Mac — $39What is Aqua Voice?
Aqua Voice is a system-wide AI dictation app for macOS, Windows, and iPhone from Aqua Voice, Inc., a Y Combinator (W24) startup founded by Finn Brown and Jack McIntire. It transcribes speech using Aqua's proprietary 'Avalon' model, which the company claims scores 97%+ accuracy on its own benchmark, with particular emphasis on coding, AI, and other technical vocabulary. It holds a 5.0/5 rating on Product Hunt (a small sample of 14 reviews) and 4.3/5 on the iPhone App Store (53 ratings, as of its April 2026 mobile launch).
Aqua Voice pricing
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1,000 words total (one-time lifetime allotment, not recurring), base Aqua Engine model, 5 custom-dictionary entries |
| Pro (annual) | $8/month, billed annually (~$96/yr) | Unlimited words, Avalon model, 800-entry custom dictionary, custom instructions/tone |
| Pro (monthly) | Higher than the annual rate | Exact monthly figure not consistently published |
| iOS Pro (standalone) | $119/year | Separate subscription if purchased inside the iPhone App Store app |
| Team | $12/user/month, billed annually | Centralized billing, team-wide settings, opt-in Privacy Mode enforcement |
| Enterprise | Custom | SSO/SAML + SCIM, Zero Data Retention, advanced reporting, team-wide dictionaries |
Strengths
- ✓Avalon model is genuinely praised for accuracy on technical, coding, and AI-specific vocabulary — its strongest differentiator
- ✓Custom dictionary (up to 800 entries on Pro) and custom instructions let you tune tone/formatting per context
- ✓Context-aware, app-specific formatting (email vs. Slack vs. chat) with sub-second real-time text display
- ✓Covers Mac, Windows, and iPhone under one Pro account, plus SOC 2 Type II attestation for compliance-minded teams
Where it falls short
- ·No offline or on-device mode at any price — every word is sent to Aqua's servers, and dictation stops without a network connection
- ·Subscription-only; there is no lifetime or one-time purchase option
- ·Free tier is a one-time 1,000-word lifetime allotment (not recurring), too small for a real trial
- ·Transcripts are stored by default; Privacy Mode (no storage) is opt-in, and Aqua's policy is silent on whether data is used to train models
- ·No Android or Linux support, and no built-in screen vision or app/folder-launching actions
Aqua Voice vs Eko
| Aqua Voice | Eko | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (1,000 words once) / $8/mo billed annually / $12/user/mo Team; no lifetime option | $39 one-time, no subscription |
| AI model / processing | Cloud-only proprietary 'Avalon' model, claimed 97%+ accuracy on Aqua's own benchmark | On-device local model OR your own API key — your choice |
| Platforms | macOS (Apple Silicon & Intel), Windows 10/11, iPhone; no Android or Linux | macOS only (Apple Silicon M1+, macOS 14+) |
| Offline / on-device | Not available at any tier — audio always leaves the device | Yes — fully local dictation and actions with no internet required |
| Beyond dictation | Real-time grammar correction, custom dictionary, custom instructions/tone, app-aware formatting | Correct, translate, ask AI on selection, vision/screen reading, open apps/folders, unlimited custom actions |
| Privacy | Cloud by default; transcripts stored unless opt-in Privacy Mode; Zero Data Retention only on Enterprise | Local mode keeps audio on-device; BYO-key mode only talks to the provider you choose |
Choose Aqua Voice if…
- ✓Choose Aqua Voice if you dictate a lot of code, technical jargon, or AI terminology and want a model tuned for it
- ✓Choose Aqua Voice if you need it on Windows or iPhone in addition to Mac
- ✓Choose Aqua Voice if you're comfortable with cloud processing and would rather pay monthly than commit to a bigger one-time cost
Skip it if…
- ·Skip Aqua Voice if you need offline or fully private on-device processing
- ·Skip Aqua Voice if you don't want an ongoing subscription
- ·Skip Aqua Voice if you want screen vision, app-launching, or custom actions beyond text dictation and editing
Why people pick Eko
- ✓Eko is a $39 one-time purchase — no monthly fee, ever, versus Aqua Voice's $96+/year Pro plan
- ✓Eko can run fully on-device with zero data leaving your Mac, or you can plug in your own API key — Aqua Voice has no offline option at all
- ✓Eko bundles correction, translation, ask-AI, screen vision, and app-launching alongside dictation; Aqua Voice focuses on dictation, correction, and formatting only
- ✓Aqua Voice reaches Windows and iPhone that Eko does not; Eko trades that reach for a tighter, local-first, Apple Silicon-only experience
$39 once · No subscription · macOS 14.0 or later, Apple Silicon (M1+)
FAQ
Is Aqua Voice worth $8/month?
For heavy dictators of technical or coding vocabulary, the Avalon model's accuracy is frequently praised and can justify the cost; light users may find the tiny one-time 1,000-word free tier insufficient to even evaluate it before paying.
Does Aqua Voice work offline?
No. Aqua Voice is cloud-only — there is no offline or on-device mode at any price, and dictation stops without an internet connection.
Aqua Voice vs Eko: which is better for Mac?
Aqua Voice offers a technical-vocabulary-tuned cloud model and reaches Windows and iPhone too; Eko is a one-time $39 Mac app that can run fully offline on-device and adds correction, translation, vision, and custom actions beyond dictation.
What's the best Aqua Voice alternative for privacy?
Apps that support local, on-device processing — such as Eko or Superwhisper's local mode — are the main alternatives if you want dictation without your audio leaving the machine.
Does Aqua Voice have a one-time purchase or lifetime plan?
No. As of 2026, Aqua Voice is subscription-only across Free, Pro, Team, and Enterprise tiers, with no lifetime or one-time buyout option.
Is Aqua Voice good for coding and technical dictation?
Yes — its proprietary Avalon model and up-to-800-entry custom dictionary are specifically tuned for coding, AI, and technical jargon, which reviewers cite as its strongest feature.
Does Aqua Voice do more than dictation, like editing or custom actions?
It offers real-time grammar correction, custom instructions for tone/formatting, and app-aware formatting, but it lacks screen vision, app/folder-launching, and the open-ended custom actions that Eko provides.