Buzz vs Handy
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Offline audio and video transcription and translation app for your own computer, built on Whisper.
Open source · MIT
Free, open source desktop app that turns your speech into text on your own computer, offline.
The short answer
Choose Buzz if you need…
- People who want to transcribe recordings without uploading them to an online service
- Creators who need SRT or VTT subtitle files or TXT transcripts
- Users who want live transcription from a microphone during events or presentations
- Users with an Nvidia GPU or Apple Silicon Mac who want faster processing
Choose Handy if you need…
- People who want dictation without sending their voice to a cloud service
- Anyone who wants a free, open source alternative to paid dictation tools
- People who prefer a simple hold-to-talk or toggle shortcut workflow
- Users on Windows, macOS, or Linux looking for offline transcription
Side-by-side
| Buzz | Handy | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 22.4k | 37k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Download the app | Download the app |
| Main language | Python | Rust |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Buzz
Buzz turns spoken audio and video into text, and can translate it, without sending your files to a cloud service, according to its description. It is powered by OpenAI's Whisper speech recognition model. People use it to make transcripts and subtitles from recordings, interviews, lectures, or YouTube links.
Handy
Handy is a cross-platform desktop app for speech-to-text. You press a keyboard shortcut, speak, and your words are typed or pasted into whatever text field is active. According to the README, transcription runs locally using Whisper or Parakeet V3 models, so audio is not sent to the cloud.
Best for
Buzz
- People who want to transcribe recordings without uploading them to an online service
- Creators who need SRT or VTT subtitle files or TXT transcripts
- Users who want live transcription from a microphone during events or presentations
- Users with an Nvidia GPU or Apple Silicon Mac who want faster processing
Handy
- People who want dictation without sending their voice to a cloud service
- Anyone who wants a free, open source alternative to paid dictation tools
- People who prefer a simple hold-to-talk or toggle shortcut workflow
- Users on Windows, macOS, or Linux looking for offline transcription
- Accessibility-minded users who type by voice
Strengths
Buzz
- Runs offline on your own computer, according to the README
- Supports several Whisper backends, including CUDA for Nvidia GPUs, Apple Silicon, and Vulkan
- Offers multiple export formats and a transcript viewer with search and playback speed control
Handy
- Runs locally, so the README says audio stays on your computer
- Free and MIT licensed, with source code available to extend
- Lets you choose between several Whisper model sizes and Parakeet V3
Not ideal for
Buzz
- Users on Intel Macs, since the README says the last supported version for them is 1.4.5
- People who need a hosted, no-install web service, because Buzz is installed locally
- Users who expect a fully signed Windows app, since the README says the Windows app is not signed and shows a warning
Handy
- Users on Wayland Linux who cannot install extra text input tools, since the README says Wayland support is limited and needs wtype or dotool
- Mac users who want the fn/Globe key as a shortcut on a third-party keyboard, because the README says it only works on Apple keyboards
- Anyone expecting a polished, fully stable product, since the README calls CLI flags a beta feature and the project is actively developed
Trade-offs
Buzz
- Some acceleration options depend on specific hardware and versions; the README says CUDA setup applies to version 1.4.6 or later, which it describes as not yet released at the time of the README
- The Windows installer is unsigned, so installation shows a security warning
- The README is truncated, so detailed setup and model requirements are unclear from this text
Handy
- Linux text input needs extra tools such as xdotool, wtype, or dotool, and Wayland support is described as limited
- Some features are beta or have known issues, such as Bluetooth headset audio quality on macOS
- Model choice and GPU use affect speed, and the README does not give performance numbers
Getting started
Buzz
Install via Flatpak (Linux)
flatpak install flathub io.github.chidiwilliams.BuzzInstall via PyPI (after installing ffmpeg and Python 3.12)
pip install buzz-captionsHandy
Install the downloaded .deb on Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt install ./Handy_*.debInstall on macOS via Homebrew cask (not maintained by Handy developers)
brew install --cask handyFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Buzz and Handy?
Buzz: Offline audio and video transcription and translation app for your own computer, built on Whisper. Handy: Free, open source desktop app that turns your speech into text on your own computer, offline. Buzz suits people who want to transcribe recordings without uploading them to an online service, while Handy suits people who want dictation without sending their voice to a cloud service.
Are Buzz and Handy free?
Buzz: Free and open source. Handy: Free and open source.
Is Buzz or Handy more popular?
Handy has more GitHub stars (37k) than Buzz (22.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Buzz and Handy?
Other options people compare them with include whisper.cpp, faster-whisper, Subtitle Edit, OpenWhispr.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.