Handy vs RealtimeSTT
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
Free, open source desktop app that turns your speech into text on your own computer, offline.
Open source · MIT
Python library that turns live microphone or fed audio into text, with voice detection and wake words.
The short answer
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
Choose RealtimeSTT if you need…
- Developers prototyping a voice input feature in Python
- Builders of dictation or voice-command tools that need a microphone-to-text loop
- Teams that want to feed their own audio chunks from a websocket or file into a transcriber
- Anyone running speech recognition on a CPU server on Linux x86-64 who can follow the README's sherpa-onnx setup
Side-by-side
| Handy | RealtimeSTT | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 37k | 10.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Download the app | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Rust | Python |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 6 days ago |
What each one is
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.
RealtimeSTT
RealtimeSTT is a Python library for converting speech to text. It listens for speech using voice activity detection, can wait for a wake word, and can produce optional live text updates before a final transcript. The default path uses faster_whisper, and other speech engines are available as optional installs. Developers use it to add voice input to assistants, dictation tools, or browser streaming servers with a few lines of code.
Best for
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
RealtimeSTT
- Developers prototyping a voice input feature in Python
- Builders of dictation or voice-command tools that need a microphone-to-text loop
- Teams that want to feed their own audio chunks from a websocket or file into a transcriber
- Anyone running speech recognition on a CPU server on Linux x86-64 who can follow the README's sherpa-onnx setup
Strengths
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
RealtimeSTT
- Offers several voice activity detection and wake word options, including WebRTC VAD, Silero VAD, Porcupine and OpenWakeWord
- Supports many transcription engines (faster-whisper, whisper.cpp, Moonshine, sherpa-onnx, Parakeet and others) through install extras
- Includes documentation for configuration, installation, troubleshooting and a packaged production server
Not ideal for
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
RealtimeSTT
- Non-programmers looking for a ready-made app, since the README documents only Python usage and a server recipe
- Users on Python 3.13 or newer, because the README says the current CI matrix covers only 3.11 and 3.12
- Anyone needing commercial-grade support guarantees, since the README gives no support or SLA information
Trade-offs
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
RealtimeSTT
- Setup can need system audio libraries (PortAudio) and, for GPU use, a CUDA setup described in separate docs
- The README's engine guidance is layered and some engines require extra installs and downloaded models, which adds complexity
- The README is truncated here, so details such as exact latency figures and resource needs are not confirmed by this analysis
Getting started
Handy
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 handyRealtimeSTT
Install with the default faster-whisper engine
pip install "RealtimeSTT[faster-whisper]"Linux: install PortAudio headers (run first)
sudo apt-get install python3-dev portaudio19-devFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Handy and RealtimeSTT?
Handy: Free, open source desktop app that turns your speech into text on your own computer, offline. RealtimeSTT: Python library that turns live microphone or fed audio into text, with voice detection and wake words. Handy suits people who want dictation without sending their voice to a cloud service, while RealtimeSTT suits developers prototyping a voice input feature in python.
Are Handy and RealtimeSTT free?
Handy: Free and open source. RealtimeSTT: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Handy or RealtimeSTT?
Handy is easier to get started with (rated beginner); RealtimeSTT is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Handy or RealtimeSTT more popular?
Handy has more GitHub stars (37k) than RealtimeSTT (10.2k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Handy and RealtimeSTT?
Other options people compare them with include whisper.cpp, Buzz, OpenWhispr, faster-whisper.
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.