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Introducing Lagos

We built a voice dictation tool for Mac that works instantly, keeps your audio private, and gets out of your way.

We’ve been using voice dictation tools for years. Some require subscriptions. Some upload everything to the cloud. Some require you to be in a specific app. Most are just… in the way.

So we built Lagos.

What is Lagos?

Lagos is a macOS menu bar app that converts your voice to text. Hold a keyboard shortcut, speak, release — your words appear wherever you were typing. That’s the entire workflow.

It lives in your menu bar, uses no more RAM than a text editor, and stays out of your way until you need it.

Why we built it

We wanted a tool that:

  1. Works immediately — no account, no API key, no setup
  2. Respects privacy — audio never stored on disk, local options available
  3. Lets you choose your accuracy/privacy trade-off — not locked into one engine
  4. Works everywhere — any text field, any app, system-wide

We couldn’t find one that did all four. So we built it.

How it works

Lagos supports four transcription levels:

  • Apple Speech — instant, built-in, zero setup
  • WhisperKit — local AI, ~1% word error rate, completely private
  • Lagos Pro Cloud — coming soon, managed cloud accuracy without API keys
  • BYOK — bring your own OpenAI, Deepgram, AssemblyAI, Google Cloud, or Wispr Flow key

You start at Level 1 and upgrade when you want more. The app doesn’t push you anywhere.

Who it’s for

Lagos works for anyone who types on a Mac and wants to talk instead. That includes:

  • People with RSI, carpal tunnel, or mobility challenges who need a better alternative to typing
  • Developers dictating prompts to AI coding assistants like Claude or Cursor
  • Writers, journalists, and content creators who think faster than they type
  • Anyone who just wants to take a note without reaching for the keyboard

What’s next

Lagos 1.3.2 is out today. We’re actively working on:

  • Lagos Pro Cloud — managed cloud transcription, no key required
  • Per-app language profiles — auto-switch languages based on which app you’re in
  • Custom cleanup templates — save prompt templates for different use cases

Download Lagos for free and let us know what you think. We’re on Discord and always open to feedback.