Voice Dictation on Linux Finally, a Tool That Works

NovaVoice is one of the only commercial voice dictation apps with a Linux desktop client. AI-powered formatting, app control by voice, and a built-in AI assistant — no terminal setup required.

Download for Linux

Free plan available · No credit card required

Ubuntu 20.04+ · Debian · Fedora · .deb & AppImage

Why Voice Dictation on Linux Has Always Been Hard

Most commercial voice dictation tools simply skip Linux. Dragon NaturallySpeaking dropped Linux support years ago. Superwhisper doesn't have a Linux client. Wispr Flow doesn't have a Linux client. If you're a developer or power user on Ubuntu, Fedora, or Debian, you've been left with two unappealing options.

Open-source tools
Nerd Dictation, Vosk, DeepSpeech — powerful, but require hours of setup, manual model downloads, and ongoing maintenance. No formatting, no app integrations.

Browser-based options
Google Docs voice typing and similar tools only work in a browser tab. No system-wide dictation, no app control, no offline reliability.

NovaVoice fills this gap with a Linux desktop app — the same AI-powered voice experience that macOS and Windows users get, available on your Linux machine.

What You Get With NovaVoice on Linux

Every feature. Desktop app. No compromises.

Dictation Mode

Dictate into any Linux app — your IDE, terminal emulator, browser, email client. AI formats your speech into clean, punctuated text automatically.

Agent Mode — Voice-Controlled App Actions

Say "Add a Todoist task: fix the auth bug, priority high" or "Send a Telegram message to Sarah: deploying now" — Nova executes the action without you switching windows.

AI Assistant

Ask questions, summarize content, draft text — all by voice, from any screen. Works like a conversational LLM without opening a browser tab.

8 App Integrations

Gmail, Todoist, Google Calendar, Telegram, WhatsApp, Spotify, X, and Hacker News. App connectors work the same on Linux as on macOS and Windows.

Formatting Intelligence

NovaVoice understands context — it formats a Slack message differently from a code comment or a formal email, without you saying 'format as email'.

Terms Dictionary

Register custom terms: project names, technical jargon, abbreviations, addresses. NovaVoice learns your vocabulary and applies it consistently.

NovaVoice vs Open-Source Linux Dictation Tools

Open-source tools are powerful — but require significant investment. NovaVoice is for users who want it working in 5 minutes.

Feature NovaVoice Nerd Dictation / Vosk / Whisper
Setup time < 5 minutes Hours to days
AI formatting
Agent Mode (app control)
Built-in AI assistant
App integrations (Gmail, Todoist, Telegram…) 8+ apps None
Terms Dictionary
Ongoing maintenance None Manual updates
Free tier Free (self-hosted)

Getting Started on Linux

Four steps. Under 5 minutes.

  1. Download NovaVoice for Linux
    Go to novavoice.app/downloads and download the .deb package (Ubuntu/Debian) or the AppImage (any distro).

  2. Install the package
    For .deb: open with your package manager or run sudo dpkg -i novavoice.deb. For AppImage: chmod +x NovaVoice.AppImage && ./NovaVoice.AppImage

  3. Sign in and allow microphone access
    Create a free account (no credit card required). Grant microphone permissions when prompted — NovaVoice needs mic access to hear your voice.

  4. Set your hotkey and start dictating
    Pick an activation hotkey in Settings. Press it from any app, speak naturally — NovaVoice transcribes, formats, and sends the result to whatever is in focus.

Who Uses NovaVoice on Linux

From developers to writers — anyone who works on Linux and types a lot.

Developer

Dictate commit messages, code comments, and task notes without leaving your IDE. Say "Add a Todoist task: fix the login bug, priority high" — Nova executes the action.

Writer & Researcher

Compose long-form articles, research notes, and documentation at voice speed. Let AI format your dictation into clean, structured text automatically.

Sysadmin & DevOps

Dictate incident reports, status updates, and documentation while your hands stay on the keyboard. Send Telegram messages or Gmail updates without switching away from your terminal.

Your Data on Linux

We know the Linux community cares deeply about privacy. Here's what happens with your voice data when you use NovaVoice:

  • Voice audio is sent to our servers for transcription and immediately discarded — it is never stored without your explicit consent.
  • We use OAuth 2.0 for app integrations — NovaVoice never stores your Gmail, Todoist, or Telegram credentials.
  • Your Terms Dictionary and custom settings are stored securely and are never shared with third parties.
  • You can delete your account and all associated data at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Linux distributions does NovaVoice support?

NovaVoice supports Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian-based distributions, and Fedora. Both .deb and AppImage formats are available — the AppImage runs on any modern Linux distribution without installation.

Does NovaVoice work offline on Linux?

NovaVoice uses cloud-based AI for transcription and agent actions. An internet connection is required. Voice data is processed securely and never stored without your consent.

Is NovaVoice open source?

NovaVoice is a commercial product, not open source. If you're looking for open-source options, tools like Nerd Dictation or Vosk exist — but they require significant manual setup and lack AI formatting, agent mode, and app integrations.

How is NovaVoice different from Nerd Dictation or self-hosted Whisper?

Open-source tools give you raw transcription. NovaVoice adds AI-powered formatting, Agent Mode to control apps by voice (Gmail, Todoist, Telegram, Google Calendar, WhatsApp, Spotify, X, Hacker News), a built-in AI assistant, and a Terms Dictionary — all working out of the box in under 5 minutes.

Is there a free NovaVoice plan for Linux?

Yes. The free plan includes limited voice dictation, formatting, and agent mode so you can test the product before committing. No credit card required.

Start Free on Linux

No credit card required. Free plan includes dictation, agent mode, and AI assistant.

MonthlyYearly −20%

Free

$0/month

Start at no cost. Explore first, decide later.

  • Limited AI-powered voice dictation
  • Limited formatting and personalization
  • Limited connectors & actions execution in apps
  • Terms dictionary
  • Limited AI voice assistant

Standard

$10/month

Best value for personal use. $10/month locked for life for the first 5,000 paying users.

  • Unlimited AI-powered voice dictation
  • Unlimited formatting
  • Unlimited connectors & actions execution in apps
  • Terms dictionary
  • Unlimited AI voice assistant

Team

$20/seat/month

Built for power teams to make everyone even faster and more productive.

  • Shared formatting styles and preferences
  • Shared team dictionary
  • Priority support
  • Centralized billing and cheaper per seat than Standard.