BlabToText privacy
Last updated: September 17, 2026. Applies to the internal BlabToText beta.
The short version
BlabToText uses Apple on-device speech by default and does not include advertising, tracking, analytics, or a BlabToText transcription server. If you enable cloud transcription, the app sends that recording directly to the provider you selected using the API key you supplied.
Your choices and consent
You can choose on-device only, cloud only, or on-device with an optional cloud fallback. Cloud fallback is off on new installations. Setup explains when audio may leave your device, and you can change the mode or remove a provider key at any time.
Recordings
BlabToText records only after you intentionally start dictation and shows a visible recording state. In on-device mode, Apple Speech processes the recording locally. In an enabled cloud mode, the app sends the recording directly to OpenAI, Groq, xAI, or Google. The selected provider's terms, privacy policy, and retention practices apply. BlabToText deletes its temporary recording after transcription, cancellation, or an error, and cleans up stale temporary recordings at launch.
Transcripts and clipboard
Transcripts are copied and, in the direct Mac build when explicitly enabled, pasted into the frontmost app. BlabToText does not maintain a server copy or a persistent transcript history. Latest Transcript holds the latest result and your editable draft in memory until cleared or the app quits. Optional Enter-after-pause in the direct Mac build can submit pasted text in the target app; it is off by default and unavailable in the App Store build. Clipboard contents are available to macOS and other apps according to their permissions.
Audio files you import
Files explicitly selected with Import Audio are transcribed using Apple on-device speech, without a cloud fallback. BlabToText reads the selected file without changing it and removes its temporary processing chunks. Results remain in the session-only transcript workspace for review; import does not automatically copy, paste, or submit them.
API keys and settings
Provider keys are stored in Apple Keychain, not in the settings file. A key is sent only to its selected provider to authenticate a cloud request. Non-secret choices such as routing mode, provider, model, hotkey, and custom vocabulary are stored locally in the app's container or Application Support folder.
Provider catalog
The next beta adds an optional provider-named connection check (for example, Test xAI Connection) (not present in installed build 2). Only when you press it, the app sends the selected provider’s key directly to that provider’s official model-list API. No audio or transcript is sent. The check uses an in-memory session without a disk response cache, keeps the returned choices in the open dialog, and does not save the key unless you choose Save. It does not connect to ChatGPT or Claude desktop sessions.
Installed TestFlight build 2 periodically requests a small provider-and-model catalog from talk2me.dvmsoftware.com. The request contains no recording, transcript, API key, account identifier, or advertising identifier. Standard network metadata, such as an IP address, may be processed to deliver and protect the service. The downloaded catalog is validated and cannot change the provider network endpoints compiled into the app.
The legacy catalog host is currently unavailable. Build 2 falls back to a validated cached list or its built-in list. The next Mac beta stops these catalog requests and removes the old refresh command. It uses bundled supported suggestions, with provider model listing only when you explicitly test a connection.
Diagnostics and retention
BlabToText has no remote telemetry. On Mac, local operational logs record permission status, transcription route, character counts and error summaries, not recordings or normal transcript content. The next beta replaces raw cloud error messages with safe summaries so provider responses cannot echo credentials or private text into logs. Older beta logs may contain provider-supplied error messages; review and redact them before sharing. These logs stay on the device. You can remove local data by deleting the app and its Application Support or app container data, and you can remove credentials in Settings. Contact the chosen cloud provider about data it retains.
Children and sale of data
BlabToText is a general-audience productivity tool. We do not sell personal data, use it for cross-app tracking, or serve targeted advertising.
Contact
Questions or privacy requests: the BlabToText support form.