Short answers to the most common questions. For step-by-step fixes, see Troubleshooting.
Is it private?
Yes — private by default. Your voice, transcripts, and text are processed and stored on your Mac. There’s no analytics, no tracking, and Clabrate never sells your data. The only things that leave are app/model downloads, license checks, and anything you explicitly opt into (like a cloud model). See Privacy & your data.
Does it work offline?
Yes, in its default mode. After the one-time speech-model download, dictation and on-device AI work with no internet. Cloud providers (e.g. Gemini) are the only features that need a connection.
Which apps does it work in?
Any app where you can type. Clabrate inserts text at your cursor system-wide once you grant Accessibility permission — Notes, Mail, Slack, browsers, editors, and so on.
Is it Apple silicon only?
Yes. Clabrate requires Apple silicon (M1 or newer) on macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later. Intel Macs aren’t supported.
What does it cost?
Clabrate is a one-time purchase (via Polar), with a free window to try it before a paywall. There’s a 30-day refund window. Your license is device-bound and stored in the macOS Keychain, with an offline grace period.
Do I have to use AI / the cloud?
No. Raw on-device transcription is the default. AI enhancement, the assistant, and cloud models are all opt-in — use them only if you want them.
How do updates work?
Clabrate checks for updates at launch and shows a non-intrusive prompt when one’s available.
Where’s my data stored?
Locally on your Mac. API keys live in the Keychain; history lives in a local database you can toggle or clear. See History & insights.
Still have a question?
Email support@clabrate.com or report an issue. Clabrate is made by one person — real questions shape what gets built next.