MutterRuns on any modern Mac.
Two ways to run Mutter: Cloud is the lightest, it works on any Mac, Intel or Apple Silicon, with no model download. Private runs transcription 100% on your Mac, on Apple Silicon. Both keep your transcripts private and zero-retention, and both include Intent Mode (Compose).
Pick the trade-off that fits you.
| Requirement | Cloud · lightest, any Mac | Private · 100% on-device |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | 14 Sonoma or later | 14 Sonoma or later |
| Chip | Any, Intel or Apple Silicon | Apple Silicon (M1 or later) |
| Memory | 4 GB+ | 8 GB+ |
| Storage | ~tens of MB (no model) | ~500 MB model (once) |
| Internet | Required | First download only, then offline |
What each mode needs
macOS 14 Sonoma or later
Both modes need Sonoma. macOS 13 Ventura and earlier aren’t supported.
Cloud runs anywhere
In Cloud mode the speech model lives on our servers, so Mutter carries no heavy model and runs on Intel Macs and modest hardware, no Neural Engine required. Your audio is processed in memory and never stored.
Private uses the Neural Engine
On-device transcription runs on the Apple Neural Engine in M-series Macs, so it’s instant, low-power, and works with Wi-Fi off. This is the privacy-premium mode.
Offline is optional
Cloud users on Apple Silicon can download the on-device model for offline backup; cloud-only users never carry it. Either way, nothing about your transcripts is retained.
Permissions: Mic, Accessibility (optional)
Microphone to hear you; Accessibility (optional) to paste straight into your focused app. Without it, text is still saved to history and copied to your clipboard.
One account, your license
An account is your license: it carries your plan and your history. Your audio and your history always stay on your Mac, the account never sees your voice.
Where Mutter doesn’t run
macOS 13 & earlier
Mutter needs Sonoma (14.0) or newer.
Windows & Linux
Mac-first for launch. Other platforms are on the roadmap.
Private mode on Intel
On-device transcription needs Apple Silicon; Intel Macs use Cloud.
- Storage and memory figures are measured on reference hardware with the model that ships today; exact sizes can shift if the bundled model changes.
- “Any modern Mac” means any Mac that runs macOS Sonoma 14, roughly 2018 and newer.