Where audio is processed
Willow's Frontier Mini and Frontier Pro models transcribe in the cloud by default, even with Private Mode.
Sourced review · Verified August 24, 2026
Willow Voice review
Willow Voice review
private mode explained
Willow Voice combines cloud dictation with default Private Mode, a free tier, and Scribe writing assistance. Private Mode addresses retention, while Frontier Mini and Frontier Pro still require internet access despite the homepage's advertised offline mode.
WhisperJot is our product. Facts about Willow Voice come from Willow Care, Inc.'s public pages and were last verified on the date shown.
This is a review of published product information, not a hands-on test or an independent security audit.
Best for: Cloud formatting with transient processing
Strengths
What it does well
Default Private Mode processes dictated audio and text transiently, with no retention by Willow or its service providers under that mode.
Basic includes unlimited Frontier Mini use and 20 Scribe uses each week, offering a free entry point for supported writing tasks.
An auto-learning dictionary, style matching, more than 100 languages, and Scribe formal writing tools extend the app beyond basic transcription.
Limitations
Where it falls short
Frontier Mini and Frontier Pro require internet access, so the homepage's advertised offline mode should not be read as applying to those models.
The free plan limits personalization and dictation length, and Scribe is capped at 20 uses weekly; unlimited Scribe requires Pro.
Willow supports macOS, Windows, and iOS, but has no Linux app; Android is listed as coming soon in the checked material.
Data handling
Privacy check
Retention
Default Private Mode processes audio and text transiently without vendor or provider retention, while transcripts are stored locally.
Training
Training is an opt-in use of anonymized recognized text rather than dictated audio.
Fit
Who should pick it
Choose Willow Voice if you want Scribe, style matching, and iOS dictation with transient cloud processing. Its Basic plan can suit use that fits the personalization, length, and weekly Scribe limits.
Our product
How WhisperJot compares
WhisperJot is private by default, with Jot Local and Jot Local Pro processing speech on-device. Local engines work fully offline after the first model download. WhisperJot Local ($5/month) and WhisperJot Pro ($99/year) both include unlimited local dictation, custom vocabulary, voice commands, and local history on stable Mac and Windows apps plus a Linux beta. Jot Cloud is our optional cloud engine on WhisperJot Pro: it is opt-in, runs only while selected, and audio is never stored on our servers. WhisperJot has no free tier; the browser demo offers a short dictation before purchase.
Questions
Willow Voice FAQ
Is Willow Voice private?
Willow Voice's Frontier Mini and Frontier Pro use cloud transcription even in default Private Mode. Under that mode, Willow and its providers process audio and text transiently without retention, and transcripts remain on-device. Training uses anonymized recognized text only by opt-in, rather than dictated audio; consult Willow's privacy policy to understand how these choices apply to your use.
Does Willow Voice work offline?
Willow's homepage advertises an offline mode, but its Frontier Mini and Frontier Pro models are cloud models that require internet access. WhisperJot's Jot Local and Jot Local Pro engines run on-device by default and work fully offline after a one-time model download (about 500 MB on Mac, around 600 MB on Windows and Linux).
Does Willow Voice have a free plan?
Yes. Willow Basic costs $0 with no card and includes unlimited use of the Frontier Mini model. It has limited personalization and dictation length, plus 20 Scribe uses per week. Frontier Pro, priority processing, and unlimited Scribe require the paid Pro plan. WhisperJot has no free tier but offers a 30-second browser demo.
References
Sources
Product facts last verified August 24, 2026. Sources include the vendor pages and any supporting references listed below.