Voxtype vs VOXD | Linux Speech-to-Text Comparison
Description: Compare Voxtype and VOXD for Linux speech-to-text. Both use Whisper offline, different UI approaches.

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# Voxtype vs VOXD

Two whisper.cpp-based tools with different philosophies: CLI daemon vs multi-UI application.

## At a Glance

Aspect | Voxtype | VOXD
--- | --- | ---
Engine | Whisper (whisper.cpp) | Whisper (whisper.cpp)
Language | Rust | Python
Interface | CLI + systemd | CLI, GUI, Tray
AI Post-Processing | No | Yes (local/cloud LLM)
Voice Activity Detection | No (push-to-talk) | Yes (FLUX mode, beta)
Distro Packages | AUR, .deb, .rpm | AUR, .deb, .rpm, pipx
GPU Required | No (optional) | No
GPU Acceleration | Vulkan, CUDA, Metal, ROCm | No
Text Processing | Word replacements, spoken punctuation | AI Post-Processing (LLM)

## Critical Differences

### Interface Philosophy

Voxtype is a headless CLI daemon. Configure it once, run it as a systemd service, interact via hotkey. No GUI, no tray icon needed.

VOXD offers multiple UI modes:

- `voxd --gui` - PyQt6 graphical interface
- `voxd --tray` - System tray icon for unobstructed dictation
- `voxd --rh` - Terminal/CLI hotkey mode
- `voxd --flux` - VAD-triggered continuous dictation

### AI Post-Processing

Voxtype outputs exactly what Whisper transcribes. Clean, predictable, no surprises.

VOXD offers AI Post-Processing (AIPP) that can clean up transcriptions using a local or cloud LLM. This can fix grammar, add punctuation, or reformat text. Powerful but adds complexity and potential for unexpected changes.

### Setup Experience

Voxtype setup is minimal:

    paru -S voxtype
    voxtype setup model
    voxtype setup systemd
    systemctl --user enable --now voxtype

VOXD has an interactive first-run setup:

    # Install
    paru -S voxd
    # Or: sudo dpkg -i voxd_*.deb

    # First run triggers setup wizard
    voxd
    # Configures: voice model, LLM model, ydotool

    # For Wayland, also run:
    ./setup_ydotool.sh
    # Then log out and back in

## Feature Comparison

### What VOXD Does Better

- GUI options - Tray icon and graphical settings for users who prefer visual interfaces
- AI post-processing - LLM can clean up transcriptions automatically
- FLUX mode - Voice-triggered continuous dictation (no hotkey needed)
- 99+ languages - Explicit multilingual focus
- Broader distro testing - Explicitly tested on Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, Pop!_OS, openSUSE

### What Voxtype Does Better

- Simplicity - One binary, one config file, one systemd service
- Predictable output - No AI surprises; what Whisper hears is what you get
- Resource efficiency - Rust binary vs Python + PyQt6
- GPU acceleration - Vulkan, CUDA, Metal, ROCm support for fast transcription
- Text processing - Word replacements and spoken punctuation built-in
- Waybar integration - Native status module for tiling WM users
- Customizable audio feedback - Multiple themes, custom sounds

## Resource Usage

Metric | Voxtype | VOXD
--- | --- | ---
Idle Memory | ~50MB | ~100-150MB (GUI/tray)
Dependencies | Minimal (system libs) | Python, PyQt6, etc.
Binary Size | ~15MB | Python scripts

### The Verdict

Choose Voxtype if you prefer a minimal, headless daemon that runs via systemd. Ideal for tiling WM users who want Waybar integration and don't need a GUI.

Choose VOXD if you want a GUI or tray icon, need AI post-processing to clean up transcriptions, or prefer voice-triggered continuous dictation over push-to-talk.

Both are solid offline Whisper tools. VOXD offers more features and UI options; Voxtype offers simplicity and efficiency.

## Links

- Voxtype
- VOXD on GitHub