Silero VAD vs Yap
Silero VAD vs Yap compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. Detect speech in audio, instantly vs Hold a key, speak, and the text is typed at your cursor.
Updated regularly · curated by olud.ai
Silero VAD vs Yap at a glance
| Spec | Silero VAD | Yap |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Speech (STT / TTS) | Speech (STT / TTS) |
| Type | Voice activity detection | Paid dictation app, desktop and mobile |
| License | MIT | Proprietary |
| Runs locally | Yes | Yes |
| Primary language | Python | — |
| Ease of use | Beginner | Beginner |
| Best for | real-time voice assistants | for dictating into everyday apps with on-device recognition |
| GitHub stars | 10.5k | — |
How Silero VAD and Yap score
| Criterion | Silero VAD | Yap |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity | 3.0 | n/a |
| Maintenance | 5.0 | n/a |
| Ease of use | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Privacy | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| License freedom | 5.0 | 1.5 |
Scores are computed automatically from public signals — GitHub stars (popularity), recent commit activity (maintenance), license type (freedom), local-first design (privacy) and onboarding complexity (ease of use). Indicative, not a verdict.
What each one is
Silero VAD
Silero VAD detects which parts of an audio stream contain speech, in under a millisecond per chunk — essential for real-time voice pipelines.
- Sub-millisecond detection
- Tiny model, runs anywhere
- Essential for streaming voice
Yap
Yap is a dictation app for Apple Silicon Macs, Windows 10/11, iPhone and Android: hold a key, speak, and the text is inserted at the cursor. Recognition runs on the machine and works offline once the model is downloaded. A free account is needed; 3 free days, then a 10-day card trial, then $6.90/month or $69/year. Note before using it: automatic insertion on macOS needs Accessibility permission, letting the app type into other apps.
- On-device recognition; the page states audio is not uploaded and it works offline.
- One subscription covers the Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android apps.
- A browser demo transcribes up to 60 seconds of English, using a smaller model.
Key differences
Silero VAD is voice activity detection, while Yap is paid dictation app, desktop and mobile. Their licenses differ (MIT vs Proprietary), which matters if you ship a commercial product. In short, Silero VAD fits real-time voice assistants, and Yap fits for dictating into everyday apps with on-device recognition.
Which should you choose?
Choose Silero VAD for real-time voice assistants. Choose Yap for for dictating into everyday apps with on-device recognition.
There is rarely one winner — many setups use both. The right pick depends on your hardware, your team's skills, and whether you value simplicity or control.
Frequently asked questions
Is Silero VAD or Yap easier to use?
Both sit at a similar level (Beginner). Your choice should come down to fit rather than difficulty.
Are Silero VAD and Yap free?
Silero VAD is free and open source (MIT), and Yap is free to use but closed source. Neither charges for the core software.
Can I run Silero VAD and Yap locally?
Silero VAD: yes · Yap: yes. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.
Silero VAD vs Yap — which should I pick in 2026?
Choose Silero VAD for real-time voice assistants. Choose Yap for for dictating into everyday apps with on-device recognition.
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