Mobile support
Platform availability and mobile boundaries
Compare
BYOK vs Subscription — use.fo Pricing Guide
Short answer
Choose Subscription if you want the simplest setup with no API key configuration, cross-platform access, and a predictable monthly cost. Choose BYOK if you already have a provider key, want to avoid recurring subscriptions, and are comfortable with provider setup. BYOK Desktop is $29.99 one-time per device.
use.fo offers two main payment models: Subscription and BYOK (Bring Your Own Key). Both give you access to AI voice typing and Rewrite Modes, but they differ in pricing structure, provider control, and setup complexity.
Evaluation criteria
How this comparison is assessed.
Each comparison checks platform support, payment model, data route, setup effort, hardware requirements, and the limitations that can make another option a better fit. Vendor facts are checked against the sources shown below.
One-time license
One-time license, subscription, and third-party usage cost
Provider control
Direct-provider versus on-device processing route
Team plans
Hardware, team, and feature limitations
Where use.fo wins
More control than a single dictation path.
The strongest reasons to pick use.fo depend on route choice, platform coverage, privacy, and how much control you want over AI processing.
One-time pricing
BYOK avoids ongoing subscription fees. After a one-time purchase ($29.99 desktop or $9.99 mobile), there is no recurring charge from use.fo.
BYOK route
BYOK gives you direct provider control — you choose Groq, OpenRouter, Google AI Studio, or other supported providers and pay them directly.
Direct provider route
BYOK traffic goes directly from your device to your provider endpoint without passing through use.fo servers.
Provider control
BYOK may be cheaper for high-volume users who can negotiate low provider rates.
Command mode
Speak more context. Compare real output.
Compare Subscription with a real workflow: speak rough context, choose the right mode, and inspect the final text in your daily apps.
- Voice to prompt
- Works across apps
- More context, less typing
Comparison table
BYOK vs Subscription — use.fo Pricing Guide
A direct feature-by-feature view, with use.fo highlighted so the trade-offs are easy to scan.
Featureuse.foSubscription
CostBYOK Desktop: $29.99 one-time / device · BYOK Mobile: $9.99 one-time$7.99/mo or $69.99/yr — no device limit
API key setupRequired — you provide your own provider keyNot required — use.fo manages it
Provider controlFull — you choose your provider and pay them directlyuse.fo managed (currently mainly Groq)
Free allowanceNone66 minutes/month on free tier; paid plan semi-unlimited
Device bindingDesktop: one device per license (transferable every 6 months)Account-bound — unlimited devices
Data routingDirect from client to provider — not through use.fo serversThrough use.fo to selected API endpoint
macOS + WindowsYesYes
iOSBYOK Mobile $9.99 one-time (separate iOS purchase)Yes — same subscription account
AndroidBYOK Mobile $9.99 one-time (separate Android purchase)Yes — same subscription account
Pricing routes
Choose simplicity or provider control.
DifferenceSubscriptionBYOKLocal AI
SetupNo API keyBring your own provider keyDownload local models
Cost model$7.99/mo or $69.99/yrOne-time license + provider usage$24.99 one-time per device
Best forSimplest full-platform setupProvider control and cost managementOffline desktop processing
Guardrails
When Subscription may still be right.
A useful comparison page should make the caveats visible, not hide them below the fold.
No API key
Subscription requires no API key setup — use.fo manages provider routing for you.
Subscription route
Subscription includes 66 free minutes per month before purchase, and paid plans are semi-unlimited (~350 hours per month).
Android
Subscription works immediately on macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android without additional configuration.
Subscription Not Require Manage
Subscription does not require you to manage provider accounts, billing, or API key security.
Subscription Has Device Limit
Subscription has no device limit — one account works across all your devices.
BYOK Has Free Usage
BYOK has no free usage allowance. You must set up a provider account and API key before using it.
BYOK Desktop
BYOK Desktop licenses are per-device. If you need dictation on multiple machines, each requires a separate license.
BYOK Mobile
BYOK Mobile on iOS and Android are separate purchases — they are not shared between platforms.
Rewrite modes
BYOK does not include STT or rewrite if your provider key fails or runs out of credits.
Evidence and updates
Facts checked on July 24, 2026
Reviewed by use.fo product team. Sources below identify whether a fact comes from an official product page, a first-party test, customer evidence, or an independent source.
- use.fo Product Facts — plans, platform matrix, providers, data routes, unsupported features; checked July 24, 2026 (official).
- use.fo Pricing — license price, license scope, provider cost disclosure; checked July 24, 2026 (official).
- Local AI hardware requirements — Windows architecture, VRAM requirement, Apple Silicon support; checked July 24, 2026 (first party test).
Update log: July 24, 2026 — Published the no-subscription product fact registry and clarified BYOK, Local AI, and Windows support boundaries. July 24, 2026 — Checked the public comparison sources listed above and removed claims that were not supported by the current source.
Frequently asked questions
It depends. BYOK Desktop is $29.99 one-time. If you subscribe for more than 4 months ($7.99 × 4 = $31.96), BYOK becomes cheaper on that device — assuming your provider costs remain low. For users with multiple devices or who want mobile included, Subscription may be simpler and more cost-effective.
use.fo BYOK supports Groq, OpenRouter, and Google AI Studio, among others. You assign providers separately for STT and rewrite.
Yes, but they are separate purchases. BYOK Desktop ($29.99) covers one Mac or Windows machine. BYOK Mobile ($9.99) covers your iOS account (all your iPhones) or your Android account (all your Android phones). iOS and Android purchases are separate.
No. BYOK has no free usage allowance. You can try use.fo Subscription free (which includes 66 minutes per month) before deciding whether BYOK is the right model for you.
Let AI help you decide
Copy this prompt and paste it into your favourite AI to compare use.fo with Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, and built-in dictation.
Compare use.fo with Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Apple Dictation, and Windows Voice Typing for someone who wants AI voice typing across macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android, with BYOK, desktop Local AI / Local STT, Rewrite Modes, and one-time purchase options.Better
Less
Speak once. Send polished writing everywhere.