Kalam and DanDin: the closest rivals for Arabic
Nearly the same idea, on the same computers. Here is where Kalam wins, and where DanDin is different.
In short
Kalam is the closest app to DanDin: both run on Mac and Windows, write Arabic and English in any app, and need the internet. Kalam wins on two numbers, and we say so: its free plan is 3,000 words a week against 2,000 with DanDin, and yearly Pro is 144 dollars against our 149. It also has features DanDin lacks: rewriting, translation into 8 languages, and voice commands for editing. Where DanDin differs: in the Arabic + English mode you never pick a language before you talk, while Kalam's help centre says "Select the language you're speaking before dictating." And DanDin runs on Intel Macs, while Kalam's Mac download link leads to a file for Apple chips only. DanDin is our product. Every Kalam fact here comes from its own pages, read on 8 October 2026, and we have not used it.
The comparison, side by side
| DanDin | Kalam | |
|---|---|---|
| Languages | Arabic and English | English and Arabic, in its words [1] |
| Before you speak | Nothing to pick: Arabic + English finds each sentence's language | Its help centre tip: select the language you are speaking before dictating [2] |
| Mixing the two | Each sentence in its own language, a new line at each switch | It says it follows every switch between Arabic and English "in the same breath" [3] |
| Devices | Mac and Windows | Windows and macOS, with mobile in a future release [4] |
| Intel Macs | Yes, the same app | Its Mac download link leads to a mac-arm64 file, meaning Apple chips. We found no Intel link [5] |
| Free | 2,000 words every 7 days | 3,000 words a week [6] |
| Pro, yearly | 149 dollars a year | 144 dollars yearly per user, so 12 a month [7] |
| Rewrite and translate | No rewrite tool. It has a Translate to English switch | Rewrite, summarize and change tone, plus translation into 8 languages [8] |
| Your dictations used for training | Yes, our privacy policy says we use data to train our models | Possible while Privacy Mode is off, and it starts off [9] |
| Offline | No | No, it says it is on its roadmap [10] |
Where these Kalam facts come from
Every fact in the Kalam column is taken from its own pages. Here is the text as we read it, the link, and the day we read it.
[1] Kalam pricing page
Support for English and Arabic
https://getkalam.ai/subscription (read 2026-10-08)
[2] Kalam help centre
Select the language you're speaking before dictating.
https://getkalam.ai/support (read 2026-10-08)
[3] Kalam home page
Speak Arabic, English, or both in the same breath. Kalam follows every switch - then fixes and formats the whole thing.
https://getkalam.ai (read 2026-10-08)
[4] Pricing page, on devices
Kalam is currently available on desktop for Windows and macOS. We're working on bringing it to mobile in a future release.
https://getkalam.ai/subscription (read 2026-10-08)
[5] The "Download for macOS" link on the Kalam site, and the file it leads to
https://assets.getkalam.ai/downloads/mac-arm64/1.0.1/Kalam.dmg
https://getkalam.ai/download/macos (read 2026-10-08)
[6] Pricing page, the free plan
3,000 words per week
https://getkalam.ai/subscription (read 2026-10-08)
[7] Pricing page, the Pro plan
$144 per user/year
https://getkalam.ai/subscription (read 2026-10-08)
[8] Help centre, on AI Rewrite
Rewrite, summarize, translate, or adjust the tone of your text in a single click.
https://getkalam.ai/support (read 2026-10-08)
[9] Kalam privacy policy
Privacy Mode is off by default and can be changed in Settings → Data and Privacy.
https://getkalam.ai/privacy-policy (read 2026-10-08)
[10] Help centre, on offline use
Kalam requires an internet connection for the highest transcription accuracy. Offline mode is on our roadmap.
https://getkalam.ai/support (read 2026-10-08)
Pick DanDin if
- You do not want to pick the language before you dictate
- Your Mac has an Intel chip
- You want long dictations, up to 30 minutes
Kalam may fit you if
- You want 3,000 free words a week instead of 2,000
- You want translation into 8 languages, or voice commands like "delete last word"
- You pay yearly and want the cheaper one: 144 instead of 149
Kalam says it is fine-tuned for Gulf Arabic. DanDin publishes no dialect list and no accuracy number until a recorded test with real voices is done. If dialect is your question, try both with your own voice.
Common questions
Is Kalam free?
It has a free plan, Kalam Basic, with 3,000 words a week by its own pricing page. That is more than the DanDin free plan of 2,000 words every 7 days.
Does Kalam write Arabic and English in the same sentence?
Its home page says so, and its help centre says you can switch inside one sentence. The same help centre also advises picking the language before you dictate. We have not tried it, so we quote both lines as they are.
Does Kalam work on a phone?
Its pricing page says it is on Windows and macOS only today, with mobile in a future release. DanDin is also on Mac and Windows only.