STT-CLI v2.0 is a Windows-only speech-to-text tool with hybrid engine support (Whisper offline + Google online). Designed for users on corporate laptops where Win+H is disabled by IT policies. Runs as a background system tray application with no visible window, using a global hotkey (double-tap Left Alt) to toggle recording. Perfect for use with Windows Terminal, PowerShell, Claude Code, and Gemini CLI.
Key Features:
- Hybrid Speech-to-Text: Whisper (offline) + Google Web Speech API (online) with switchable engines
- Offline Mode: Works without internet using OpenAI Whisper (MIT licensed, privacy-focused)
- Engine Toggle: System tray menu to switch between Auto-Detect, Whisper, and Google modes
- About Menu: Version info and engine status at your fingertips
- Auto-start on Windows Boot with persistent settings
- Global hotkey activation (double-tap Left Alt)
- Background operation with system tray icon
- Balloon notifications for recording status and engine changes
- Automatic CLI window detection (security feature)
- No admin rights required
- Portable executable - no installation needed
- Works on corporate laptops with restricted permissions and offline environments
Publisher’s description
What is STT-CLI?
STT-CLI is an open-source terminals & cli tool program for Windows from Mantej Singh Dhanjal. It is written in Python.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as Portable. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 2.0.0, released on November 27, 2025. 3 versions are listed since November 7, 2025, each with links to its own installer files.
Project description on GitHub: “A responsive command-line application for Windows that allows users to convert their speech into text directly within their terminal”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Portable: runs without installation
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: STT-CLI is an open-source terminals & cli tool tool for 64-bit PCs.
Is STT-CLI safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
C3F2051B6CB2C8D844B81A6CB9BCF618DFC3DD148D96AEBC4F34B4DB7035C005· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 3 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0.0Latest | November 27, 2025 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 1.4.0 | November 22, 2025 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 1.3.1 | November 7, 2025 | — | 64-bit Portable |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Mantej-Singh.STT-CLI -eRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Mantej Singh Dhanjal
- Category
- Terminals & CLI tools
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/Mantej-Singh/stt-cli
- Written in
- Python
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 2.0.0
- Released
- November 27, 2025
- Added to the catalogue
- November 7, 2025
- Versions listed
- 3
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- Mantej-Singh.STT-CLI
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to STT-CLI
See all ›-
PowerShell7.6.9.0PowerShell is a cross-platform task automation solution made up of a command-line shell, a scripting language, and a configuration management framework. PowerShell runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.Open source689.6K ↓ -
QPDF12.4.2QPDF is a command-line tool and C++ library that performs content-preserving transformations on PDF files.Open source2.1M ↓ -
Open source820.8K ↓ -
Alacritty0.17.0Alacritty is a free and open-source GPU accelerated terminal emulator focused on performance and simplicity.Open source75.9K ↓ -
Open source290.1K ↓ -
Open source1.5M ↓ -
Open source85.7K ↓ -
Free5.9M ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is STT-CLI free?
Yes. STT-CLI is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is STT-CLI safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install STT-CLI with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does STT-CLI run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of STT-CLI?
The versions page lists all 3 versions with links to their official installer files, back to November 7, 2025.
Can I use STT-CLI without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to STT-CLI?
PowerShell, QPDF, Oh My Posh, Alacritty and fzf. The alternatives page compares them.