The short version
What Cicada is and where it runs.
Cicada hears what your computer plays, so it works with Zoom, Teams, Discord and YouTube livestreams without joining the call as a bot. Nobody else in the call has to install anything.
It works out the spoken language by itself and translates into your system language, in a small subtitle bar that only shows up when someone talks.
It's free and open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. The Mac app has every feature. There are also Windows, Linux and Android versions, and since version 1.3.0 (out November 5) it runs on Intel Macs too.
See Cicada on GitHubWhat it does
From the project's own README.
Live subtitles
No key needed. It hears English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese, and translates into your Mac's language. Control-Option-S switches between the notes window, the subtitle bar and hidden.
Talk back
Right Option key. Hold the right Option key and speak, and the other side hears your words in their language. It goes through BlackHole 2ch, a free virtual microphone you can install from inside the app.
Meetings in the room
Uses the mic. Set Listen to in the menu bar panel to Room and it uses the Mac's microphone, with the same subtitles and records as an online call.
Records and transcripts
Saved on your Mac. Every session keeps a two-language transcript and the audio on your Mac. You can export Markdown, Word or SRT subtitles.
Videos you already have
Drag and drop. Drop a recording or video on the records window and it's transcribed on your Mac, much faster than real time.
Live meeting notes
Needs a key. A summary, topics, to-dos and a glossary while the meeting runs. Notes use your own AI service key, from OpenRouter (their pick), Ling, ZenMux, OpenAI, or a model you run yourself.
Set it up on a Mac
macOS 14.4 or later.
- 1
Download the right file
Get Cicada-<version>-macOS-AppleSilicon.dmg for an Apple silicon Mac, or the Intel one for an Intel Mac. Open it and drag Cicada into Applications.
- 2
Open it the first time
The app isn't notarized yet, so macOS may block the first launch. Open System Settings, Privacy and Security, and click Open Anyway.
- 3
Allow system audio recording
This is how it hears your calls. The README says it never records the screen or its own sound.
- 4
On macOS 14.4 to 15 only, turn on Dictation
In System Settings, Keyboard, turn on Dictation and add each language you want it to hear. macOS 26 doesn't need this.
- 5
Intel Macs need a Ling key
On Intel, speech is recognized in the cloud, so Cicada needs a Ling key before it can hear anything. Apple silicon Macs skip this step.
- 6
Play something
The first-launch guide plays a short sample meeting so you can see subtitles right away. After that, play any call or stream in another language.
What stays on your Mac
From the README's privacy section.
On Apple silicon Macs, the audio, language detection, speech recognition and recordings all stay on your computer. The only thing that leaves is the recognized text, sent to Google Translate or to the AI service you picked.
There's no analytics, no tracking and no server of their own. Your meetings live in ~/Library/Application Support/LiveSubs.
Intel Macs, Windows, Linux and Android send what's said, in short pieces, to the AI service you set up, which is why they need a key. Recordings stay on the device there too.
Before you ask ChatGPT or Claude
Cicada is days old, so most AI models haven't heard of it. These are the usual fixes.
- No subtitles appear
- Open System Settings, Privacy and Security, Screen and System Audio Recording, and turn Cicada on. Then quit and reopen Cicada.
- Nothing is recognized on macOS 15 or earlier
- Dictation is off, or the language isn't added to Dictation. Add it in System Settings, Keyboard.
- Nothing is recognized on an Intel Mac
- Intel Macs need a Ling key for speech. Add it in Settings, AI Service, then click Save and check.
- The other side can't hear my translation
- BlackHole 2ch isn't installed, or your meeting app's microphone isn't set to BlackHole 2ch.
- Notes say there's no key
- Subtitles work without a key, but notes need one. With OpenRouter, make a key, then paste it in Settings, AI Service and click Save and check.
- macOS blocks the app
- That's expected for now, since the builds aren't notarized yet. Use Open Anyway in System Settings, Privacy and Security.
Remove it
If you're done with it.
Quit Cicada and drag it from Applications to the Trash. To delete your saved transcripts, notes and recordings too, delete the LiveSubs folder in ~/Library/Application Support.
Get it
Pick your computer.
Same app, with a key
These versions need an AI service key, since speech is recognized in the cloud.
Cicada's websiteOpenRouter
Only needed for notes on Apple silicon, or for every other platform.
Make an OpenRouter key