Copy That
Compared · mic masks

Mic masks for talking to AI, compared.

Developers are putting soundproof masks on their faces to talk to Claude Code without the whole office hearing. They work, and they cost $139 to $299. Here is what each one does, and when the microphone already in your pocket is enough.

iPhone & Apple Watch · App StoreDownload for Mac · free
Left: a developer holding a soundproof mic mask over his mouth at his desk. Right: a developer leaning back, talking into his phone like a normal call.
Same prompt, two ways to say it.
Every mask, side by side
DevicePriceConnectionMuffling (maker’s claim)How you wear it
mutalk 2Shiftall$199Bluetooth 5.3, USB dongle or USB cable−20 dB or more (−30 dB at high frequencies)Held to your mouth, or a head-band
mutalk (original)ShiftallWas $139, discontinuedBluetooth 5.1−20 dB or moreHeld to your mouth, or a head-band
StenomaskTalkTech$239–$299Wired USBBuilt for court reporters’ voice writingHeld to your mouth
OmbraMetadox$139 (USB mic $29 extra)Wired10–15 dB low, 20–30 dB mid and highStrapped on
VektaMetadox$199Built-in micUp to 30 dBStrapped on
SkytedSkyted$199–$299Wired or BluetoothAbsorbs up to 80% of voice frequenciesStrapped on
Copy ThatCodeaxolotFree on iPhone · Apple Watch $4.99 onceiPhone or Apple Watch → your iCloud → your MacNone. It doesn’t muffle your voicePhone held like a call, or your wrist

Prices and claims from each maker, as of October 2026.

When a mask is the right tool
  • You have to talk at your desk, in a quiet room, for hours.
  • What you say must stay private: names, numbers, client details.
  • You’re in a library, plane or shared flat where even a phone call is too loud.
  • You don’t mind wearing gear on your face on video calls and in the office.
When your iPhone is enough
  • It’s already a near-field mic. Held like a call, it’s a few centimetres from your mouth, so you can talk softly and it still hears you clearly.
  • Holding a phone to your face is normal in any office. Nobody looks twice.
  • You can walk away. Say the prompt in the kitchen or a phone booth; the text is pasted into Claude Code on your Mac when you get back.
  • It costs nothing. Copy That is free on iPhone. The Apple Watch app is $4.99 once if you’d rather raise your wrist.
Questions
Do I need a mic mask to dictate to Claude Code at work?
Only if you must stay at your desk and stay silent. If you can talk at phone-call volume, or step away for a minute, your iPhone does the job: Copy That records on it and pastes the text into Claude Code on your Mac.
Is there a cheaper alternative to the mutalk?
Your iPhone. It won’t muffle your voice like a mask, but it’s close to your mouth like one, and Copy That is free on iPhone.
Does Copy That make my voice quieter?
No. People nearby hear you about as well as on a phone call. If you need silence, a mask is the right tool.
Can I use a mask and Copy That together?
We haven’t tested masks with Copy That. Most masks are a microphone for your computer, while Copy That records on your iPhone or Apple Watch, so they solve the problem in different places.
Do my iPhone and Mac need to be on the same Wi-Fi?
No. Recordings go through your own private iCloud, so your phone can be on cellular in a café while your Mac is at home. The Mac just needs to be awake and online.
Where is my voice transcribed?
On your Mac, with Whisper. Audio passes through your own iCloud account and is never sent to a speech-to-text service.
What does it cost?
The iPhone and Mac apps are free. The Apple Watch app is a one-time $4.99. There is no subscription.
Read next
Works with
Claude CodeOpenCodeCodex CLIGemini CLICursorAiderPiClineWindsurfGitHub CopilotZedWarpRoo CodeKilo CodeAmpGooseKiroFactory DroidCrushQwen Codeany text field