Last updated 08-14-2026
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Open Voice OS
Open Voice OS lets you build custom voice-controlled interfaces on Raspberry Pi, Mycroft devices, and Linux desktops using an open voice assistant stack. Install OVOS through Docker or a Python virtual environment, then extend skills with NLP pipelines that can run offline for privacy-sensitive setups.
Commercial smart speakers lock data in vendor clouds. Open Voice OS is community-driven FOSS descended from the Mycroft ecosystem, with a customizable UI, prebuilt images for embedded screens, and an installer script for major Linux distributions plus Raspberry Pi 3, 4, and 5.
Developers, hobbyists, and organizations building DIY smart speakers use OVOS to experiment with speech recognition and text-to-speech before upstreaming features. The project received an NGI Zero Commons fund grant and welcomes contributions through its public GitHub repositories.
Install via Docker or Python virtual environment with a one-line installer script
Supports Raspberry Pi 3, 4, and 5 plus major Linux desktop distributions
Prebuilt image for embedded headless and small touch-screen devices
Offline-capable speech recognition and text-to-speech pipelines
Customizable UI descended from the Mycroft and KDE GUI lineage
Community-driven skill development with public contribution guides
Compatible with legacy Mycroft Mark 1 and Mark 2 hardware
Fully open source with no subscription for core voice assistant features.
Runs on Raspberry Pi and legacy Mycroft hardware out of the box.
Offline speech pipelines keep voice data off third-party clouds.
Active community with contribution guides and development releases.
Requires Linux comfort for installation and skill development.
Development releases may include bugs needing manual fixes or PRs.
Less polished consumer onboarding than commercial smart speakers.
Is Open Voice OS free?
Yes. Open Voice OS is free open-source software under FOSS licenses. Anyone can download, install, and modify OVOS without subscription fees.
Does Open Voice OS work offline?
Yes. Open Voice OS supports offline speech recognition and text-to-speech configurations for privacy-focused deployments that avoid sending voice data to cloud APIs.
What hardware runs Open Voice OS?
Open Voice OS runs on Raspberry Pi 3, 4, and 5, Mycroft Mark devices, Linux laptops and desktops, and embedded boards with small touch screens through prebuilt images.
How do I install Open Voice OS?
Open Voice OS provides an installer script for Docker or Python setups on Linux. Developers can also download prebuilt images for Raspberry Pi and Mycroft hardware from the Open Voice OS downloads page.
What is Open Voice OS related to Mycroft?
Open Voice OS grew from the MycroftOS framework after community contributors forked the stack. OVOS maintains compatibility with Mycroft devices while remaining independent open-source software.
Can businesses use Open Voice OS?
Yes. Open Voice OS invites businesses and organizations to integrate OVOS into products through the site contact form for commercial voice interface projects.