A free Superwhisper alternative for Mac
Superwhisper is a capable dictation app with custom modes, a choice of models and apps on every platform. If you'd rather have something simpler that's free to use on your Mac, WhisperWrite does one job well: hold a key, speak, and your words are typed in whatever app you're using.
WhisperWrite and Superwhisper side by side
From each app's website on 8 October 2026.
| WhisperWrite | Superwhisper | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no word limits, no account | Free plan; Pro is paid |
| Where speech becomes text | On your Mac (Parakeet Ultra) | On-device Whisper models or cloud models |
| Clean-up and rewriting | Filler words removed; optional AI Edit and Command Mode with your Claude key | Built-in modes such as Message and Email, plus custom modes |
| Meetings and audio files | Not yet | Meeting notes; file transcription on Pro |
| Devices | Mac with Apple Silicon | Mac, Windows, iOS and Android |
| Languages | English for now | 100+ languages |
Which one should you choose?
Choose WhisperWrite if
- You want dictation that's free to use, with nothing to pay for later.
- You'd like one shortcut and sensible defaults, not modes to set up.
- You want speech turned into text on your Mac, even offline.
- You dictate in English on a Mac with Apple Silicon.
Choose Superwhisper if
- You need other languages, or translation into English.
- You want meeting notes or file transcription in the same app.
- You use Windows, iPhone or Android too.
- You like building custom modes and choosing models.
Simple by design
- One shortcut. Hold Right Option (or any key you pick), speak, let go. Tap instead for hands-free.
- One engine, already tuned. The speech model downloads once (about 610 MB). There's nothing to compare or configure.
- Clean text by default. Punctuation is added and "um" and "uh" are removed. Say "new line" or "new paragraph" for breaks.
- Your words, spelled right. Add names and jargon to the dictionary, and snippets for text you type often.
- AI when you want it. Turn on AI Edit with your own Anthropic key to fix grammar and match the tone of each app.
Comparing other apps too? See the best dictation apps for Mac.
Questions
Is Superwhisper free?
Superwhisper has a free plan that includes dictation in any app and on-device Whisper models. Pro is a paid plan; check superwhisper.com for current prices.
Does WhisperWrite use Whisper?
No. WhisperWrite uses Parakeet Ultra, an on-device model based on NVIDIA's Parakeet, running on your Mac's Neural Engine. Text appears in about 0.1 seconds, and it doesn't invent words from silence or background noise.
Is WhisperWrite really free?
Yes. It's free to download and use, with no word limits, no subscription and no account. AI Edit and the OpenAI engine are optional and use your own API keys.
Can WhisperWrite record meetings or transcribe files?
Not yet. WhisperWrite is for dictation: hold a key, speak, and the text is typed where your cursor is. For meetings and audio files, Superwhisper or MacWhisper are better choices today.
Write by talking, free.
Hold a key, speak, and your words appear in any app. No word limits, no subscription, no account. Speech recognition runs on your Mac.
Download WhisperWrite