MacWhisper vs Superwhisper — which is the best Voice to Text tool?
Side-by-side comparison of MacWhisper vs Superwhisper based on features, pricing, integrations, platforms, and user pros & cons to help you pick the right Voice to Text tool.
MacWhisper
Voice to TextMac transcription and dictation software for lectures, videos, podcasts, files, and online meetings, with local transcription and a one-time Pro license.
Superwhisper
Voice to TextAI voice-to-text for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android that uses local-first processing and programmable modes to give users control over models, tone, structure, and formatting.
TL;DR:
Choose MacWhisper if you primarily need to transcribe meetings, podcasts, videos, and audio files with local processing, batch workflows, and extensive export options. Superwhisper is built for privacy-conscious power users who want local and cloud AI models, customizable modes, and control over how dictation is structured and formatted. Both support offline processing and transcription, but MacWhisper is more focused on deep transcription workflows, while Superwhisper emphasizes customizable real-time dictation across apps.
When to choose which tool
Choose MacWhisper for
Want deep transcription workflows for audio and video files
Need batch transcription for large numbers of recordings
Want speaker recognition for meetings and podcasts
Want extensive transcript exports in formats like SRT, PDF, and DOCX
Want workflow automation with Notion, Zapier, Obsidian, and webhooks
Choose Superwhisper for
Want custom dictation modes for writing, coding, and other workflows
Want to choose between local and cloud AI models
Need voice-to-text across Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android
Want offline dictation with local AI models
Want a broader voice-to-text workflow beyond file transcription
Features Comparison
Features of MacWhisper
File transcription: Drag and drop mp3, wav, m4a, ogg, opus, mov, and mp4 files
Meeting recording: Automatically records Zoom, Teams, Webex, Skype, Discord, and Chime, with automatic start and end detection and no bot
System-wide dictation: Pro includes high-quality dictation, AI prompts, app-specific prompts, and grammar
Podcast transcription: Creates per-speaker files
YouTube transcription
App Audio capture
Local models: Privacy and offline support
Speaker recognition
Filler cleanup
100+ languages: Includes translation
Exports: .srt, .vtt, .txt, .md, .pdf, .html, and .docx
Search and editor
Batch transcription
Watched Folders
AI services: Supports BYO API keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, xAI, Azure, Deepseek, Google, and OpenRouter
Local AI: Ollama and LM Studio
AI tools: Summarization, chat, and custom prompts
Workflow automation: Auto-upload to Notion, Zapier, Obsidian, n8n, Make.com, or a webhook
CLI: Command-line control
Features of Superwhisper
Voice-to-text: Works in any app including Slack, Cursor, Notion, email, and terminals
100+ languages: Supports languages and dialects, with translate-to-English
Custom modes: Define tone, structure, and formatting for tasks such as messages, emails, code, and custom workflows
Model choice: Choose between cloud and local models, with full offline support
BYO AI API keys: Available on Pro
Super Mode: Uses AI and adapts to your screen for smarter results
Meeting transcription: Records and transcribes meetings, plus audio and video files
Custom vocabulary: Supports names, abbreviations, and technical terms
Dictation controls: Mouse-start dictation, clipboard auto-paste, and push-to-talk
Pricing Comparison
Pricing of MacWhisper
Free: €0, free forever
Pro: €64 one-time, with lifetime updates
Purchase: Available through Gumroad or the App Store
Pricing of Superwhisper
Free: $0, including voice-to-text in any app, meeting recording and transcription, 100+ languages, unlimited Whisper models, custom prompt control, and a 3,000-word Pro trial
Pro: $8.49/mo, with 40% off for students
Lifetime: One-time purchase, described as their “top choice” tier
Enterprise: Custom, including SOC 2 Type II, centralized billing and authentication, and model access control
Refund: 30-day refund on all plans
Integrations Comparison
Integrations of MacWhisper
AI providers: OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, xAI, Azure, Deepseek, Google, OpenRouter, Ollama, LM Studio, Deepgram, ElevenLabs, and Gladia
Workflow uploads: Notion, Zapier, Obsidian, n8n, Make.com, and custom webhooks
CLI: Agent and scripting workflows
Integrations of Superwhisper
Agentic coding: Cursor, Claude Code, OpenCode, Pi, Codex, Grok, DeepSeek Harness, and CLI
AI models: GPT-5, Claude Haiku 4.5, Llama 4, Grok 4.1, Gemini 3.0 Flash, and Ministral
BYO API keys: Available on Pro
Platforms Comparison
Platforms for MacWhisper
- macOS
- plus iOS
- iPad versions
Platforms for Superwhisper
- Mac
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What users love
What users love about MacWhisper
One-time pricing: €64 lifetime license instead of a $12/month subscription
On-device transcription: Privacy and offline support for sensitive files
Batch processing: High accuracy and significant transcription time savings
Recognition: Featured in Apple Keynotes, Forbes, and 9to5Mac
What users love about Superwhisper
Local-first privacy: On-device models and offline support
One-time pricing: Lifetime purchase instead of a subscription
Programmable modes and model choice: Supports GPT, Claude, Llama, and Gemini
Power-user workflow: Described as letting users “barely even touch the keyboard”
What users complain about
What users complain about MacWhisper
Not built primarily for live dictation: The product is transcription-first
Free-tier limitations: Key features such as speaker recognition, batch processing, and meetings require Pro
Limited platforms: macOS and iOS only, with no Windows support
What users complain about Superwhisper
Lifetime price: Around £249 according to Reddit, considered steep for a one-off purchase
Learning curve: More of a power-user tool than a zero-setup product
Intel Mac limitation: Intel Macs only get cloud models, while offline models require Apple Silicon
Mobile reliability: Mobile experience lags desktop