Superwhisper now ships beyond Mac too, while MacWhisper remains a Mac-focused local Whisper app; the two have different workflows. StarWhisper is our product and adds a local Whisper option for Windows and macOS. Compare the platform, data path, pricing, and way text reaches your app.
Choose by operating system and primary job.
These tools share a local Whisper idea, but a different primary workflow can change which one feels right.
Superwhisper is a natural fit for a Mac-first user who wants to press a hotkey and dictate into the app currently in focus.
MacWhisper is a natural fit when your source is a recording you already have and the job is to create a transcript from that file.
StarWhisper is our product. It uses Whisper locally through whisper.cpp and types speech into the active text field with a global hotkey.
Vendor plans and feature lists change. Confirm the current details on each vendor's page before paying.
| Feature | Superwhisper | MacWhisper | StarWhisper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android | macOS | Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon) |
| Offline capability | Local Whisper processing | Local Whisper processing | Local Whisper via whisper.cpp |
| Pricing model | Free tier and paid subscription, check vendor | Free version and one-time Pro options have been offered, check vendor | Free tier, then $10/month or $80/year Pro |
| Free tier | Free tier listed, check current limits | Free version listed, check current limits | 2,000/week |
| Languages | Whisper language support, check current vendor list | Whisper language support, check current vendor list | 99 languages |
| Hotkey and system-wide insertion | Hotkey-based live dictation into Mac apps | File-first workflow, app insertion varies by feature | Global hotkey types into the active app |
| Local acceleration | Mac hardware path | Mac hardware path | CUDA, Vulkan, and Metal support |
It is easy to treat three Whisper apps as interchangeable. The more useful question is where the text should come from and where it should go. MacWhisper is associated with taking an existing recording and turning it into a transcript. That suits interviews, lectures, and other files you want to review later.
Superwhisper is associated with a live Mac dictation loop. Focus a text field, use the app's hotkey, speak, and continue writing without opening a file-transcription workspace. If that is how you think and you use a Mac all day, its focus is relevant.
StarWhisper is our product and focuses on the same live text loop across Windows and macOS. A global hotkey starts dictation, local Whisper processing creates text, and the result is inserted into the active app. The choice is not a claim that one workflow is best for everyone. It is a choice about where you spend your time.
The comparison material describes these apps as local, offline-first Whisper options. A local model can process speech without a transcription upload, which is useful when the network is unavailable or when your work requires a local data path. Check current privacy statements and optional online features before using any app for sensitive work.
StarWhisper supports model sizes from tiny through large-v3 and supports CUDA, Vulkan, and Metal acceleration where available. That gives you a way to balance local workload and model size. Hardware still matters, so test the model and microphone on the computer where you will dictate.
StarWhisper's free tier includes 2,000 words per week. Pro is $10 per month or $80 per year. MacWhisper and Superwhisper have their own free and paid plans, and current amounts should be checked with the vendors instead of copied from an old page.
Use the same short passage, microphone, and destination app for each test. Check live insertion, correction effort, offline behavior, and any file workflow you need. For more detail, read StarWhisper vs Superwhisper, StarWhisper vs MacWhisper, and the approved StarWhisper facts.
Both started as Mac apps with local Whisper processing, though Superwhisper now also ships on Windows, iOS, and Android. Superwhisper focuses on hotkey-driven live dictation, while MacWhisper is associated with recorded audio and video transcription.
Superwhisper now ships a Windows app too, alongside Mac, iOS, and Android; MacWhisper remains macOS-only. StarWhisper is our product and supports Windows and Apple Silicon Macs.
The comparison material describes all three as local, offline-first Whisper options. Confirm the exact feature and optional online behavior with each vendor.
StarWhisper has 2,000 words per week free. Pro costs $10 per month or $80 per year. StarWhisper is our product, so test the workflow before choosing.
Try StarWhisper on the computer and text field where you work. The free tier lets you test before Pro.
Download StarWhisper