Roundup · 2026

The best Superwhisper alternatives for Mac (2026)

The main Superwhisper alternatives for Mac are SayWrite (on-device dictation with AI rewriting that also runs on your Mac, $30/year), VoiceInk (open source, from $25 one-time), Spokenly (a free local mode), MacWhisper (best for recordings) and Wispr Flow (cloud dictation on every platform). Apple Dictation is the free built-in fallback.

Download free Watch the 35-second demo

7 days free · no card, no account · then $30/year or $5/month · no word limit

On your phone? SayWrite runs on a Mac. Send yourself the link and download it there.

By The SayWrite teamLast reviewed October 22, 2026Apple silicon · macOS 15+ · English

Illustrative demo rendered from SayWrite's interface. Timing is scripted, not a benchmark.

Disclosure: we make SayWrite, and it's listed first. Every other entry is described from its developer's own site or documentation, with the source named, so you can check for yourself.

Not affiliated; trademarks belong to their owners. Superwhisper, VoiceInk, MacWhisper, Spokenly, Wispr Flow and Apple Dictation are trademarks of their respective owners, and SayWrite is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Competitor details come from their public websites and documentation as of October 22, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.

≈0.2 s warmstop to result in an archived M5 Pro speech test. Test conditions
0 bytesof your audio uploaded for transcription. What does go online
Offlinedictation keeps working on a plane, with the speech model downloaded and ready
$30/yrafter a 7-day free trial, with no word limit

Quick picks

Superwhisper alternatives at a glance

Mac dictation apps compared, as of October 22, 2026
App	Price	Where speech runs	AI cleanup	Platforms
SayWriteOurs	7-day free trial, then $5/mo or $30/yr	On your Mac (Apple Neural Engine)	Apple Intelligence, or your own Ollama / LM Studio at 127.0.0.1	Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 15+)
VoiceInk	$25 (1 Mac), $39 (2) or $49 (3), one-timeSource: tryvoiceink.com	On your MacSource: tryvoiceink.com	Optional cloud enhancement (sends text, not audio)Source: tryvoiceink.com	Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 14.4+) and iOSSource: tryvoiceink.com
MacWhisper	Free; Pro €64 one-timeSource: macwhisper.com	On your MacSource: macwhisper.com	Pro: cloud providers or local Ollama / LM StudioSource: macwhisper.com	MacSource: macwhisper.com
Spokenly	Local free; your API keys $0; Pro $9.99/mo or $99.99/yrSource: spokenly.app	Local Whisper or Parakeet, or cloud modelsSource: spokenly.app	Cloud models with Pro or your own keysSource: spokenly.app	Mac, Windows, Linux and iPhoneSource: spokenly.app
Wispr Flow	Free up to 2,000 words a week on desktop; Pro $15/mo or $12/mo yearlySource: Wispr Flow pricing	In the cloudSource: Wispr Flow privacy policy	Included; which models, and where, isn't statedUnverified	Mac, Windows, iPhone, AndroidSource: Wispr Flow pricing
Apple Dictation	Free, built into macOSSource: Apple Support: Dictate messages and documents on Mac	On-device on supported Macs and languagesSource: Apple Support: Dictate messages and documents on Mac	Auto-punctuation; no rewriting described in Apple's guideSource: Apple Support: Dictate messages and documents on Mac	Mac, plus Apple's other devicesSource: Apple: macOS feature availability

Superwhisper's free plan includes unlimited dictation with local Whisper models, and Pro costs $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year or $249.99 for a lifetime license. (Source: Superwhisper docs: Superwhisper Pro)

The alternatives, one by one

01 · Our app

SayWriteOurs

Best for: AI rewriting included and running on your Mac, with no API keys to manage

We make SayWrite. Hold Fn in ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, Slack or Mail, talk, and let go. SayWrite removes filler words, adds punctuation and uses your personal dictionary. Dictation runs on your Mac, with no word limit. Optional AI Polish rewrites a ramble into clear writing, using Apple's on-device model or a model running on your Mac. SayWrite has a 7-day free trial that starts in the app, with no card and no account. After that it costs $5 a month or $30 a year, charged when you buy, with unlimited use. Cancel anytime; full refund within 14 days of any payment.

English only, Apple silicon Macs with macOS 15 or later, no Windows or phone app, and no team admin features. AI Polish needs macOS 26 with Apple Intelligence turned on, or your own Ollama or LM Studio model.

Pricing · How it stays private · Download and install

02 · Alternative

VoiceInk

Best for: A one-time price and open-source code

VoiceInk says voice transcription runs on your Mac, so audio never leaves it, and its optional Cloud Enhancement processes only the transcribed text. It has a personal dictionary and text replacements, and licenses are one-time purchases by number of Macs. (Source: tryvoiceink.com)

It's the pick if open source matters to you: the code is on GitHub under the GPL-3.0 license. SayWrite is not open source. (Source: VoiceInk on GitHub (GPL-3.0 license))

03 · Alternative

MacWhisper

Best for: Transcribing recordings, meetings and interviews

MacWhisper is best known for file transcription: drag in audio or video, batch-transcribe, record meetings without a bot joining, and transcribe YouTube links, with speaker recognition, 100+ languages and exports including .srt, .vtt, .docx and .pdf. It includes system-wide dictation, and Pro adds AI prompts through cloud providers or local models in Ollama and LM Studio. (Source: macwhisper.com)

SayWrite vs MacWhisper: the full comparison →

04 · Alternative

Spokenly

Best for: A free local mode, plus cloud options on Windows, Linux and iPhone

Spokenly offers unlimited on-device transcription for free with no account, a mode that uses your own API keys, and a Pro plan with managed cloud models. Its Local Only Mode restricts network access so audio stays on the device. (Source: spokenly.app)

05 · Alternative

Wispr Flow

Best for: Cloud dictation, if you're comfortable with audio leaving your Mac

Wispr Flow's privacy policy says transcription always happens in the cloud. (Source: Wispr Flow privacy policy)

Its pricing page lists 100+ languages, apps for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android, and SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certification. (Source: Wispr Flow pricing)

SayWrite vs Wispr Flow: the full comparison →

06 · Alternative

Apple Dictation

Best for: Occasional dictation in many languages, with nothing to install

Already on your Mac and free. Apple says Keyboard settings show whether general dictation is processed on your device, and dictation stops after 30 seconds without speech. It supports many languages with nothing to install, but Apple's Mac dictation guide describes no filler removal or rewriting. (Source: Apple Support: Dictate messages and documents on Mac)

SayWrite vs Apple Dictation: the full comparison →

Why switch

Why people look for a Superwhisper alternative

On Superwhisper's free plan, modes run without AI processing. AI-powered modes, cloud voice models, context awareness, file transcription and bring-your-own API keys are Pro features. (Source: Superwhisper docs: Superwhisper Pro) So the usual reasons to look elsewhere are price (Pro is $84.99 a year, against SayWrite's $30 a year with AI Polish included, list prices as of October 22, 2026), wanting AI rewriting that doesn't go through a cloud provider or your own API key, or wanting fewer choices to make.

Superwhisper offers a wide menu: local Whisper, Parakeet and Cohere Transcribe models, cloud models, and custom modes. (Source: Superwhisper docs: Superwhisper Pro) That flexibility is the point for many people. If you'd rather hold one key and have sensible defaults per app, a simpler dictation app may suit you better.

Where AI runs

AI rewriting without an API key

SayWrite's AI Polish runs on Apple Intelligence's on-device model on macOS 26, or on a model you run yourself in Ollama or LM Studio at 127.0.0.1. There's no API key to paste and no per-token bill, and your text isn't sent to an AI provider.

Among the others: MacWhisper Pro can use cloud AI providers or local models in Ollama and LM Studio (Source: macwhisper.com), and VoiceInk's optional Cloud Enhancement processes your transcribed text, not your voice (Source: tryvoiceink.com).

Free

Free Superwhisper alternatives

Apple Dictation is free and built into macOS (Source: Apple Support: Dictate messages and documents on Mac), and Spokenly offers unlimited on-device transcription for free with no account (Source: spokenly.app). MacWhisper has a free version (Source: macwhisper.com), focused on transcribing files. And Superwhisper's own free plan may be all you need if you don't want AI modes.

SayWrite isn't free. SayWrite has a 7-day free trial that starts in the app, with no card and no account. After that it costs $5 a month or $30 a year, charged when you buy, with unlimited use. Cancel anytime; full refund within 14 days of any payment.

The honest answer

Where Superwhisper is still the better pick

You need more than 100 languages and dialects, or translation from other languages into English. (Source: superwhisper.com)
You want one license for Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, or meeting notes on the Mac. (Source: Superwhisper docs: Superwhisper Pro)
You enjoy building custom modes with your own prompts and models.

The full side-by-side table is on SayWrite vs Superwhisper.

SayWrite for Mac

Try the one that runs on your Mac

Any app

One shortcut, every app

Hold Fn and talk in ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, Slack, Mail or Docs. The text lands at your cursor, and SayWrite never presses Return.

Cleanup

Clean before it lands

Filler words dropped and punctuation added as you talk. Tap Space for optional AI Polish, with a style per app and a personal dictionary for names.

Private

Runs on your Mac

Speech becomes text on the Neural Engine, and dictation keeps working offline once the speech model is downloaded.

Download free See every feature →

Method

How we compared

We read each developer's website, pricing page and documentation on October 22, 2026, and cite the page behind every claim. We compared free plans with free plans and paid plans with paid plans. We didn't run speed or accuracy benchmarks across these apps, so this page makes no speed or accuracy claims about them. Prices change; check each site before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free alternative to Superwhisper?

Apple Dictation is free and already on your Mac. Spokenly offers unlimited on-device transcription for free with no account, and MacWhisper has a free version focused on transcribing files. Superwhisper's own free plan includes unlimited dictation with local Whisper models. SayWrite isn't free: it costs $5 a month or $30 a year after its free trial.

Is there a Superwhisper alternative with AI rewriting that stays on my Mac?

Yes. SayWrite's AI Polish runs on Apple Intelligence's on-device model on macOS 26, or on your own Ollama or LM Studio model at 127.0.0.1, with no API key. MacWhisper Pro can also use local models in Ollama and LM Studio, alongside cloud providers. As of October 22, 2026, Superwhisper's AI-powered modes and bring-your-own API keys are Pro features.

Is SayWrite cheaper than Superwhisper?

It depends on the plan. As of October 22, 2026, Superwhisper's free plan costs nothing, and Pro costs $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year or $249.99 for a lifetime license. SayWrite costs $5 a month or $30 a year, with AI Polish included and no word limit.

Which Superwhisper alternative also works on Windows or iPhone?

Spokenly lists Mac, Windows, Linux and iPhone, and Wispr Flow runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, though it transcribes in the cloud. VoiceInk has an iOS app. SayWrite is Mac-only.

How do I switch from Superwhisper to SayWrite?

Quit Superwhisper or change its shortcut so only one app listens, set System Settings › Keyboard › "Press 🌐 key to" to Do Nothing, then hold Fn in SayWrite to talk. Add your custom vocabulary to SayWrite's personal dictionary and recreate text replacements as voice snippets. You can keep both installed while you compare.

Sources

Accessed October 22, 2026.

Superwhisper docs: Superwhisper Pro (superwhisper.com/docs/get-started/sw-pro)
superwhisper.com (superwhisper.com)
macwhisper.com (macwhisper.com)
tryvoiceink.com (tryvoiceink.com)
spokenly.app (spokenly.app)
Apple Support: Dictate messages and documents on Mac
Wispr Flow pricing (wisprflow.ai/pricing)
Wispr Flow privacy policy (wisprflow.ai/privacy)
Apple: macOS feature availability
VoiceInk on GitHub (GPL-3.0 license)

Say it messy. We'll write it neat.

Try it free for 7 days in the app: no card, no account. Then $30 a year or $5 a month, charged when you buy. No word limit.

Download free See pricing