MacWhisper
Local, private Whisper transcription and dictation for Mac with a genuinely free tier and one-time Pro license.
- Pricing at a glance
- Free version; Pro one-time license about EUR 59
- Starting price
- Free plan
- Setup
- Quick self-serve
- Try it
- Self-serve trial
- Free to start
- Free plan
Use the free Mac version on a sample recording.
Confirm whether the advanced features you need require Pro.
At a glance
Product
- DetailWorks on
macOS
- DetailLanguages
100 languages
- SupportedFree to start
Free plan
Free forever tier with core transcription
- Not supportedDeveloper API
No
Trust
- Not publishedSOC 2
Not published
- Not publishedGDPR
Not published
Morak scorecard
How we score →- Ease of setupQuick self-serve
Download the app and pick a Whisper model.
- Pricing transparencyPartly published
A free plan is listed, but paid prices are not.
- Try before you buyFree plan
An ongoing free plan lets you test with real calls or content.
- Compliance readinessNot published
No SOC 2, GDPR or HIPAA commitments are published.
- Integration coverage1 of 3 covered
Connects to your devices. Not listed: workspace tools and automation or API.
Typical score among personal & creator tools
Transcribe locally on a Mac
What you get
Use local Whisper models for recordings and batch transcription without sending audio to a cloud service.
What to account for
You need a Mac. This is primarily transcription, and advanced features depend on the Pro purchase.
Best for
- Private local transcription
- Podcast and interview transcripts
- Offline dictation
- One-time-purchase budgets
Strengths
- Fully local, offline, private processing
- One-time purchase instead of subscription
- Genuinely usable free tier
- Fast on Apple Silicon
Not a fit for
- Windows, iOS, or Android users
- Cloud sync across devices
- Real-time meeting bots
- Auto-formatted prose like cloud dictation tools
Watch-outs
- Mac only
- Raw transcription without AI auto-editing
What it handles
- Recorded media
- Transcribe audio and video files
- Batch transcribe
- Export subtitles and text
- Live dictation
- Dictate system-wide (Pro)
Integrations & channels
Other
- macOS
Pricing & access
Free plan
Free tier with smaller Whisper models and no time limit. Pro is a one-time license of about EUR 59 on Gumroad (student and nonprofit discounts); the Mac App Store version (Whisper Transcription) offers $6.99/month, $29.99/year, or $99.99 lifetime. Verify current terms with vendor.
- Pro pricing differs between Gumroad and App Store
How it compares
Side by side with two alternatives buyers weigh against it, on the same facts and scorecard.
| Detail | MacWhisper This productLocal, private Whisper transcription and dictation for Mac with a genuinely free tier and one-time Pro license. | A different approach AI dictation agent that turns spoken thoughts into polished text across apps, coding tools, notes, email, and chat. Why compare: Explore Superwhisper if the task is live dictation into a writing workflow rather than transcribing saved recordings. | Similar product Context-aware voice dictation for Mac and iOS that watches your screen to transcribe technical terms accurately. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan | From $8.49/mo | From $8/mo |
| Free to start | Free plan | Free plan | Free plan |
| Morak scorecard How we score | |||
| Ease of setup | 5 of 5, Quick self-serve | 5 of 5, Quick self-serve | 5 of 5, Quick self-serve |
| Pricing transparency | 3 of 5, Partly published | 4 of 5, Starting price | 4 of 5, Starting price |
| Try before you buy | 5 of 5, Free plan | 5 of 5, Free plan | 5 of 5, Free plan |
| Compliance readiness | Not scored, Not published | 5 of 5, Strong | 5 of 5, Strong |
| Integration coverage | 2 of 5, 1 of 3 covered | 4 of 5, 2 of 3 covered | 2 of 5, 1 of 3 covered |