TypeVoice vs MacWhisper
MacWhisper is built for transcribing recordings: interviews, meetings, videos and subtitles. TypeVoice is built for the other job: hold a key, talk, and your words land in whatever app you're in. Both run on your Mac.
Free for 7 days · No card, no account · Works offline
Side by side
Row by row.
As of October 2026, including where MacWhisper is ahead.
 TypeVoice | MacWhisper | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Dictation into any app, as you work. | Transcribing audio and video files. System-wide dictation is included too. |
| Where speech is recognised | On your Mac's Neural Engine, every time. | On your Mac by default. Pro adds optional cloud transcription (OpenAI, ElevenLabs, Deepgram, Groq and others). |
| Cleanup of ums, stutters, restarts | Built in, on your Mac: by rule, plus Apple Intelligence. Nothing to set up. | AI prompts with your own API key (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google…) or a local model through Ollama or LM Studio. |
| Works offline | Yes, always. | Yes, with local models. |
| Price | $79 once, for two Macs. 7-day trial, no card. | Free tier; Pro €64 once. The App Store version prices differently. |
| Source code | Open, GPL v3. | Closed. |
| Files, meetings, subtitles | No. Dictation only. | Yes: batch files, YouTube links, meeting recording, speaker labels, SRT and VTT export. |
| Languages | English, every accent. | 100 languages. |
| Platforms | Mac. | Mac, plus iPhone and iPad through the App Store app. |
| Mac requirements | macOS 26 on Apple silicon. | macOS 14 or later, with older builds for earlier versions. Intel Macs work. |
| Personal dictionary | Yes, matched by how a word sounds. | Not its focus. |
Cleanup
Dictation-first, clean on arrival.
TypeVoice is tuned for live speech: it drops the ums, catches the restarts and types the sentence you meant, into the app you're in. MacWhisper shines on long recordings.
In TypeVoice
Two small things people end up loving.
A note on the end, if you want one
For places where spelling gets judged, like a coding assistant or a ticket queue. Your words, added to every dictation.
Names spelled right, however they're heard
Add a word once and TypeVoice matches it by how it sounds, not by exact spelling. Word packs already know hundreds of product and developer names.
Which one
Honestly, it depends.
MacWhisper is the better pick if
- You mostly transcribe recordings, interviews or videos
- You need subtitles, speaker labels or batch files
- You work in languages other than English
- You're on an Intel Mac or an older macOS
TypeVoice is the better pick if
- You mainly want to talk instead of type, in every app
- You want cleanup built in, without API keys or a local LLM
- You want to read the code that's listening to you
- You'd like to keep MacWhisper for files and use TypeVoice for dictation
Trying it
Try it next to MacWhisper in a minute.
Download
The whole app, free for 7 days. No card, no account.
Pick your key
Hold 🌐, Right ⌘, ⌥Space or any chord, or tap to toggle. Use a different key from MacWhisper and keep both for a week.
Add your words
Names and jargon go in the Dictionary once, matched by how they sound.
Keep your voice on your Mac.
Free for 7 days · $79 once · Runs entirely on your Mac
MacWhisper is a trademark of its owner; we're not affiliated. Facts are from macwhisper.com and its Gumroad page as of October 2026; MacWhisper's prices are in euros. Something out of date? Write to support.
Questions
Questions people ask.
Is MacWhisper good for dictation?
It includes system-wide dictation, but it's built mainly around transcribing files: recordings, meetings, videos and subtitles. TypeVoice is built only for dictation, with cleanup tuned for live speech.
Can I use MacWhisper and TypeVoice together?
Yes, and many people would: MacWhisper for recordings and subtitles, TypeVoice for talking into your apps. Give each its own shortcut.
Do both run offline?
Yes. MacWhisper runs local models by default, with optional cloud services on Pro. TypeVoice only ever runs on your Mac.
Which is cheaper?
MacWhisper Pro is €64 once and has a free tier. TypeVoice is $79 once for two Macs, after a 7-day free trial.