I wanted voice typing that works offline and doesn't cost $15/month. After trying the usual suspects—Siri (needs internet), Wispr Flow (subscription), SuperWhisper (also subscription)—I built what I actually wanted: system-wide dictation that runs on your Mac, works anywhere, and costs $6.99 once.
Hold Fn, Start Talking
Version 1.2.3 adds the feature people kept asking for: press and hold Fn in any app—Gmail, Slack, VS Code, Terminal, whatever—and just talk. Release the key, and your words appear as text.
Under the hood, the current app lets you choose the engine by language: Parakeet V3 is the default for English and European languages, SenseVoice covers Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Cantonese, and Whisper handles the broader 100+ language set. Everything processes locally.
Setup Takes 30 Seconds
- 1. Open Whisper Notes
- 2. Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts
- 3. Enable Global Dictation
- 4. Grant Accessibility permission when prompted
That's it. Now Fn works as voice input everywhere on your Mac.
The UI Got Better
We rebuilt the interface around the two common jobs: short Fn-key dictation and longer file transcription. Model selection, recording status, and transcript controls are easier to find without changing the workflow.
Streaming Transcription
Results stream in as they're ready instead of making you wait for the entire file to finish. Text appears paragraph by paragraph—you can start reading and editing immediately.
Custom Vocabulary
Whisper's good, but it mangles technical terms, company names, and abbreviations. Add your own vocabulary and the model uses it during transcription. Works for obscure jargon, preserves formatting (like "Claude Opus 4.5" instead of "claude opus four point five"), and fixes those annoying name errors.
Voice Activity Detection
Long silences can make Whisper repeat phrases or invent text. Voice Activity Detection (VAD) identifies likely speech before transcription, so the model spends less time decoding silent sections. In our paused-speech tests this removed most of the obvious silence-driven garbage, though it does not eliminate transcription errors.
Performance Improvements
Faster launch times, quicker model loading, lower memory usage. The app feels snappier overall.
How It Compares to Wispr Flow
| Whisper Notes | Wispr Flow | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6.99 once | $10-15/month |
| Offline | 100% local | Requires internet |
| Privacy | Audio never leaves device | Audio sent to cloud |
| Latency | Instant (local processing) | Network delay |
| Accuracy | Parakeet, SenseVoice, or Whisper by language | Cloud API (marginally better) |
Wispr Flow's cloud-based approach means slightly better accuracy in some cases. But it also means your audio goes to their servers, you need internet, and you're paying every month.
If you care about privacy—or just don't want another subscription—the choice is pretty clear. For the full breakdown including Flow's 2026 pricing tiers and free-plan word caps, see the Wispr Flow alternative comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I type with Whisper on my Mac?
Hold the Fn key in any text field — a browser, an email draft, a code editor, even Terminal — speak, and release the key to insert your words as text. Whisper Notes handles this system-wide, so you don't need a separate dictation utility, and the transcription runs fully offline on your Mac.
Is Wispr Flow (often written Whisper Flow) the same as Whisper?
No. Despite the similar name, Wispr Flow is a separate, cloud-based dictation product with a subscription — your audio is processed on their servers. Whisper is OpenAI's open-source speech recognition model. Whisper Notes runs Whisper locally on your Mac, so dictation works offline and your audio never leaves your machine.
How do I dictate in any Mac app with Whisper?
Install Whisper Notes, open Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts, enable Global Dictation, and grant Accessibility permission when prompted. Then hold the Fn key in any app — Gmail, Slack, VS Code, Terminal — talk, and release the key to insert your words as text.
Does Whisper dictation on Mac work offline?
Yes. Whisper Notes runs Parakeet V3, SenseVoice, and Whisper entirely on your Mac. Pick the engine for your language; no internet connection is needed and the audio never leaves your machine.
Is there a system-wide Mac dictation tool without a subscription?
Yes. Whisper Notes costs $6.99 once, with a free trial on Mac (10,000 words free, then $6.99 to unlock). Wispr Flow and SuperWhisper both charge monthly subscriptions, and Wispr Flow sends your audio to cloud servers.
How do I stop Whisper from getting technical terms and names wrong?
Add them as custom vocabulary in Whisper Notes. The model uses your terms during transcription and preserves formatting — "Claude Opus 4.5" instead of "claude opus four point five".
Try It Out
$6.99 on iPhone. Free trial on Mac (10,000 words free, then $6.99 to unlock). iOS and Mac are separate purchases.
Have ideas or feedback? Email support@whispernotes.app. I actually read and respond to every message.
Download for iOS