If you want speech-to-text that works without an internet connection, these are the five best options available right now. All of the apps on this list process audio locally on your device, so your voice data never touches a remote server. We compared them on pricing, platform support, privacy, and everyday usability.
1. Chirp — Best Overall Value
Price: 28 free transcriptions, then $9.99/year
Platforms: macOS (Intel + Apple Silicon), Windows, Linux
Engine: whisper.cpp (ggml-tiny.en, ~30 MB)
Chirp is a desktop app built with Tauri 2.0 that turns any computer into a voice-to-text machine. Press a global hotkey (Fn on Mac, Alt+M on Windows), speak, and the transcribed text is automatically pasted at your cursor. It works in any application — email clients, code editors, chat apps, documents, you name it.
What sets Chirp apart is the combination of cross-platform support, aggressive pricing, and the auto-paste workflow. Most alternatives are Mac-only or require you to manually copy text from the app. Chirp handles everything in one smooth action. It also keeps a searchable transcription history and supports CSV export for backup.
On Apple Silicon, Chirp uses Metal GPU acceleration for faster transcription. The app is lightweight (under 80 MB installed) and runs as a quiet menubar utility. Version 4.7.4 is the latest release.
2. MacWhisper — Best for Power Users on Mac
Price: Free tier with limited models; Pro $29 one-time; Premium $80 one-time
Platforms: macOS only
Engine: whisper.cpp
MacWhisper is a well-designed Mac app that focuses on transcription accuracy with support for multiple Whisper model sizes. The free tier gives you access to smaller models, while the paid tiers unlock larger models with better accuracy for technical vocabulary, accented speech, and long-form audio.
The app is best suited for transcribing recorded audio files rather than live dictation. You can drag in audio or video files and get transcripts with timestamps. It does not have a global hotkey or auto-paste feature, so it is less suited for real-time dictation workflows. Mac only — no Windows or Linux support.
3. Superwhisper — Best for Accuracy-First Users
Price: $9/month
Platforms: macOS only
Engine: whisper.cpp with multiple model options
Superwhisper is a subscription-based Mac app that runs Whisper models locally. It supports a range of model sizes so you can trade speed for accuracy depending on your hardware. The larger models deliver very strong transcription quality, especially for specialized vocabulary.
The $9/month price point makes it the most expensive option on this list by a significant margin — over $100/year compared to Chirp's $9.99/year. It is also limited to macOS. That said, if raw transcription accuracy is your top priority and you are on a modern Mac, Superwhisper delivers.
4. FluidVoice — Best Free Open-Source Option
Price: Free and open source
Platforms: macOS only
Engine: whisper.cpp
FluidVoice is a free, open-source Mac app for local speech-to-text. It is a solid choice if you want something that costs nothing and you are comfortable with a more minimal feature set. The app is community-maintained and updated periodically.
The trade-off is polish and convenience. FluidVoice lacks features like auto-paste, searchable history, or CSV export. You will need to manually copy text from the app window. It also does not support Windows or Linux. But if your priority is a zero-cost, fully local transcription tool, it is worth trying.
5. Voibe — Best for Casual Use
Price: Free tier; paid plans available
Platforms: macOS, Windows
Engine: whisper.cpp
Voibe is a newer entrant to the offline speech-to-text space. It offers a free tier with basic transcription and paid plans for additional features. The app supports both Mac and Windows, which gives it broader reach than most Whisper-based alternatives.
Voibe is a good option for casual users who want basic local transcription without paying for it. The free tier is functional for light use. The interface is clean but the feature set is still maturing compared to more established tools.
Comparison Table
| App | Price | Platforms | Auto-Paste | History |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chirp | $9.99/yr | Mac, Win, Linux | Yes | Yes |
| MacWhisper | $29–$80 | Mac only | No | Yes |
| Superwhisper | $9/mo | Mac only | Yes | Yes |
| FluidVoice | Free | Mac only | No | No |
| Voibe | Free/Paid | Mac, Win | No | Limited |
Our Recommendation
For most people, Chirp is the best overall choice. At $9.99/year it is the most affordable paid option, it works on all three major desktop platforms, and the auto-paste workflow means you can dictate into any application without extra steps. The 28 free transcriptions let you try the full experience before committing.
If you are exclusively on Mac and want the absolute best transcription accuracy regardless of cost, Superwhisper is worth considering. If you want a free, no-strings-attached option and do not mind a simpler feature set, FluidVoice is a respectable choice.