MacWhisper, by Jordi Bruin (Good Snooze), is one of the best-known Mac apps for local transcription. You drop in a recording and it transcribes it on your Mac with a choice of Whisper, Parakeet and other models, including larger ones. Its Pro version also includes system-wide dictation. Chirp is narrower on purpose. It's a dictation app with one small English model and one shortcut, and it runs on both Mac and Windows.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Chirp | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Live dictation into your apps | Transcribing recordings; dictation in Pro |
| Pricing | 28 free transcriptions, then $9.99/year for unlimited use on up to 5 devices | Free tier; Pro one-time purchase (€64 on macwhisper.com) |
| Platforms | macOS 13+, Windows 10/11 | Mac only |
| Where transcription runs | On your computer | On your Mac |
| Models | One small English model | Whisper, Parakeet and others, including larger models |
| Languages | English only | Multiple languages (depends on model) |
| Audio and video files | No | Yes |
| System-wide dictation | Yes: auto-paste on Mac; copied to the clipboard on Windows (press Ctrl+V) | Yes, in Pro |
| Shortcut | Fn or Option+M on Mac, Alt+M on Windows; press to start, press to stop | Configurable |
| Account | None | Check macwhisper.com |
What MacWhisper Does Well
- Transcribing recordings. Meetings, interviews, podcasts and videos, processed locally.
- A choice of models. Including larger ones for tougher audio.
- A one-time Pro purchase. On macwhisper.com, at the time of writing.
- Dictation too. Pro includes system-wide dictation into any text field.
What Chirp Does Differently
Chirp is only for dictation and keeps it simple. There are no models to choose and no settings to tune. On a Mac, press Fn or Option+M, speak, and press it again, and the text is pasted into the app you're using. On Windows, press Alt+M. The text is copied to the clipboard and you press Ctrl+V. It needs no account and works the same way on a Windows PC, which MacWhisper doesn't support.
Chirp transcribes on your computer with whisper.cpp and deletes the recording as soon as the text is ready. The text is kept in a local history on your computer. There is no account and no analytics. Chirp goes online only to check for updates when it launches and, once you have a license, to check it about once a day (it keeps working for up to 7 days offline between checks).
Pricing
At the time of writing (September 2026), MacWhisper has a free tier, and Pro is a one-time purchase at €64 per license on macwhisper.com. The Mac App Store version may be sold differently. Check macwhisper.com for current details. Chirp includes 28 free transcriptions, then a $9.99/year license (up to 5 devices) unlocks unlimited use.
Who Each Is For
MacWhisper is excellent if you want to transcribe recordings on your Mac, such as meetings, interviews or podcasts, with a choice of larger models.
If you want dictation that never leaves your computer, with one shortcut, no account and the same app on Mac and Windows, try Chirp.
FAQ
Do MacWhisper and Chirp both transcribe on my computer?
Yes. MacWhisper transcribes locally on your Mac using Whisper, Parakeet and other models. Chirp also transcribes on your computer, using whisper.cpp with one small English model.
What is MacWhisper best at?
Transcribing recordings such as meetings, interviews, podcasts and videos, with a choice of models, including larger ones. Its Pro version also includes system-wide dictation into any text field.
Does MacWhisper run on Windows?
No, MacWhisper is Mac only. Chirp runs on macOS 13 or later (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Windows 10 and 11 (x64).
How much do MacWhisper and Chirp cost?
At the time of writing (September 2026), MacWhisper has a free tier, and MacWhisper Pro is a one-time purchase (€64 per license on macwhisper.com). The Mac App Store version may be sold differently, so check macwhisper.com for current details. Chirp includes 28 free transcriptions, then a $9.99/year license (up to 5 devices) unlocks unlimited use.
Can Chirp transcribe audio or video files?
No. Chirp only transcribes what you dictate live, up to 5 minutes at a time. For files, MacWhisper is the better tool.
For more alternatives, see our private, offline dictation guide.
Last updated: September 2026. MacWhisper details are from macwhisper.com at the time of writing. Pricing and features change, so check each product's website for the latest information.