Superwhisper
AI dictation across macOS, Windows & iOS with offline mode and custom modes.
Superwhisper is the most versatile AI dictation tool for macOS, Windows, and iOS, especially for developers who want to code by voice with agent integrations. Its offline mode and custom modes beat simple speech-to-text apps, but the free tier is limited to 15 minutes. If you type daily and want to go hands-free, it’s worth the Pro subscription.
- Busy professionals who want to write emails and messages faster via voice
- Developers coding hands-free with agent integrations like Claude Code and Codex
- Writers and content creators seeking faster drafting with smart formatting
- Users with RSI or repetitive strain injuries who need dictation
- Users seeking a free, unlimited dictation tool (free tier limited to 15 minutes)
- Those needing highly accurate medical or legal transcription with specialized terminology
- People who prefer traditional typing and have no voice needs
We scan live Reddit threads, YouTube comments, X posts, G2 reviews and other communities — and hand you an honest verdict in under a minute.
- Honest verdict, not marketing
- Real pros & cons from real users
- Attributed quotes with receipts
3 free scans · no card needed
In short
Superwhisper — AI dictation across macOS, Windows & iOS with offline mode and custom modes. Best for Busy professionals who want to write emails and messages faster via voice, Developers coding hands-free with agent integrations like Claude Code and Codex, Writers and content creators seeking faster drafting with smart formatting. Free to use.
What's new in Superwhisper
Checked 3 days agoAcross the latest 5 updates: 4 feature updates and 1 changelog entry.
Improved audio device picker with favorites/exclusions; new config folder
Audio input device picker now supports favoriting and excluding devices. New installations use ~/superwhisper config folder.
Added deep links for recording control; vocabulary hints now clickable
Deep links added to start/stop recording via external shortcuts. Vocabulary hints are now clickable for editing.
Paste latency reduced by 300ms; improved accuracy for offline models
Paste latency cut 300ms. Improved transcription accuracy with enhanced vocabulary and forced alignment on Whisper offline models.
Copy button added to code snippets in agent responses; bug fixes
Agent responses now have a copy button for code snippets. Fixed words dropped at start of real-time transcription.
Theme control (light/dark/system); S1-Mini local model access
Added light/dark/system theme switching. Experimental S1-Mini local model. Enhanced vocabulary for large lists. Meeting mode respects language selection.
What independent users actually report about Superwhisper
We ran a structured research pass across product reviews, community discussions, and post-purchase forum threads to surface the patterns vendors won't publish themselves. Below: the recurring strengths, the hidden costs people mention most, and the cohort that consistently regrets adopting this tool.
113 mentions across 6 sources (Hacker News, YouTube, Product Hunt, App Store, Bluesky, Lemmy).
- +Extremely accurate voice-to-text, much better than macOS Siri.
- +Custom modes allow fine control over tone, formatting, and structure.
- +Works offline with local models, no internet required.
- +Global hotkey (⌥+space) for hands-free use in any app.
- +Supports 100+ languages and translation to English.
- −iOS app is unreliable, frequently fails to capture text.
- −Keyboard feature is inaccurate with no swipe typing support.
- −No way to cancel subscription; support unresponsive.
- −ESC key hijacked on Mac, requires fn+ESC workaround.
- −iPhone SE users cannot get past initial setup screen.
- • Difficult subscription cancelation reported; payments may continue.
- • Lifetime deal is effectively 3 years of Pro — may not include future updates.
Viability Score
How likely is Superwhisper to still be operational in 12 months? Based on 4 signals — momentum (how recently it shipped), wrapper dependency, revenue model, and web presence.
Last calculated: July 2026
How we score →Key Features
- Real-time voice-to-text dictation
- AI-powered formatting and summarization
- Custom modes with personalized instructions
- Works offline with local models
- File transcription for audio/video files
- Supports 100+ languages and translation to English
- Global hotkey (⌥+space) for hands-free use
- Clipboard integration auto-pastes finished text
- Vocabulary management for names and abbreviations
- Predefined modes (Email, Message, Meeting, etc.)
- Theme control (light/dark/system)
- Copy button for code snippets in agent responses
- Experimental S1-Mini local model
- Integration with Claude Code, Open Code, Codex
- GPT-5.5 BYOK support
About Superwhisper
Superwhisper is an AI-powered dictation tool that turns voice into polished text across macOS, Windows, and iOS. It works in any app—Slack, Gmail, Cursor, Notion—via a global hotkey (⌥+space) and targets busy professionals, writers, developers with RSI, and non-native speakers who want to write faster hands-free. The app offers predefined modes for email, message, meeting notes, and more, plus a Custom Mode builder to control tone, formatting, and structure down to the finest detail. You can choose from top AI models like GPT, Claude, or Llama to balance speed and accuracy. Superwhisper also supports file transcription for audio/video uploads, works offline, and remembers custom vocabulary (names, abbreviations) forever. Recent updates add an experimental S1-Mini local model, light/dark/system theme control, a copy button for code snippets in agent responses, and integration with coding agents like Claude Code, Open Code, and Codex. Cloud model performance improvements and audio detection warnings further polish the experience. Compared to basic dictation tools (Dragon, built-in OS speech), Superwhisper stands out with AI-powered formatting that adapts to context—formal, casual, legal—and custom modes that learn your preferences. Its clipboard integration auto-pastes finished text, and multilingual support covers 100+ languages with translation to English.
Behind the Verdict
Superwhisper nails what most dictation tools miss: the ability to output in the tone and format you actually want, without manual editing. The custom mode builder is the star—you can save prompts for legal, casual, or technical writing and reuse them effortlessly. For developers, the integration with coding agents like Claude Code and Codex is a genuine productivity hack: speak a feature request and have it pasted straight into your editor. The offline mode is a real differentiator if you work on planes, trains, or sensitive environments. On the downside, the free tier's 15-minute limit is stingy for evaluation, and the Pro pricing isn't cheap. If you only need simple dictation—like taking notes in a meeting—the built-in macOS dictation or Windows speech recognition might suffice. Also, there's no Linux support, which cuts off a chunk of the developer audience. Compared to Otter.ai, Superwhisper focuses more on active dictation than meeting transcription; Otter is better for recording and searching conversations. Where Superwhisper wins is in active, real-time voice-to-text with AI formatting. We'd reach for this when we need to draft emails, code comments, or documents completely hands-free, with precise control over the output style. Just be ready to invest in the Pro tier for serious use.
Researching Superwhisper? Get your full AI stack in 60 seconds.
Free, no signup — tell us your goal and get tools matched to your budget & existing stack.
Use Cases
- Dictate a long email from a single spoken sentence and have it automatically formatted.
- Summarize voice notes after a walk or meeting into concise bullet points.
- Transcribe audio files from lectures or interviews into searchable text.
- Create custom modes for different tasks like meeting notes or professional emails.
- Use coding agents (Claude Code) to generate code by voice.
- Translate spoken language to English on the fly with built-in language support.
Models Under the Hood
Limitations
- The free tier is limited to 15 minutes of usage and only 3 custom modes.
- Cloud transcription requires an internet connection and may have latency.
- Local model quality may vary depending on hardware.
- Some advanced features like coding agents and BYOK are exclusive to Pro.
12-month cost
Project the real annual outlay, including the implied monthly cost when only an annual tier is published.
Vendor list price only. Add-on usage, seat overages, and contract minimums are surfaced under Hidden costs & gotchas.
Integrations
Resources & Guides
Official links
Tools that pair well with Superwhisper
Common stack mates teams adopt alongside Superwhisper, with the specific reason each pairing earns its keep.
Featured Head-to-Head Comparisons
Alternatives to Superwhisper
View all
Wispr Flow
Voice dictation AI that polishes messy speech into clean text across every app
Read.ai
AI meeting agent that summarizes, searches, and automates across meetings, emails, and messages.
Fireflies.ai
AI meeting assistant that records, transcribes, and analyzes conversations across platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Categories
Best-of guides
Used Superwhisper? Help shape our editorial sentiment research.