Superwhisper vs VoiceInk: Mac AI Dictation Apps Compared

AI dictation apps let you talk instead of type and get clean text in whatever app you're using. On the Mac, Superwhisper and VoiceInk are two of the most popular choices, and both have changed a lot since we first compared them. Superwhisper now runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android, and VoiceInk has added an iOS app, AI cleanup modes, and file transcription while keeping its one-time price.

Quick Verdict

• Choose Superwhisper if you want one license that covers Mac, Windows, and your phone, plus meeting recording, translation, and the widest choice of cloud models.
• Choose VoiceInk if you dictate on an Apple Silicon Mac and want local transcription, open-source code, and a one-time price from $25.

Feature Comparison

Superwhisper

Superwhisper is the more feature-rich of the two. Press a shortcut, speak, and your text is pasted into the app you're using, with support for more than 100 languages and the option to translate them into English. Modes control tone and formatting: built-in ones like Message, Mail, Note, and Meeting, plus custom modes where you pick the AI model and write your own instructions. Pro adds Super mode, which uses what's on your screen as context.

It covers more than dictation. You can record meetings and get notes, transcribe audio and video files, and separate speakers in transcripts. It runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android, and one Pro license works on all your devices.

The free plan is genuinely usable: unlimited dictation with local Whisper models, custom vocabulary, text replacements, and up to two modes without AI processing, so nothing you say leaves your device. New users also get 3,000 words of Pro features to try. Pro costs $8.49/month, $84.99/year, or $249.99 once for a lifetime license, with a 30-day refund and 40% off for students and educators. The Mac app needs macOS 14 or later, and local models run best on Apple Silicon.

Downsides: it isn't open source, the best AI features need Pro, and the lifetime license costs ten times VoiceInk's entry price. The number of settings can also feel like a lot if you just want to dictate.

Choose Superwhisper if you dictate on more than one platform, record meetings, need translation, or want the most control over models and modes.

VoiceInk

VoiceInk is an open-source Mac dictation app built around local transcription. Your voice is transcribed on your Mac with models like Parakeet and Whisper, and an optional AI enhancement step then removes filler words, formats emails and structured notes, or rewrites selected text. Only text, not audio, is sent if you turn on a cloud enhancement provider, and you can also connect cloud transcription services with your own API keys.

It has grown well beyond basic dictation. Modes switch automatically based on the app or website you're in, a spoken trigger, or a shortcut. Context awareness can use your selected text, clipboard, and the text visible on screen. It also has a custom dictionary, word replacements, an assistant mode, and file transcription for audio and video. An iOS app is now available and free during its beta, with a one-time purchase planned afterwards.

Pricing is the main draw: $25 for one Mac, $39 for two, or $49 for three, with lifetime updates and a 14-day money-back guarantee. There's a free trial, and because the source code is public under the GPL v3 license, experienced developers can build it themselves. VoiceInk needs an Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 14.4 or later.

Downsides: no Windows or Android app, no meeting recorder, and no Intel Mac support.

Choose VoiceInk if you want private, local dictation on your Mac with AI cleanup, and you prefer paying once.

How to Choose

• Need dictation on Windows or Android too? Superwhisper.
• Want to record and summarize meetings? Superwhisper.
• Want the lowest one-time price? VoiceInk, from $25.
• Care about open-source code you can audit? VoiceInk.
• Want your audio to stay on your Mac? Both transcribe locally: VoiceInk by default, and Superwhisper on its free tier with local Whisper models.
• On an Intel Mac? Superwhisper with cloud models; VoiceInk requires Apple Silicon.

Before buying either, try Apple Dictation, which is free and built into macOS. If it's accurate enough for you, you may not need a third-party app. For more options, see our Superwhisper alternatives, Wispr Flow vs Superwhisper and Aqua Voice, and one-time purchase alternatives to Wispr Flow.

Final Verdict

Superwhisper is the more complete product: dictation, meetings, file transcription, and translation across four platforms, with a capable free tier and a subscription or $249.99 lifetime license for Pro.

VoiceInk is the better value for Mac-only users: local transcription, AI cleanup, context awareness, and open-source code for a one-time $25 to $49.

If you only dictate on an Apple Silicon Mac, start with VoiceInk's free trial. If you need dictation everywhere or meeting notes, Superwhisper is worth its higher price.

Catch these apps on sale: many paid Mac apps, including dictation apps, run discounts at least once a year, most often around Black Friday. Subscribe to the Apps.Deals newsletter to hear when the deals arrive.

Note: First published in April 2025 and updated in October 2026. Features and prices are current as of October 2026 and can change; verify them on each official site before buying.

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