Free, paid, local, and hosted options
Compare Mac dictation apps
Start with your writing habits, your Mac, and whether you want a subscription. These comparisons explain the differences between Plainsay, Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, VoiceInk, MacWhisper, and Apple Dictation.
Reviewed September 5, 2026 ยท Published by the Plainsay team
Plainsay is free. Premium is optional.
Plainsay Local is a complete, free, MIT-licensed Mac dictation app. No account, subscription, or weekly usage quota is required. Choose Whisper or Parakeet and keep speech recognition on your Mac. Other apps also have free options, which we describe below.
Optional Plainsay Cloud costs US$4/month or US$40/year, VAT included, and includes hosted transcription and Polishing, plus translation and email formatting. You do not need it for local dictation. Broader AI edits require a configured provider; a Cloud subscription alone does not enable Voice Edit.
Start with the comparison that matters to you
- Plainsay vs Wispr FlowFree local dictation, or a broader cloud workflow?
- Plainsay vs SuperwhisperA focused free app, or more configurable modes?
- Plainsay vs VoiceInkTwo open-source approaches to Mac dictation.
- Plainsay vs MacWhisperChoose by the work in front of you.
- Plainsay vs Apple DictationTry the built-in option. Add more control if you need it.
Free options at a glance
| App | Free access or download model | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Plainsay | Free Local app, with no subscription or usage quota. | Model choice and source code in a focused Mac dictation app. |
| Wispr Flow | 2,000 words per week on desktop. Source | Free local dictation, or a broader cloud workflow? |
| Superwhisper | The model catalog lists Fast, Nano, and Standard as free. Source | A focused free app, or more configurable modes? |
| VoiceInk | Official builds use paid, one-time licenses; check current offers. Source | Two open-source approaches to Mac dictation. |
| MacWhisper | A free edition is available. Source | Choose by the work in front of you. |
| Apple Dictation | Included with macOS. Source | Try the built-in option. Add more control if you need it. |
How to choose a dictation app
- Use a real task. Dictate a message into an app you use every day. Include a name, a number, and a phrase in each language you speak.
- Check the whole data path. Local speech recognition and local text editing are separate choices. Hosted Polishing can send transcript text even when speech stays on-device.
- Compare ongoing costs. Look at free allowances, billing periods, and any provider charges. A paid feature list only matters if you use it.
- Check the workflow. Imported recordings, mobile writing, and everyday Mac dictation are different tasks. Read the individual comparisons before switching.
About these comparisons
We make Plainsay, so this is not an independent review. We link to official sources, name the limits of our app, and explain when another product may fit better. Prices and features were checked on September 5, 2026. These pages compare documented features; they do not rank transcription accuracy.
Read the Plainsay source or see free and optional Cloud features.