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HyperWhisper vs MacWhisper
Which is the better voice transcription for Mac in 2026?
We compared HyperWhisper and MacWhisper across 5 key factors including price, open-source status, and community adoption. Both HyperWhisper and MacWhisper are excellent voice transcription. Read our full breakdown below.
HyperWhisper
AI-powered speech-to-text transcription
Free
VS
MacWhisper
Speech recognition and transcription tool
Free
Visual Comparison
HyperWhisper
HyperWhisper — Official Website
MacWhisper
MacWhisper — Official Website
Our Verdict
Both HyperWhisper and MacWhisper are excellent voice transcription. HyperWhisper is better for users who prefer polished experiences, while MacWhisper excels for those who value established ecosystems.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | HyperWhisper | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Monthly Installs | N/A | N/A |
| GitHub Stars | N/A | N/A |
| Category | System Utilities | System Utilities |
Quick Install
HyperWhisper
brew install --cask hyperwhisperMacWhisper
brew install --cask macwhisperLearn More
In-Depth Overview
What is HyperWhisper?
HyperWhisper is a macOS dictation application that uses OpenAI's Whisper model to provide accurate, private voice-to-text transcription directly on your Mac. Unlike cloud-based dictation services, HyperWhisper runs entirely on-device—your audio never leaves your computer, ensuring complete privacy for sensitive conversations, medical notes, legal dictation, and personal communications. The app sits unobtrusively in your menu bar and activates with a customizable keyboard shortcut. Press the hotkey, speak naturally, and your words appear as text in whatever application currently has focus—whether that's Mail, Notes, Slack, Microsoft Word, your code editor, or any text field in any application. HyperWhisper supports multiple Whisper model sizes ranging from tiny to large, allowing you to balance transcription speed versus accuracy based on your specific hardware capabilities. On Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4), HyperWhisper leverages the Neural Engine for fast, energy-efficient transcription that doesn't drain your battery or slow down other applications. The app supports over 90 languages with automatic language detection, making it invaluable for multilingual users who switch between languages throughout their workday. Additional features include custom vocabulary support for technical terms, medical terminology, and proper nouns that standard dictation systems frequently miss; punctuation voice commands for hands-free formatting; the ability to correct and re-dictate segments without starting over; and configurable post-processing options that automatically capitalize sentences and format numbers. HyperWhisper also supports continuous dictation mode for long-form writing sessions, where it intelligently segments your speech into paragraphs. The app is designed with a single-purpose philosophy—fast, accurate, private dictation—and it executes that mission exceptionally well without the complexity, learning curve, or overhead of a full transcription suite. For users who spend significant time typing emails, documents, messages, and notes, HyperWhisper transforms voice into a genuinely faster input method than the keyboard. The app also includes intelligent noise handling that filters ambient sounds during dictation, and smart text replacement rules that automatically expand common abbreviations and correct known misrecognitions for your specific vocabulary and speaking patterns.
What is MacWhisper?
MacWhisper is a comprehensive audio transcription application for macOS built on OpenAI's Whisper speech recognition model. Created by Dutch developer Jordi Bruin, MacWhisper has evolved from a simple Whisper wrapper into the most full-featured local transcription tool available on macOS in 2026. It handles both real-time microphone transcription and file-based transcription of pre-recorded audio and video content, making it versatile enough for virtually any transcription workflow. MacWhisper's standout features include speaker diarization (automatically identifying and labeling who said what in multi-speaker recordings), a built-in transcript editor with timestamp-aligned text for correcting and formatting output, subtitle export in SRT, VTT, and other industry-standard formats, batch processing for transcribing dozens or hundreds of files at once, and deep integration with macOS Shortcuts for building automated transcription workflows. The app supports every Whisper model variant from tiny to large-v3 and can also connect to OpenAI's cloud-based Whisper API for even higher accuracy on challenging audio with background noise, multiple accents, or domain-specific vocabulary. MacWhisper Pro adds advanced capabilities including real-time translation (transcribe audio in one language and simultaneously output text in another), custom vocabulary training for specialized fields like medicine, law, and engineering, enhanced speaker diarization with configurable speaker count, and priority access to new features. The interface is thoroughly Mac-native with intuitive drag-and-drop file import, a clean sidebar for organizing and searching your transcription library, and a polished editor for reviewing and correcting results with inline audio playback at each timestamp. MacWhisper stores all transcriptions locally in a searchable database and supports exporting to plain text, Markdown, JSON, SRT subtitles, VTT subtitles, CSV, and PDF formats. The app also includes audio waveform visualization, playback speed control, and the ability to highlight and annotate sections of transcripts. For anyone who regularly works with audio content—podcasters editing show notes, journalists transcribing interviews, students reviewing lecture recordings, researchers analyzing qualitative data, content creators generating subtitles—MacWhisper provides a professional-grade local transcription workflow that rivals cloud services at a fraction of the ongoing cost.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Real-Time Dictation
HighHyperWhisperExcellent
HyperWhisper is purpose-built for real-time dictation and it shows in every design decision. Activate with a customizable hotkey, speak naturally at your normal pace, and text appears directly in whatever application currently has focus—Mail, Slack, VS Code, Google Docs, anything. The transcription happens in real-time with minimal latency on Apple Silicon Macs, and the text insertion is seamless enough that it feels like an extension of your keyboard rather than a separate application. HyperWhisper supports continuous dictation for long-form writing, voice-activated punctuation commands, and intelligent sentence capitalization.
MacWhisperGood
MacWhisper supports real-time microphone transcription, but it's architecturally designed as a recording-then-transcribing workflow rather than a system-wide dictation tool. When you use the microphone mode, the transcribed text appears in MacWhisper's own window and transcript editor—not directly in your active application. You then need to copy the text and paste it where you want it. While functional for dictation, this extra step makes it less fluid than HyperWhisper for quick voice-to-text throughout the day.
Verdict: HyperWhisper's system-wide dictation is more immediate and integrated than MacWhisper's microphone mode.
File-Based Transcription
HighHyperWhisperFair
HyperWhisper is focused exclusively on live dictation and does not include meaningful file-based transcription capabilities. You cannot drag and drop audio files into HyperWhisper for transcription, there is no file library or batch processing, and the app doesn't support importing pre-recorded content. This is by design—HyperWhisper is a dictation tool, not a transcription suite.
MacWhisperExcellent
MacWhisper excels at file-based transcription and this is arguably its primary use case. Drag and drop any audio or video file (MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4, MOV, and more) directly into the app for immediate transcription. Batch process multiple files simultaneously—ideal for transcribing an entire season of podcast episodes or a week's worth of meeting recordings. The transcription library lets you organize, search, and manage hundreds of transcriptions with tags and metadata. File-based transcription also supports the largest Whisper models for maximum accuracy.
Verdict: MacWhisper is far superior for transcribing pre-recorded audio and video files.
Speaker Diarization
MediumHyperWhisperPoor
HyperWhisper does not include speaker diarization. It's designed for single-speaker dictation, not multi-speaker transcription.
MacWhisperExcellent
MacWhisper Pro includes sophisticated speaker diarization that automatically identifies and labels different speakers in multi-person recordings. This is essential for interview transcription, meeting notes, podcast editing, and any scenario with multiple voices. The diarization labels each segment with the speaker identifier, and you can rename speakers for clarity. MacWhisper can handle recordings with up to 10+ distinct speakers with reasonable accuracy, though performance is best with 2-4 speakers in clear audio.
Verdict: MacWhisper's speaker diarization is critical for multi-speaker recordings and unavailable in HyperWhisper.
Transcript Editing
MediumHyperWhisperPoor
HyperWhisper outputs text directly into your active application. There's no built-in transcript editor for reviewing or correcting longer transcriptions.
MacWhisperExcellent
MacWhisper includes a full transcript editor with timestamp alignment, speaker labels, search and replace, and formatting tools. You can click any word to jump to that point in the audio for verification.
Verdict: MacWhisper's transcript editor is essential for professional transcription workflows.
Export Formats
MediumHyperWhisperFair
HyperWhisper outputs plain text to your clipboard or active application. Export options are limited since the focus is on dictation rather than document production.
MacWhisperExcellent
MacWhisper exports to plain text, Markdown, JSON, SRT subtitles, VTT subtitles, CSV, and more. Subtitle export with precise timestamps is particularly valuable for video creators.
Verdict: MacWhisper's extensive export formats serve professional content creation workflows.
Privacy and Local Processing
HighHyperWhisperExcellent
All processing runs on-device using local Whisper models. No audio data is ever transmitted to external servers. Complete privacy by design.
MacWhisperExcellent
MacWhisper processes locally by default using Whisper models. The optional OpenAI API integration sends audio to OpenAI's servers, but this is opt-in and clearly labeled.
Verdict: Both prioritize local processing and privacy. MacWhisper's optional cloud API is clearly opt-in.
Language Support
MediumHyperWhisperExcellent
Supports 90+ languages through Whisper's multilingual models with automatic language detection. Quality varies by language but major languages are very accurate.
MacWhisperExcellent
Supports 90+ languages with automatic detection. MacWhisper Pro adds translation—transcribe in one language and output in another, powered by Whisper's translation capabilities.
Verdict: Both support 90+ languages, but MacWhisper Pro's translation feature gives it the edge.
macOS Integration
MediumHyperWhisperExcellent
HyperWhisper integrates at the system level as a dictation replacement. Menu bar presence, global hotkey, and direct text insertion into any app provide a native feel.
MacWhisperGood
MacWhisper is a standalone Mac-native app with Shortcuts integration and drag-and-drop support. However, it operates as its own window rather than integrating into other apps' text fields.
Verdict: HyperWhisper's system-level dictation integration feels more natively embedded in macOS.
Who Should Choose Which?
1The Email Dictator
HyperWhisper
You want to dictate emails, Slack messages, and quick notes by voice throughout your day. HyperWhisper's hotkey activation and direct text insertion make this seamless.
2The Podcast Transcriber
MacWhisper
You need to transcribe podcast episodes with speaker labels and export as show notes or subtitles. MacWhisper's diarization and export formats are essential.
3The Student
MacWhisper
You record lectures and need searchable, editable transcripts. MacWhisper's file-based transcription, editor, and export to Markdown make studying easier.
4The Journalist
MacWhisper
Interview transcription with speaker identification is a core workflow. MacWhisper Pro's diarization and timestamp-aligned editing are built for this.
5The Privacy-Focused Writer
HyperWhisper
You want accurate dictation with absolute certainty that your words never leave your Mac. HyperWhisper's local-only architecture guarantees this.
6The Content Creator
MacWhisper
You need subtitles (SRT/VTT) for YouTube videos and transcripts for blog posts. MacWhisper's subtitle export and batch processing streamline your workflow.
Migration Guide
Hyperwhisper → Macwhisper
If your dictation needs have grown beyond quick voice-to-text—you now need file transcription, transcript editing, subtitle export, speaker diarization, or batch processing—MacWhisper is the natural upgrade path. Your daily workflow will change from system-wide text insertion (speak anywhere) to a dedicated application window, but you gain an entire professional transcription suite in return. Install MacWhisper, experiment with the microphone recording mode first to get familiar, then try importing some audio files to experience the full transcription workflow. Keep HyperWhisper installed for quick dictation while using MacWhisper for longer transcription projects—they complement each other well.
Macwhisper → Hyperwhisper
If you primarily use MacWhisper for quick voice-to-text dictation—recording short segments, copying the text, and pasting it elsewhere—HyperWhisper provides a dramatically more streamlined experience for that specific workflow. HyperWhisper eliminates the copy-paste step entirely by inserting text directly into your active application. You'll lose access to file transcription, the transcript editor, subtitle export, and diarization, but if you rarely use those features, HyperWhisper's simplicity and speed are worth the trade-off.
Pro Tips
Many users benefit from having both: HyperWhisper for quick dictation throughout the day, MacWhisper for transcribing recordings, interviews, and longer audio content. They complement each other well since they serve different use cases.
Final Verdict
Overall Winner
MacWhisper
9/10
Winner
7.5/10
Runner-up
MacWhisper wins as the more versatile, comprehensive, and feature-rich application overall. Its transcription editing with timestamp-aligned text, sophisticated speaker diarization, industry-standard subtitle export in SRT and VTT formats, powerful batch processing for large audio libraries, and translation capabilities make it the complete professional transcription package for macOS. No other local Mac transcription tool comes close to MacWhisper's depth of functionality. HyperWhisper, however, wins decisively in its specific domain—system-wide voice dictation. For pure dictation (speaking to type in any application), HyperWhisper is simpler, faster, more integrated, and requires zero workflow changes. The two applications serve genuinely different use cases with minimal overlap, which is why many users benefit from running both.
Bottom Line: Choose MacWhisper for comprehensive, professional audio transcription with editing, diarization, and subtitle export. Choose HyperWhisper for fast, private, system-wide voice dictation that works in every application on your Mac. Consider using both for the ultimate voice-powered workflow.
Video Tutorials
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Frequently Asked Questions
The fundamental difference is their purpose and workflow. HyperWhisper is a system-wide dictation tool—press a configurable hotkey from any application, speak naturally, and your words appear as typed text directly in whatever app has focus. It replaces and dramatically improves upon Apple's built-in dictation. MacWhisper, in contrast, is a comprehensive transcription suite designed for working with recorded audio. It features a full transcript editor with timestamp alignment, speaker diarization for identifying who said what, batch file processing, subtitle export in SRT and VTT formats, and translation capabilities. Think of HyperWhisper as a keyboard replacement and MacWhisper as an audio production tool.
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Related Technologies & Concepts
OpenAI WhisperApple Neural EngineSpeaker DiarizationSRT/VTTJordi BruinCore MLApple DictationSuperWhisper
OpenAI Whisper (The speech recognition model both applications are built on.), Apple Neural Engine (Apple Silicon's ML accelerator used by both apps for fast local inference.), Speaker Diarization (MacWhisper Pro feature that identifies different speakers.), SRT/VTT (Subtitle formats MacWhisper can export.), Jordi Bruin (Developer of MacWhisper.), Core ML (Apple's ML framework used for local Whisper model execution.), Apple Dictation (macOS built-in dictation that both apps improve upon.), SuperWhisper (Competing Mac Whisper-based dictation app.)
Related Topics
Voice-to-Text on Mac
Applications that convert speech to text on macOS.
Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: Feb 15, 2026
Key Verified Facts
- OpenAI Whisper supports 90+ languages.[cite-whisper-github]
- MacWhisper is developed by Jordi Bruin.[cite-macwhisper-site]
- Both apps use Apple Neural Engine for accelerated inference on Apple Silicon.[cite-apple-neural-engine]
- MacWhisper Pro includes speaker diarization.[cite-macwhisper-site]
- MacWhisper supports export to SRT, VTT, Markdown, JSON, CSV, and PDF formats.[cite-macwhisper-site]
- 1OpenAI Whisper GitHub
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 2MacWhisper Official Site
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 3HyperWhisper Official Site
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 4Apple Neural Engine Overview
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 5Whisper Model Sizes and Performance
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
Research queries: HyperWhisper vs MacWhisper 2026; MacWhisper speaker diarization; Whisper dictation Mac; MacWhisper Pro features