Voice to text.
Local. Private. Free.

The most accurate voice-to-text on Mac — powered by a state-of-the-art AI model running entirely on your computer. No cloud. No subscription. No data ever leaves your Mac.

Download Free v1.5 · macOS 14+ · Apple Silicon required
WhisperFree

Transcribing...

The quick brown fox jumps over the

How it works

1

Hold Right Option

Press and hold the Right Option key to start recording. A green dot appears in your menu bar.

2

Speak naturally

Talk at your normal pace. You'll see a live streaming preview of the transcription as you speak.

3

Text appears at cursor

Release the key and the final transcription is inserted right where your cursor is. Any app, any field.

Everything you need, nothing you don't

Local & Private

A state-of-the-art voice model runs entirely on your Mac. Audio never leaves your computer. No account, no cloud, no tracking.

Streaming Preview

See your words appear in real time as you speak. The transcription streams directly into your active text field.

Smart Vocabulary

Add custom word corrections for names, jargon, or terms Whisper gets wrong. Corrections apply automatically.

Voice Commands

Say "WhisperFree correct X to Y" while recording to add vocabulary corrections hands-free.

Works Everywhere

Text is inserted at your cursor in any app — email, Slack, Notes, VS Code, your browser. If you can type there, WhisperFree works there.

Free Forever

No trial. No subscription. No in-app purchases. WhisperFree is completely free with no strings attached.

Your voice stays on your Mac

WhisperFree processes everything locally using Apple's Neural Engine. Here's what that means:

WhisperFree
  • AI model runs on your Mac
  • Audio processed in memory only
  • No network requests during transcription
  • No account required
  • No telemetry or analytics
Cloud dictation services
  • Audio sent to remote servers
  • Data stored and potentially used for training
  • Requires internet connection
  • Requires account and often payment
  • Usage tracked and logged

No audio recorded. No data sent. No account needed.

System requirements

Operating system

macOS 14.0+

(Sonoma or later)

Processor

Apple Silicon required

(M1, M2, M3, M4, or later)

Disk space

~150 MB

for Whisper model

Permissions needed: Microphone access (for recording) and Accessibility access (for inserting text at your cursor). A guided setup walks you through granting both on first launch.

Frequently asked questions

Is it really free?
Yes, completely. No trial, no freemium, no in-app purchases. WhisperFree is free to download and use with no limitations.
How accurate is the transcription?
WhisperFree uses a state-of-the-art Whisper voice model optimized for Apple Silicon, delivering significantly better accuracy than built-in macOS Dictation. You can also add custom vocabulary corrections for any words it gets wrong.
Does it work offline?
Yes. After the initial model download (~150 MB on first launch), WhisperFree works completely offline. No internet connection needed for transcription.
What languages are supported?
Currently WhisperFree uses an English-optimized model for the best accuracy. Multi-language support may come in a future update.
Is it open source?
Not currently, but WhisperFree is built on open-source voice AI technology. The app itself is completely free to use.
How is this different from macOS Dictation?
WhisperFree is significantly more accurate than macOS Dictation, with more fluid and natural transcription. It also processes everything locally — your audio never leaves your Mac. On top of that, you get streaming preview, custom vocabulary corrections, and voice commands that Dictation doesn't offer.

Ready to try it?

Download WhisperFree and start dictating in under a minute.

Download Free

macOS 14+ · Apple Silicon required · ~150 MB