How to use superwhisper on a Mac: shortcuts, modes and a free setup
By Ryleigh Newman · Published
To use superwhisper on a Mac, click into any text field, press Option and Space, speak, and press Option and Space again. superwhisper transcribes what you said and pastes it at the cursor. What happens to the text in between depends on the mode you have chosen, and modes are where most of the setup lives.
I make YapToText, a rival dictation app, so each section also says what YapToText does instead. The superwhisper steps are from its documentation, read on October 9, 2026, not from my own use.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
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Steps
- Install superwhisper and grant Microphone and Accessibility.
- Click into any text field.
- Press Option and Space and speak.
- Press Option and Space again to paste the text.
Install and first dictation
- Requirements. macOS 14 or later, or Windows 10 or 11.
- Permissions. Microphone to record and Accessibility to paste, both asked for on first launch.
- The wizard. It asks for your language, transcription model and microphone, and its docs say the defaults work well.
- Dictate. Click a text field, press Option and Space, speak, and press it again to stop.
The shortcuts
superwhisper column from its Essential settings and Built-in Modes pages, read October 9, 2026. Its shortcuts live in Settings, Configuration.
| To do this | superwhisper | YapToText |
|---|---|---|
| Start and stop | Option and Space, Toggle Recording | Right Command, tap to start and stop |
| Hold to talk | Push to Talk, which you assign | Set Right Command to Hold to talk |
| Change mode | Option, Shift and K, held to cycle | Cycle mode, which you assign |
| Cancel | Cancel Recording, which you assign | Esc |
| Edit selected text by voice | Commands in Super Mode, a Pro feature | Quick Edit, tap Right Option |
Modes, and which one to use
- Voice to Text. Transcription only, no AI. The one to use on the free plan.
- Message. Removes filler words, fixes grammar and punctuation, and keeps your tone.
- Super. Adapts to what is on screen using the app, selected text and clipboard, and takes commands on selected text.
- Mail, Note and Meeting. Presets for email, notes and meeting transcripts.
- Custom. Your own AI instructions in the Custom instructions field. Its docs warn that leaving them empty gives unexpected results.
Every mode except Voice to Text runs your words through AI, which is a Pro feature. Switch modes from the menu bar, with the Change mode shortcut, or with auto-activation rules per app.
Using superwhisper for free
- Pick a local Whisper model. Every Whisper model is free and runs on your device.
- Use Voice to Text. The free plan allows up to two modes without AI processing.
- Add vocabulary sparingly. Its docs say too many words can confuse the model, and suggest replacements for corrections that must always apply.
- Expect no formatting. Cleanup, rewriting and context awareness all need Pro.
On the free plan, superwhisper gives you a local transcript, and the polishing is what you pay for.
Where YapToText does it differently
YapToText includes the polishing for free. Auto mode cleans up each dictation with a model on the Mac and picks a style per app, and its modes, Clean Up, Email, Message, Note and Code Comment, are all free and editable.
- No model to pick. Both models ship in the App Store build.
- Dictionaries and commands. Dictionary words bias the speech model, and spoken commands such as my email signature insert saved text.
- Narrower. Mac only, Apple silicon with macOS 14 or later, no Windows or phone app, and no meeting mode.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
The superwhisper explainer covers its plans, and the superwhisper troubleshooting page covers shortcuts that stop working.
The short version
- Dictate. Option and Space to start and stop.
- Change mode. Option, Shift and K, or the menu bar.
- Free setup. A local Whisper model with the Voice to Text mode.
- Formatting. Message, Super and Custom modes need Pro. YapToText's are free.
If superwhisper changes a default and this page has the old one, open an issue on GitHub. Every one gets read.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
Related
Sources
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/get-started/quickstart (checked 2026-10-09)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/get-started/essential-settings (checked 2026-10-09)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/modes/built-in (checked 2026-10-09)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/modes/custom (checked 2026-10-09)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/modes/switching-modes (checked 2026-10-09)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/get-started/interface-vocabulary (checked 2026-10-09)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/billing/plans (checked 2026-10-09)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/models/voice (checked 2026-10-09)
- https://github.com/ryleighnewman/YapToText (checked 2026-10-09)
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yaptotext/id6786382289 (checked 2026-10-09)
Questions
How do I use superwhisper on a Mac?
Click into a text field, press Option and Space, speak, and press it again. superwhisper pastes the text at your cursor, processed by whichever mode is active.
What is the superwhisper keyboard shortcut?
Option and Space toggles recording by default. Option, Shift and K changes mode. Push to Talk and Cancel Recording are set in Settings, Configuration.
How do I use superwhisper for free?
Use a local Whisper model with the Voice to Text mode. The free plan allows up to two modes without AI processing, plus vocabulary and replacements.
How do I make a custom mode in superwhisper?
Create a mode, choose Custom, and write what you want in the Custom instructions field. Its docs say empty instructions give unexpected results. Custom modes need Pro.
Is there a dictation app with free formatting?
YapToText cleans up dictation with a model on the Mac for free, on Apple silicon Macs with macOS 14 or later.