The superwhisper CLI: install it, every command, and the MCP server
By Ryleigh Newman · Published
superwhisper has a command line tool, also called superwhisper, for the Mac. It searches and exports your local dictation history, edits vocabulary and replacements, and controls the running app: start, stop, switch mode, transcribe a file. It can also run as an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server, which lets an AI assistant search and read your dictations.
I make YapToText, a different dictation app for the Mac, so read what I say about superwhisper with that in mind. Every fact about superwhisper here is from its own docs, read on October 10, 2026. The page is CLI and MCP server.
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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Install it
curl -fsSL https://superwhisper.com/install-cli.sh | bashWhat happens: The script installs the latest release to /usr/local/bin, or to ~/.local/bin if that is not writable.
If your shell cannot find superwhisper afterward, add ~/.local/bin to your PATH. The docs say binaries and checksums are published in the superultrainc/superwhisper-cli-release repository on GitHub, so you can read the install script before you run it. The CLI is for macOS only.
Commands that read your history
From superwhisper's docs page CLI and MCP server, read October 10, 2026. These read the same local database as the app and run on your device.
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
| search | Full-text search across all transcriptions. Supports AND, OR, NOT, quoted phrases and a prefix star |
| history | Lists recent transcriptions. Filter with --mode, --since and --before |
| read | Reads one transcription, the latest if you give no ID. --raw shows the text before AI processing |
| stats | Transcription statistics |
| modes | Lists the modes used in your recordings, with counts |
| export | Exports everything, oldest first, as jsonl or markdown |
| vocab | Lists, adds or removes vocabulary terms |
| snippets | Lists, sets or removes replacements, the same From and To pairs as Settings, Vocabulary |
| doctor | Diagnostic information about the database, for bug reports |
| completions | Generates shell completions |
Commands that control the app
From the same page. These send a request to the running app, so superwhisper must be open.
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
| record | Toggles recording |
| start | Starts recording. Does nothing if already recording |
| stop | Stops recording. Does nothing if not recording |
| switch | Switches the active mode by name or key. With no argument, lists your modes |
| settings | Opens the settings window |
| transcribe | Sends an audio file to the app to transcribe. File transcription needs Pro |
start, stop and switch make superwhisper scriptable from anything that can run a shell command. That includes a launcher, a keyboard remapper, or a button on an assistive switch interface.
Examples
superwhisper search "quarterly report"
superwhisper history --since 2026-09-01 --mode Mail
superwhisper read --raw
superwhisper export -f markdown > dictations.md
superwhisper vocab add "Superwhisper"
superwhisper switch Message
superwhisper transcribe ~/Downloads/note.m4aWhat happens: Each line is one of the docs' own examples. Most commands also accept --json for output a script can read.
The MCP server
superwhisper mcpWhat happens: The CLI speaks MCP over stdio and exposes tools for search, history, reading recordings, modes, stats, vocabulary and snippets.
One privacy point from the docs: the CLI itself runs entirely on your device, but when an AI assistant is connected over MCP, the transcripts it queries are sent to that assistant and handled under its own model and data settings. The superwhisper privacy page covers the rest.
YapToText and the command line
YapToText has no command line tool and no MCP server. It is a menu bar app with one key. Its History page exports the whole list as plain text or Markdown, which covers the export case without Terminal.
For transcription from Terminal with nothing to buy, whisper.cpp is the engine YapToText is built on. The local Whisper guide has the commands, and the MacWhisper CLI page covers another app's tool for files and folders.
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 short version
- Install. One curl line, macOS only.
- Read. search, history, read, stats and export.
- Control. record, start, stop, switch and transcribe, with the app open.
- MCP. superwhisper mcp, over stdio.
- Privacy. Local, until an assistant reads transcripts through MCP.
If superwhisper adds or renames commands, open an issue on GitHub and I will update this page. 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/cli (checked 2026-10-10)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/get-started/history (checked 2026-10-10)
- https://github.com/ryleighnewman/YapToText (checked 2026-10-10)
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yaptotext/id6786382289 (checked 2026-10-10)
Questions
Does superwhisper have a CLI?
Yes, on macOS. The superwhisper command searches and exports your history, edits vocabulary, and controls the running app.
How do I install the superwhisper CLI?
Run the install script from its docs with curl. It installs to /usr/local/bin, or to ~/.local/bin if that is not writable.
Can I start a superwhisper recording from Terminal?
Yes. superwhisper start, stop and record control recording, as long as the app is open.
Does superwhisper have an MCP server?
Yes. superwhisper mcp runs the CLI as an MCP server over stdio, with tools for search, history, vocabulary and snippets.
Does the superwhisper CLI work on Windows?
No. Its docs say the CLI is available on macOS only.