superwhisper vs FluidVoice: the two compared on their own makers' numbers
By Ryleigh Newman · Published
superwhisper and FluidVoice both dictate on the Mac with local models. superwhisper is a commercial app with a free tier and a Pro plan across Mac, Windows and phones. FluidVoice is free, open source and Mac only for now.
I built YapToText, a free dictation app for the Mac, so read this knowing I make a rival to both. Each fact comes from the maker's own pages, on the dates under the table.
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.
Side by side
superwhisper checked October 5, 2026, on superwhisper.com. FluidVoice checked October 6, 2026, on its README and altic.dev/fluid. YapToText from its own settings. Prices change, so confirm on each maker's site.
| superwhisper | FluidVoice | YapToText | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | Dictation with AI modes | Free local dictation with voice commands | Dictation, with files as plain text |
| Free | Unlimited local Whisper dictation, vocabulary, replacements, two modes without AI | Everything. Supported through GitHub Sponsors | Everything |
| Paid | Pro $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 once | No paid tier | No paid tier |
| Where speech is processed | On the Mac with local models, or cloud models with Pro | On the Mac, with a choice of local speech models | On the Mac |
| Without internet | Yes, with local models | Yes | Yes |
| Cleanup | AI modes and Super Mode, with Pro | A local model its README says is privately maintained, an optional 3.5 GB download, or a cloud provider | Built in, on the Mac |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android | macOS 15 or later, Intel Macs through Whisper models. iOS and Windows on a waitlist | Apple silicon Macs, macOS 14 or later |
| Open source license | Not stated | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
Pick by what you need
- Free with local cleanup. FluidVoice.
- Windows, iPhone or Android. superwhisper.
- Open source. FluidVoice, under GPL-3.0.
- AI modes, files and speaker separation. superwhisper Pro.
For more on each: superwhisper and FluidVoice.
The free third option
YapToText does dictation with cleanup and dictionaries on the Mac, free, with no account, and gives plain text from audio and video files. It runs on Apple silicon Macs with macOS 14 or later and nowhere else. If you need Windows, a phone, subtitles or speaker labels, one of the two above fits better. The superwhisper alternative page and the FluidVoice one compare each with YapToText directly.
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
- superwhisper. Dictation with AI modes. Pro $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 once.
- FluidVoice. Free local dictation with voice commands. No paid tier.
- YapToText. Free dictation with cleanup on one Apple silicon Mac.
If a price or feature here has changed, 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 (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/billing/plans (checked 2026-10-05)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/get-started/transcribe-files (checked 2026-10-05)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/models/voice (checked 2026-10-06)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/models/language (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/modes/built-in (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/modes/modes (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://superwhisper.com/privacy (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://superwhisper.com/download (checked 2026-10-03)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/common-issues/app-wont-launch (checked 2026-10-06)
- https://github.com/altic-dev/FluidVoice (checked 2026-10-06)
- https://altic.dev/fluid (checked 2026-10-06)
- https://github.com/ryleighnewman/YapToText (checked 2026-10-11)
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yaptotext/id6786382289 (checked 2026-10-11)
Questions
What is the difference between superwhisper and FluidVoice?
superwhisper: dictation with ai modes. FluidVoice: free local dictation with voice commands.
Is superwhisper or FluidVoice free?
superwhisper: Unlimited local Whisper dictation, vocabulary, replacements, two modes without AI. FluidVoice: Everything. Supported through GitHub Sponsors.
Do superwhisper and FluidVoice work offline?
superwhisper: Yes, with local models. FluidVoice: Yes.
Is there a free app that runs on the Mac?
YapToText is free, with cleanup built in, on Apple silicon Macs.