Do both run entirely on my Mac?

Yes. Neither uploads your audio. On privacy the two are equivalent, so choose on what you actually need them to do.

Can Speakribe transcribe an audio file?

No. Speakribe transcribes what you say, live, into the app in front of you. For an existing recording, MacWhisper is the right tool.

Is either a subscription?

No. Both are a one-time purchase with a free tier.

Comparison

Speakribe vs MacWhisper

These two are less alike than the price tags suggest. Both are Mac-only, both transcribe locally, and both are a one-time purchase, so the usual arguments about subscriptions and privacy don't separate them. What separates them is the job. MacWhisper is built to transcribe recordings you already have: files, interviews, subtitles. Speakribe is built to type for you, live, in whatever app is in front of you.

Speakribe compared with MacWhisper
	Speakribe	MacWhisper
Price	$29.99, onceBoth have a free tier. MacWhisper prices in euros; the figure above is its own listed Pro price, not a conversion.	€64, once (Pro)
Built for	Live dictation into any app	Transcribing existing audio files
Where audio is processed	On your Mac	On your Mac
Works with no internet	Yes	Yes
Bulk file / subtitle export	No	Yes
Platforms	macOS	macOS

MacWhisper pricing and features verified August 28, 2026, from their own site. Plans change, so check theirs before deciding.

Choose Speakribe if…

You want to hold a shortcut, talk, and have clean text appear in the message you were already writing. That's the whole product, it's cheaper, and it's tuned for that one gesture rather than for a file queue.

Choose MacWhisper if…

Your actual problem is a folder of recordings. MacWhisper handles batch file transcription, subtitle formats and model selection far better than we do, and Speakribe has no answer for any of that. If you need both live dictation and file transcription, MacWhisper is the more complete single purchase.

Questions people actually ask

Do both run entirely on my Mac?: Yes. Neither uploads your audio. On privacy the two are equivalent, so choose on what you actually need them to do.
Can Speakribe transcribe an audio file?: No. Speakribe transcribes what you say, live, into the app in front of you. For an existing recording, MacWhisper is the right tool.
Is either a subscription?: No. Both are a one-time purchase with a free tier.

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