Comparison · Mac dictation

The superwhisper alternative that hands you clean text, not a transcript

superwhisper is built around choosing and running local models, with higher-quality cloud cleanup gated to Pro. Whisperly skips the model picker: grammar and filler are cleaned up by default in the cloud, with translation built in.

Free forever, no credit card · 2,000 words a week · macOS 13+

Pick superwhisper if running everything offline, on-device, and picking your own model matters most to you. Pick Whisperlyif you want the output to arrive clean the first time with no setup, plus translation and a larger ongoing free tier than superwhisper's small free plan.

Feature by feature

Whisperly vs superwhisper

FeatureWhisperlysuperwhisper
Cleans up grammar & filler by defaultno prompt or mode to pick firstBuilt inVia modesmodel/mode setup; basic AI cleanup on Free, cloud models Pro
Translate while you dictateYesspeak one language, type anotherNot liveto English, as a separate step after dictation
Works fully offline / on-deviceNocloud; audio never storedYeslocal models
Free tier2,000 words/week, no cardYes (limited)permanent free tier, small on-device models; 15-min Pro trial
Starting price$14/mo14-day Pro trial, no card$8.49/moannual $84.99/yr (~-17%); lifetime $249.99
Works in any Mac appYesYes
The honest read

Where each one wins

Choose Whisperly whenOur edge

  • You want clean text, not a transcript. Grammar and filler are fixed by default, no mode or prompt to set up first.
  • You dictate in more than one language. Speak your language, get clean text out in another, in the same key press.
  • You'd rather not manage models. No model picker, no local setup: it works out of the box.
  • You want a larger free tier. 2,000 words a week, no credit card, ongoing; superwhisper's free plan is limited to small on-device models, with cloud quality gated to a trial then Pro.

Choose superwhisper whenTheir edge

  • Offline is non-negotiable. Its models run on-device, so nothing leaves your Mac.
  • You want control over which model runs. Its model-selection setup suits people who like to tune the transcription engine themselves.
Why people move over

What you get with Whisperly

The same hotkey, the same paste-anywhere flow. The difference is what lands in the box.

  • Cleanup that reads like you wrote itRemoves ums, false starts, and repeats. Fixes grammar. Keeps your wording and tone.
  • Translate as you speakDictate in Russian, Spanish, or Chinese and send it in English. No copy-paste round trip.
  • Custom vocabulary that sticksAdd names, product terms, and acronyms once. They spell right everywhere and sync across devices.
  • Your audio is never storedSpeech becomes text, then the audio is gone. No history of your dictations is kept.
Works anywhere you can type

One hotkey. Every Mac app.

It types into whatever is focused: an editor, a chat box, an email draft, even a search bar.

cursor
vscode
github
linear
claude
figma
notion
slack
arc
obsidian
perplexity
gmail
outlook
messages
whatsapp
discord
x
instagram
word
google-docs
google-slides
notes
spotify
youtube
safari
firefox
intellij
codex
apple-mail
google-chat
netflix
jira
Anywhere a cursor blinks. Any Mac app, no setup.
Common questions

Switching from superwhisper

Is Whisperly a good superwhisper alternative?
If you want the output to land as clean, ready-to-send text without picking a mode or model first, yes. superwhisper is built around local models and manual setup; Whisperly cleans up by default and adds translation.
Does Whisperly work offline like superwhisper?
No. Whisperly processes in the cloud to run cleanup and translation. Your audio is never stored, it becomes text and is then gone, but if offline is a hard requirement, superwhisper is the honest choice.
Does superwhisper have a free tier like Whisperly?
Yes, but a smaller one: superwhisper has a permanent free tier limited to its small on-device models, plus a 15-minute trial of the Pro features. Whisperly's free tier is 2,000 words every week, ongoing, with no credit card.
Will Whisperly flatten how I sound, like some cleanup tools do?
No. Cleanup removes filler and fixes grammar without rewriting your wording into someone else's voice.

Try the clean-text version

Same hotkey, same paste-anywhere flow. See what your dictation looks like when it comes out finished.

Free forever, no credit card · 2,000 words a week · 14-day Pro trial when you need more