Comparison · Mac dictation

Whisperly vs superwhisper: cloud cleanup vs. local models

superwhisper is built around choosing and running transcription models, with cloud cleanup as a Pro add-on. Whisperly skips the model picker: cleanup runs by default, in the cloud, every time.

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

superwhisper is the pick if you want everything to run on-device with full control over which model runs. Whisperlyis the pick if you want clean, ready-to-send text without picking a mode first, plus translation and a larger ongoing free tier than superwhisper's small free plan.

Feature by feature

Whisperly vs superwhisper

FeatureWhisperlysuperwhisper
Default outputClean text, no setupDepends on mode/modelneeds setup; basic cleanup on Free, cloud models Pro
Runs on-device / offlineNocloud; audio never storedYeslocal models
Live translationYesTo English onlya separate step after dictation
Free access2,000 words/week, ongoingYes (limited)permanent free tier, small models; 15-min Pro trial
Starting price$14/mo$8.49/moannual $84.99/yr; lifetime $249.99
Model controlManaged for youno model pickerYeschoose your own model
Works in any Mac appYesYes
The honest read

Where each one wins

Whisperly is the better fit whenOur edge

  • You don't want to pick a model or mode first. Clean text is the default, every time.
  • You dictate in more than one language. Translation is built in.
  • You want ongoing free access, not a trial clock. 2,000 words a week, indefinitely, no card.

superwhisper is the better fit whenTheir edge

  • Offline is a hard requirement. Everything runs on-device.
  • You want to choose and tune your own model. Its whole design is built around that control.
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

What's the core difference between Whisperly and superwhisper?
superwhisper is model-selection oriented: you pick a local or cloud model, with basic cleanup on the free plan and higher-quality cloud models on Pro. Whisperly skips that: cleanup and translation run by default in the cloud, every time, no setup.
Which one works offline?
superwhisper does, via local models. Whisperly processes in the cloud and never stores your audio, but it needs a connection.
Do both have a free tier?
Both do, in different sizes. Whisperly's is 2,000 words every week, ongoing, no card. superwhisper's permanent free tier is limited to its small on-device models, with a 15-minute trial of the Pro features.
Is superwhisper cheaper than Whisperly?
Its list price ($8.49/mo, or $84.99/year) is lower than Whisperly's $14/mo. Whisperly's price includes cleanup and translation running by default with no model setup.

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