Whisper AI is an open-source speech recognition model created by OpenAI. It converts spoken audio into text with high accuracy and supports 99 languages. Because it's open-source, developers can build it into Mac apps that run the model locally on your hardware.

What is the best Whisper AI app for Mac?

EmberType is the best Whisper AI app for Mac if you want simple, private dictation at a fair price. It runs Whisper 100% offline, costs $39 one-time, and types directly into any app. MacWhisper is better for advanced transcription features like batch processing and speaker identification.

Does Whisper AI work offline on Mac?

Yes. Whisper AI models can run entirely on your Mac without an internet connection. Apps like EmberType and MacWhisper download the model once, then process all speech locally on your Apple Silicon chip.

Best Whisper AI Apps for Mac in 2026

Q: Which Whisper model should I use?

For most users, the Large v3 Turbo model offers the best balance of speed and accuracy. The Tiny and Base models are faster but less accurate. The Small model is a good middle ground for older machines. Choose based on your Mac's specs and how much accuracy you need.

You've probably heard about Whisper AI — the speech recognition model from OpenAI that's quietly powering some of the best dictation apps on Mac. But what exactly is it, and which app should you use?

Let's break it down simply.

Key Facts About Whisper AI

Open-source speech recognition model created by OpenAI
Runs locally on your Mac — no internet required
Supports 99 languages with high accuracy
Available in multiple sizes (Tiny to Large) for different needs

What Is Whisper AI?

Whisper is an open-source automatic speech recognition model released by OpenAI. It was trained on 680,000 hours of multilingual audio data, making it one of the most accurate speech-to-text systems available.

The key word is open-source. Unlike proprietary systems (Siri, Google Speech), anyone can download Whisper and run it on their own hardware. That's why several Mac apps now bundle Whisper models that run entirely on your Apple Silicon chip.

The result? You speak into your Mac, and Whisper converts your words to text — all locally, with no internet connection and no data leaving your device.

Whisper Model Sizes Explained

Whisper comes in different sizes. Bigger models are more accurate but use more memory and processing power.

Model	Size	Speed	Accuracy	Best For
Tiny	~75 MB	Very fast	Basic	Quick notes, low-power Macs
Base	~150 MB	Fast	Good	Everyday dictation
Small	~500 MB	Moderate	Very good	Professional use
Large v3 Turbo	~1.6 GB	Moderate	Excellent	Maximum accuracy

For most users, Large v3 Turbo is the sweet spot. It's highly accurate and fast enough for real-time dictation on any Apple Silicon Mac.

Best Whisper AI Apps for Mac

Several Mac apps have built excellent interfaces around Whisper. Here's how they compare.

1. EmberType

Price: $39 one-time | Focus: Live dictation + transcription

EmberType is built around a simple workflow: press a shortcut, speak, and your words appear wherever your cursor is. It runs Whisper 100% offline with zero cloud features — not even optional ones.

It also includes AI text cleanup that automatically adds punctuation, removes filler words, and formats your speech into clean text. All of this happens locally on your Mac.

Live dictation into any app
File transcription and desktop audio capture
AI cleanup (punctuation, filler removal)
Completely offline — no cloud connectivity at all
Open source (GPL v3)
$39 one-time, 7-day free trial

Best for: Users who want simple, private Whisper dictation at a fair price.

2. MacWhisper

Price: ~$69 one-time (Pro) | Focus: Advanced transcription

MacWhisper is a powerhouse for audio transcription. It goes beyond basic dictation with features like batch processing, speaker identification, YouTube transcription, and integration with third-party services.

Supports multiple AI engines (Whisper, Parakeet v2)
Batch transcription for multiple files
Speaker identification
Cloud AI integrations (ChatGPT, Claude, Deepgram)
Third-party integrations (Notion, Zapier, Obsidian)

Best for: Power users who need advanced transcription beyond live dictation.

Trade-off: Costs $30 more than EmberType, and includes cloud features that some privacy-focused users may not want.

3. SuperWhisper

Price: $10/month | Focus: Hybrid local/cloud

SuperWhisper takes a hybrid approach, combining local Whisper processing with optional cloud AI features for text enhancement. It's a capable app, but the subscription model means costs add up over time.

Local Whisper processing with cloud AI option
Text enhancement features
Clean interface

Best for: Users who want both local and cloud AI options and don't mind a subscription.

Trade-off: At $10/month, it costs $120/year — three times more than EmberType's one-time price within the first year.

Try Whisper AI on Your Mac for Free

EmberType gives you 7 days of full Whisper-powered dictation. No account needed.

Download EmberType Free

App Comparison Table

Feature	EmberType	MacWhisper	SuperWhisper
Price	$39 once	~$69 once	$10/month
100% Offline	Yes	Optional	Optional
Live Dictation	Yes	Yes	Yes
File Transcription	Yes	Yes	Yes
AI Text Cleanup	Yes (local)	Via cloud AI	Via cloud AI
Batch Processing	No	Yes	No
Speaker ID	No	Yes	No
Open Source	Yes	No	No

Why Whisper AI Matters for Privacy

Before Whisper, accurate speech recognition required sending your voice to cloud servers. Google, Apple, and Amazon all processed audio remotely, raising legitimate privacy concerns.

Whisper changed that. Because it runs locally, your voice data never leaves your Mac. There's no server to breach, no audio logs to subpoena, no terms of service to worry about.

For anyone handling sensitive information — legal documents, medical notes, confidential business data — local Whisper processing isn't just convenient. It's the responsible choice.

Getting Started with Whisper on Mac

Setting up Whisper-based dictation takes just a few minutes:

Download a Whisper app — EmberType, MacWhisper, or SuperWhisper
Choose a model — Large v3 Turbo for best accuracy, Tiny for speed
Grant permissions — Microphone access and accessibility access
Set your shortcut — Pick a key combo to trigger dictation
Start speaking — Your words appear as text wherever your cursor is

The model downloads once (usually under 2 GB). After that, everything runs offline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Whisper AI?

Whisper AI is an open-source speech recognition model by OpenAI. It converts spoken audio to text with high accuracy and can run entirely on your Mac without internet.

Which Whisper model should I use?

Large v3 Turbo is recommended for most users — it offers excellent accuracy with good speed on Apple Silicon Macs. Use Tiny or Base if you need faster processing and can accept slightly lower accuracy.

Does Whisper AI work offline?

Yes. Once you download a Whisper model, it runs entirely on your Mac. No internet connection needed. Apps like EmberType are designed to be 100% offline from day one.

Is Whisper AI free?

The Whisper model itself is free and open-source. However, most Mac apps that package it into a user-friendly interface charge for the app. EmberType costs $39 one-time with a 7-day free trial.

How accurate is Whisper AI?

Very accurate. The Large v3 model achieves 95%+ accuracy for most English speakers. It handles accents, technical vocabulary, and natural speech patterns well. Accuracy improves with a quiet environment and a good microphone.

Experience Whisper AI on Your Mac

Private, offline, and accurate. Try EmberType free for 7 days.