Question 1

Why not just use the Mac's built-in dictation?

Accepted Answer

Apple's dictation is fine for a quick sentence. Chirp is built for real work: it keeps up when you talk for minutes at a time, punctuates as you speak, and types straight into whatever app your cursor is in. And built-in dictation can't tell you who said what in a meeting, which is half of why Chirp exists.

Question 2

Is my audio really private?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Everything runs on your Mac, and nothing you say is ever uploaded. Once installed, Chirp works fully offline. You can turn wifi off and watch it keep working. An optional encrypted sync add-on may come later, but nothing changes unless you opt in.

Question 3

Is it a subscription?

Accepted Answer

No. You pay $39 once and it's yours: solo dictation, Meeting Mode, the speaker library, history, and all future updates included. There's no account to create, either.

Question 4

Does a bot have to join my meetings?

Accepted Answer

No bots, no calendar integrations, nothing joins your call. Chirp records locally on your Mac while you meet in Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, FaceTime, or anything else. When the meeting ends you get a transcript with every speaker labeled, and Chirp recognizes the same voices next time.

Question 5

What languages does Chirp support?

Accepted Answer

Solo dictation is English-only for now. The model is built exclusively for English, and that focus is where the speed and accuracy come from. Meeting Mode supports 100 languages. More solo languages may come later.

Question 6

Which Macs does it run on?

Accepted Answer

Apple Silicon Macs (M1 or later) on macOS 15 or newer. Intel Macs aren't supported, because Chirp's speed comes from Apple Silicon acceleration. The 8 GB base models run both modes comfortably.

Question 7

What if I don't like it?

Accepted Answer

Try it free for 7 days, no card, no account. If you buy and change your mind, there's a 30-day money-back guarantee. Email hello@chirpvoice.com and you'll get your refund, no questions asked.

Guides

Topics

Voice to Text for Mac

A Native Mac Dictation App

Meeting Transcription

Offline & Private Transcription

Compare Voice-to-Text Apps

How-to guides

How to Dictate on a Mac

How to Transcribe a Zoom Meeting on a Mac

How to Transcribe a Google Meet Call on a Mac

How to Transcribe a Teams Meeting on a Mac

Is Apple Dictation Private?

Mac Dictation Not Working?

The Best Dictation App for Mac

Using Chirp with AI Tools

Switching from another app

Wispr Flow Alternative

SuperWhisper Alternative

MacWhisper Alternative

Granola Alternative

Otter Alternative for Mac

Fireflies Alternative for Mac