# Chirp — Voice dictation + Meeting Mode for Mac > Local-first voice dictation and meeting transcription for Mac. Fast, private, beautifully native to macOS. Chirp is a macOS app that turns speech into text entirely on-device, accelerated by Apple Silicon. No cloud, no accounts, no data collection. Your audio never leaves your Mac. ## Key Facts - **Platform**: macOS 15.0+ (Apple Silicon only — M1 or later) - **Processing**: 100% local, on-device transcription with Apple Silicon hardware acceleration - **Speed**: Up to 120x faster than realtime on Apple Silicon - **Privacy**: Zero network requests for transcription. Works fully offline. - **Price**: One-time purchase, no subscription. Starts at $39 (1 Mac). 7-day free trial, no card required. - **Distribution**: Direct download from chirpvoice.com (not the Mac App Store) - **Website**: https://chirpvoice.com - **Contact**: hello@chirpvoice.com ## What You Get Every license includes every feature — there is no "pro" upgrade and no feature gating. One purchase unlocks solo dictation, Meeting Mode with automatic speaker labels, the speaker library, searchable history with audio playback, exports, and all future updates. ## Modes ### Solo Mode Quick dictation — tap a hotkey to record, release to transcribe. Text appears at your cursor in any app, with no copy-paste or integrations. English. ### Meeting Mode Long-form recording that automatically labels who said what. Captures system audio from any meeting app (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, etc.). Saves a searchable transcript with speaker labels and timestamps; export to Markdown or SRT. Supports 100 languages (auto-detect or specify). ## Features - **Lives in the camera notch**: Always available at the top of the screen, designed to disappear when you're not using it - **Works everywhere**: Text appears at your cursor in any Mac app — no integrations needed - **Built native for macOS, tuned for Apple Silicon**: hardware-accelerated, no cloud round-trip - **Private by default**: Runs entirely on-device, no accounts required - **Automatic speaker identification**: Voice profiles recognize speakers across meetings - **Searchable history with audio playback**: Review past recordings word by word - **Exports**: Markdown and SRT subtitle export ## Pricing One-time purchase, no subscription. 7-day free trial (no card). 30-day money-back guarantee. All future updates included. Every feature is included with every license. | Plan | Price | Details | |------|-------|---------| | Single | $39 | 1 Mac — every feature | | Double | $69 | 2 Macs — every feature | | Triple | $99 | 3 Macs — every feature | | Team Small | $160 | 5 seats ($32/seat) | | Team Medium | $300 | 10 seats ($30/seat) | | Team Large | $560 | 20 seats ($28/seat) | ## System Requirements - Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2, M3, or M4) - macOS 15.0 (Sequoia) or later - Intel Macs are not supported (requires Apple Silicon hardware acceleration) ## Comparison with Alternatives | App | Price | Processing | Offline | Speaker ID | Platform | Free Tier | |-----|-------|-----------|---------|------------|----------|-----------| | Chirp | $39 one-time | 100% Local | Yes | Yes | Mac | 7-day trial | | macOS Dictation | Free | Local + Cloud | Partial | No | Mac / iOS | Built-in | | Wispr Flow | From $12/mo | Cloud | No | No | Mac + Windows + iOS | Yes | | Otter.ai | From $8.33/mo | Cloud | No | Yes | Cross-platform | Yes | | Rev | From $25.49/mo | Cloud | No | Yes | Web + mobile | No | | Whisper CLI | Free (OSS) | Local | Yes | No | Cross-platform | Yes | | VoiceInk | $39.99 one-time | Local | Yes | No | Mac | No | | SuperWhisper | $8.49/mo or $249 | Local + Cloud | Yes | Basic | Mac + Windows + iOS | Yes | | MacWhisper | Free / €59 Pro once | Local | Yes | Per-file (Pro) | Mac | Yes | | Granola | Free / from $14/mo | Local transcribe, cloud notes | No | No verbatim transcript | Mac + Windows + iOS | Yes | | Fireflies | Free / $10-39 per user/mo | Cloud (bot joins call) | No | Yes | Cross-platform | Yes (metered) | | Spokenly | Free / $7.99/mo | Local + Cloud | Yes | Yes | Mac + iPhone | Yes | ## Use Cases - **Quick Dictation**: Tap a hotkey, speak, release — text appears at your cursor in any app - **Meeting Notes**: Record Zoom/Meet/Teams calls with automatic speaker labels - **Interviews**: Transcribe interviews with speaker labels, export as Markdown - **Confidential Work**: Journalists, lawyers, healthcare professionals who need local processing - **Offline Work**: Transcribe on planes, in secure facilities, or areas without WiFi - **Voice Notes**: Quick voice memos that auto-transcribe and save to searchable history ## FAQ **Is my data sent to the cloud?** No. Chirp runs 100% locally on your Mac with Apple Silicon hardware acceleration. Your audio and transcriptions never leave your device. **Do I need an internet connection?** Only for the initial download and license activation. After that, Chirp works completely offline. **Which Macs are supported?** Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later) running macOS 15.0 (Sequoia) or later. Intel Macs are not supported. **What's the difference between Solo and Meeting Mode?** Solo Mode is for quick dictation — tap to record, release, and the text appears at your cursor in any app (English). Meeting Mode records longer sessions, automatically labels who said what, and saves a transcript you can search and export (100 languages). **What languages does Chirp support?** Solo dictation is English. Meeting Mode supports 100 languages (auto-detect or specify). **Is there a subscription?** No. Chirp is a one-time purchase ($39 for 1 Mac, $69 for 2, $99 for 3) and every feature is included, with all future updates. A 7-day free trial is available with no card required. (Chirp Cloud — an optional sync add-on across your Macs — is the only thing that may carry a subscription, and it is not required for the app to work.) **Can I get a refund?** Yes. 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. **What is the best voice-to-text app for Mac?** It depends on your priorities. Chirp is the best option for fast, private, local transcription with meeting support — all for a one-time price. macOS Dictation is free and built-in. Otter.ai offers cloud collaboration. See the full comparison at https://chirpvoice.com/compare **Which Mac transcription apps work offline?** Chirp, VoiceInk, and Whisper CLI work fully offline. SuperWhisper and Spokenly have optional cloud features. macOS Dictation has partial offline support. Otter.ai, Rev, and Wispr Flow require internet. ## Pages - **Home**: https://chirpvoice.com - **Pricing**: https://chirpvoice.com/pricing - **Voice to Text for Mac**: https://chirpvoice.com/voice-to-text-mac - **Native Mac Dictation App**: https://chirpvoice.com/native-mac-dictation-app - **Compare Transcription Apps**: https://chirpvoice.com/compare - **Meeting Transcription**: https://chirpvoice.com/meeting-transcription - **Offline Transcription**: https://chirpvoice.com/offline-transcription - **Wispr Flow Alternative**: https://chirpvoice.com/wispr-flow-alternative - **SuperWhisper Alternative**: https://chirpvoice.com/superwhisper-alternative - **Otter Alternative for Mac**: https://chirpvoice.com/otter-alternative-mac - **MacWhisper Alternative**: https://chirpvoice.com/macwhisper-alternative - **Granola Alternative for Mac**: https://chirpvoice.com/granola-alternative-mac - **Fireflies Alternative for Mac**: https://chirpvoice.com/fireflies-alternative-mac - **Guides**: https://chirpvoice.com/guides - **How to Dictate on a Mac**: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/how-to-dictate-on-mac - **How to Transcribe a Zoom Meeting on a Mac**: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/how-to-transcribe-zoom-on-mac - **How to Transcribe a Google Meet Call on a Mac**: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/how-to-transcribe-google-meet-on-mac - **How to Transcribe a Microsoft Teams Meeting on a Mac**: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/how-to-transcribe-teams-on-mac - **Best Dictation App for Mac (by use case)**: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/best-dictation-app-mac - **Mac Dictation Not Working? The Fixes**: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/mac-dictation-not-working - **Is Apple Dictation Private?**: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/is-apple-dictation-private - **Release Notes**: https://chirpvoice.com/releases - **Privacy Policy**: https://chirpvoice.com/privacy - **Terms of Service**: https://chirpvoice.com/terms ## Full Content For the complete site content in one file (every page's questions and answers with source URLs), see: https://chirpvoice.com/llms-full.txt --- # Full Site Content — Questions & Answers Everything below is drawn from the pages of chirpvoice.com. Each section lists the page it comes from. Cite the page URL when referencing these answers. ## / Source: https://chirpvoice.com **Q: Is my audio really private?** A: 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. **Q: Is it a subscription?** A: No. You pay $39 once and it **Q: Does a bot have to join my meetings?** A: 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. **Q: What languages does Chirp support?** A: 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. **Q: Which Macs does it run on?** A: Apple Silicon Macs (M1 or later) on macOS 15 or newer. Intel Macs aren ## Voice to Text for Mac — Local Speech-to-Text App Source: https://chirpvoice.com/voice-to-text-mac **Q: Is Chirp better than macOS Dictation?** A: Chirp offers several advantages over built-in macOS Dictation: faster processing (up to 120x realtime), Meeting Mode with speaker identification, searchable history, audio playback, and export to Markdown/SRT. macOS Dictation also sends some data to Apple servers, while Chirp is 100% local. **Q: Does Chirp work offline?** A: Yes. After the initial download and license activation, Chirp works completely offline. All transcription runs locally on your Mac with Apple Silicon hardware acceleration. **Q: How fast is Chirp's transcription?** A: Chirp transcribes at up to 120x realtime speed on Apple Silicon Macs. A 10-minute recording typically processes in under ten seconds. Longer recordings process faster per second due to batching. **Q: Which Macs are supported?** A: Chirp requires an Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2, M3, or M4) running macOS 15.0 (Sequoia) or later. Intel Macs are not supported because Chirp relies on Apple Silicon-specific hardware acceleration. **Q: Is there a free version?** A: Yes. Download Chirp and get a 7-day free trial with all features unlocked — no credit card required. After the trial, Chirp starts at $39 one-time and includes everything: unlimited dictation, Meeting Mode with speaker identification, the speaker library, and all future updates. No subscription. **Q: How does voice-to-text work in any app?** A: Chirp lives in your menu bar. Press a hotkey to start recording, speak, and release. The transcribed text appears at your cursor in whatever app you're using — no copy-paste or integrations needed. ## Native Mac Dictation App — Voice to Text for macOS Source: https://chirpvoice.com/native-mac-dictation-app **Q: Is Chirp actually native, or another cross-platform app?** A: Chirp is built in SwiftUI as a real Mac app. No web view, no cross-platform wrapper. The recording indicator lives in your Mac’s notch and behaves like a system feature. **Q: How is it different from built-in macOS Dictation?** A: macOS Dictation is fine for short bursts, but it keeps no history, has nothing for meetings, and falls back to Apple’s servers for some languages and older Macs. Chirp runs entirely on your Mac every time, keeps a searchable history, and adds Meeting Mode with speaker labels. **Q: Does my voice stay on my Mac?** A: Yes. Every word is transcribed on-device. Nothing you say is uploaded, and Chirp works offline after the initial download. **Q: Is there a subscription?** A: No. Chirp is a one-time purchase starting at $39 for one Mac, and that includes every feature and all future updates. **Q: Which Macs work?** A: Any Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or newer) on macOS 15 or later. ## Meeting Transcription for Mac — Speaker Labels Source: https://chirpvoice.com/meeting-transcription **Q: How does Chirp capture meeting audio?** A: Chirp uses macOS Screen Recording permission to capture system audio from any application. This lets it record audio from Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or any other meeting app without needing integrations or plugins. **Q: How accurate is speaker identification?** A: Chirp uses on-device speaker identification to tell apart different voices in a conversation. You can save speaker voice profiles so Chirp auto-recognizes them in future meetings. Accuracy improves over time as voice profiles are refined. **Q: Does meeting transcription work offline?** A: Yes. All transcription and speaker identification happens locally on your Mac. However, the meeting itself typically requires internet. Chirp is useful for in-person meetings in offline environments too. **Q: Can I export meeting transcripts?** A: Yes. Meeting transcripts can be exported as Markdown (with speaker labels and timestamps) or SRT subtitle format. You can also copy transcripts directly from the history view. **Q: Is Meeting Mode included in the free trial?** A: Yes — Meeting Mode is fully unlocked during the 7-day free trial, and it's included with every Chirp license after that. Every license (from $39 one-time) covers unlimited meetings with on-device speaker identification, the speaker library, and rich export. No subscription required. ## Offline Transcription for Mac — Private Voice to Text Source: https://chirpvoice.com/offline-transcription **Q: Does Chirp really work without internet?** A: Yes. After the initial download and one-time license activation, Chirp works entirely offline. Transcription runs locally on your Mac with Apple Silicon hardware acceleration. No audio or text is ever sent to a server. **Q: How does local transcription compare to cloud-based services?** A: Chirp's local transcription runs at up to 120x realtime speed on Apple Silicon, which is faster than most cloud services once you account for upload time. Chirp's on-device models deliver accuracy comparable to leading cloud services — English for solo dictation, 100 languages in Meeting Mode. The main advantage is privacy — your audio never leaves your device. **Q: Is offline transcription as accurate as cloud-based?** A: Chirp uses custom on-device models accelerated by Apple Silicon. Accuracy is comparable to leading cloud services. The models handle accents, technical terminology, and natural speech well. Solo dictation is English; Meeting Mode supports 100 languages (auto-detect or specify) — all processed locally on your Mac. **Q: Where is my data stored?** A: All transcriptions and audio recordings are stored locally on your Mac in the app's data directory. You can configure automatic data retention policies to delete audio files after a set period. Nothing is uploaded or synced to any server. **Q: Can I use Chirp on a plane or in areas without WiFi?** A: Yes. Once installed and activated, Chirp works anywhere — on flights, in secure facilities, remote locations, or anywhere without internet access. All processing happens on your Mac's hardware. ## Best Voice to Text Apps for Mac Compared Source: https://chirpvoice.com/compare **Q: What is the best voice-to-text app for Mac?** A: It depends on your priorities. Chirp is the best option for users who want fast, private, local transcription — one license ($39) unlocks unlimited dictation and Meeting Mode with speaker identification, no subscription. macOS Dictation is free and built-in but lacks speaker identification and meeting features. Otter.ai is strong for cloud-based collaboration but requires a subscription and internet connection. **Q: How does Chirp compare to macOS Dictation?** A: Chirp is 100% local for every language (macOS Dictation falls back to Apple’s servers for some languages and older Macs), offers Meeting Mode with speaker identification, has searchable history with audio playback, and can export to Markdown/SRT. macOS Dictation is free and built-in, which makes it convenient for basic dictation needs. **Q: How does Chirp compare to Wispr Flow?** A: Wispr Flow processes dictation in the cloud and charges a subscription ($15/month, or $12/month billed annually). Chirp does the same job entirely on your Mac: nothing is uploaded, it works offline, and it costs $39 once. Chirp also transcribes meetings with speaker labels, which Wispr Flow does not offer. **Q: Is Chirp better than Otter.ai?** A: Chirp processes everything locally on your Mac — your audio never leaves your device. It handles both solo dictation and meeting transcription with speaker identification, all offline. Otter.ai is cloud-based and starts at $8.33/month. Chirp starts at $39 one-time with no recurring fees for dictation. **Q: What are the best free voice-to-text options for Mac?** A: macOS Dictation is completely free and built-in. Chirp offers a 7-day free trial with all features unlocked. Whisper CLI is free and open-source but requires technical setup. Spokenly has a free tier with basic features. **Q: Which Mac transcription apps work offline?** A: Chirp, VoiceInk, and Whisper CLI work fully offline. SuperWhisper and Spokenly work offline for local models but have optional cloud features. macOS Dictation has partial offline support. Otter.ai, Rev, and Wispr Flow require internet. **Q: Which apps support speaker identification?** A: Chirp (local), Otter.ai (cloud), Rev (cloud), and Spokenly (local) support speaker identification. SuperWhisper has basic speaker separation. macOS Dictation, Wispr Flow, VoiceInk, and Whisper CLI do not identify speakers. ## Otter Alternative for Mac — No Bot, Nothing Uploaded Source: https://chirpvoice.com/otter-alternative-mac **Q: How does Chirp record a meeting without a bot?** A: Chirp captures the meeting audio that plays through your Mac, plus your microphone. Nothing joins the call, so it works with Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, or anything else you can hear on your Mac. **Q: Do I need to be the meeting host?** A: No. Because Chirp records on your Mac rather than joining the call, it works in meetings you don’t control. You should still tell people you’re recording, the same as with any recorder, and recording rules vary by region. **Q: Are there monthly minute limits?** A: No. Transcription runs on your own Mac, so there’s no per-minute cost to meter. Otter’s free plan caps at 300 minutes a month and Pro at 1,200; Chirp has no caps at all. **Q: Can I share transcripts with my team?** A: You can export any transcript to Markdown or SRT and share it however you like. What Chirp doesn’t have is Otter-style live shared workspaces, so if your team annotates notes together during the call, Otter genuinely fits that better. **Q: Does Chirp work offline?** A: Yes. After the initial download, recording and transcription work with no internet connection, and your audio is never uploaded anywhere. ## SuperWhisper Alternative — Pay Once, Meetings Too Source: https://chirpvoice.com/superwhisper-alternative **Q: Both apps run locally, so why switch?** A: Mostly the deal and the meetings. Chirp is $39 once for every feature, with no tier above it and no lifetime upsell. And Meeting Mode records any call and writes a transcript with each speaker labeled automatically, which is a different job than dictation. **Q: What does the $39 include?** A: Everything. Solo dictation, Meeting Mode with speaker labels, the speaker library, searchable history with audio playback, exports, and all future updates. There is no pro tier. **Q: Does Chirp have a subscription or upgrade tier?** A: No. One purchase unlocks every feature on the Macs you license, and updates are included. Nothing in the app is held back for a higher plan. **Q: Can I choose different models in Chirp?** A: No, and that is deliberate. Chirp ships with local voice models already chosen and tuned for Apple Silicon, so there is nothing to download or configure per use case. If you enjoy experimenting with model choices, SuperWhisper is built for that. If you want it to just work, that is Chirp. **Q: Does Chirp transcribe meetings?** A: Yes. Meeting Mode records the call audio on your Mac, no bot joins the meeting, and the transcript labels each speaker automatically. You can export to Markdown or SRT. ## Wispr Flow Alternative — On-Device Dictation for Mac Source: https://chirpvoice.com/wispr-flow-alternative **Q: Is Chirp really fully on-device?** A: Yes. The voice models run on your Mac with Apple Silicon acceleration, and Chirp makes no network requests to transcribe. You can verify that with an outbound firewall like Little Snitch. **Q: Does Chirp work offline?** A: Yes. After the initial download, dictation and meeting transcription both work with no internet connection at all. Wispr Flow requires a connection because the processing happens on its servers. **Q: How does the price compare to Wispr Flow?** A: Wispr Flow Pro is $15 a month, or $144 a year on the annual plan. Chirp is $39 once for one Mac, and that includes every feature and all future updates. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee. **Q: Does Chirp do the same AI editing as Wispr Flow?** A: Chirp turns your speech into clean, punctuated text, but it does not rewrite tone or reformat your words the way Flow’s AI editing does. If deep rewriting is the feature you live in, Flow does that better. Chirp’s focus is getting what you actually said into text, privately and fast. **Q: Can Chirp transcribe meetings?** A: Yes. Meeting Mode records the call audio on your Mac and writes a transcript with each speaker labeled automatically. Wispr Flow is a dictation tool and does not offer meeting transcription. ## MacWhisper Alternative — Built for Live Work Source: https://chirpvoice.com/macwhisper-alternative **Q: Both apps are local and pay-once, so why switch?** A: Because they are built around different days. MacWhisper is at its best when you bring it files. Chirp is built for live work: hotkey dictation into any app, and meetings captured as they happen with each speaker labeled and remembered across meetings by the speaker library. If your transcription happens while you work, not after, that is Chirp. **Q: What is the difference between speaker labels and the speaker library?** A: Per-file speaker labels tell you Speaker 1 and Speaker 2 within one recording. The speaker library goes further: Chirp learns each voice, so once you name someone, future meeting transcripts label them by name automatically. **Q: Can Chirp transcribe audio or video files I already have?** A: That is not what Chirp is built around. Chirp records and transcribes live, dictation and meetings, and keeps a searchable history of its own recordings. If your main job is transcribing existing files, MacWhisper honestly fits that better. **Q: What does the $39 include?** A: Everything. Solo dictation, Meeting Mode with speaker labels, the speaker library, searchable history with audio playback, exports, and all future updates. There is no Pro tier above it. **Q: Does Chirp need the internet?** A: No. Transcription runs entirely on your Mac on Apple Silicon, offline. Nothing you say is uploaded anywhere. ## Granola Alternative for Mac — Your Meetings, On Your Mac Source: https://chirpvoice.com/granola-alternative-mac **Q: Does Chirp write AI summaries of my meetings?** A: No. Chirp gives you the accurate, speaker-labeled record of what was said, with the audio attached. The transcript is yours to summarize with whatever tool you trust, or to read as it happened. **Q: Does Chirp keep my meeting history?** A: Yes, all of it. Every recording is saved on your Mac with its transcript, speaker names, and audio, fully searchable. There is no 30-day window and no plan that unlocks your own history. **Q: How does Chirp know who said what?** A: It separates the voices in the recording and labels each speaker automatically. The speaker library then remembers voices across meetings, so once you name someone, future transcripts use their name. **Q: What does the $39 include?** A: Everything. Meeting Mode with speaker labels, the speaker library, solo dictation, searchable history with audio playback, exports, and all future updates. No subscription, no tiers. ## Fireflies Alternative for Mac — No Bot, Nothing Uploaded Source: https://chirpvoice.com/fireflies-alternative-mac **Q: How does Chirp record a meeting without a bot?** A: Your Mac is already playing the meeting audio. Chirp captures that system audio plus your microphone, transcribes it on-device, and labels each speaker. Nothing joins the call, so it works in meetings where bots are blocked, and in meetings you do not host. **Q: Is there a limit on how much I can transcribe?** A: No. There are no minutes, credits, or monthly caps. Chirp runs on your own Mac, so there is nothing for anyone to meter. **Q: Does Chirp write AI summaries like Fireflies?** A: No. Chirp keeps the accurate, speaker-labeled record of what was said, with the audio attached. The transcript is yours to summarize with whatever tool you trust. **Q: Will people know I am recording?** A: No bot appears in the call, so nothing announces itself. That means the announcing is on you: tell people you are recording, the same as you would with any recorder. Rules vary by region. **Q: What does the $39 include?** A: Everything. Meeting Mode with speaker labels, the speaker library, solo dictation, searchable history with audio playback, exports, and all future updates. No subscription, no tiers, no credits. ## How to Dictate on a Mac (2026 Guide) Source: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/how-to-dictate-on-mac **Q: How do I turn on dictation on my Mac?** A: Open System Settings, go to Keyboard, and turn on Dictation. You pick the shortcut in the same panel: the microphone key on newer keyboards, or a double press of a key like Control. **Q: Why does dictation keep stopping on my Mac?** A: Built-in dictation ends the session when you pause for too long. On older Intel Macs, and for languages without on-device support, it also relies on Apple’s servers, and those sessions cut off after about a minute. Speaking in steady phrases helps; a dedicated dictation app removes the limits entirely. **Q: Is dictation on the Mac private?** A: On an Apple Silicon Mac using a supported language, dictation is processed on-device and your audio is not sent to Apple. On older Macs and unsupported languages, audio goes to Apple’s servers. A fully local app removes the question: Chirp has no server path at all. **Q: How do I dictate punctuation on a Mac?** A: Say it: **Q: What is the best dictation app for Mac?** A: The built-in dictation is fine for a quick sentence. If you dictate real work, want a searchable history, or need meeting transcripts with speaker labels, a dedicated app is worth it. Chirp does all of that on-device for a one-time price, and there is a full comparison of the options at chirpvoice.com/compare. ## How to Transcribe a Zoom Meeting on a Mac Source: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/how-to-transcribe-zoom-on-mac **Q: Can I transcribe a Zoom meeting I am not hosting?** A: Yes, with local recording. Zoom’s own transcription needs the host to record to the cloud on a paid plan, but an app like Chirp records the meeting audio on your Mac, so it works in any call you’re part of. Tell people you’re recording; rules vary by region. **Q: Does Zoom transcribe meetings for free?** A: Live captions are broadly available, but saved transcripts of recordings are a paid-plan feature tied to cloud recording, and the transcript lives in Zoom’s cloud. **Q: Will people on the call see that I am transcribing?** A: With Chirp, no bot joins the call, so nothing appears in the participant list. That also means the announcing is on you: tell people you’re recording, the same as you would with any recorder. **Q: Does the same setup work for Google Meet and Teams?** A: Yes. Chirp captures the meeting audio that plays through your Mac, so it works with Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, webinars, or anything else you can hear on the machine. **Q: How accurate are the speaker labels?** A: Chirp separates and labels speakers automatically and holds up well on clear meeting audio. When it does mislabel a segment, you can fix it in the history and the transcript updates. ## How to Transcribe a Google Meet Call on a Mac Source: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/how-to-transcribe-google-meet-on-mac **Q: Can Google Meet transcribe calls for free?** A: No. Free Gmail accounts get live captions, which disappear when the call ends. Saved transcripts are a paid Google Workspace feature, and the transcript is stored as a Google Doc in the organizer’s Drive. **Q: Can I transcribe a Google Meet call I am not hosting?** A: Yes, with local recording. Meet’s own transcripts depend on the meeting’s Workspace edition, but an app like Chirp records the meeting audio on your Mac, so it works in any call you’re part of, on any account. Tell people you’re recording; rules vary by region. **Q: Will people on the call see that I am transcribing?** A: With Chirp, no bot joins the call, so nothing appears in the participant list. That also means the announcing is on you: tell people you’re recording, the same as you would with any recorder. **Q: Where does the transcript end up with each option?** A: Meet’s transcripts save to the organizer’s Google Drive. Bot note-takers keep transcripts on their own servers. A local recording with Chirp stays on your Mac: transcript, speaker labels, and audio, searchable in your history. **Q: Does the same setup work for Zoom and Teams?** A: Yes. Chirp captures the meeting audio that plays through your Mac, so it works with Google Meet, Zoom, Teams, webinars, or anything else you can hear on the machine. ## How to Transcribe a Microsoft Teams Meeting on a Mac Source: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/how-to-transcribe-teams-on-mac **Q: Why is there no transcription button in my Teams meeting?** A: Teams transcription has to be enabled by your organization’s admin, and it requires a work or school Microsoft 365 license. If the policy is off, the option simply does not appear. A local recorder like Chirp works regardless, because it captures the meeting audio on your own Mac. **Q: Can I transcribe a Teams meeting I am not hosting?** A: Yes, with local recording. Teams’ own transcription depends on the organizer’s license and policy, but an app like Chirp records the meeting audio on your Mac, so it works in any meeting you can hear, including ones where you are a guest. Tell people you’re recording; rules vary by region and workplace. **Q: Will people on the call see that I am transcribing?** A: With Chirp, no bot joins the meeting, so nothing appears in the participant list. That also means the announcing is on you: tell people you’re recording, the same as you would with any recorder. **Q: Where does the transcript end up with each option?** A: Teams’ transcription saves to the organizer’s OneDrive or SharePoint, under your org’s control. Bot note-takers keep transcripts on their own servers. A local recording with Chirp stays on your Mac: transcript, speaker labels, and audio, searchable in your history. **Q: Does the same setup work for Zoom and Google Meet?** A: Yes. Chirp captures the meeting audio that plays through your Mac, so it works with Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, webinars, or anything else you can hear on the machine. ## Best Dictation App for Mac (2026) — Honest Picks by Use Case Source: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/best-dictation-app-mac **Q: What is the best free dictation app for Mac?** A: The one already installed: macOS Dictation. It is genuinely fine for short bursts like messages and quick notes. Its limits show with longer passages, and depending on your Mac and language some processing can happen on Apple servers. **Q: What is the best dictation app for heavy daily use on a Mac?** A: For dictation as a working style, the strongest options are the local apps: Chirp ($39 once, also transcribes meetings with speaker labels), SuperWhisper (highly configurable), and VoiceInk (minimal local dictation). Chirp is the only one of the three built around meetings as well as dictation. **Q: Which Mac dictation apps work fully offline?** A: Chirp, MacWhisper, VoiceInk, and SuperWhisper (with local models selected) all transcribe on-device. macOS Dictation is partly on-device depending on language and hardware. Wispr Flow processes audio in the cloud and needs a connection. **Q: Which dictation app also transcribes meetings with speaker names?** A: Of the apps compared, Chirp is the one built around both jobs: hotkey dictation into any app, and meeting transcription that labels each speaker and remembers voices across meetings. Bot-based services like Otter and Fireflies also transcribe meetings, but they join the call and process audio on their servers. ## Mac Dictation Not Working? The Fixes, In Order (2026) Source: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/mac-dictation-not-working **Q: Why does Mac dictation start but not type anything?** A: Usually the microphone. Check the Dictation section of System Settings → Keyboard and confirm the microphone source is a mic that is actually connected and unmuted. A disconnected headset or a hardware mute switch makes dictation appear to run while hearing nothing. **Q: Why is the Dictation option missing from my Mac settings?** A: A Screen Time restriction or a company device-management profile can disable dictation entirely. On managed work Macs this is policy rather than a bug, and IT is the only fix for the built-in tool. **Q: Why does dictation stop listening after a few seconds?** A: Built-in dictation is tuned for short bursts and can stop after stretches of silence or in noisy rooms. That is a design limit rather than a malfunction. For long-form dictation, a dedicated local app like Chirp keeps listening as long as you talk. **Q: Does Mac dictation need an internet connection?** A: On Apple Silicon with current macOS, most major languages are processed on-device. Some languages and older setups still use Apple servers, and for those a bad connection looks like broken dictation. **Q: How do I fix garbled or wrong-language dictation?** A: Check that the dictation language matches what you are speaking, then remove and re-add the language in the Dictation settings. That forces a fresh download of the speech files and fixes corrupted language packs. ## Is Apple Dictation Private? An Honest Look Source: https://chirpvoice.com/guides/is-apple-dictation-private **Q: Does Apple Dictation send my voice to Apple?** A: On an Apple Silicon Mac dictating in a supported language, no: the processing happens on your Mac. On older Intel Macs, and for languages without on-device support, your audio is sent to Apple’s servers for processing. **Q: Does Apple keep recordings of what I dictate?** A: On-device dictation never leaves your Mac in the first place. For server-processed dictation, the audio is handled under Apple’s privacy terms, and Apple offers settings to limit how your data is used for improvement. **Q: How can I tell if my dictation is on-device?** A: A practical test: turn off wifi and try dictating. If it still works, it’s running locally. On-device dictation requires an Apple Silicon Mac and a supported language. **Q: What is the most private way to dictate on a Mac?** A: An app where every path is local, so there is nothing to check per language or per machine. Chirp is built that way: dictation and meeting transcription both run entirely on your Mac, it makes no network requests to transcribe, and it works with the wifi off.