A SuperWhisper alternative without the pricing math.
Both apps transcribe on your Mac, so this isn't a privacy story. The difference is simpler. Chirp is $39 once for everything, including meeting transcription that labels each speaker, and there's nothing to configure when it arrives.
Respect first, then the difference.
SuperWhisper earned its reputation. It helped prove that dictation could run locally on a Mac, and if you like choosing models and building custom modes, it gives you a lot to play with. So this page isn't a privacy argument, because both apps keep your voice on your machine.
The honest difference is the deal and the scope. SuperWhisper is $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 for lifetime access. Chirp is $39 once, every feature included, and that includes something SuperWhisper doesn't really do: full meeting transcription that figures out who said what.
Where Chirp is different
Free Solo, one-time Pro
Unlimited Solo dictation stays free. A $39 one-time Pro license adds meetings, speaker identification, audio playback, exports, and Chirp Intelligence.
Meetings, with speaker labels
Record any call and get a transcript with each speaker labeled automatically. Dictation apps mostly stop at dictation. Chirp does both jobs.
Nothing to configure
No model menu, no modes to build. Install it, press a key, talk. The models are already chosen and tuned for Apple Silicon.
Lives in the notch
The recording indicator sits in your Mac's notch and breathes while it listens. No floating window to park somewhere.
History you can search
Every transcription is saved with its audio, so you can search what you said and replay the moment it came from.
A trial that is the whole app
Seven days with every feature on, no account and no card. You evaluate the real thing, not a limited tier.
Dictation and meetings, in one app
Talk and the text lands at your cursor. Flip the toggle to watch a meeting get transcribed.
Solo Mode pastes your words straight at the cursor.
Works with any app that has a cursor.
Side by side
As of June 2026. Check superwhisper.com for their current plans.
What SuperWhisper does better
It runs on iPhone and Windows too
Chirp is Mac-only by design. If you want the same dictation tool on your phone, SuperWhisper covers that.
It has more knobs
Model choices, custom modes, prompt tweaking. Tinkerers genuinely enjoy it, and Chirp deliberately offers none of that.
Optional cloud models
SuperWhisper can route to cloud models for some workflows if you want that. Chirp never does, which is the point of Chirp, but the option is theirs alone.
If tuning your own setup is part of the fun, stay where you are, honestly. If you'd rather pay once and stop thinking about it, that's what I built Chirp for.
Questions
Both apps run locally, so why switch?
Mostly the deal and the meetings. Chirp keeps unlimited Solo dictation free, while a $39 one-time Pro license adds Meeting Mode, speaker identification, and Chirp Intelligence without a subscription.
What does the $39 include?
Chirp Pro adds Meeting Mode, speaker identification, audio playback, exports, and Chirp Intelligence to the free Starter experience. It is a one-time purchase, with updates included.
Does Chirp have a subscription or upgrade tier?
No subscription. Chirp Starter keeps Solo dictation free, and a one-time Pro license unlocks Meeting Mode and Chirp Intelligence.
Can I choose different models in Chirp?
No, and that's deliberate. Chirp presents one tested on-device voice engine with Fast and Precise modes, so there is no model catalog or pipeline to configure. If you enjoy experimenting with model choices, SuperWhisper is built for that. If you want it to just work, that's Chirp.
Does Chirp transcribe meetings?
Yes. Meeting Mode records the call audio on your Mac, no bot joins the meeting, and the transcript labels each speaker automatically. You can copy it out with the speaker labels intact.