MacWhisper

by Jordi Bruin

Looking for MacWhisper? MacWhisper is made by Good Snooze and sold on Gumroad, with a free version and a one-time Pro licence; the official site is macwhisper.com. Open MacWhisper ↗Checked 26 Oct 2026 on goodsnooze.gumroad.com. WhipScribe is not affiliated with MacWhisper.

MacWhisper is a Mac app that transcribes files with local models. Skip the install: WhipScribe transcribes it in your browser. Packs: $4 for 500 minutes, $12 for 2,000, $24 for 5,000; Workspace $19 a month. Up to 10 hours or 5 GB per file. Measured turnaround: about 2 minutes per audio hour. 99 languages. Checked 25 Oct 2026.

Don’t want to install MacWhisper? Drop the file here.

Every recording starts with a free preview of its opening minutes. Credits never expire.

The polished native-Mac app for local Whisper transcription — drag-and-drop file editor, speaker diarization, system-wide dictation, AI summaries, and SRT/VTT/PDF export. By Jordi Bruin; the site also lists an iOS and iPad version.

macOS  ·  freemium

MacWhisper on your computer, or upload the file to WhipScribe

MacWhisperWhipScribe
InstallMac app you download; transcribes with local models on your Mac1Nothing to install: upload the file in a browser. Transcribed on our own servers.
PlatformsMac; the site’s FAQ also covers an iOS and iPad version1Web, API, MCP
SpeakersAutomatic Speaker Recognition, in the Pro column1Named in the summary, key quotes and chapters
Languages100 languages199+, detected automatically
Export formatsFree: SRT, VTT, TXT. Pro adds MD, PDF, HTML, DOCX1TXT, DOCX, SRT, VTT, JSON
PriceFree tier; Pro is a one-time €64 licence with lifetime updates1A free preview of the opening minutes, then $4 for 500 minutes, $12 for 2,000 minutes, $24 for 5,000 minutes; Workspace $19 a month. Credits never expire.

MacWhisper column: the project’s own pages, numbered in the table.

  1. macwhisper.com · features, pricing and FAQ, fetched 25 Oct 2026

WhipScribe column: pricing and measured turnaround.

MacWhisper version and macOS support

From the MacWhisper Gumroad listing on 26 Oct 2026. We found no public MacWhisper changelog page; the version number is on that listing.

MacWhisper
Current version15.2
Supported macOSSonoma, Sequoia, Tahoe (macOS 14.0 and higher)
Older macOSLegacy builds: Monterey 2.22, Ventura 10.9.2, Sonoma 14.8.1
HardwareM-series Macs recommended; also works on Intel Macs
MemoryMore than 8 GB of RAM for the Medium and Large models
Pro onlyParakeet v2 and v3, Qwen3-ASR (macOS 26.0 and an M-series chip), Automatic Speaker Recognition
PaymentOne-time, no subscription: €64 a Pro licence on macwhisper.com; the Gumroad checkout listed €65 for one licence on 26 Oct 2026

Sources:

  1. MacWhisper on Gumroad (Good Snooze) · version, supported macOS, system requirements, fetched 26 Oct 2026
  2. macwhisper.com · pricing (Pro €64 a licence), fetched 26 Oct 2026
TL;DR

MacWhisper is a native macOS app that wraps OpenAI's Whisper models behind a Mac-style editor. Transcription runs locally on Apple Silicon (or Intel) with Metal acceleration — your audio stays on the machine. Optional cloud AI hooks (OpenAI, Anthropic, ElevenLabs, Groq) handle summaries, rewrites, and translations only when you opt in.

Best for journalists, podcasters, researchers, and Mac power-users who want a polished editor and system-wide dictation without a terminal. The Free tier covers smaller Whisper models; Pro ships as a one-time Gumroad license (large-v3, diarization, batch, dictation, AI services); Whisper Transcription on the App Store offers a monthly/annual subscription path. Check the Gumroad listing for current numbers.

Category
Desktop apps
Pricing
freemium
Platforms
macOS

What it is

MacWhisper is the most polished Mac-native Whisper front-end. Free tier covers small models; the Pro license unlocks large-v3, diarization, and batch. Perfect for journalists, researchers, and indie podcasters who want a file-drop tool that just works on macOS.

Best for: macOS users who want a drop-dead-simple, native Whisper app and will pay ~$30 for it.
Watch out for: Mac first (an iOS and iPad version is listed separately); closed-source; diarization + large models are paid tier.

Install / use

Download MacWhisper goodsnooze.gumroad.com

Setting MacWhisper up or fixing an error? MacWhisper setup guide and common fixes.

Where MacWhisper fits

Six use cases the app is purpose-built for. Every card links to the corresponding feature page on macwhisper.com or the canonical docs.

Podcast + interview editor
Inline transcript editing

Drop an interview, get a clean transcript with click-to-seek playback. Edit the text inline, search across long sessions, and export the result with timestamps. Works on multi-hour files locally — no upload, no queue, no per-minute fee.

Whisper large-v3 (Pro)
Local model · Metal acceleration on Apple Silicon
Meeting recap + diarization
Speaker labels + AI summary

Record system audio or import a Zoom/Teams export, run diarization to label Speaker 1 / Speaker 2 / Speaker 3, then trigger an AI summary or action-item extraction via the built-in service hooks. Useful for 1:1s, panels, and customer calls.

Diarization (Pro · beta)
Exports group automatically by speaker
Subtitle creation
SRT · VTT · side-by-side translations

Generate SRT and VTT subtitle files from any audio or video. The inline video player can display multiple translated subtitle tracks side by side — handy for proofreading captions across languages before publishing to YouTube or your CMS.

Export: SRT · VTT · PDF · HTML · CSV · TXT
Bulk export across batch jobs
System-wide dictation
Replace Apple Dictation anywhere

Hold a global hotkey in any text field — Slack, Mail, VS Code, Notion — and MacWhisper transcribes your voice with Whisper-grade accuracy, then pastes the result inline. Optional AI prompting can clean up filler words or rephrase before paste.

Global hotkey + Accessibility permission
Pro feature · runs entirely locally by default
AI rewrites + summaries
OpenAI · Anthropic · Groq · ElevenLabs

Post-process any transcript with bring-your-own-key calls to OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, or ElevenLabs. Summarize, extract bullets, translate, clean dictation, or run a custom prompt template. Cloud calls only fire when you trigger them — transcription itself stays local.

Bring your own API key
Pro feature · prompts are user-editable
Multi-language batch
99 languages · folder watch

Queue a folder of mixed-language recordings, let MacWhisper auto-detect each file's language, and walk away. The queue view tracks progress; results export per-file or as a combined archive. Pairs well with a Hazel rule for fully-automated ingestion.

99 languages supported by Whisper
Pro · large-v3 yields the best non-English accuracy
Pattern: MacWhisper is the default pick if you're on macOS and want a polished editor + dictation in one app. If you need Windows or Linux, look at Buzz or whisper.cpp. If you'd rather not install anything, drop your file in the widget at the bottom of this page.

Getting started in 3 steps

MacWhisper is a Mac app — onboarding is a download and a few permission grants, not a terminal session. Walk through these three steps in order.

1Download + first transcript

Grab the free build from macwhisper.com, drag an audio or video file onto the window, pick a model, and hit transcribe.

1. Visit https://macwhisper.com and click Download.
2. Open the .dmg, drag MacWhisper.app to /Applications.
3. Launch MacWhisper.
4. On first run, pick a Whisper model:
     · Tiny / Base   → fast, free, fine for short clips
     · Small / Medium → balanced (free tier)
     · Large-v3      → best accuracy (Pro)
5. Drag an audio or video file onto the window.
6. Hit Transcribe — the file processes locally on your Mac.
7. When done: edit inline, then File → Export → pick SRT / TXT / VTT / PDF.
Detailed install + first-run guide: MacWhisper docs ↗. App Store sub variant: Whisper Transcription vs MacWhisper ↗
2Enable system-wide dictation

Set up the global hotkey and grant Accessibility so MacWhisper can paste into any text field — Slack, Mail, VS Code, Notion, anywhere a cursor blinks.

1. MacWhisper → Settings → Dictation tab.
2. Toggle 'Enable Dictation'.
3. Pick a Whisper model for dictation
   (Small is a good default — fast, accurate enough for chat).
4. Bind a global hotkey (default: hold Option twice, or set your own).
5. macOS will prompt for:
     · Accessibility permission (paste into other apps)
     · Microphone permission
   Grant both in System Settings → Privacy & Security.
6. Click into any text field, hold the hotkey, speak.
7. Release — MacWhisper transcribes locally and pastes the result.
8. Optional: turn on 'AI cleanup' to strip 'um/uh' and tidy grammar via your
   OpenAI / Anthropic / Groq key before paste.
Permissions troubleshooting: MacWhisper Support ↗ · Dictation is a Pro feature.
3Batch + auto-export

Queue a folder of files for unattended transcription. Set output format and destination once, then drop new files in over time and let the watch folder pick them up.

1. Open MacWhisper → File → Batch / Queue.
2. Drop a folder (or multiple files) into the queue view.
3. Pick the model + language (or leave language on Auto-detect).
4. Set the default export format:
     · SRT   → subtitles for video editors
     · VTT   → web video / Whipscribe-compatible
     · DOCX  → drop into Google Docs / Word
     · CSV   → speaker-labeled rows (with diarization on)
     · PDF   → distributable transcript
5. Pick the export folder (next to source, or a fixed location).
6. Start — MacWhisper processes the queue serially.
7. Optional: pair with a Hazel rule or Folder Action so any new file dropped
   into ~/Inbox/Audio auto-launches MacWhisper and queues it.
Batch + export reference: MacWhisper docs ↗ · diarization-grouped CSV requires Pro.

What people actually do with MacWhisper-style transcription

The tool is the means. These are the jobs — each one priced at published rates, each one wired up on its own page.

Transcribe a whole back catalogue in one runThe archive is the asset, but one-at-a-time upload means it never gets done.…1,000 hours ≈ $480, onceTranscribe every new file in a Drive folderFiles accumulate in a folder nobody opens, and the knowledge in them is invisible to search.…≈ $0.29 per audio hour on the $24 packCut short-form clips out of a webinar automaticallyThe clips worth posting are buried somewhere in a 60-minute recording and finding them by scrubbing costs more than the…60-min webinar ≈ $0.48

Wire it into Amazon S3n8nMake.comGoogle DriveZapierSlack

Features

Speaker diarizationYes
Word-level timestampsYes
Streaming / real-timeNo
Languages supported99
HIPAA eligibleNo

Links

MacWhisper vs Whipscribe

FeatureMacWhisperWhipscribe
CategoryDesktop appsTranscription APIs
Pricingfreemium$4–$24 one-time packs (credits never expire) · free preview of the opening minutes
Speaker identificationYesNamed in the summary, key quotes and chapters
Word timestampsYesYes
StreamingNoNo
Languages9999
PlatformsmacOSWeb, API, MCP

Alternatives to MacWhisper

SuperWhisper
Sindre Sorhus

Always-on system-wide dictation for macOS and iOS, powered by local Whisper.

freemium
Aiko
Sindre Sorhus

Whisper transcription that stays on your Apple device.

paid, one-time · 14-day trial
Hindenburg PRO
Hindenburg Systems

Broadcast-style DAW built for journalists, podcasters, and audiobook producers.

paid

Frequently asked about MacWhisper

Who makes MacWhisper?

MacWhisper is built by indie developer Jordi Bruin under the Good Snooze label — the same developer behind Vivid and other Mac utilities. It is a one-person product with an active release cadence.

Where do I download MacWhisper?

From Good Snooze's Gumroad page (goodsnooze.gumroad.com/l/macwhisper) — the free version and the Pro license both ship from there. It is not on the Mac App Store, and there is no official Homebrew cask.

Where are the MacWhisper release notes?

On the same Gumroad listing and inside the app's update dialog. Releases land frequently — Whisper model updates, new export formats, and batch features typically appear within days of upstream changes.

Is MacWhisper free?

MacWhisper has a free tier that covers smaller Whisper models and basic transcription. Large-v3, speaker diarization, and batch processing live in the paid Pro tier. Check the Gumroad page for current pricing.

Does MacWhisper work on Windows?

No. MacWhisper is macOS-only. On Windows or Linux, the closest equivalents are Buzz (cross-platform, free, open-source) or any of the OpenAI Whisper API clients.

Does MacWhisper run locally or send data to the cloud?

Transcription runs locally on your Mac using Whisper — your audio does not leave the machine by default. The app also has optional integrations with cloud APIs if you configure them.

Does MacWhisper support speaker diarization?

Yes, on the Pro tier. Diarization labels 'Speaker 1 / Speaker 2' in the transcript. The free tier transcribes text-only.

Can MacWhisper transcribe YouTube URLs?

Recent versions support URL input (YouTube, etc.) in addition to file drop. Feature availability varies by version — check the MacWhisper changelog for current support.

What is MacWhisper?

MacWhisper is a native macOS app that wraps OpenAI's Whisper models behind a Mac-style editor. Transcription runs locally on Apple Silicon (or Intel) with Metal acceleration — your audio stays on the machine. Optional cloud AI hooks (OpenAI, Anthropic, ElevenLabs, Groq) handle summaries, rewrites, and translations only when you opt in.

How many languages does MacWhisper support?

MacWhisper lists 99 languages. That is the Whisper-family multilingual set, so quality varies by language — English and the large European languages are strongest.

Does MacWhisper give word-level timestamps?

Yes — MacWhisper produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.

Can MacWhisper transcribe live audio?

No — MacWhisper works on finished files, not a live stream.

Is MacWhisper HIPAA compliant?

MacWhisper does not claim HIPAA compliance. For PHI, run it on infrastructure you control or choose a service that will sign a BAA.

What are the limitations of MacWhisper?

Mac first (an iOS and iPad version is listed separately); closed-source; diarization + large models are paid tier.

Who is MacWhisper best for?

macOS users who want a drop-dead-simple, native Whisper app and will pay ~$30 for it.

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