The best dictation apps for Mac in 2026
The best dictation apps for Mac are Caddie (the most accurate in our real-speech test, and it learns your names from your notes), Wispr Flow (polished cleanup on every platform), Superwhisper (offline, with a lifetime licence), Aqua Voice (technical terms), Spokenly (free with local models), VoiceInk (open source, $25 once), MacWhisper (transcribing files) and Apple Dictation (free and built in).
The 8 picks at a glance
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Caddie | Best accuracy on your own words | Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta | Everything, while in beta | Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything |
| 2. Wispr Flow | Best on every platform | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | 2,000 words a week on Mac and Windows | Pro $15 a month, or $144 a year |
| 3. Superwhisper | Best offline | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | Unlimited dictation with local models | Pro $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 once |
| 4. Aqua Voice | Best for technical terms | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | 1,000 words in total | Pro $12 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly |
| 5. Spokenly | Best free | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Chrome | Unlimited with local models or your own API keys | Local+ $29 once; Pro $15 a month ($12 billed yearly) |
| 6. VoiceInk | Best open source | Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 14.4+), iPhone | A free trial | $25 once for one Mac |
| 7. MacWhisper | Best for files | Mac | Transcribe audio and video files on your Mac | Pro €64 once, with lifetime updates |
| 8. Apple Dictation | Best built in | Built into Mac, iPhone and iPad | Free, built in | Free |
Why people look for something better
Mac's built-in dictation is free but leaves you fixing names, jargon and punctuation. AI dictation apps clean that up; they differ on accuracy, offline use and how you pay.
How we picked
Caddie tested six Mac dictation setups on the same eight clips of everyday speech (Indian English, Hinglish, names, tech terms) and counted the wrong words; the method is on our blog. Prices and offline support are from each product's own site on 31 October 2026.
1. Caddie
Best accuracy on your own words
Hold fn in any app and talk. It learns the names and jargon in your notes and calendar, keeps Hinglish, and made the fewest mistakes in our test of six Mac dictation setups. Notes, tasks and meeting notes come with it.
- Platforms
- Mac (Apple silicon); notes, tasks and calendar in any browser; iPhone in beta
- Free plan
- Everything, while in beta
- Paid from
- Free while in beta, then $10 a month for everything
- Watch out for
- Mac only for meetings and dictation (Apple silicon; macOS 26 to record and dictate). No Windows or Android app.
- Source
- usecaddie.app
2. Wispr Flow
Best on every platform
Polished AI cleanup of what you say, on every major platform.
- Platforms
- Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android
- Free plan
- 2,000 words a week on Mac and Windows
- Paid from
- Pro $15 a month, or $144 a year
- Watch out for
- The free plan is capped by words per week, and it's subscription only.
- Source
- wisprflow.ai/pricing
3. Superwhisper
Best offline
Local Whisper models that work offline, custom modes, and a lifetime licence.
- Platforms
- Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android
- Free plan
- Unlimited dictation with local models
- Paid from
- Pro $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 once
- Watch out for
- AI cleanup and cloud models need Pro; local models run best on Apple silicon.
- Source
- superwhisper.com/docs/billing/plans.md
4. Aqua Voice
Best for technical terms
Strong on technical and coding terms, with text in about half a second.
- Platforms
- Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android
- Free plan
- 1,000 words in total
- Paid from
- Pro $12 a month, or $10 a month billed yearly
- Watch out for
- A tiny free allowance, and it only works in the cloud.
- Source
- aquavoice.com/pricing
5. Spokenly
Best free
The most generous free plan, on the most platforms.
- Platforms
- Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Chrome
- Free plan
- Unlimited with local models or your own API keys
- Paid from
- Local+ $29 once; Pro $15 a month ($12 billed yearly)
- Watch out for
- Cloud quality costs a subscription or your own API keys.
- Source
- spokenly.app
6. VoiceInk
Best open source
Open source and fully local, at the lowest one-time price.
- Platforms
- Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 14.4+), iPhone
- Free plan
- A free trial
- Paid from
- $25 once for one Mac
- Watch out for
- No Intel Macs, Windows or Android.
- Source
- tryvoiceink.com
7. MacWhisper
Best for files
Private, local transcription of files, bought once.
- Platforms
- Mac
- Free plan
- Transcribe audio and video files on your Mac
- Paid from
- Pro €64 once, with lifetime updates
- Watch out for
- Dictation into other apps is a secondary feature and needs Pro.
- Source
- macwhisper.com
8. Apple Dictation
Best built in
Already on your Mac, free and private.
- Platforms
- Built into Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Free plan
- Free, built in
- Paid from
- Free
- Watch out for
- No AI cleanup, and it stumbles on names and jargon.
- Source
- support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac
How to choose
- Accuracy on names and jargon: Caddie.
- Offline: Superwhisper, VoiceInk or Spokenly.
- Pay once: VoiceInk, Spokenly Local+, MacWhisper or Superwhisper's lifetime licence.
- Also on Windows and phones: Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Aqua or Spokenly.
Questions people ask
What is the most accurate dictation app for Mac?
In Caddie's test of six setups on everyday speech, Caddie's Scribe mode made the fewest mistakes and Wispr Flow was close behind. Apple Dictation made about one mistake in every four words.
Is there free dictation software for Mac?
Apple Dictation is built in. Spokenly and Superwhisper are free with local models, and Caddie is free while in beta.
What's the best offline dictation app for Mac?
Superwhisper and VoiceInk run local Whisper models, so they work without internet.