Best voice typing apps for Mac: six tools compared.
People ask which voice typing app is good on a Mac. This page puts six commonly compared tools side by side and writes only what the vendors' own pages state. Checked 2026-10-14 (Typeless 2026-10-13).
Short answer: there is no single best one. Free and built in: Apple Dictation. Also on Windows and phones: Typeless, Superwhisper or Wispr Flow. A Mac-only tool where you hold a key to talk, that works offline and keeps what you said on your Mac: VoiceInput, which we make, so its limits are listed below.
Six tools side by side
| Tool | What it is | Platforms | How you start | Offline | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Dictation | Built into macOS | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Shortcut or Microphone key: press to start, press again to stop; stops after 30 seconds with no speech | Languages shown as processed on the Mac | Included in macOS |
| Typeless | AI voice typing tool | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android | Unverified | Unverified | Free plan; Pro $12/month billed yearly or $30/month billed monthly |
| Superwhisper | Voice-to-text app | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android | Unverified | Site says it works offline; offline models run well only on Apple silicon Macs | Free tier lists voice-to-text in any app and unlimited Whisper models; Pro price not clearly stated on the page we read |
| Wispr Flow | AI dictation | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android | Unverified | Not stated | Free: 2,000 words a week on desktop; Pro $12/month billed yearly or $15/month billed monthly |
| Doubao Input Method | Full input method with voice | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, HarmonyOS NEXT | Not on the home page; reviews say hold Fn (unverified) | Unverified | Not stated on the home page |
| VoiceInput | macOS menu bar app, voice input only | macOS 14 or later; iPhone has a separate keyboard app with different features | Hold Right Option, release to insert; configurable | Yes: local SenseVoice or Apple Speech Recognition | Free plan; Pro $9/month, $79/year, or $49 lifetime (limited to 100) |
"Unverified" and "Not stated" mean we did not see a clear statement on the vendor's page, not that the feature does not exist. Prices and features change; check each vendor before you buy.
What each one is good at
- Apple Dictation: nothing to install, included with the system, and it also exists on iPhone and iPad.
- Typeless: the widest platform list here, plus a personal dictionary, translation, team management and cross-device sync on its site.
- Superwhisper: a free tier with unlimited use of Whisper models, offline operation, and 100+ languages per its site.
- Wispr Flow: 100+ languages and apps for four platforms; a published free word limit makes it easy to try.
- Doubao Input Method: a full input method with AI suggestions, text tidying, and cross-device copy and paste; its site highlights dialects and noisy places.
- VoiceInput: hold Right Option anywhere there is a cursor, local engines that work with the network off, automatic spaces between Chinese and English, and every result kept on your Mac and searchable. It has no typing features, and nothing for Windows or Android.
How to choose
- Just trying it out: Apple Dictation, in System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation. If nothing happens, see the seven-step checklist.
- Long dictation, prompts, documents: a hold-to-talk tool is easier than start-stop dictation.
- Offline or audio that stays on the Mac: Apple Dictation for languages processed on the Mac, or VoiceInput's local engines. See offline dictation on Mac.
- The same tool on Windows and phones: Typeless, Superwhisper, Wispr Flow or Doubao Input Method.
VoiceInput is not an input method, so it can sit next to any of the above. Side-by-side pages: VoiceInput vs Typeless, vs Apple Dictation, vs Doubao Input Method.
FAQ
What is the best voice typing app for Mac?
There is no single best one; it depends on what you need. Apple Dictation is free and built in. Typeless, Superwhisper and Wispr Flow also run on other platforms. VoiceInput is Mac-only, works offline and keeps what you said on your Mac. Doubao Input Method is a full input method aimed at Chinese users.
Is there a free voice typing option on Mac?
Yes. Apple Dictation is included in macOS. VoiceInput has a free plan with unlimited local engines and 60 minutes of cloud recognition a month. Superwhisper lists a free tier, Wispr Flow gives 2,000 words a week on desktop, and Typeless gives limited words each week.
Can I dictate on a Mac without internet?
Yes. Apple Dictation works offline for languages that System Settings shows as processed on the Mac. VoiceInput's local engines work fully offline. Superwhisper says it works offline. Typeless, Wispr Flow and Doubao Input Method do not say whether their Mac apps work offline, so we did not verify it.
Which works best for mixed Chinese and English?
We have not benchmarked accuracy, so there is no ranking. VoiceInput is built for Chinese with English terms and adds spaces and brand-name casing on the Mac. Doubao Input Method lists mixed Chinese-English input. The reliable test is to say the same sentences with your own accent in two apps.
Sources and check dates
- Apple Dictation: Apple, "Use Dictation on Mac", support.apple.com, checked 2026-10-14.
- Typeless: pricing and home page, checked 2026-10-13.
- Superwhisper: superwhisper.com, checked 2026-10-14.
- Wispr Flow: wisprflow.ai/pricing, checked 2026-10-14.
- Doubao Input Method: shurufa.doubao.com, checked 2026-10-14.
- VoiceInput: pricing page; features match v0.91.0, checked 2026-10-14.