Stenotype vs MacWhisper
If you are looking for an offline, privacy-first dictation app for Mac using OpenAI's powerful Whisper AI, you’ve likely come across both Stenotype and MacWhisper. Both applications run locally on your Apple Silicon Mac, ensuring your data remains private and transcribing audio with near-perfect accuracy.
However, they are built with entirely different use cases in mind. Here is a breakdown of which tool is right for your specific workflow.
MacWhisper: The Transcription Powerhouse
MacWhisper, built by Jordi Bruin, is primarily a transcription application. It is designed to take long-form audio files (like podcasts, meeting recordings, or interviews) and generate a written transcript with timestamps.
- Best for: Journalists, podcasters, and meeting attendees.
- Interface: A full windowed application where you drag and drop audio files or press record to capture long meetings.
- Features: Subtitle export (SRT/VTT), speaker identification, podcast transcriptions, and batch processing.
- Global Dictation: MacWhisper does have a global dictation feature, but because the app is a large tool with many features, its primary focus is not seamless inline typing.
Stenotype: The Direct Replacement for macOS Dictation
Stenotype strips away all the transcription software bulk. It has one single purpose: to perfectly replace the native macOS keyboard dictation feature.
- Best for: Developers, writers, people with RSI, and anyone who wants to speak their emails or code instead of typing.
- Interface: Completely invisible. There is no dock icon and no main window. It runs silently in your menu bar.
- Workflow: You press a shortcut (like ⇧⌘D), you speak, and when you stop speaking, the text instantly types itself wherever your cursor is located—whether that is in VS Code, Slack, or Google Chrome.
- Simplicity: No file exports, no subtitle formats, no batch processing. It acts exactly like a keyboard.
Pricing & Models
Both applications leverage the open-source Whisper models optimized by WhisperKit for Apple Silicon.
- MacWhisper offers a free version with smaller models, and a paid Pro version (around €39 depending on tier) to access the larger, more accurate models and advanced transcription features.
- Stenotype offers a 7-day free trial, followed by a simple $9.99 lifetime license. It automatically uses the most efficient model for your specific Mac hardware to balance speed and accuracy for real-time dictation.
Summary: Which should you choose?
If you need to transcribe pre-recorded audio files, generate subtitles, or record a one-hour zoom meeting to search through later, MacWhisper is the clear winner.
If you want to use your voice as a direct replacement for your keyboard—and you want an invisible tool that types directly into your active window—Stenotype is tailor-made for you.