Two dedicated Mac dictation apps in the same category. Superwhisper is the larger product and the one with a free tier that does not expire. Voice Type is one hotkey, one payment, and no transcript history.
Short answer
- Superwhisper is free to keep using, so try it before either paid option. Its free tier does not expire and covers voice to text in any app with local Whisper models.
- Voice Type is $19.99 once. Superwhisper Pro is $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 for a lifetime licence, so Voice Type is cheaper than Pro after three months and much cheaper than the lifetime licence.
- Superwhisper Pro is the answer if you need translation, transcript history, or reprocessing. Voice Type does not do those.
Checked facts
| Voice Type | Superwhisper | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 one time, 7-day trial | Free tier that does not expire. Pro $8.49/mo, $84.99/yr, or $249.99 lifetime |
| Platforms | macOS | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Where audio is processed | On the Mac | Offline models run locally on Apple silicon. Intel Macs are steered to cloud models, and file transcription is handled in the cloud |
| File transcription | Yes, on device. Accepts m4a, mov, mp4 and wav | Yes, on Pro |
| Bring your own AI API keys | Yes, eleven providers plus local Ollama and Apple on-device | Yes, on Pro |
Checked 2026-08-29 against Superwhisper Pro docs, superwhisper.com, Voice Type pricing. Prices change. Confirm on the vendor page before buying.
Where Voice Type loses
Where Voice Type loses
Superwhisper is free to keep using and Voice Type is not. Its free tier covers voice to text in any app with local Whisper models and 100+ languages, which is the same core job Voice Type charges $19.99 for. Superwhisper also runs on Windows and iOS, and Voice Type does not. If the free tier does what you need, there is no argument for paying us instead.
What the money actually buys
Superwhisper Pro is a subscription because it funds cloud models, translation, and transcript history. Voice Type is $19.99 once because it does none of that. Compare the two on total cost and Voice Type is cheaper than Pro from the third month, and a tenth of the $249.99 lifetime licence.
Compare them on capability and the order reverses. Superwhisper runs on Windows and iOS, transcribes files, keeps history, and reprocesses recordings against different models. Voice Type does none of it. The honest framing is that these are different sizes of product, and the free Superwhisper tier is the right first test for either decision.
Where the practical differences show up
Product surface
- •Superwhisper ships modes, a history panel, reprocessing, and file transcription. Voice Type ships a hotkey and text at the cursor. Neither is a virtue on its own.
Model choices
- •Both let you point the app at a cloud AI provider with your own key. Voice Type ships eleven, and rewriting is off until you turn it on. Superwhisper puts the feature behind Pro.
History and reprocessing
- •Superwhisper documents a history panel and a reprocessing flow, so a recording can be re-run against a different model. Voice Type keeps no transcript history.
Free path
- •Superwhisper has a permanent free tier. Voice Type has a 7-day trial and then asks for $19.99.
Pick by job
Voice Type fits when...
- •Live dictation is the whole job and a subscription is not wanted.
- •A single hotkey with no modes to configure is the preferred shape.
- •One payment beats a recurring one at this usage level.
Superwhisper fits when...
- •Multiple voice models, modes, or translation are part of the job.
- •Transcript history, reprocessing, or file transcription matter.
- •Windows or iOS is in the mix, which rules Voice Type out entirely.