Best dictation software for Mac in 2026, compared
Published 11 October 2026
I build EaseMyPease, which is one of the apps on this page. So I won't tell you it wins. I'll tell you what each one costs and does, quote their own pages, and date every figure. Everything below was checked on 11 October 2026. Prices change; follow the links.
The short version
| Price | Platforms | Where speech is processed | Free option | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| macOS Dictation | Built into macOS | Mac (and Apple devices) | On device where supported; Apple says to check Keyboard settings | Built in |
| Wispr Flow | Pro $15/user/mo, or $12/user/mo billed annually | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android | Not stated on its pricing page | Free plan, 2,000 words/week on desktop |
| Superwhisper | Pro $8.49/mo, $84.99/yr, or $249.99 lifetime | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android | Local models, or cloud models on Pro | Free tier with local Whisper models |
| MacWhisper | Pro €64 once | Mac | On your Mac with local models; optional cloud providers with your own API keys | Free version |
| Dragon for Mac | Discontinued (2018) | Windows only now | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| EaseMyPease | $10/mo or $100/yr | Mac only, macOS 15+ | Cloud; audio discarded, not stored | 3-day trial, no card |
Prices as listed on each vendor's page on 11 October 2026: Wispr Flow pricing, Superwhisper plans, MacWhisper, EaseMyPease pricing.
macOS Dictation
Built into macOS and already on your Mac. Press the Microphone key or your shortcut and talk; it adds punctuation in supported languages and stops after 30 seconds of silence. Apple says to check Keyboard settings to see whether your dictation is processed on device. You switch languages by clicking the language label or pressing Globe. Good enough for a lot of people. Steps: How to dictate on a Mac.
Source: Apple, Dictate messages and documents on Mac.
Pick it if you dictate short things and don't want to pay for another app.
Wispr Flow
Free plan with “2,000/week on desktop”. Pro “$15/user/mo”, or “$12/user/mo” billed annually. Runs on “Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android” and lists “100+ languages”. For Enterprise the pricing page says “Model training locked off”; on other plans you can “Opt out of model training at any time”.
Source, checked 11 October 2026: wisprflow.ai/pricing. I compared it with EaseMyPease in detail here: Wispr Flow vs EaseMyPease.
Pick it if you dictate on more than a Mac, or want a free plan.
Superwhisper
Free tier with “unlimited dictation with local Whisper models”, custom vocabulary and up to two modes. Pro is “$8.49/month”, “$84.99/year” or “$249.99 once” for lifetime, and one license covers “unlimited Macs and Windows PCs, plus your iPhone and Android phone”. Works offline with local models. Its FAQ says Intel Macs “work best with Cloud models”. 30-day refund.
Sources, checked 11 October 2026: superwhisper.com/docs/billing/plans, superwhisper.com.
Pick it if you want offline dictation, AI rewriting modes, or a lifetime license.
MacWhisper
Mostly a transcription app for audio and video files and meetings, with system-wide dictation as a feature. Free version, and Pro for “€64” per license, “Pay Once”, with lifetime updates. It transcribes on your Mac with local models, and you can also connect cloud providers with your own API keys. 100+ languages.
Source, checked 11 October 2026: macwhisper.com.
Pick it if you mostly transcribe recordings and want to pay once.
Dragon (Nuance)
There is no current Dragon for Mac. Nuance discontinued Dragon Professional Individual for Mac on 22 October 2018; existing version 6 owners keep a perpetual license but get no updates. Dragon Professional v16 is sold for Windows.
Sources: Nuance support answer 27843, Dragon Professional.
Pick it if you're on Windows. On a Mac, it's not an option.
EaseMyPease
My app. Hold a key, talk, and the text lands at your cursor in any app. Optional clean-up removes fillers and punctuates, in every language it transcribes. 30+ languages, including switching between two in one sentence. $10 a month or $100 a year, 3-day trial with no card, 14-day money-back guarantee. Mac only, macOS 15+, Intel and Apple Silicon. Transcription is in the cloud, so it needs internet; audio is discarded, not stored; your dictionary and history stay on your Mac.
What it doesn't have: a free plan, offline mode, a phone app, Windows, or team features. It first shipped on 9 September 2026 and one person builds it. Fewer languages than Wispr Flow, Superwhisper or MacWhisper.
Pick it if you're Mac-only, mix languages, and want nothing kept.
What I haven't done
I haven't run all six on the same recording and measured accuracy or latency. Until I do, nothing here is a speed or accuracy ranking. Anyone giving you one without that test is guessing.
Common questions
- Is there a free dictation app for Mac?
- Yes. macOS Dictation is built into macOS. Superwhisper, MacWhisper and Wispr Flow have free tiers. Checked 11 October 2026.
- Is Dragon available for Mac?
- No. Nuance discontinued Dragon Professional Individual for Mac on 22 October 2018, and Dragon Professional v16 is sold for Windows.
- Which Mac dictation apps work offline?
- macOS Dictation (on device where supported), Superwhisper with local models, and MacWhisper with local models. EaseMyPease needs an internet connection. Wispr Flow's pricing page does not say. Checked 11 October 2026.
If built-in dictation is misbehaving, start with Mac dictation not working.