MacWhisper
MacWhisper is a transcription tool developed with OpenAI's Whisper technology, allowing users to efficiently transcribe audio files into text. Particularly suit...
Last verified:
What is MacWhisper?
MacWhisper is a macOS app for transcribing audio into text using OpenAI Whisper and Nvidia Parakeet, with the emphasis on fast, local transcription on your Mac. It is designed for common workflows like meetings, lectures, interviews, podcasts, voice notes, and video subtitle creation.
The app can record audio directly from your microphone or other input devices, transcribe dragged-in files, and even capture system audio or meetings from apps like Zoom, Teams, Webex, Skype, Chime, and Discord. It also supports syncing playback with transcripts, searching text and speakers, editing transcript segments, and exporting into many formats.
A major focus of MacWhisper is privacy and speed: transcription happens on-device, so no data leaves your machine. The site also highlights Metal and GPU acceleration, support for 100+ languages, and model choices ranging from small Whisper models to larger, more accurate ones.
The Pro version expands the app into a more advanced workflow tool. It adds Parakeet v2, automatic speaker recognition, batch transcription, WhisperKit and distilled models, YouTube transcription, watch folders, live captions with translation, integrations with tools like Notion, Zapier, Obsidian, and AI services such as ChatGPT and Claude.
MacWhisper pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
MacWhisper is free to download with a free/basic version, while Pro features are unlocked with a one-time license key and no subscription. The website says Pro includes higher-tier models and advanced features, and that you pay once and use it forever. It also offers 25% off for journalists, students, and non-profits, plus a 7-day refund window if you are not happy. For users who need more than 20 licenses or custom/MDM deployment, the site directs them to contact support.
MacWhisper pros
- On-device transcription for privacy
- No data leaves your Mac
- Supports Whisper and Parakeet
- Fast GPU and Metal acceleration
- Drag-and-drop audio import
- Direct microphone recording
- System audio recording support
- Can capture meetings from major apps
- Full transcript and speaker search
- Audio playback synced to text
- Supports 100+ languages
- Exports to many formats
- Subtitle export in SRT and VTT
- Manual speaker labeling
- Automatic filler-word removal
- Compact mode hides timestamps
- Edit and delete transcript segments
- Inline video player with subtitles
- Playback speed control from 0.5x to 3.0x
- Pro batch transcription support
- Watch Folder auto-transcription
- YouTube video transcription
- Live captions with translation
- Integrations with Notion and Zapier
MacWhisper cons
- Pro features are locked behind a license key
- Some Whisper models are Pro-only
- Medium and Large models need more than 8GB RAM
- Older Intel Macs may perform poorly
- Automatic speaker recognition is M-series focused
- Live translation quality may be imperfect
- Audio-to-language translation is not fully perfect
- Pricing is one-time but not shown clearly on site
Frequently asked questions about MacWhisper
What does MacWhisper do?
MacWhisper transcribes audio into text on macOS using Whisper and Parakeet, with support for meetings, lectures, interviews, voice recordings, podcasts, and videos. It can also export subtitles and other transcript formats, making it useful for editing, publishing, and note-taking.
Does MacWhisper work offline?
Yes. The website says transcription is done on your device and no data leaves your machine. That makes it a privacy-focused option for sensitive recordings such as interviews or internal meetings.
What audio sources can it transcribe?
MacWhisper can transcribe dragged-in audio files, direct microphone input, system audio, and meetings from apps like Zoom, Teams, Webex, Skype, Chime, and Discord. It also supports importing from Voice Memos and transcribing YouTube videos in Pro.
What file formats are supported?
The website lists mp3, wav, m4a, ogg, opus, mov, and mp4. It also supports exports such as .whisper, .srt, .vtt, csv, docx, pdf, markdown, html, and more.
What languages does MacWhisper support?
MacWhisper says it supports 100+ languages, including major languages like English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, and Romanian, along with many others. The site presents the app as useful for multilingual transcription and subtitles.
What is included in MacWhisper Pro?
Pro adds features such as Parakeet v2, automatic speaker recognition, batch transcription, WhisperKit and distilled models, YouTube transcription, watch folders, live captions with translation, cloud transcription options, integrations with productivity tools, and more advanced AI/prompting support.
How does speaker handling work?
The app lets you add up to two speakers manually in the base feature set, and Pro adds automatic speaker recognition on supported Macs. The site also mentions cleaner exports when speakers are labeled manually.
Can MacWhisper create subtitles?
Yes. The website highlights subtitle exports in SRT and VTT, plus an inline video player with synced subtitles. Pro also supports translated subtitles and multiple subtitle tracks in the player.
Is there a subscription?
No. The website says MacWhisper Pro is a one-time payment with no subscription, and that you pay once and use it forever. Pro buyers also get higher priority support.
What hardware does MacWhisper need?
The site says MacWhisper needs a lot of memory to work well, and Medium and Large models require more than 8GB of RAM. It also notes that performance on older Intel Macs may be poor.