Voxpen vs Superwhisper
Superwhisper is one of the better offline dictation apps for Mac — it runs Whisper models locally, just like Voxpen. The difference is philosophy. Superwhisper offers deep configuration: modes for email, coding, and notes that you set up and switch between. Voxpen is deliberately zero-setup: one hotkey, smart defaults, text where your cursor is. And it's free versus a subscription or a $249 lifetime license.
The verdict
Both apps respect your privacy. Pick Superwhisper if you enjoy tuning modes per use case and don't mind paying for it. Pick Voxpen if you want the fastest engine available (Parakeet v3), zero configuration, and a price of zero.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Superwhisper?
Yes — Voxpen is completely free and processes everything on-device, like Superwhisper. It skips the mode system in favor of one hotkey and automatic text polishing.
Is Voxpen faster than Superwhisper?
With the Parakeet v3 engine, yes — it transcribes at up to 110x realtime on Apple Silicon, roughly 10x faster than the Whisper large models both apps can run.