The OpenWhispr Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about OpenWhispr in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
OpenWhispr
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source dictation with free local models and meeting notes
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among voice dictation apps, read from OpenWhispr’s own pages.
Made by Gizmo Labs Inc. · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02Insider tipsWhat most people miss: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches
- 03What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 04What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 05Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 06The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 07Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 08About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from OpenWhispr’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on OpenWhispr’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 26 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade
OpenWhispr is an open-source voice-to-text app for macOS, Windows and Linux, with an iPhone and iPad app on paid plans. Dictation with local Whisper and Parakeet models is free and unlimited, and cloud transcription comes from the company's OpenWhispr Cloud or your own API keys. It also takes meeting notes without a bot joining the call and transcribes uploaded audio files into notes.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about OpenWhispr, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No App Store rating on record, and nothing to set up: install it, press a hotkey, speak.
- 1
Best for open-source dictation with a free local mode
OpenWhispr is open-source dictation for Mac, Windows and Linux where local models are free and unlimited, and it takes meeting notes with no bot on the call.
- 2
Paid plans start at $6.67 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $6.67 per user / month, billed annually at $80 ($8 billed monthly).
- 3
There is a free plan
Unlimited local dictation and unlimited cloud transcription with your own API keys, plus 2,000 OpenWhispr Cloud words a week and 5 hours of meeting recordings a month.
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS.
- 5
Dictation in any app
Press a hotkey, speak, and the text appears at the cursor in any application on macOS, Windows or Linux, in 100+ languages with auto-detection.
- 6
Local models or cloud
Whisper and NVIDIA Parakeet models run on the device for free and work offline. Cloud processing uses OpenWhispr Cloud or your own OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini or Groq keys.
- 7
Bot-free meeting notes
Captures the computer's audio during a Zoom, Google Meet or Teams call without a bot joining, then turns your rough notes and the transcript into decisions and action items.
- 8
A 3.2 GPA, above 26 of 27
That is against the other voice dictation apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace OpenWhispr you would be making dictation that types into any app on your computer. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
OpenWhispr at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $6.67 per user / month, billed annually at $80 ($8 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS
- Made by
- Gizmo Labs Inc.
- Category
- Voice Dictation
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for open-source dictation with a free local mode
OpenWhispr is open-source dictation for Mac, Windows and Linux where local models are free and unlimited, and it takes meeting notes with no bot on the call. But its own cloud stops at 2,000 free words a week, the iPhone app, device sync and Agent mode start on Pro at $6.67 a month, there's no Android or web app, and local speed depends on your hardware.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Pro is $6.67 a month billed annually, so $80 a year, or $8 month to month. The cheapest quarter of dictation apps here starts at $7, so $6.67 sits just under that line rather than well below it. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Local dictation is unlimited, and so is cloud transcription with your own API keys. There's no cap on the thing you actually came for. The weekly 2,000 words only applies to OpenWhispr's own cloud. |
| Features | B | Dictation at the cursor in 100+ languages, Whisper and Parakeet locally or the cloud, a dictionary that learns from your corrections, and spoken instructions like "clean this up". That's the whole dictation job, with meeting notes and file transcription on top. |
| Ease of use | B | No App Store rating on record, and nothing to set up: install it, press a hotkey, speak. How quick the local models feel depends on your hardware, mind. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | macOS, Windows and Linux plus an iPhone and iPad app, with an API and MCP. Computer and phone, but no web app and no Android, so it stops short of the full spread. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who OpenWhispr is for
- Fits if you want unlimited dictation that runs on your own computer, Linux included
- Works for meeting notes without a bot joining, up to 5 hours a month on the free plan
Who it is not for
- Tight if you're staying free and rely on OpenWhispr's cloud, which stops at 2,000 words a week
- Not for you if you want it on your iPhone without paying, as the mobile app starts on Pro
- Skip it if your computer is old and you want everything local, since speed depends on your hardware
- Watch out: device sync, Agent mode and API access are Pro, chat over your data is Business at $13.33, and SSO is Enterprise
- Skip it if you're on Android or want a web app, as neither is offered
Good to know
Good for
- Open-source dictation on Mac, Windows or Linux
- Unlimited free local transcription with a paid cloud option
- Teams that need SSO, audit logs and compliance documents
Worth knowing
- The Free plan caps OpenWhispr Cloud at 2,000 words a week and meeting recordings at 5 hours a month.
- The iPhone and iPad app, device sync, Agent mode and API and MCP access all start on Pro.
- Chat over your data needs Business, and SSO, SCIM and audit logs are limited to Enterprise.
- Local model speed depends on your hardware, and cloud processing needs an internet connection.
Part 02 · Tips
Insider tips
What most people miss: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches
7
Things most people miss, each from its own help pages
The things about OpenWhispr that are easy to miss until they cost you: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches at renewal or when you leave. Each one is from OpenWhispr’s own pages, linked beside it.
Read on Oct 17, 2026. Read from OpenWhispr's docs (plans and limits, referrals, agent name, data retention, lost dictations, exporting notes and refunds) on 17 October 2026. Not tried out: these tips are what its own pages say.
- 1
Pay less
Pay for Pro on the website, not in the iPhone app
OpenWhispr's plans page lists Pro at $8 a month or $80 a year on the desktop app or website, against $9.99 or $99.99 through the iOS app, because Apple sells it there. It's the same subscription, and signing in on the phone carries Pro across.
docs.openwhispr.com - 2
Pay less
Refer a friend and you both get a month of Pro
Click Get a free month in the sidebar for your link. They get their first 30 days free when they subscribe, and yours lands once they've dictated 2,000 words on OpenWhispr Cloud. Months stack, and if you already pay, your next bill just moves back a month.
docs.openwhispr.com - 3
Setting
Start a dictation with "OpenWhispr" and the AI agent answers instead
The voice agent is on by default and named OpenWhispr, so a dictation that starts with that word, or something close like "open whisper", gets answered, not typed. Rename it or switch it off in Settings, AI Models, Language Models, on the Voice Agent tab.
docs.openwhispr.com - 4
Privacy
Transcripts are kept forever, in a file it doesn't encrypt itself
By default audio is deleted after 30 days and transcripts kept forever; both are in Settings, Privacy & Data. Turn Data Retention off and text is still pasted but never saved. The history file isn't encrypted by OpenWhispr, so your disk encryption is what protects it.
docs.openwhispr.com - 5
Easy to miss
Get a cancelled or failed dictation back with Re-transcribe
Failed dictations stay in your history, and Re-transcribe runs the saved audio again while it's kept, 30 days by default. Pressing Escape throws a take away, unless you switch on Save discarded dictations in Settings, Privacy & Data.
docs.openwhispr.com - 6
Leaving
Mirror every note to a folder as Markdown
Save notes as files, in Settings, Preferences, writes every note to a folder you choose, with transcripts as separate files. You can point it at an Obsidian vault, but don't edit the files there, as OpenWhispr rewrites them. Export is Markdown only, with no Word or PDF.
docs.openwhispr.com - 7
Renewal
Cancelling doesn't refund you, and a refund doesn't cancel
Ask support for both in one message if you want both. Its refunds page says the latest monthly payment can normally be refunded straight away, and yearly plans are looked at one by one. Cancelling yourself is in Settings, Plans & Billing, Manage Billing.
docs.openwhispr.com
Part 03 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$6.67
A month to start, for each person. There is a free plan too
OpenWhispr has a free plan. Paid plans start at $6.67 per user / month, billed annually at $80 ($8 billed monthly).
Local dictation is unlimited, and so is cloud transcription with your own API keys.
Free
$0
Unlimited local models and your own API keys, 2,000 OpenWhispr Cloud words a week, 5 hours of meeting recordings a month and a custom dictionary.
Pro
$6.67
per user / month, billed annually ($80), or $8 billed monthly
Unlimited cloud transcription, Agent mode, 20 hours of meeting recordings a month, device sync, API and MCP access, and the iPhone and iPad app.
Business
$13.33
per user / month, billed annually ($160), or $16 billed monthly
Everything in Pro plus unlimited meeting recordings, chat over your data, basic team management and priority support.
Enterprise
Custom
SSO and SAML, SCIM provisioning, audit logs, org-wide retention controls, custom data processing agreements and dedicated support.
The free plan
Unlimited local dictation and unlimited cloud transcription with your own API keys, plus 2,000 OpenWhispr Cloud words a week and 5 hours of meeting recordings a month.
Read from openwhispr.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
2 months free with annual billing
Pro is $80 a year against $8 a month, and Business is $160 per user a year against $16 a month.
Stated on openwhispr.comEducation
40% off for 12 months for students and teachers
People using OpenWhispr for their studies or classroom get 40% off for 12 months by emailing support with proof of status. The same offer covers military service and assistive use.
Stated on openwhispr.comNonprofit
40% off for 12 months for non-profits
Non-profit work qualifies for 40% off for 12 months. Email support with proof of status to receive a personal code.
Stated on openwhispr.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Monthly”, against $9.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $12.99 | $9.13 | 9% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 169ribu | $9.45 | 5% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 599.00 | $9.54 | about the same |
| Turkey | ₺499,99 | $10.17 | about the same |
| Germany | 9,99 € | $11.19 | 12% more |
| Brazil | R$ 59,90 | $11.97 | 20% more |
| South Africa | R199.99 | $12.10 | 21% more |
| United Kingdom | £9.99 | $13.21 | 32% more |
Part 04 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS
Open-source dictation with free local models and meeting notes. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, public API, AI features, meeting notes, transcription, dictation.
That's the whole dictation job, with meeting notes and file transcription on top.
- Dictation in any app
- Press a hotkey, speak, and the text appears at the cursor in any application on macOS, Windows or Linux, in 100+ languages with auto-detection.
- Local models or cloud
- Whisper and NVIDIA Parakeet models run on the device for free and work offline. Cloud processing uses OpenWhispr Cloud or your own OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini or Groq keys.
- Bot-free meeting notes
- Captures the computer's audio during a Zoom, Google Meet or Teams call without a bot joining, then turns your rough notes and the transcript into decisions and action items.
- Audio file transcription
- Drop in MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC and other audio files to get a transcript, processed on the device by default, then summarize it or extract action items.
- Voice instructions and Agent mode
- Spoken instructions such as "clean this up" or "draft an email to Mike" rewrite or generate text. Agent mode is included from the Pro plan.
- Custom dictionary
- Add names, jargon and technical terms the models tend to miss. The dictionary also learns new words from the corrections you make.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
What it works with
- OpenAI
- Anthropic
- Gemini
- Groq
- Zoom
- Google Meet
- Microsoft Teams
Who makes OpenWhispr
OpenWhispr is made by Gizmo Labs Inc., a Delaware corporation that trades as OpenWhispr. The app is open source under the MIT licence and free to run on your own machine; the company earns money from paid cloud plans and team pricing, and says it is backed by a16z Speedrun.
- Ownership
- Privately held. Privately held. Its terms of service name Gizmo Labs Inc., a Delaware corporation doing business as OpenWhispr, and its home page says the company is backed by a16z Speedrun.openwhispr.com
- Funding
- No round has been announced with a figure. The only statement on its own site is the line on the home page saying OpenWhispr is backed by a16z Speedrun; neither the company nor the investor publishes an amount or a date.openwhispr.com
- Founders and leaders
- Gabriel Stein, CEOopenwhispr.com
- Hiring
- Three open roles, all in person in San Francisco or Chicago: a founding engineering lead, a founding engineer and a social and brand growth creator, with salary ranges publishedopenwhispr.com
- Lately
- OpenWhispr 1.10.3 · Oct 12, 2026
- OpenWhispr 1.10.2 · Sep 15, 2026
- OpenWhispr 1.10.1 · Sep 14, 2026
- OpenWhispr 1.10.0 · Sep 11, 2026
Read on Oct 18, 2026 from the company’s own pages and from news reports. What is not stated there is left out.
Part 05 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
26/27
Other voice dictation apps it is graded above
OpenWhispr's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 26 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 16 of 27) and worst on ease of use (B, above 7).
Its paid plans start at $6.67 a month for each person, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 5 of the 16 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 28 voice dictation apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. OpenWhispr’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 12 of 27
- AFree plan and trialAbove 16 of 27
- BFeaturesAbove 11 of 27
- BEase of useAbove 7 of 27
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 18 of 27
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 22 voice dictation apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. OpenWhispr is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace OpenWhispr you would be making dictation that types into any app on your computer. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 26 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade. It costs $80.04 a year. OpenWhispr is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could not
- Dictation that types into any app on your computer.
- A bot that joins your calls and turns the talk into notes.
- Speech turned into text you can trust.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- It plugs into other products, OpenAI, Anthropic and Gemini among them, and has an API.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. OpenWhispr’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 06 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Handy, VoiceInk and Spokenly
The 5 tools OpenWhispr is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Wispr Flow
Free plan · from $12/mo
Voice dictation that cleans up your speech in any app.
- Only OpenWhispr lists a Linux app.
- Only Wispr Flow lists an Android app.
- OpenWhispr is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Superwhisper
Free plan · from $8.49/mo
Voice-to-text app with offline models and custom AI modes.
- Only OpenWhispr lists a Linux app.
- Only Superwhisper lists an Android app.
- OpenWhispr is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
Handy
Free
Free, open-source offline speech-to-text for desktop.
- Only OpenWhispr lists an iOS app.
- OpenWhispr also covers meeting notes and transcription.
- 2.8GPA
VoiceInk
Free trial · from $25 one-time
Open-source Mac dictation with local models and a one-time price.
- OpenWhispr has a free plan. VoiceInk does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only OpenWhispr lists Windows and Linux apps.
- VoiceInk can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.0GPA
Spokenly
Free plan · from $8.33/mo
Dictation app with free local models and optional cloud accuracy.
- OpenWhispr is open source, according to its own site.
- OpenWhispr also covers meeting notes.
Part 07 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is OpenWhispr free?
OpenWhispr has a free plan. Unlimited local dictation and unlimited cloud transcription with your own API keys, plus 2,000 OpenWhispr Cloud words a week and 5 hours of meeting recordings a month.
How much does OpenWhispr cost?
OpenWhispr lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does OpenWhispr work on?
OpenWhispr is available on macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS.
Does OpenWhispr offer any discounts?
OpenWhispr publicly lists the following: 2 months free with annual billing; 40% off for 12 months for students and teachers; 40% off for 12 months for non-profits.
Does OpenWhispr have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. OpenWhispr is listed for macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS.
Is OpenWhispr open source?
Yes. OpenWhispr is open source, according to its own site.
Does OpenWhispr work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Does OpenWhispr have an API?
Yes. OpenWhispr offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does OpenWhispr integrate with?
OpenWhispr's listing names OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Groq, Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams.
Does OpenWhispr have a student discount?
40% off for 12 months for students and teachers. People using OpenWhispr for their studies or classroom get 40% off for 12 months by emailing support with proof of status.
Who makes OpenWhispr?
OpenWhispr is made by Gizmo Labs Inc. Privately held.
What are the alternatives to OpenWhispr?
The closest alternatives to OpenWhispr in our directory are Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Handy, VoiceInk and Spokenly.
How does OpenWhispr compare with other voice dictation apps?
OpenWhispr's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 26 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 1.
Is OpenWhispr good value for money?
ToolGPA grades OpenWhispr B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $6.67 a month for each person, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 5 of the 16 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of OpenWhispr?
To replace OpenWhispr you would be making dictation that types into any app on your computer.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from OpenWhispr’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from OpenWhispr's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-25.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Gizmo Labs Inc. Prices change, so check openwhispr.com before you buy.
Part 08 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- OpenWhispr, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/openwhispr
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "OpenWhispr: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/openwhispr
Know someone choosing between voice dictation apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/openwhispr/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded voice dictation apps after OpenWhispr, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Voice Dictation Insider's GuideEvery one of the 28 voice dictation apps we grade, compared
- TypeWhisper Insider's GuideOpen-source dictation with local engines for Mac, Windows and iOS3.2 GPA
- FluidVoice Insider's GuideFree, open-source on-device dictation for macOS3.0 GPA
- Google AI Edge Eloquent Insider's GuideFree on-device AI dictation app from Google for iPhone and Mac3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what OpenWhispr’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. OpenWhispr is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Gizmo Labs Inc. Prices and plans change: check openwhispr.com before you buy.