The TypeWhisper Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about TypeWhisper 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.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

TypeWhisper

The Insider’s Guide

Open-source dictation with local engines for Mac, Windows and iOS

TypeWhisper, as pictured on typewhisper.com

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among voice dictation apps, read from TypeWhisper’s own pages.

Made by Marco Hillger · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com

3.2GPA

01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from TypeWhisper’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on TypeWhisper’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 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

TypeWhisper is an open-source speech-to-text app for macOS, Windows, iPhone and iPad. Press a hotkey and it types into the active text field, using speech engines that run on the device or cloud providers you add yourself. Workflows clean up, format or translate the transcript with an AI provider you choose, and add-ons bring further engines and tools. The core app is free under the GPLv3, and a paid Commercial license adds Premium sync, learning from corrections and non-GPL terms.

To get you started, here are 9 things to know about TypeWhisper, taken from its own pages and our grades.

1
Best for open-source dictation you can pull apart and tune
TypeWhisper is open-source dictation for Mac, Windows, iPhone and iPad, with a free core for system-wide dictation, local engines, AI workflows and file transcription.
2
Paid plans start at about $5.60 a month
As its pricing page puts it: €5 per month, or from €99 one-time, for up to 3 devices.
3
There is a free plan
The core app is free and open source under the GPLv3, with no account: system-wide dictation, local engines, workflows, add-ons, history, snippets and APIs on macOS, Windows and iOS.
4
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and iOS.
5
System-wide dictation
A global hotkey records in push-to-talk or toggle mode and pastes the transcript into the active text field. Rules can set language, engine and behavior per app or website.
6
Choice of local speech engines
Apple Speech is built in on the Mac, and WhisperKit (99+ languages) and Parakeet TDT v3 (25 European languages) install as add-ons. Windows gets offline transcription through whisper.cpp.
7
AI workflows
Workflows process the transcript before it is pasted, with templates for translation, formatting, summarization and app-specific cleanup, using Apple Intelligence, Groq, OpenAI, Gemini or another provider.
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 TypeWhisper 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.

TypeWhisper at a glance

Pricing: Free plan, from €5 per month, or from €99 one-time, for up to 3 devices
Free plan: Yes
Free trial: None stated
Runs on: macOS, Windows, iOS
Made by: Marco Hillger
Category: Voice Dictation
Our grade: 3.2 GPA, very good

The report card

Best for open-source dictation you can pull apart and tune

TypeWhisper is open-source dictation for Mac, Windows, iPhone and iPad, with a free core for system-wide dictation, local engines, AI workflows and file transcription. But every cloud provider needs your own key, sync and learning from corrections need a license from €5 a month, prices are in euros only, and there's no Android or Linux version.

ToolGPA report cardTypeWhisperGraded Oct 10, 2026

Subject	Grade	Comment
Value for money	A	The whole core app is free to download and run under the GPLv3, work use included, so the thing you came for costs nothing. The Commercial license from €5 a month, or €99 once for 3 devices, buys sync and non-GPL terms rather than the dictation itself.
Free plan and trial	A	Free and open source with no account at all: dictation, local engines, workflows, add-ons, history, snippets and the APIs. No word cap anywhere. The paid license adds sync and learning from corrections.
Features	B	A hotkey types into any text field with rules per app, workflows tidy the transcript, and there's a dictionary, snippets, batch file transcription with SRT export, an HTTP API and a CLI. The job is covered, but the cloud speech and AI bits only work once you've added your own key for each provider.
Ease of use	C	No App Store rating on record. Apple Speech is built in on the Mac so you can start talking, but the listing's own picture is 54 add-ons, engines you install yourself and a key or login for every cloud provider. That's a learning curve.
Platforms and integrations	B	macOS, Windows, iPhone and iPad, with Groq, OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Deepgram, ElevenLabs and Obsidian among the hook-ups plus an SDK and API. No web app, no Android and no Linux, and some add-ons aren't offered on Windows.

Grade point averageVery good, out of 4.03.2

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 TypeWhisper is for

Fits if you want free, open-source dictation that runs on your own device
Works for teams that need code they can audit and a license that isn't the GPL

Who it is not for

Skip it if you're on Android or Linux, because no version is listed for either
Not for you if you want cloud accuracy with no fiddling, as each provider needs your own API key
Tight if you're staying free and want your dictionary on every device, since sync needs a license
Watch out: prices are in euros only, and the iPhone App Store lists Premium at $4.99 with no period shown
Watch out: Meeting Automation is macOS only, and the WhisperKit, Parakeet and MCP add-ons aren't offered on Windows

Good to know

Good for

People who want free, open-source dictation that runs on the device
Users who like to choose and switch between speech engines
Teams that need auditable code and a non-GPL commercial license

Worth knowing

Prices are listed in euros only. On iPhone and iPad, Premium is an in-app purchase: the US App Store lists $4.99 with no period shown and $89.99 for lifetime.
Sync Dictionary & Snippets and Learn from Corrections need a Commercial license, sync also needs a Premium sign-in, and Meeting Automation is macOS only.
Cloud speech and AI providers work only after you add your own API key or login for each one.
No Android or Linux version is listed, and add-ons vary by platform: the WhisperKit, Parakeet and MCP Client add-ons are not offered for Windows.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

~$5.60

A month to start. There is a free plan too

TypeWhisper has a free plan. Paid plans start at €5 per month, or from €99 one-time, for up to 3 devices.

Free and open source with no account at all: dictation, local engines, workflows, add-ons, history, snippets and the APIs.

From our grade for free plan and trial

Free (GPLv3 / OSS)
€0
Core dictation, local engines, workflows, add-ons, history, snippets and APIs, including internal use at work. Community support on Discord.
Individual
From €5
per month, or from €99 one-time (lifetime)
Commercial license for up to 3 devices with Sync Dictionary & Snippets, Learn from Corrections and non-GPL terms. Pay what you want above the listed price.
Team
From €19
per month, or from €299 one-time (lifetime)
Everything in Individual for up to 10 devices under one license, aimed at small teams.
Enterprise
From €99
per month, or from €999 one-time (lifetime)
Everything in Team with unlimited devices and priority support, for company-wide rollouts.

The free plan

The core app is free and open source under the GPLv3, with no account: system-wide dictation, local engines, workflows, add-ons, history, snippets and APIs on macOS, Windows and iOS.

Read from typewhisper.com on Oct 6, 2026.

Ways to pay less

Lifetime license
Lifetime commercial license from €99
Each commercial tier can be bought once instead of monthly: from €99 for Individual, €299 for Team and €999 for Enterprise. Lifetime covers future updates in the same product line.
Stated on typewhisper.com
Education
Student discount on request
The pricing FAQ invites students to email hello@typewhisper.com for a discount. The amount is not published.
Stated on typewhisper.com
Nonprofit
Nonprofit discount on request
The same FAQ invites non-profits to get in touch by email and says there is usually room for a fair discount. No figure is given.
Stated on typewhisper.com

What the app costs elsewhere

Each country’s App Store price for “Premium Lifetime”, against $89.99 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	$119.99	$84.34	6% less
Philippines	₱ 5,990.00	$95.35	6% more
Indonesia	Rp 1,799juta	$100.61	12% more
Turkey	₺4.999,99	$101.68	13% more
Germany	99,99 €	$112.05	25% more
United Kingdom	£89.99	$118.97	32% more
Brazil	R$ 599,90	$119.86	33% more
South Africa	R1,999.99	$120.97	34% more

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

Places it runs: macOS, Windows and iOS

Open-source dictation with local engines for Mac, Windows and iOS. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, AI features, transcription, dictation, text expansion.

The job is covered, but the cloud speech and AI bits only work once you've added your own key for each provider.

From our grade for features

System-wide dictation: A global hotkey records in push-to-talk or toggle mode and pastes the transcript into the active text field. Rules can set language, engine and behavior per app or website.
Choice of local speech engines: Apple Speech is built in on the Mac, and WhisperKit (99+ languages) and Parakeet TDT v3 (25 European languages) install as add-ons. Windows gets offline transcription through whisper.cpp.
AI workflows: Workflows process the transcript before it is pasted, with templates for translation, formatting, summarization and app-specific cleanup, using Apple Intelligence, Groq, OpenAI, Gemini or another provider.
Dictionary and snippets: Custom terms and corrections fix names and jargon, and trigger phrases expand into longer text with date, time and clipboard placeholders. Learning from your corrections is a Premium feature.
File transcription: Drop audio or video files to transcribe them in batch, or watch a folder, and export the results as SRT or WebVTT subtitles with timestamps.
Add-ons, HTTP API and CLI: The site lists 54 add-ons for speech engines, AI providers and tools such as Obsidian and MCP. An SDK, a local HTTP API and a command-line tool cover custom automation.

Where it runs

macOS
Windows
iOS

What it works with

Groq
OpenAI
Claude
Gemini
Deepgram
ElevenLabs
AssemblyAI
Obsidian

TypeWhisper is made by Marco Hillger.

Part 04 · 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

TypeWhisper'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 (C, above 2).

Its paid plans start at about $5.60 a month, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 3 of the 16 others that charge start lower.

On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 28 voice dictation apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. TypeWhisper’s own letter is outlined.

AValue for money
Above 15 of 27
AFree plan and trial
Above 16 of 27
BFeatures
Above 11 of 27
CEase of use
Above 2 of 27
BPlatforms and integrations
Above 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. TypeWhisper 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 TypeWhisper 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 $67.24 a year. TypeWhisper 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.
Speech turned into text you can trust.
Text expansion that works in every app.
Apps for macOS, Windows and iOS that stay in step with each other.
It plugs into other products, Groq, OpenAI and Claude among them.
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. TypeWhisper’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 05 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

VoiceInk, Handy, OpenWhispr, Superwhisper and Spokenly

The 5 tools TypeWhisper is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

2.8GPA
VoiceInk
Free trial · from $25 one-time
Open-source Mac dictation with local models and a one-time price.
- TypeWhisper has a free plan. VoiceInk does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only TypeWhisper lists a Windows app.
- VoiceInk can be bought with a one-time purchase.
TypeWhisper and VoiceInk compared in full
3.0GPA
Handy
Free
Free, open-source offline speech-to-text for desktop.
- Only TypeWhisper lists an iOS app.
- Only Handy lists a Linux app.
- TypeWhisper also covers transcription and text expansion.
TypeWhisper and Handy compared in full
3.2GPA
OpenWhispr
Free plan · from $6.67/mo
Open-source dictation with free local models and meeting notes.
- Only OpenWhispr lists a Linux app.
- TypeWhisper also covers text expansion.
- OpenWhispr also covers meeting notes.
TypeWhisper and OpenWhispr compared in full
2.8GPA
Superwhisper
Free plan · from $8.49/mo
Voice-to-text app with offline models and custom AI modes.
- Only Superwhisper lists an Android app.
- TypeWhisper is open source, according to its own site.
- Superwhisper can be bought with a one-time purchase.
TypeWhisper and Superwhisper compared in full
3.0GPA
Spokenly
Free plan · from $8.33/mo
Dictation app with free local models and optional cloud accuracy.
- Only Spokenly lists a Linux app.
- TypeWhisper is open source, according to its own site.
- TypeWhisper also covers text expansion.
TypeWhisper and Spokenly compared in full

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

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 TypeWhisper free?

TypeWhisper has a free plan. The core app is free and open source under the GPLv3, with no account: system-wide dictation, local engines, workflows, add-ons, history, snippets and APIs on macOS, Windows and iOS.

How much does TypeWhisper cost?

TypeWhisper lists 4 plans. Free (GPLv3 / OSS): €0.

What platforms does TypeWhisper work on?

TypeWhisper is available on macOS, Windows and iOS.

Does TypeWhisper offer any discounts?

TypeWhisper publicly lists the following: Lifetime commercial license from €99; Student discount on request; Nonprofit discount on request.

Does TypeWhisper have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. TypeWhisper is listed for macOS, Windows and iOS.

Does TypeWhisper have a Linux app?

No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. TypeWhisper is listed for macOS, Windows and iOS.

Is TypeWhisper open source?

Yes. TypeWhisper is open source, according to its own site.

Does TypeWhisper 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.

What does TypeWhisper integrate with?

TypeWhisper's listing names Groq, OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Deepgram, ElevenLabs, AssemblyAI and Obsidian.

Does TypeWhisper have a student discount?

Student discount on request. The pricing FAQ invites students to email hello@typewhisper.com for a discount.

Who makes TypeWhisper?

TypeWhisper is made by Marco Hillger.

What are the alternatives to TypeWhisper?

The closest alternatives to TypeWhisper in our directory are VoiceInk, Handy, OpenWhispr, Superwhisper and Spokenly.

How does TypeWhisper compare with other voice dictation apps?

TypeWhisper's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 26 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 1.

Is TypeWhisper good value for money?

ToolGPA grades TypeWhisper A for value for money. Its paid plans start at about $5.60 a month, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 3 of the 16 others that charge start lower.

Could I make my own version of TypeWhisper?

To replace TypeWhisper 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 TypeWhisper’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from TypeWhisper's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-15.

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 Marco Hillger. Prices change, so check typewhisper.com before you buy.

Part 07 · 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

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, "TypeWhisper: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/typewhisper

Know someone choosing between voice dictation apps?

Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/typewhisper/guide

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See our other guides

The best-graded voice dictation apps after TypeWhisper, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what TypeWhisper’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. TypeWhisper is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Marco Hillger. Prices and plans change: check typewhisper.com before you buy.