The Vibe Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Vibe 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.
Vibe
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source desktop app that transcribes audio offline
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among voice dictation apps, read from Vibe’s own pages.
Made by thewh1teagle · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 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 Vibe’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Vibe’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 22 of the 42 other voice dictation apps we grade
Vibe is an MIT-licensed desktop app for transcribing audio and video files, microphone input and system audio on your own computer. It runs Whisper, Parakeet and Nemotron models locally, and exports captions or documents in several formats.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Vibe, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's a transcription app, not one that types into other apps, and it's desktop only.
- 1
Best for free offline transcription of files and audio
Vibe is a free, open-source desktop app that transcribes audio and video on your own machine with Whisper models.
- 2
It is free
Vibe has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
Offline transcription
The README says transcription is fully offline and that no data leaves your device.
- 5
Several local models
Supports Whisper, Nemotron 3.5 and Parakeet TDT v3 models, with custom models addable in settings.
- 6
Files, microphone and system audio
Transcribes audio and video files in batches, microphone input and system audio, with a realtime preview.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 22 of 42
That is against the other voice dictation apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Vibe is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Vibe at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- thewh1teagle
- Category
- Voice Dictation
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for free offline transcription of files and audio
Vibe is a free, open-source desktop app that transcribes audio and video on your own machine with Whisper models. It's a transcription app, not one that types into other apps, and it's desktop only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free to download and run, with no paid tier. A program anyone can download counts as free. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Nothing is locked: it's free and open source, and it runs offline. |
| Features | C | Offline transcription from files, microphone and system audio, several models, summaries, speakers, export formats, a CLI and an HTTP API. It does not type into other apps, which is what dictation tools do. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You install it and choose a model, and summaries need a connection to Ollama or Claude. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Desktop only: macOS, Windows and Linux. No web, iOS or Android app. |
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 Vibe is for
- Fits if you want to transcribe recordings or meetings on your own computer
- Works for people who'd rather their audio never left the machine
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to dictate straight into other apps, since this is a transcription app
- Not for you if you want a phone or web version, as it's desktop only
- Watch out: summaries through Claude need your own connection to that service; Ollama keeps them local
- Watch out: pull requests are limited to a few collaborators, per the README
Good to know
Good for
- People who want free transcription that stays on their own computer
- Batch-transcribing recordings and exporting subtitles
- Users who prefer open-source software
Worth knowing
- It is a transcription app, not a system-wide dictation tool that types into other apps.
- Desktop only: macOS, Windows and Linux are listed, with no web, iOS or Android app.
- Summaries through the Claude API need your own connection to that service; Ollama keeps them local.
- Pull requests are limited to a few collaborators, per the repository's README.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Vibe is free to use.
Free to download and run, with no paid tier.
Free
$0
Open-source app under the MIT license; no paid plan is listed.
Read from github.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free open-source desktop app that transcribes audio offline. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, public API, transcription, dictation.
Offline transcription from files, microphone and system audio, several models, summaries, speakers, export formats, a CLI and an HTTP API.
- Offline transcription
- The README says transcription is fully offline and that no data leaves your device.
- Several local models
- Supports Whisper, Nemotron 3.5 and Parakeet TDT v3 models, with custom models addable in settings.
- Files, microphone and system audio
- Transcribes audio and video files in batches, microphone input and system audio, with a realtime preview.
- Export formats
- Saves transcripts as SRT, VTT, TXT, HTML, PDF, JSON or DOCX, and can translate to English.
- Summaries and speakers
- Speaker diarization is built in; summaries use the Claude API or a local Ollama model.
- CLI and HTTP API
- A command-line interface and an HTTP API with Swagger docs let scripts drive transcription.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Ollama
- Claude
- YouTube
- Vimeo
Vibe is made by thewh1teagle.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
22/42
Other voice dictation apps it is graded above
Vibe's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 22 of the 42 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 25 of 42) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Vibe has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 43 voice dictation apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Vibe’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 21 of 42
- AFree plan and trialAbove 25 of 42
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 42
- CEase of useAbove 2 of 42
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 8 of 42
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 32 voice dictation apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Vibe 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
Vibe is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- Dictation that types into any app on your computer.
- Speech turned into text you can trust.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Ollama, Claude and YouTube among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. Vibe’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
MacWhisper, Handy, Whispering, VoiceInk and OpenWhispr
The 5 tools Vibe is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
MacWhisper
Free plan · from €65 one-time
Mac transcription and dictation app that runs models locally.
- Only Vibe lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Vibe is open source, according to its own site.
- MacWhisper can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.0GPA
Handy
Free
Free, open-source offline speech-to-text for desktop.
- Vibe also covers transcription.
- 2.8GPA
Whispering
Free
Open-source dictation app that uses your own models or API keys.
- Only Whispering lists a web app.
- Vibe also covers transcription.
- 2.8GPA
VoiceInk
Free trial · from $25 one-time
Open-source Mac dictation with local models and a one-time price.
- Vibe has a free plan. VoiceInk does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Vibe lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only VoiceInk lists an iOS app.
- 3.2GPA
OpenWhispr
Free plan · from $6.67/mo
Open-source dictation with free local models and meeting notes.
- Only OpenWhispr lists an iOS app.
- OpenWhispr also covers meeting notes.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
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 Vibe free?
Yes. Vibe is free to use.
How much does Vibe cost?
Vibe lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Vibe work on?
Vibe is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Vibe have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Vibe is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Vibe have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Vibe is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Vibe open source?
Yes. Vibe is open source, according to its own site.
Does Vibe 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 Vibe have an API?
Yes. Vibe offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Vibe integrate with?
Vibe's listing names Ollama, Claude, YouTube and Vimeo. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Vibe?
Vibe is made by thewh1teagle.
What are the alternatives to Vibe?
The closest alternatives to Vibe in our directory are MacWhisper, Handy, Whispering, VoiceInk and OpenWhispr.
How does Vibe compare with other voice dictation apps?
Vibe's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 22 of the 42 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 8.
Is Vibe good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Vibe A for value for money. Vibe has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Vibe?
Vibe is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Vibe’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Vibe's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 thewh1teagle. Prices change, so check thewh1teagle.github.io before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Vibe, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/vibe
- 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, "Vibe: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/vibe
Know someone choosing between voice dictation apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/vibe/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded voice dictation apps after Vibe, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Voice Dictation Insider's GuideEvery one of the 43 voice dictation apps we grade, compared
- OpenWhispr Insider's GuideOpen-source dictation with free local models and meeting notes3.2 GPA
- Speechnotes Insider's GuideFree online dictation notepad with a voice-typing extension3.2 GPA
- TypeWhisper Insider's GuideOpen-source dictation with local engines for Mac, PC, iOS and Android3.2 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 Vibe’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. Vibe is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by thewh1teagle. Prices and plans change: check thewh1teagle.github.io before you buy.