The Whisper Notes Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Whisper Notes 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.
Whisper Notes
The Insider’s Guide
Offline transcription for iPhone and Mac, bought once
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among voice dictation apps, read from Whisper Notes’s own pages.
Made by Whisper Notes · 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 Whisper Notes’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Whisper Notes’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
Whisper Notes is an offline speech-to-text app for iPhone, iPad and Mac that transcribes recordings, imported files and meetings on the device. The Mac app sold on the vendor's website adds hold-to-talk voice typing in any app and an on-device AI assistant for summaries.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Whisper Notes, taken from its own pages and our grades.
An app you install and use, with nothing to set up.
- 1
Best for offline transcription and Mac voice typing
It's Apple only, and the voice typing and assistant are not in the App Store build.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $7.99 one-time on the App Store; Mac app from the website $14 one-time.
- 3
There is a free plan
Mac app from the website: Fn voice typing and Whisper Large V3 Turbo, free for 5,000 words a week.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and macOS.
- 5
Fully offline transcription
Recordings and transcripts are processed on the device with Whisper and Parakeet models, and the vendor says they never leave it.
- 6
Fn voice typing on Mac
Hold Fn in any app, speak and release; the text appears. This comes with the Mac app from the vendor's website.
- 7
Import files and meetings
Transcribes imported audio and video and, on Mac, records Zoom, Teams and Google Meet calls, with on-device speaker labels.
- 8
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.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Whisper Notes 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.
Whisper Notes at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $7.99 one-time on the App Store; Mac app from the website $14 one-time
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Whisper Notes
- Category
- Voice Dictation
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for offline transcription and Mac voice typing
Whisper Notes transcribes on the device, with an iPhone and iPad app at $7.99 once and a Mac app with voice typing from its website. It's Apple only, and the voice typing and assistant are not in the App Store build.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $7.99 once on the App Store and $14 once for the Mac licence, each under a year of the category's middle subscription ($8.49 a month). |
| Free plan and trial | B | The Mac app from the website is free for 5,000 words a week. The iPhone app is a paid purchase. |
| Features | C | Offline transcription, file and meeting import, exports, on-device summaries and Shortcuts, but voice typing and the assistant belong to the website Mac app only. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. An app you install and use, with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Apple only: iPhone, iPad and Mac. The vendor says no Windows or Android version is planned. |
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 Whisper Notes is for
- Fits if you want offline transcription on an iPhone, iPad or Mac for a one-off price
- Works for people on a Mac who want Fn-key voice typing
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or Android, as the vendor says none is planned
- Not for you if you have an older phone: the iPhone app needs iPhone 12 or later on iOS 18
- Tight if you dictate a lot on the free Mac app: 5,000 words a week
- Watch out: the $7.99 App Store app and the $14 Mac licence are separate purchases
- Not for you if you want voice typing on iPhone, as it's in the Mac website app only
Good to know
Good for
- Apple users who want transcription that never leaves the device
- People who prefer a one-time purchase over a subscription
- Interviews, lectures and meetings recorded on iPhone or Mac
Worth knowing
- Apple devices only: the vendor says there is no Windows or Android version and none is planned.
- The iPhone app needs iPhone 12 or later on iOS 18; the Mac website app needs Apple silicon.
- Voice typing and the AI assistant belong to the Mac app from the website, not the App Store build.
- The $7.99 App Store price and the $14 Mac website license are separate purchases.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$7.99 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
Whisper Notes has a free plan. Paid plans start at $7.99 one-time on the App Store; Mac app from the website $14 one-time.
iPhone & iPad
$7.99
one-time, App Store purchase
Unlimited transcriptions, 100+ languages and free updates; also covers the Mac App Store build.
Mac (website) Free
$0
for 5,000 words a week
Mac app from the website with Fn voice typing and Whisper Large V3 Turbo, capped at 5,000 words a week.
Mac (website) license
$14
one-time
Removes the weekly word limit on the Mac app from the website.
The free plan
Mac app from the website: Fn voice typing and Whisper Large V3 Turbo, free for 5,000 words a week.
Read from whispernotes.app on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
One-time purchase, no subscription
The vendor sells the iPhone app for $7.99 once and the website Mac app for $14 once, with updates included.
Stated on whispernotes.app
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Offline transcription for iPhone and Mac, bought once. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, local-first, one-time purchase, meeting notes, transcription, dictation.
The vendor says no Windows or Android version is planned.
- Fully offline transcription
- Recordings and transcripts are processed on the device with Whisper and Parakeet models, and the vendor says they never leave it.
- Fn voice typing on Mac
- Hold Fn in any app, speak and release; the text appears. This comes with the Mac app from the vendor's website.
- Import files and meetings
- Transcribes imported audio and video and, on Mac, records Zoom, Teams and Google Meet calls, with on-device speaker labels.
- Export options
- Exports text with timestamps, SRT subtitles or Markdown; Mac also exports VTT.
- On-device summaries
- The Mac website app can summarize a transcript and answer questions about it using a downloaded local model; iPhone uses Apple Intelligence on supported devices.
- Shortcuts actions
- iPhone exposes actions in the Shortcuts app to start or stop a recording and transcribe a file.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- Shortcuts
- Apple Intelligence
- Zoom
- Microsoft Teams
- Google Meet
- Obsidian
Whisper Notes is made by Whisper Notes.
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
Whisper Notes'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 value for money (A, above 21 of 42) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 43 voice dictation apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Whisper Notes’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 21 of 42
- BFree plan and trialAbove 18 of 42
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 42
- BEase of useAbove 13 of 42
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 8 of 42
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 Whisper Notes 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 costs $7.99, paid once.
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 and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Shortcuts, Apple Intelligence and Zoom among them.
- Hooks into the device itself: Shortcuts.
What this rests on. Whisper Notes’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, Superwhisper, VoiceInk, Sotto and Spokenly
The 5 tools Whisper Notes 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 Whisper Notes lists an iOS app.
- Whisper Notes also covers meeting notes.
- 2.8GPA
Superwhisper
Free plan · from $8.49/mo
Voice-to-text app with offline models and custom AI modes.
- Only Superwhisper lists Windows and Android apps.
- 2.8GPA
VoiceInk
Free trial · from $25 one-time
Open-source Mac dictation with local models and a one-time price.
- Whisper Notes has a free plan. VoiceInk does not, though it has a free trial.
- VoiceInk is open source, according to its own site.
- Whisper Notes also covers meeting notes.
- 2.0GPA
Sotto
From $49 one-time
Mac dictation and voice assistant with local models, bought once.
- Whisper Notes has a free plan. Sotto does not.
- Only Whisper Notes lists an iOS app.
- Whisper Notes also covers meeting notes.
- 3.0GPA
Spokenly
Free plan · from $29 one-time
Dictation app with free local models and optional cloud accuracy.
- Only Spokenly lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Whisper Notes can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Whisper Notes also covers meeting notes.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 Whisper Notes free?
Whisper Notes has a free plan. Mac app from the website: Fn voice typing and Whisper Large V3 Turbo, free for 5,000 words a week.
How much does Whisper Notes cost?
Whisper Notes lists 3 plans. iPhone & iPad: $7.99 one-time, App Store purchase.
What platforms does Whisper Notes work on?
Whisper Notes is available on iOS and macOS.
Does Whisper Notes offer any discounts?
Whisper Notes publicly lists the following: One-time purchase, no subscription.
Does Whisper Notes have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Whisper Notes is listed for iOS and macOS.
Does Whisper Notes have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Whisper Notes is listed for iOS and macOS.
Is Whisper Notes open source?
Whisper Notes is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Does Whisper Notes 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 Whisper Notes integrate with?
Whisper Notes's listing names Shortcuts, Apple Intelligence, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Obsidian.
Who makes Whisper Notes?
Whisper Notes is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Whisper Notes?
The closest alternatives to Whisper Notes in our directory are MacWhisper, Superwhisper, VoiceInk, Sotto and Spokenly.
How does Whisper Notes compare with other voice dictation apps?
Whisper Notes's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 22 of the 42 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 8.
Could I make my own version of Whisper Notes?
To replace Whisper Notes 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 Whisper Notes’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 Whisper Notes'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 Whisper Notes. Prices change, so check whispernotes.app 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
- Whisper Notes, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/whisper-notes
- 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, "Whisper Notes: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/whisper-notes
Know someone choosing between voice dictation apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/whisper-notes/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded voice dictation apps after Whisper Notes, 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 Whisper Notes’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. Whisper Notes is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Whisper Notes. Prices and plans change: check whispernotes.app before you buy.