The Whispering Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Whispering 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.
Whispering
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source dictation app that uses your own models or API keys
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among voice dictation apps, read from Whispering’s own pages.
Made by Epicenter · checked Oct 6, 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 Whispering’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Whispering’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
2.8
GPA, above 14 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade
Whispering is a free, open-source speech-to-text app from the Epicenter project. Press a keyboard shortcut, speak, and the transcript is copied and pasted at the cursor. Transcription runs through a provider you choose: on-device engines for offline use, or cloud services such as Groq, OpenAI and ElevenLabs reached directly with your own API keys. Optional transformations pass the transcript through a language model to fix grammar, translate or reformat it.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Whispering, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No rating on record, and this one asks something of you.
- 1
Best for open-source dictation on your own API keys
Whispering is free, open-source dictation that sends audio straight to Groq, OpenAI or ElevenLabs on your own API key, or keeps it on your machine with a local engine.
- 2
It is free
Whispering has no paid plan at all. The app is free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. Local transcription costs nothing; cloud transcription is billed by the provider whose API key you add.
- 3
It runs on 4 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
Shortcut-driven dictation
Press a keyboard shortcut, speak, and the text is copied and pasted where the cursor is. The recording shortcut can be changed in settings.
- 5
Voice-activated mode
With voice activity detection turned on, recording starts when you begin speaking and stops after a short pause, so no key has to be held.
- 6
Cloud providers with your own keys
Audio goes straight from the device to Groq, OpenAI or ElevenLabs under your own API key, with no Whispering server in between. Groq also has a free tier.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 14 of 27
That is against the other voice dictation apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Whispering is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Whispering at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Epicenter
- Category
- Voice Dictation
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for open-source dictation on your own API keys
Whispering is free, open-source dictation that sends audio straight to Groq, OpenAI or ElevenLabs on your own API key, or keeps it on your machine with a local engine. But you set up those keys yourself, it's built for short bursts, the Mac build is Apple Silicon only, Windows local transcription is English only, and the hosted web build is no longer republished.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 license, against a category that mostly wants about $8 a month. Local transcription costs nothing at all, and cloud use is billed by the provider on your own key, with the site quoting Groq at $0.02 to $0.04 an hour of audio. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full desktop app is free with no paid tier above it and nothing held back. Stick to the bundled local engines and you never pay anyone a penny, and Groq has a free tier if you do want the cloud. |
| Features | C | The basics plus a pick-your-own-engine twist: shortcut or voice-activated recording, local Parakeet, Moonshine and Whisper C++, and chained AI steps to fix grammar or translate. The gaps are in the listing, though: Windows local use is English-only, and it's built for short bursts, not long sessions. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record, and this one asks something of you. Anything beyond the bundled local engines means signing up with Groq, OpenAI or ElevenLabs and pasting in API keys, and the Mac download is Apple Silicon only. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A computer program, in the end: Mac, Windows and Linux, with no phone app, and the README says the hosted web build is no longer republished. What it does connect to is providers, Groq, OpenAI, ElevenLabs, Anthropic, Gemini, Ollama and LM Studio, rather than apps you use. |
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 Whispering is for
- Fits if you want dictation software whose code you can read for yourself
- Works for people who already have a Groq or OpenAI key and would rather pay the provider directly
Who it is not for
- Skip it if API keys sound like homework, because cloud transcription needs your own
- Not for you if you record long sessions, as the site itself suggests a dedicated recording app
- Tight if you're on Windows and want local transcription in a language other than English
- Watch out: the Mac download is Apple Silicon only, and there's no phone app
- Watch out: the browser version has no system-wide shortcuts, and the hosted web build is no longer republished
Good to know
Good for
- People who want dictation software whose code they can audit
- Users willing to add their own API keys and pay providers directly
- Offline dictation with on-device models on Mac and Linux
Worth knowing
- Cloud transcription and AI transformations need your own provider API keys, and the provider bills the usage.
- The macOS download is for Apple Silicon only, and Windows builds include just the English-only Parakeet engine for local transcription.
- It is built for short dictation; the site suggests a dedicated recording app for long sessions.
- The browser version has no system-wide shortcuts, and the project's README on GitHub says the hosted web build is no longer being republished.
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
Whispering is free to use.
The full desktop app is free with no paid tier above it and nothing held back.
Whispering
$0
The full desktop and browser app. Cloud providers bill usage to your own API key: the site lists Groq at $0.02 to $0.04 per hour of audio.
The free plan
The app is free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. Local transcription costs nothing; cloud transcription is billed by the provider whose API key you add.
Read from epicenter.so on Oct 6, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows and Linux
Open-source dictation app that uses your own models or API keys. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, AI features, dictation.
The gaps are in the listing, though: Windows local use is English-only, and it's built for short bursts, not long sessions.
- Shortcut-driven dictation
- Press a keyboard shortcut, speak, and the text is copied and pasted where the cursor is. The recording shortcut can be changed in settings.
- Voice-activated mode
- With voice activity detection turned on, recording starts when you begin speaking and stops after a short pause, so no key has to be held.
- Cloud providers with your own keys
- Audio goes straight from the device to Groq, OpenAI or ElevenLabs under your own API key, with no Whispering server in between. Groq also has a free tier.
- Local transcription engines
- Version 7.11.0 bundles Parakeet, Moonshine and Whisper C++ for on-device transcription, with Whisper C++ covering 65 languages. Speaches, a local transcription service, is also supported.
- AI transformations
- Chain steps that send the transcript to a model from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Groq or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint, or run find-and-replace, to fix grammar, translate or summarize.
- Recordings stored on the device
- Recordings, transcripts and transformation settings are kept locally. Anonymized usage analytics are collected through Aptabase and can be switched off in settings.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Groq
- OpenAI
- ElevenLabs
- Speaches
- Anthropic
- Google Gemini
- Ollama
- LM Studio
Whispering is made by Epicenter.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
14/27
Other voice dictation apps it is graded above
Whispering's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 14 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 16 of 27) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Whispering 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 28 voice dictation apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Whispering’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 15 of 27
- AFree plan and trialAbove 16 of 27
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 27
- CEase of useAbove 2 of 27
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 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. Whispering 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
Whispering 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.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Groq, OpenAI and ElevenLabs among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Whispering’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
Handy, OpenWhispr, VoiceInk, Superwhisper and Wispr Flow
The 5 tools Whispering is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Handy
Free
Free, open-source offline speech-to-text for desktop.
- Only Whispering lists a web app.
- 3.2GPA
OpenWhispr
Free plan · from $6.67/mo
Open-source dictation with free local models and meeting notes.
- Only Whispering lists a web app.
- 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.
- Whispering has a free plan. VoiceInk does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Whispering lists a web app.
- Only Whispering lists Windows and Linux apps.
- 2.8GPA
Superwhisper
Free plan · from $8.49/mo
Voice-to-text app with offline models and custom AI modes.
- Only Whispering lists a web app.
- Only Whispering lists a Linux app.
- Only Superwhisper lists iOS and Android apps.
- 2.8GPA
Wispr Flow
Free plan · from $12/mo
Voice dictation that cleans up your speech in any app.
- Only Whispering lists a web app.
- Only Whispering lists a Linux app.
- Only Wispr Flow lists iOS and Android apps.
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 Whispering free?
Yes. Whispering is free to use.
How much does Whispering cost?
Whispering lists one plan. Whispering: $0.
What platforms does Whispering work on?
Whispering is available on Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Whispering have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Whispering is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Whispering have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Whispering is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Whispering open source?
Yes. Whispering is open source, according to its own site.
Does Whispering 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 Whispering integrate with?
Whispering's listing names Groq, OpenAI, ElevenLabs, Speaches, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Ollama and LM Studio.
Who makes Whispering?
Whispering is made by Epicenter.
What are the alternatives to Whispering?
The closest alternatives to Whispering in our directory are Handy, OpenWhispr, VoiceInk, Superwhisper and Wispr Flow.
How does Whispering compare with other voice dictation apps?
Whispering's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 14 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 5.
Is Whispering good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Whispering A for value for money. Whispering has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Whispering?
Whispering 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 Whispering’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 Whispering's own site, README and release notes on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-12.
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 Epicenter. Prices change, so check epicenter.so before you buy.
- epicenter.so/whispering/
- epicenter.so/
- github.com/EpicenterHQ/epicenter/releases/tag/v7.11.0
- raw.githubusercontent.com/EpicenterHQ/epicenter/v7.11.0/apps/whispering/README.md
- raw.githubusercontent.com/EpicenterHQ/epicenter/main/apps/whispering/README.md
- raw.githubusercontent.com/EpicenterHQ/epicenter/main/README.md
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
- Whispering, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/whispering
- 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, "Whispering: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/whispering
Know someone choosing between voice dictation apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/whispering/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded voice dictation apps after Whispering, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Voice Dictation Insider's GuideEvery one of the 28 voice dictation apps we grade, compared
- OpenWhispr Insider's GuideOpen-source dictation with free local models and meeting notes3.2 GPA
- 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
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Whispering’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. Whispering is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Epicenter. Prices and plans change: check epicenter.so before you buy.