Speech to Text for Mac
That Works Everywhere
Whisnap is voice typing software built for macOS. Press a hotkey, speak, and text appears exactly where your cursor is — in any Mac app, without switching windows or copying anything.
Local transcription is free forever. No internet required. Works on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
How Voice Typing Works on Mac
Three steps. No workflow changes needed.
Press FN
Hit your hotkey from anywhere on your Mac — fully customizable. The Whisnap bar appears and starts listening immediately.
Speak
Talk naturally at your normal pace. Whisnap captures your voice and transcribes it locally on your Mac in real time.
Text Appears
Your spoken words appear where your cursor is — no clipboard, no paste, no interruption to what you were doing.
What You Get
A complete voice typing and audio transcription tool for macOS.
System-Wide Voice Typing
Mac voice to text in every app — not just specific ones. One hotkey works anywhere you can place a cursor.
Batch Audio Transcription
Drag and drop audio files (WAV, MP3, FLAC, M4A, OGG) or video files (MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM) — audio track extracted automatically. Local transcription on Mac, no internet required.
Command Mode Cloud
Select any text, press FN+Tab, and speak a command to transform it in-place. Say "make this more professional" or "summarize this" — the AI rewrites your selection instantly. Requires Cloud Mode.
Custom Hotkeys
Set any key combination to trigger voice dictation on Mac. FN by default, but change it to whatever fits your workflow.
Multiple Local Models
Choose from several on-device transcription model sizes. Pick a smaller model for speed or a larger one for accuracy — all running locally on your Mac.
Private by Default — No Internet Required
Local Core uses on-device models exclusively. Your audio never leaves your Mac. No account needed, no data collected, works fully offline.
Apple Silicon Native
Built for M1, M2, M3, and M4 chips. Runs fast, uses minimal CPU, and goes easy on battery — even during long dictation sessions.
Voice Typing in Every Mac App
Mac voice to text that isn't locked to one app. Your hotkey works wherever your cursor is.
Slack
Dictate messages and replies without touching the keyboard.
VS Code
Voice-type comments, commit messages, documentation, and code.
Apple Notes
Capture notes by speaking — faster than typing on any device.
Compose emails by voice. Edit subject lines and body text alike.
Terminal
Dictate shell commands and scripts directly into the terminal.
Pages & Word
Long-form writing and document editing entirely by voice.
Safari & Chrome
Fill forms, search fields, and text boxes using voice dictation.
Notion & Linear
Voice-type notes, tickets, and project docs without switching apps.
Any Other App
If you can place a cursor there, Whisnap can type there.
Two Modes, One App
Start free with local transcription. Upgrade to cloud when you need more.
Local Core
Free dictation software for Mac — forever
- ✓On-device transcription — no internet required
- ✓Unlimited voice typing on Mac
- ✓Batch audio file transcription
- ✓Custom hotkeys
- ✓Multiple local model sizes
- ✓100% private — zero audio leaves your Mac
Cloud Mode
7-day free trial
- ✓Everything in Local Core, plus:
- ✓Enhanced accuracy via server-side processing
- ✓Context-aware AI formatting
- ✓Smart snippets & custom vocabulary
- ✓Command Mode — select text, speak a command, rewritten in-place
Power users: install the whisnap CLI from Settings → Advanced to transcribe files directly from the terminal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about speech to text software for Mac.
What is the best speech to text software for Mac?
The best speech to text software for Mac depends on your priorities. Whisnap works system-wide in every macOS app, runs local transcription for free with no internet required, and includes batch audio file transcription. macOS includes built-in Apple Dictation, but it offers no custom hotkeys, no batch file processing, and no model selection. For users who want more control over how voice typing works on their Mac, Whisnap covers more ground.
Is there free dictation software for Mac?
Yes. Whisnap's Local Core tier is free forever — unlimited voice dictation on Mac, on-device transcription with no internet needed, custom hotkeys, and batch audio transcription. macOS also has Apple Dictation built in for free, but it's more limited in configuration. Neither requires a subscription to get started.
How do I use voice typing on Mac?
With Whisnap: download the app, place your cursor where you want text, press your hotkey (FN by default), speak, and your words are transcribed and inserted. No switching apps, no copying, no pasting. Alternatively, macOS includes Apple Dictation — enable it in System Settings › Keyboard › Dictation.
What is the best voice recognition software for Mac?
Whisnap uses proven Whisper-based on-device transcription models and works system-wide across all macOS apps. Local Core is free and fully offline. Cloud Mode adds server-side processing for higher accuracy. For users who need audio file transcription in addition to real-time voice typing, Whisnap handles both from a single app.
Can I transcribe audio files on Mac?
Yes. Whisnap includes batch audio transcription for Mac. Drag and drop audio files (WAV, MP3, FLAC, M4A, OGG) or video files (MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM) — the audio track is extracted automatically from video. No internet connection required, no per-minute fees, no upload limits.
Does Whisnap speech recognition work offline?
Yes. Whisnap's Local Core runs entirely on your Mac using on-device transcription models. No audio is ever sent to a server. This makes it a reliable speech recognition option for sensitive work, travel, or environments without a stable internet connection. Cloud Mode is an optional upgrade — not a requirement.
Start Using Voice Typing on Mac
Free local transcription, no account required. Works in every Mac app from day one.