Head-to-head
Superwhisper vs VoiceInk
Polished local app vs open-source local app
Last updated: · Pricing verified from official sources
TL;DR
The verdict
Superwhisper and VoiceInk are both local Mac Whisper apps. Superwhisper offers more — the widest model selection, custom modes, iOS and Windows clients — for $8.49/month or $249.99 lifetime. VoiceInk is open source (GPL v3), free to build from source or $25–49 lifetime prebuilt, but lacks code mode and app profiles. Choose Superwhisper for features, VoiceInk for openness and value.
Superwhisper and VoiceInk both run Whisper locally on Mac, so both keep your audio on-device. The choice is about polish and breadth versus openness and price: Superwhisper is a feature-rich subscription with the widest model selection, while VoiceInk is open source with a low one-time lifetime price.
The split
Where each one wins
Superwhisper wins on
- Widest local model selection (Whisper + Parakeet)
- Custom modes that auto-activate per app
- iOS keyboard extension and Windows client
- Claude Code / IDE agent integration (2026)
VoiceInk wins on
- Fully open source (GPL v3), auditable on GitHub
- Lowest lifetime price: free from source, $25–49 prebuilt
- No subscription, no account
Feature matrix
Superwhisper vs VoiceInk vs JustVoice
| Feature | Superwhisper | VoiceInk | JustVoice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Whisper processing | |||
| Open source | |||
| Local model selection breadth | |||
| Code dictation / IDE detection | |||
| App profiles | |||
| Free tierVoiceInk free from source; JustVoice is $35 one-time | |||
| Pricing modelSub/lifetime vs $25–49 lifetime vs $35 lifetime |
The third option
Where JustVoice fits
JustVoice sits between the two: local like both, but with code dictation and IDE detection plus per-app profiles that VoiceInk lacks, at a $35 one-time lifetime price — in the same one-time bracket as VoiceInk and a fraction of Superwhisper's $249.99 lifetime. Like both, it's 100% local: there is no cloud path at all. If open-source auditability is a hard requirement, VoiceInk wins; if you want the most local model choice, Superwhisper does.
FAQ
Common questions
- VoiceInk is open source (GPL v3), so it's free if you build it from source. The convenient prebuilt app is a $25–49 lifetime purchase. Superwhisper is a $8.49/month subscription (or $249.99 lifetime). JustVoice is a $35 one-time lifetime licence with everything included.
- Superwhisper added Claude Code and IDE agent integration in 2026 and has broader features, so it edges out VoiceInk for developers. JustVoice is also strong here, with code mode that detects your IDE and adapts dictation for syntax and casing, for a $35 one-time licence.
More head-to-heads
Other comparisons
See the full 2026 buying guide for all 18 apps ranked by use case.
Skip the debate. Try the local one.
JustVoice runs Whisper locally on your Mac. $35 once for a lifetime license — no subscription, no cloud.