A free MacWhisper alternative for dictation

Updated 3 October 2026

MacWhisper is best known for turning recordings into text: drop in an audio or video file, or record a meeting, and get a transcript. It also has system-wide dictation. JustScribe starts from the other end: dictation first, with a simpler file transcription built in, and all of it free.

How they compare

MacWhisper details are from macwhisper.com as of October 2026; its comparison table shows which features need the Pro licence.

When JustScribe is the better fit

• You want to talk instead of type, and nothing else. JustScribe lives in the menu bar, has one shortcut, and stays out of the way.
• You want dictation without buying a licence. All of JustScribe is free.
• You want an app you can inspect. The source is public.

When MacWhisper is the better fit

• You transcribe many files at once, or need them in a particular format.
• You want meetings recorded and transcribed, with speakers told apart.
• You need subtitles or transcript exports.

Many people will still want both: MacWhisper for meetings and exports, JustScribe for writing by voice and the occasional recording.

How JustScribe transcribes a file

Choose Transcribe File… from the menu bar, drop in a recording or a video, and the transcript appears paragraph by paragraph with a timestamp on each. Turn on Identify speakers to label who said what. Copy the result or save it as text. Everything runs on your Mac; see transcribing audio files on a Mac.

How JustScribe’s dictation works

Hold the shortcut and speak. Text appears in the focused app every couple of seconds; when you let go, JustScribe transcribes the whole recording once more and corrects what it typed. With grammar correction on, it then fixes grammar, spelling and punctuation, still on your Mac. See offline speech to text on Mac for the models you can choose from.

Questions

Can JustScribe replace MacWhisper?

For dictation, yes: JustScribe types what you say into any Mac app, for free. It also transcribes audio and video files, with timestamps and speaker labels. It does not record meetings, export subtitles or batch-process files, which are MacWhisper's main jobs.

Do JustScribe and MacWhisper both run Whisper on the Mac?

Yes. Both can run Whisper models locally on your Mac. JustScribe also offers Parakeet models, which are faster and are its recommended choice for dictation.

Can I use both?

Yes. They do not conflict: MacWhisper for meeting recording, subtitles and exports, JustScribe for speaking into text fields and plain-text transcripts of files.