Sayburst vs Superwhisper: which local dictation app for Mac?
Both run speech models on your Mac. Superwhisper's AI modes need Pro ($84.99/yr or $249.99 lifetime); Sayburst is $29 once. A fair comparison.
Superwhisper is one of the best-known Mac dictation apps, and like Sayburst it can transcribe entirely on your Mac. The differences are in price, defaults and how much you want in one app.
| Sayburst | Superwhisper | |
|---|---|---|
| Local transcription | Parakeet + Whisper | Whisper (local) or cloud |
| Price for AI writing modes | $29 once (your provider) | Pro: $8.49/mo, $84.99/yr or $249.99 lifetime |
| Free use | 7-day trial | Unlimited local dictation, no AI modes |
| Hold-to-talk on fn | ● | ● |
| Custom vocabulary | ● | ● |
| Modes with AI formatting | ● | Pro (2 basic modes free) |
| File transcription | ● | Pro |
| Meeting recording | — | Pro |
| Platforms | Mac | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
Superwhisper details from its Plans & Pricing docs, checked October 2, 2026.
Price
Superwhisper's lifetime licence is $249.99, or $84.99 a year. Sayburst is $29 for one Mac or $49 for three, once, with AI writing modes, per-app modes and file transcription included. If you only ever want plain local dictation with no formatting, Superwhisper's free tier is a genuinely good deal.
Speed and defaults
Sayburst defaults to NVIDIA's Parakeet v3 on the Neural Engine. It turns a dictation into text in 82 milliseconds with a 0.46% word error rate on clean English (see the benchmark) — fast enough that it feels instant. Whisper Large v3 Turbo is available for the 99 languages Parakeet doesn't cover.
Where Superwhisper is better
- More platforms, and one licence covers unlimited Macs and PCs.
- Meeting recording with system audio, which Sayburst doesn't do.
- A mature mode system with years of polish.
Our take
For dictation on Macs, Sayburst gives you local transcription, cleanup, per-app modes and file transcription for $29 — about a tenth of Superwhisper's lifetime price. If you need Windows, phones or meeting recording, Superwhisper covers more ground.
Hold fn, talk, and clean text lands where your cursor is. Free for 7 days.
Download SayburstQuestions people ask
Is Superwhisper free?
Superwhisper has a free tier with unlimited local Whisper dictation, custom vocabulary and replacements, but AI modes, cloud models and file transcription need Pro ($8.49/month, $84.99/year or $249.99 lifetime).
Does Sayburst support Windows like Superwhisper?
No. Sayburst is for Macs with Apple silicon. Superwhisper also runs on Windows, iOS and Android.