Same sentence. Finished writing.
Apple Dictation is already on your Mac. Superwhisper and Wispr Flow are the apps people look at next, and both have a free tier and a paid plan. Rede keeps the recording on your Mac and takes out the ums. If you want a Wispr Flow or Superwhisper alternative, start with where the recording goes and what you pay. We make Rede, so read this with that in mind. What we say about the others comes from their own sites, checked in October 2026.
Four things that differ.
Your voice, how you start, what happens after you speak, and what you pay.
| Topic | Apple Dictation | Superwhisper | Wispr Flow | Rede |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your voice | Can stay on your Mac. Keyboard settings show if yours does | On the device with a local model. Cloud models process it in the cloud | Transcribed in the cloud | Stays on your Mac |
| To start | Already on your Mac | Install, then a setup wizard asks for language, speech model and mic | Sign in to a Wispr account | Hold Control and speak |
| After you speak | Types what you say, with punctuation | A language model you pick formats it, in the cloud or on the device | AI formats the text in the cloud | Cloud cleanup turns it into writing. First 5,000 words free, one time. Then a plan, or light punctuation |
| Price | Free | Free with local Whisper models. Pro $8.49/mo, $84.99/yr or $249.99 once | Free for 2,000 words a week on desktop. Pro $15/mo, or $12/mo billed yearly | Dictation free. Cloud cleanup $6.99/mo or $199 once |
Apple Dictation
- Your voice
- Can stay on your Mac. Keyboard settings show if yours does
- To start
- Already on your Mac
- After you speak
- Types what you say, with punctuation
- Price
- Free
Superwhisper
- Your voice
- On the device with a local model. Cloud models process it in the cloud
- To start
- Install, then a setup wizard asks for language, speech model and mic
- After you speak
- A language model you pick formats it, in the cloud or on the device
- Price
- Free with local Whisper models. Pro $8.49/mo, $84.99/yr or $249.99 once
Wispr Flow
- Your voice
- Transcribed in the cloud
- To start
- Sign in to a Wispr account
- After you speak
- AI formats the text in the cloud
- Price
- Free for 2,000 words a week on desktop. Pro $15/mo, or $12/mo billed yearly
Rede
- Your voice
- Stays on your Mac
- To start
- Hold Control and speak
- After you speak
- Cloud cleanup turns it into writing. First 5,000 words free, one time. Then a plan, or light punctuation
- Price
- Dictation free. Cloud cleanup $6.99/mo or $199 once
One at a time: Rede and Wispr Flow,Rede and Superwhisper.
Which one to pick
- Is Rede a Wispr Flow alternative?
- On a Mac, yes. Wispr Flow transcribes in the cloud, with a free weekly limit and a paid Pro plan. Rede keeps the recording on your Mac. Dictation is free, and cloud cleanup is $6.99 a month, or $199 once.
- Is Rede a Superwhisper alternative?
- Yes, if you want dictation on your Mac without choosing models. Superwhisper is free with its local Whisper models, and Pro is $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year or $249.99 lifetime (October 2026). Rede keeps the recording on your Mac, and cloud cleanup takes out the ums. Dictation is free. Cloud cleanup is $6.99 a month or $199 once. Mac only.
- Is Rede better than Apple Dictation?
- Apple Dictation is already on your Mac and types what you say. With cloud cleanup, Rede takes the same spoken sentence, takes out the ums and pastes finished writing.
- Does Rede run on Windows or iPhone?
- No. Rede is a Mac app for macOS 13.1 Ventura or later, Apple Silicon (M1 or later).
- Does Rede transcribe meetings?
- No. You hold a shortcut and Rede pastes finished writing where you are typing.
Keep the recording. Lose the ums.
Dictation stays free. Your first 5,000 words of cloud cleanup are free, one time, then a plan.