Speaklively vs Superwhisper

Looking for a Superwhisper alternative?

Both can keep your voice on your Mac. Speaklively is the simpler one: free dictation with no word limit, one key, and your words appear while you’re still talking.

Pick Speaklively if…

  • You want one key and nothing to configure: no modes to set up, no models to download.
  • You want to watch your words appear in a panel while you speak.
  • You want it to feel built in, using the speech recognition already on your Mac.

Stay with Superwhisper if…

  • You need Windows, iPhone or Android as well.
  • You like choosing between many local and cloud models, and building custom modes.
  • You need more than the 54 languages Apple’s on-device models cover.
  • You’re on an Intel Mac or a macOS older than 26.

Side by side

Checked 1 November 2026 against Superwhisper’s own pages.

Speaklively
Superwhisper
Price
Free forever. AI rewrites optional.
Free with local Whisper models; Pro is $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 once
Setup
One key. Nothing to choose.
Modes and models to pick from
Where your voice goes
Stays on your Mac
Stays on your Mac with local models; cloud models are a Pro option
Works offline
Yes
Yes, with local models
Runs on
Mac (macOS 26, Apple silicon)
Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android
Languages
54, through Apple’s on-device models
100+ with Whisper models

Sources: Superwhisper · Superwhisper Pro. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it.

Switching takes about two minutes

  1. 1

    Quit Superwhisper, or give it a different shortcut, so the two don’t answer the same key.

  2. 2

    Download Speaklively and open it from Applications.

  3. 3

    Allow the microphone and typing, and free up the 🌐 key. Setup walks you through each one.

  4. 4

    Hold fn and talk.

Good questions

Is Speaklively really free?

Yes. Dictation, live words, Tidy and your history are free forever — no word limit, no trial, no account. The only part that costs money to run is the optional AI rewrites (Polish and Structure): the first 15 are free with no email, 100 more come free with your email, and after that you can use your own Anthropic key.

Can I keep both?

Yes, as long as each has its own shortcut. Speaklively can use fn, right ⌘, or any key combination you record.

Why does it need macOS 26?

Because it uses the live, on-device speech recognition Apple added in macOS 26. That’s what lets it show your words as you speak without sending your voice anywhere — and it’s why it can’t run on older Macs.

Try it next to what you use now

Free, no account, and about a minute to set up. If it isn’t for you, drag it to the Trash.

Download free for Mac

Free forever · No account · macOS 26 · Apple silicon