Overview

Super Mode reads the screen and adapts dictated text to the active app, such as turning speech into an email-style message or a technical coding prompt. That makes Superwhisper more useful than plain voice-to-text for people who switch between different writing contexts. If you want verbatim transcription without adaptation, its defining feature may matter less.

It works in apps that accept text, with Slack, Cursor, and Notion named as examples. Coding plugins extend its reach to Claude Code, OpenCode, Codex, and Pi. Speaker identification and labeling are supported, while its command-line interface can search and export transcripts, show recording statistics, and run a local MCP server for AI workflows.

Key features

App-aware formatting: Super Mode uses screen context to shape speech for the destination. That can cut down on rewriting when moving between messages and technical prompts, but is less compelling for readers who want an unaltered transcript.
Languages and translation: Support for more than 100 languages, automatic detection, and translation between languages suits multilingual dictation. Pro specifically includes translation to English.
Local and cloud processing: On-device speech models work without an internet connection and keep audio on the device. For cloud models, audio and text pass through Superwhisper’s proxy to the provider; Superwhisper says they are not retained for training. Local processing is the clearer fit when offline use or keeping audio on-device matters, while cloud models offer another processing route.
File transcription: Transcription of audio and video files is a Pro feature, so people who mainly need to transcribe existing recordings should account for the subscription.
Security and compliance: The Trust Center lists SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, and PIPEDA compliance. That may make Superwhisper more suitable for workflows with compliance requirements, though it does not remove the need to assess a service against a particular organization's policies.

Pricing

The Free plan is free and includes voice-to-text in any app, meeting recording and transcription, 100+ languages, unlimited Whisper models, and email support. Pro features can be tried for 3,000 words; after that, the free-tier features remain. This is the sensible starting point for occasional dictation, but it does not include Pro’s audio and video file transcription or priority support.

Pro costs 8.49 USD per month, billed monthly, or 84.99 USD per year, billed yearly. Both options include cloud and local AI models, custom API keys, audio and video transcription, and priority support; the monthly option costs more over a year, while annual billing commits the buyer to a year for the lower stated total. The plan is aimed at regular users who need those paid capabilities.

Pro Lifetime is listed at 249.99 USD per month, with one payment for a one-time license and Pro features. The wording pairs a monthly price with a one-time payment, so confirm the purchase terms before choosing it. Enterprise has custom pricing and includes SOC 2 Type II certification, centralized billing and authentication, model access control, enterprise-hosted models, and volume discounts. It is the option for organizations that need centralized administration or model controls rather than an individual subscription.

Platforms

Superwhisper supports Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. The download page gives minimum requirements of macOS 13.3, Windows 10, and iOS 18, and links to Google Play for Android.

Who it's for

Superwhisper is a strong fit for people who dictate in multiple apps, move between conversational and technical writing, or need local speech processing when offline. Multilingual users can draw on its language detection and translation, and Pro is the relevant tier for file transcription. It is a weaker match for someone seeking only basic voice-to-text or a free tool for ongoing file transcription.

Pros and cons

Pro: Context-aware formatting adapts dictation to the active app, which is useful across distinct writing tasks.
Pro: On-device models work offline and do not send audio off the device.
Pro: More than 100 languages, speaker labeling, app integrations, coding plugins, and transcript tools cover a broad range of workflows.
Con: The Pro trial ends after 3,000 words, and file transcription and priority support are paid features.
Con: Cloud-model audio and text pass through a proxy to the provider, so cloud use may not suit users who require all processing to stay on-device.

Alternatives

For a broader directory of tools, see Speech Recognition Software, Dictation software, and Transcription Software.

Notta is worth considering if you want a freemium transcription service across Android, iOS, desktop, web, and browser extension, with a free allowance of 120 transcription minutes per month for one seat.
Baidu OCR is a paid option with a free trial and a shared resource package priced at 330.00 CNY per once.
CMU Sphinx is a free toolkit with a BSD-like license that allows commercial distribution, for readers seeking a free option across several desktop and self-hosted platforms.
Speechmatics offers a free tier with $100 in credits for API and self-hosted workflows.
Otter.ai is another freemium option across mobile and desktop, with a Basic plan described as free forever and limits on workspace members, monthly transcription, and imported files.
AssemblyAI is a paid API-oriented alternative with free credits and a pay-as-you-go Universal-2 option.
Google Cloud Speech-to-Text is a paid API option with free plans and separate standard and dynamic batch recognition tiers.
MacWhisper is a freemium choice for iOS and macOS; its free tier includes transcription and subtitle export, while Pro is listed at 64.00 EUR per month with pay-once billing.

Verdict

Choose Superwhisper if you want dictation that adjusts to the app, supports multilingual work, and can process speech locally offline. Its most practical advantage is the mix of context-aware writing and processing choice; look elsewhere if you need free ongoing transcription of audio or video files, or only want straightforward speech recognition without app-aware formatting.

	ELAN	Superwhisper
Free plan		Yes
Free trial		Yes
Paid from		$7.08/mo
Platforms	Linux, macOS, Windows	Android, iOS, macOS, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Frame-accurate marking	Yes
Drawing annotations	No
Custom labels or fields	Yes
Review workflow	No
Dataset export	Yes
Paid from		8.49 /mo
Speaker identification		Yes
Speaker labeling		Yes

ELAN vs Superwhisper

ELAN

Superwhisper