Comparison
VibeWhisper vs MacWhisper
Both apps use OpenAI Whisper, but for very different purposes. VibeWhisper is a real-time push-to-talk dictation tool. MacWhisper is a batch audio file transcriber.
Different tools for different jobs
VibeWhisper and MacWhisper both use OpenAI Whisper but solve different problems. Here's how they compare.
Feature
| Feature | VibeWhisper | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Real-time push-to-talk dictation | Batch audio/video file transcription |
| Input method | Live microphone with global shortcut | Import audio/video files |
| Text output | Injected directly into focused text field | Displayed in app, exportable as text/SRT |
| Whisper processing | Cloud API (OpenAI) | On-device or cloud (both options) |
| Price model | $19 one-time + API usage (~$0.006/min) | Free tier + paid tiers ($8–$32) |
| Works in any app | Yes — system-level text injection | No — standalone transcription app |
| Timestamps/subtitles | No (real-time dictation) | Yes — SRT/VTT export |
| Speaker diarization | No (single-speaker dictation) | Yes (identify different speakers) |
Choose VibeWhisper if you need
- Real-time voice-to-text dictation while coding, writing, or messaging
- System-level push-to-talk shortcut that works in any macOS application
- Direct text injection without clipboard interference
- A one-time purchase with transparent per-minute API costs
Choose MacWhisper if you need
- Transcription of recorded audio files, podcasts, or video content
- Subtitle generation with timestamps (SRT/VTT format)
- On-device processing for complete privacy
- Speaker identification across multi-person recordings
FAQ
Can I use both VibeWhisper and MacWhisper?
Yes. They solve different problems. Use VibeWhisper for real-time dictation while working, and MacWhisper when you need to transcribe audio files.
Does MacWhisper offer real-time dictation?
MacWhisper focuses on file-based transcription. It can record and transcribe, but doesn't inject text into other applications like VibeWhisper does.
Which is cheaper for regular use?
VibeWhisper costs $19 one-time plus ~$0.006/minute API cost (typically $3–5/month). MacWhisper offers a free tier with limits, and paid tiers from $8 to $32.
Need real-time dictation?
If you want to speak and have text appear instantly in any app, VibeWhisper is built for that.