FAQ
Got questions? We've got answers.
Everything about VibeWhisper — setup, pricing, privacy, and troubleshooting. Still stuck? Email us at jovanovic@thecodecave.de.
Your Questions, Answered
VibeWhisper is a macOS menu-bar app that turns your voice into text — anywhere on your Mac. It uses OpenAI's Whisper model for transcription and costs just $19 one-time. No subscription, no recurring fees.
Below, we've organized the most common questions into six categories. Whether you're curious about how it works, what it costs, or how your data is handled — you'll find the answer here.
If you're new to VibeWhisper, we recommend starting with our Getting Started Guide for a step-by-step setup walkthrough.
Quick Answers
The five most common questions at a glance.
What does it cost?
$19 one-time. You also need an OpenAI API key (~$0.006/min).
Which macOS versions?
macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later. Apple Silicon & Intel.
Does it need internet?
Yes — audio is transcribed via the OpenAI Whisper API.
Is my data private?
Audio goes directly to OpenAI. We never see or store it.
Does it work everywhere?
In any text field accessible via macOS Accessibility API.
General
- What is VibeWhisper?
- VibeWhisper is a macOS menu-bar app that provides system-wide push-to-talk voice-to-text transcription powered by OpenAI Whisper. When you speak, your audio is transcribed and the resulting text is injected directly into whichever text field is currently focused.
- How does it work?
- Hold your configured shortcut key, speak, and release. Your audio is sent to the OpenAI Whisper API for transcription, and the resulting text is injected into the currently focused text field via the macOS Accessibility API.
- What macOS versions are supported?
- VibeWhisper requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later and runs on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
- What makes it different from macOS Dictation?
- VibeWhisper offers system-level push-to-talk so you have explicit control over when you are dictating. It uses OpenAI Whisper for better accuracy and support for 99+ languages. Text is injected via the Accessibility API, which means it works reliably in any text field. The overall experience is built with a developer-focused UX in mind.
- Who is VibeWhisper for?
- VibeWhisper is designed for developers, writers, and professionals who want fast, accurate voice-to-text input on macOS. It is especially popular among software engineers who practice vibe coding — dictating code, comments, and documentation hands-free.
- How many languages does it support?
- VibeWhisper supports 99+ languages through OpenAI Whisper. The language is automatically detected from your speech, so you can switch between languages on the fly without changing any settings.
Pricing & API
- How much does VibeWhisper cost?
- $19 one-time purchase. No subscription. No recurring fees. You own the license forever and receive all future updates included.
- How much does the OpenAI API cost?
- OpenAI charges approximately $0.006 per minute of audio for the Whisper API. That means a typical dictation of 30 seconds costs roughly $0.003. Even heavy daily use rarely exceeds $1–2 per month. You pay OpenAI directly through your own account.
- Can I use my existing OpenAI API key?
- Yes. Any valid OpenAI API key with access to the Whisper model works with VibeWhisper. You can use the same key you already use for ChatGPT, GPT-4, or other OpenAI services.
- What happens if I lose access to my license?
- Contact jovanovic@thecodecave.de with your order ID and we will help you recover your license. We keep a record of all purchases and can reissue licenses at any time.
- Why no subscription model?
- We believe voice-to-text is a utility, not a service. The heavy lifting is done by OpenAI's API, which you pay for directly at cost. There is no reason to charge you a monthly fee on top. VibeWhisper is a one-time purchase because that is the fair thing to do.
- How does VibeWhisper compare to subscription-based tools?
- Most competitors charge $10–20/month ($120–240/year). VibeWhisper costs $19 once. After just two months, you've already saved money compared to any subscription alternative. Visit our pricing page for a detailed comparison.
Technical
- Where is my API key stored?
- Your API key is stored securely in the macOS Keychain. It is never transmitted to VibeWhisper servers — it goes directly from your machine to OpenAI.
- Does it work with any text field?
- VibeWhisper works with any text field that is accessible via the macOS Accessibility API, which covers the vast majority of applications — including code editors, browsers, messaging apps, and document editors.
- Does it work offline?
- No. VibeWhisper requires an internet connection to communicate with the OpenAI Whisper API for transcription. Audio processing happens on OpenAI's servers, not locally.
- How does text injection work?
- VibeWhisper uses the macOS Accessibility API to insert transcribed text directly into the currently focused text field. No clipboard is involved, so your clipboard contents remain untouched.
- What permissions does it need?
- VibeWhisper requires Microphone access (to capture audio) and Accessibility access (to inject text into focused fields). Both are configured in System Settings → Privacy & Security on your Mac.
- Can I customize the push-to-talk shortcut?
- Yes. You can configure the push-to-talk shortcut in VibeWhisper's settings. You can choose any key or key combination that works best for your workflow. Check our guide on push-to-talk shortcuts for recommended setups.
- How fast is the transcription?
- Transcription typically takes 1–3 seconds after you release the push-to-talk key, depending on the length of your audio and your internet connection speed. OpenAI Whisper is one of the fastest and most accurate transcription models available.
Privacy & Security
- Does VibeWhisper store my audio recordings?
- No. VibeWhisper does not store, log, or retain any of your audio recordings. Audio is streamed directly from your microphone to the OpenAI Whisper API for transcription and is discarded immediately after processing.
- Does VibeWhisper send data to its own servers?
- No. VibeWhisper communicates directly with OpenAI's API using your personal API key. No audio, text, or personal data ever passes through VibeWhisper's servers. The only communication with our servers is the license validation at activation.
- How is my OpenAI API key protected?
- Your API key is stored in the macOS Keychain, the same secure storage that Apple uses for passwords, certificates, and other sensitive credentials. It is encrypted at rest and protected by your macOS user account.
- Is VibeWhisper GDPR compliant?
- VibeWhisper itself does not collect or process personal data beyond the license key. Audio transcription is handled by OpenAI under their data processing terms. Since audio goes directly to OpenAI and is not stored by us, our data footprint is minimal. See our privacy policy for full details.
- Can my employer see what I dictate?
- No. VibeWhisper runs locally on your Mac and sends audio only to OpenAI's API. There is no admin dashboard, no telemetry beyond anonymous analytics, and no way for anyone else to access your transcriptions.
Compatibility & Apps
- Does VibeWhisper work with VS Code and other code editors?
- Yes. VibeWhisper works with VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, Xcode, Sublime Text, Vim (via terminal), and virtually any other code editor on macOS. Text is injected via the Accessibility API, so it behaves like native keyboard input.
- Does it work in web browsers?
- Yes. VibeWhisper works in all major browsers — Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Arc, and Brave. You can dictate into any web form, text area, or rich text editor in the browser.
- Does it work with Slack, Teams, and messaging apps?
- Yes. VibeWhisper works with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Discord, Telegram, WhatsApp Desktop, iMessage, and other messaging applications on macOS. Simply focus the message input field and start dictating.
- Does it work with document editors like Word or Google Docs?
- Yes. VibeWhisper works with Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, Google Docs (in the browser), Notion, Obsidian, and other writing applications. It is an excellent tool for quickly drafting long-form content.
- Can I use it for terminal and command-line input?
- Yes. VibeWhisper works with Terminal.app, iTerm2, Warp, and other terminal emulators. You can dictate commands, Git commit messages, or any other text input directly into the terminal.
Troubleshooting
- VibeWhisper is not transcribing — what should I check?
- First, make sure VibeWhisper has Microphone and Accessibility permissions in System Settings → Privacy & Security. Then verify that your OpenAI API key is valid and has sufficient credit. Finally, check your internet connection. If the issue persists, try restarting the app.
- Text is not appearing in the focused field. Why?
- This usually means VibeWhisper does not have Accessibility permission. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility and make sure VibeWhisper is listed and enabled. You may need to remove and re-add it if permissions were recently changed.
- The transcription quality is poor. How can I improve it?
- Transcription quality depends on your microphone and environment. Use a good-quality microphone, reduce background noise, and speak clearly at a normal pace. OpenAI Whisper is highly accurate in quiet environments. If you are dictating in a non-English language, make sure you are speaking consistently in that language.
- I get an API error when trying to transcribe. What does it mean?
- API errors usually indicate an issue with your OpenAI account — most commonly insufficient credit or an expired API key. Log in to your OpenAI account at platform.openai.com to check your billing status and regenerate your API key if needed.
- How do I update VibeWhisper?
- VibeWhisper includes an auto-update mechanism. When a new version is available, you will be notified and can update with a single click. You can also manually check for updates from the menu bar icon.
How Does VibeWhisper Compare?
See how VibeWhisper stacks up against popular voice-to-text alternatives.
VibeWhisper takes a fundamentally different approach from competitors: a one-time $19 purchase instead of monthly subscriptions, direct OpenAI API access instead of proprietary transcription, and a developer-first UX with push-to-talk control. Explore our detailed comparison pages to see the full picture.
Explore More
Dive deeper into VibeWhisper with these resources.
Pricing Details
See the full pricing breakdown, cost comparison with competitors, and understand why we don't charge a subscription.
Learn moreAll Features
Explore every feature VibeWhisper offers — from push-to-talk shortcuts to multi-language support and Accessibility API integration.
Learn moreGetting Started Guide
A step-by-step walkthrough to help you set up VibeWhisper and start transcribing in minutes.
Learn moreBlog & Updates
Stay up to date with the latest news, tips, and product updates from the VibeWhisper team.
Learn moreKnowledge Base
Browse our documentation and articles to get the most out of VibeWhisper.
Learn moreUse Cases
Discover how developers, writers, and professionals use VibeWhisper to boost their productivity.
Learn moreStill have questions?
Our team is here to help. Reach out and we will get back to you as soon as possible.