What is the best offline voice-to-text app for Mac?

oto is the most affordable offline voice-to-text app for Mac at $8 one-time. It supports 100+ languages, real-time dictation, and runs entirely on-device with zero cloud uploads. Alternatives like SuperWhisper ($249 lifetime) and MacWhisper ($80 lifetime) also offer offline transcription but at significantly higher prices.

Is oto better than SuperWhisper?

oto costs $8 once vs SuperWhisper's $249 lifetime or $8.49/month subscription. Both offer offline transcription on Apple Silicon with 100+ languages. oto is distributed exclusively through the Mac App Store (Apple-verified), while SuperWhisper uses both App Store and direct download. For most users, oto delivers the same core functionality at a fraction of the price.

What is the cheapest transcription app for Mac?

oto is the cheapest full-featured transcription app for Mac at $8 one-time purchase. Over 3 years, subscription apps like Wispr Flow ($540), Aqua Voice ($288-360), and SuperWhisper ($249-306) cost dramatically more. Even Spokenly's free tier limits you — their Pro plan runs $96/year.

Which Mac voice-to-text apps work offline?

oto, SuperWhisper, MacWhisper, and Spokenly all support offline transcription on Mac. Aqua Voice and Wispr Flow require a cloud connection. oto is the most affordable offline option at $8 one-time.

Is oto better than MacWhisper?

oto costs $8 once vs MacWhisper Pro's $70 one-time purchase on Gumroad. Both support offline transcription and 100+ languages. oto offers real-time dictation and auto-paste, while MacWhisper focuses more on file transcription. oto is App Store verified; MacWhisper is sold through Gumroad.

COMPARISON

How oto compares.

The best offline voice-to-text app for Mac is the one that respects your wallet and your privacy. We compared oto against every major alternative so you don't have to.

The Full Picture.

Five apps. One table. No spin.

	oto	SuperWhisper	Wispr Flow	Aqua Voice	Spokenly	MacWhisper
Price	$8 once	$249 / $8.49/mo	$15/mo	~$8-10/mo	$7.99/mo	$70 once
3-Year Cost	$8	$249-$306	$540	$288-$360	$288	$70
Offline	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Languages	100+	100+	100+	49	100+	100+
Data Collection	Zero	Analytics	Audio + account	Audio + account	Analytics	None
Distribution	App Store	Direct download	Direct download	Direct download	App Store	Gumroad

App by App.

oto vs SuperWhisper

$249 lifetime / $8.49/mo

$8 vs $249 — same engines, 97% less
App Store verified — SuperWhisper is direct download only on Mac
Zero data collection — SuperWhisper collects analytics

Bottom line: SuperWhisper is a solid app — at 31x the price. oto gives you the same core engine for $8.

oto vs Wispr Flow

$15/mo subscription

$8 once vs $540 over 3 years — the math speaks for itself
100% offline — Wispr Flow requires cloud processing
No subscription lock-in — pay once, own it forever

Bottom line: Wispr Flow costs $540 over 3 years and needs the cloud. oto is $8 and works offline forever.

oto vs Aqua Voice

~$8-10/mo subscription

100% offline — Aqua Voice sends audio to the cloud
$8 once vs $96-120/year — you'd pay for oto 12x over annually
No account required — Aqua Voice needs signup + payment info

Bottom line: Aqua Voice uploads your audio to external servers. oto never leaves your Mac.

oto vs Spokenly

$7.99/mo subscription

Zero data collection — Spokenly collects analytics and sends text to cloud AI services
$8 once unlocks everything — Spokenly's Pro is $96/year
No upsells, no tiers, no complexity — one price, all features

Bottom line: Spokenly's free tier hooks you in, then charges $96/year for the full experience. oto is $8 once for everything — no limits, no data collection.

oto vs MacWhisper

$70 one-time (Gumroad)

$8 vs $70 — 9x cheaper for real-time dictation
Built for live dictation, not just file transcription
Auto-paste workflow — text lands at your cursor instantly

Bottom line: MacWhisper is great for transcribing files. oto is built for writing in real time.

Own Your Voice for $8.

FOUNDER'S PRICING

$8 once

Regular price: $30

Download on Mac App Store

✓ 14-day refund guarantee through Apple
✓ Family Sharing — share with up to 5 people
✓ Free lifetime updates

Not sure yet? Try oto free for 14 days via TestFlight. Full app, no limitations. No auto-charges or commitment.
Disregard where it says how many days are left — that's the TestFlight build expiry, not your trial.