Two of the most talked-about AI dictation apps are SuperWhisper and Wispr Flow. Both turn your speech into text in whatever app you're using, and both now run on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android.
However, their architectures, setup and pricing are very different. Here's how they compare in 2026, so you can pick the right one for the way you work.
The Key Architectures: Cloud vs. Local#
The biggest difference between SuperWhisper and Wispr Flow is where the transcription happens:
- Wispr Flow (Cloud-Only): Your voice recordings are sent to Wispr Flow's servers, transcribed and cleaned up, and sent back to your screen. This needs an internet connection; there's no offline mode.
- SuperWhisper (Local or Cloud): With local models, transcription runs on your own computer: no audio leaves it, and you can dictate completely offline. SuperWhisper also offers cloud models when you'd rather use them.
Head-to-Head Comparison#
1. Speed and Latency#
Because Wispr Flow relies on the cloud, its speed depends on your connection. On a fast, stable network it feels quick; on patchy public Wi-Fi or a phone hotspot, expect delays, and with no connection it doesn't work at all. SuperWhisper with a local model doesn't depend on the network. Its speed depends on your computer and the model you choose: larger models are more accurate but slower, especially on older machines.
2. Accuracy and Formatting#
Wispr Flow's cleanup works out of the box: it removes filler words, fixes grammar and formats text with no setup. SuperWhisper gives you more control (you choose the model and can customise how your text is processed), but it takes more tweaking to get it exactly how you want.
We don't have like-for-like accuracy figures for the two, so the fair test is your own voice: both have a free plan, so you can try both on real work.
3. Pricing and Value#
- Wispr Flow is subscription-only: $15 per month, or $144 per year on annual billing ($12 a month). The Free plan gives 2,000 words a week on Mac and Windows and "limited weekly use" on iPhone and Android. Its pricing page no longer advertises a Pro trial (the help center still mentions a standard 14-day one), and students new to Pro get 3 months free, then 50% off.
- SuperWhisper Pro costs $8.49 per month, $84.99 per year or $249.99 for a lifetime licence, and every plan has the same features. The free plan gives unlimited dictation with local Whisper models (with up to two modes and no AI processing), and new users get 3,000 words to try the Pro features.
Prices as of October 2026; vendors change them, so check their sites.
Over time, SuperWhisper's lifetime licence costs less than Wispr Flow's annual plan after about 21 months. Here's how the totals add up, with LumeVoice included for comparison:
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wispr Flow (annual) | $144 | $288 | $720 |
| SuperWhisper (annual) | $84.99 | $169.98 | $424.95 |
| SuperWhisper lifetime | $249.99 | $249.99 | $249.99 |
| LumeVoice lifetime | $249 | $249 | $249 |
| LumeVoice (annual) | $79.99 | $159.98 | $399.95 |
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Wispr Flow is the most expensive over time, because it has no lifetime option. On annual billing, SuperWhisper ($84.99) and LumeVoice ($79.99) both cost less per year than Wispr Flow ($144), and either lifetime licence costs less than two years of Wispr Flow Pro.
Students should look closely: Wispr Flow gives students new to Pro 3 months free, then 50% off ($6 a month, billed annually); SuperWhisper takes 40% off for verified students and educators if you email them before you buy; and LumeVoice's student price is $39.99 a year or $7.49 a month (50% off).
4. Platforms#
Both now run on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. SuperWhisper's Android app is the newer of the two: a floating bubble that types into other apps, on phones only (not tablets), and one SuperWhisper Pro licence covers all your devices. Android no longer settles the choice, so decide on the other points.
The Verdict: Summary Table#
| Feature | Wispr Flow | SuperWhisper | LumeVoice (Alternative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processing | Cloud | Local or cloud | Cloud |
| Offline Mode | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (local models) | ❌ No |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android |
| Free option | 2,000 words/week (desktop), limited on mobile | Unlimited dictation with local models | 3,000 Free Words, one time |
| Free trial | Not advertised (help center mentions 14 days) | 3,000 words of Pro features | 7 days on first in-app upgrade (card required) |
| Pricing | $15/mo or $144/yr | $8.49/mo, $84.99/yr or $249.99 once | $14.99/mo, $79.99/yr or $249 once |
| Student discount | 3 months free, then 50% off | 40% off (verified students and educators) | 50% off |
| Cleanup | ✅ Automatic | ✅ Configurable | ✅ Automatic |
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Which One Fits Which Job#
- You dictate on planes, in secure offices or with confidential material: SuperWhisper with local models.
- You use Android: either one now (and LumeVoice); SuperWhisper's Android app is the newer of the two.
- You want the least setup: Wispr Flow.
- You want the lowest monthly price: SuperWhisper, at $8.49.
- You'd rather pay once: SuperWhisper ($249.99) or LumeVoice ($249).
Where LumeVoice Fits as a Third Option#
LumeVoice is our product, so read this as the maker's view. It sits closer to Wispr Flow than to SuperWhisper: it's cloud-based with no offline mode, and it types clean text into whatever app has your cursor, with filler words removed and self-corrections applied. On the Mac it lives in the menu bar (macOS 11.5 or later), on Windows 10 and 11 in the system tray, on iPhone it's the Lume keyboard, and on Android it's a floating bubble over your keyboard. It costs $14.99/mo, $79.99/yr, or $249 lifetime, and every new account gets 3,000 free words, no card required. Pro Monthly and Pro Annual start with a 7-day free trial when you first upgrade in the app (card required).
- Choose it over Wispr Flow if you want the same kind of tool for less per year, or a licence you buy once.
- Choose it over SuperWhisper if you want cleanup that works without setup.
- Don't choose it if your audio must stay on your device: SuperWhisper with local models is the right pick for that.
Try LumeVoice on Your Own Words
Hold a key, talk, and LumeVoice types the finished text where your cursor is: in VS Code, Notion, Slack or Chrome. Your audio isn't stored after processing, your history stays on your device, and nothing you say is used to train a model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SuperWhisper require Apple Silicon?
Not for everything. SuperWhisper also runs on Windows, iPhone and Android, and its cloud models don't depend on your hardware. Local models are what lean on your computer: larger ones need more memory and processing power, so a recent Mac with Apple Silicon or a capable PC makes a real difference. Check SuperWhisper's documentation for current system requirements.
Is Wispr Flow's cloud model secure?
Security is only part of the question; transmission is the other. However well the service is run, your audio is uploaded to Wispr Flow's servers to be processed, and what is kept afterwards depends on its privacy policy and settings. If you are bound by HIPAA or strict NDAs, check whether the vendor offers the agreements you need, or use SuperWhisper with local models so audio never leaves your device.
Can I import pre-recorded audio files into these apps?
Both apps are built mainly for live dictation into other apps. SuperWhisper Pro can transcribe files; Wispr Flow says it doesn't support file uploads yet. For long recordings, a dedicated file transcriber is a better fit: MacWhisper (Mac, offline; free version, Pro €65 one-time) or Buzz (free and open source, for Mac, Windows and Linux). LumeVoice's desktop apps also transcribe audio and video files, in the cloud.
