Precis vs MacWhisper
MacWhisper is built to turn recordings into transcripts, and it can dictate too. Precis is built for one job: typing by voice into whatever app you're in, with the text shaped for it.
Short answer: Choose MacWhisper if you transcribe meetings, interviews, podcasts or audio files, want speaker labels, or want to connect your own AI services. Choose Precis if you mainly dictate into apps and want the text shaped for each one, with no setup, on 2 Macs for $19.
| Feature | Precis | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19 once, for 2 Macs | Free version; Pro €64 once, with lifetime updates |
| Built for | Typing by voice into any app | Transcribing audio, video and meetings; it also dictates |
| Where speech becomes text | On your Mac | Local models on your Mac; cloud models are an option too |
| Rewrites for each app | Built-in Styles by Apple Intelligence on your Mac, chosen from the app you're in | Dictation with AI prompts, using your own AI service keys or local models such as Ollama and LM Studio |
| Files and meetings | No | Yes: transcribes files, records audio from any app, detects meetings, labels speakers |
| Automation | No | Command-line control for scripts and agents |
MacWhisper details from macwhisper.com (version 11), checked on 5 October 2026. Product names belong to their owners.
- Transcribes audio and video files, podcasts, interviews and meetings, with speaker labels.
- Has a free version, and Pro is €64 once with lifetime updates.
- Lets you choose local or cloud models and connect your own AI services.
- Can be driven from the command line in scripts and agent workflows.
- Does one job, typing by voice into the app you're in, and picks the Style from that app automatically.
- Rewriting runs on your Mac with Apple Intelligence: no API key, no model to install, nothing sent out.
- Every rewrite passes a guard that rejects invented names, numbers, dates and links (how it's tested).
- One licence covers 2 Macs for $19.
Who should pick which
If your work is recordings (interviews, lectures, podcasts, meetings), MacWhisper is built for that and Precis isn't. If your work is typing (email, prompts, notes, messages) and you want to talk and get text that's already shaped for the app, without setting up a model or an AI key, Precis is built for that. MacWhisper can dictate into apps too, so some people will be happy with just one of them.
Questions
Is MacWhisper free?
Yes, there is a free version. MacWhisper Pro costs €64 once and includes lifetime updates.
Can MacWhisper dictate into other apps?
Yes. It has system-wide dictation with Whisper and can run your dictation through AI prompts. Precis focuses on that one job and picks a Style for each app automatically.
Does MacWhisper run on my Mac?
It transcribes files with local models on your Mac and also offers cloud models. Check which model you've selected if privacy matters.
Can Precis transcribe meetings or audio files?
No. Precis is for dictating into apps. For meetings and files, MacWhisper or Superwhisper do more.
Try Precis free for 7 days
Hold ⌥ Space in any app and talk. No card and no account, then $19 once for 2 Macs.
Free for 7 days, no card. Needs macOS 26.5 on Apple silicon.