Precis vs Superwhisper
Both turn speech into text in any Mac app, and both can run on your Mac. They're built for different people: Superwhisper is a toolbox for power users, and Precis does one job everywhere you type, with no setup.
Short answer: Choose Superwhisper if you want custom modes, meeting notes, file transcription or apps for Windows and phones. Choose Precis if you want dictation that shapes itself to each app automatically, stays entirely on your Mac, and costs one payment of $19.
| Feature | Precis | Superwhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19 once, for 2 Macs | Free plan; Pro $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 once |
| Where speech becomes text | On your Mac | On your Mac or in the cloud |
| Rewrites for each app | Automatic Styles, Apple Intelligence on your Mac | Modes you set up, with local or cloud models |
| Recorder sits by your cursor | Yes, with the icon of the app it will type into | No |
| Meetings and audio files | No | Yes |
| Runs on | Macs with Apple silicon, macOS 26.5 or later | Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android |
Superwhisper details from superwhisper.com, checked on 1 October 2026 (plans and platforms rechecked 4 October 2026). Product names belong to their owners.
- A free plan with unlimited local Whisper models.
- Meeting recording with notes, and transcription of audio and video files.
- Custom modes and prompts, plus Super Mode, which uses what's on your screen.
- Apps for Windows, iPhone and Android.
- No setup: Styles pick themselves from the app, and in a browser the tab, you're in.
- The recorder appears beside your text cursor, so you know where the words will land.
- Speech and rewriting always stay on your Mac. There's no cloud mode to switch off.
- $19 once covers 2 Macs. Superwhisper's lifetime plan is $249.99.
Speed and languages
Precis comes with two speech engines and picks the one that knows your language. Parakeet turns a sentence into text in about 0.1 seconds on an M4 Mac and covers English and 24 European languages, including Spanish and French. Whisper takes about 0.7 seconds and understands 99 languages. Superwhisper lists support for more than 100 languages across its local and cloud models.
Who should pick which
If you like to tune your tools, record meetings, or work across Mac, Windows and phone, Superwhisper gives you more. If you want to hold a key, talk, and get text that already fits the email, prompt or note you're writing, without choosing a mode first, Precis is the simpler fit.
Questions
Is Superwhisper free?
It has a free plan that includes unlimited local Whisper models. Pro is $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year or $249.99 once (checked 1 October 2026).
Which one is more private?
Both can keep your voice on your Mac. Superwhisper also offers cloud models, which send audio out when you use them. Precis has no cloud mode at all.
Can Precis transcribe meetings or audio files?
No. Precis is for dictating into apps. For meetings and files, Superwhisper or MacWhisper 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.