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blabe vs MacWhisper
MacWhisper transcribes files, meetings and dictation with local models, and Pro is a one-time purchase. blabe is lightweight and extremely fast dictation for any app, on Mac and Windows.
The short version
MacWhisper suits you if you transcribe recordings as well as dictate. It handles audio and video files, meeting recordings and subtitles, and its free version includes system-wide dictation. Its local models keep your audio on your Mac, and Pro is a license you pay for once.
blabe suits you if you want dictation and nothing else to set up. There is no model to download and no API key for cleanup. It transcribes with Microsoft’s MAI-Transcribe 2. Transcription Microsoft ranks #1 on FLEURS.
At a glance
| Feature | blabe | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.99 a month or $69 a year, no meter or monthly allowance (fair use applies). Free 2-day trial, no sign-up, up to 30 minutes of audio, no card. | A free version, and Pro for €64 once, with lifetime updates. |
| What it does | Dictation: your words are pasted in any app. | Transcribes files, meetings and dictation, with subtitles and exports. Dictation is in the free version. It’s only in the version sold on macwhisper.com, not the App Store one. |
| Transcription model | Microsoft’s MAI-Transcribe 2, through blabe’s transcription service. | Local models such as Whisper, Qwen and Parakeet, or cloud providers with your own API key. |
| Cleanup and rewriting | It removes “um” and “uh” (you can turn that off). AI cleanup is included: Aggressive, Standard or Off. | Pro can fix grammar and apply prompts to dictation, per app. It needs your own AI provider key and a Pro license. |
| Mac requirements | macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon or Intel. | macOS 14 or later, on Apple silicon Macs; it also works on Intel Macs. |
| Works offline | No. It needs the internet to transcribe. | Yes, with local models, which keep your audio on your Mac. |
| Runs on | Mac (macOS 14 or later) and Windows 11 on x64 PCs. | Mac, and now iPhone and iPad. |
Which one to choose
When to choose MacWhisper
- You transcribe audio and video files or meetings, not only dictation.
- You need transcription that works offline, on your Mac.
- You’d rather pay once than subscribe.
- You want to script transcription. Its command-line tool lets scripts and coding agents call it.
When to choose blabe
- You want dictation with nothing to configure: no model to download or choose, and no API key, even for AI cleanup.
- You want your exact words. blabe removes “um” and “uh” (you can turn that off), and with AI cleanup off, no language model touches your text.
- You dictate to coding agents. blabe for Mac can press Return for you in the coding agents it recognizes, when you ask it to, and never at a shell prompt.
- You want the same app on Windows 11.
Before you pick blabe: it needs the internet, macOS 14+ or Windows 11 (x64), and a subscription after the 2-day trial.
Try blabe free for 2 days.
No card, no email, no sign-up. macOS 14 or later on Apple silicon or Intel, or Windows 11 on an x64 PC.