Want voice typing, not transcripts? Try Inkbie.
By petersindex, who makes Inkbie · Updated 5 October 2026
MacWhisper is a great way to transcribe files and meetings. If what you really want is to talk instead of type, all day, in any app, Inkbie is built for exactly that, and it's free.
Inkbie and MacWhisper compared
| Feature | Inkbie | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| What it's for | What it's forVoice typing: talk, and it's typed where your cursor is | Transcribing files, videos and meetings, plus dictation |
| Price | PriceFree for good | Free version; Pro is €64 once, with lifetime updates |
| Dictation | DictationHold fn, talk, let go, in any app | System-wide dictation; higher-quality dictation on Pro |
| Where speech becomes text | Where speech becomes textOn your Mac, always | On your Mac with local models, or cloud models if you connect them |
| Works offline | Works offlineYes, after one download | Yes, with local models |
| Languages | Languages25 European languages, English included | 100 languages |
| Files, meetings, subtitles | Files, meetings, subtitlesNo | Yes: files, meeting recording, speaker recognition and subtitles (some on Pro) |
| Your own words | Your own wordsA word list, spelled your way | Not listed on its site |
| Extras | ExtrasAn ink drop in your corner, and circles: voice messages to friends' Macs | AI summaries and prompts, watched folders, a CLI |
MacWhisper details from its own site and pricing, checked 5 October 2026. Plans change, so check before you buy.
Where Inkbie fits
It does one thing all day: hold fn, talk, let go, and it's typed. It waits while you think, learns your names, and pastes your last take again with ⌥⌘V. It's free, runs on your Mac and lives in the corner of your screen as a little ink drop. Add friends and say a name first to send them a voice message instead.
When MacWhisper is the better pick
You transcribe interviews, lectures, podcasts or meetings, you need subtitles or speaker labels, you want AI summaries of a recording, or you work in more than 25 languages. That's what MacWhisper is made for, and it does it on your Mac.
Questions
- Is there a free alternative to MacWhisper for dictation?
- Yes. Inkbie is free voice typing for Mac: hold fn, talk, let go, and your words are typed wherever your cursor is. MacWhisper's free version also includes system-wide dictation; Inkbie is built around it.
- Can Inkbie transcribe audio files or meetings?
- No. Inkbie is voice typing only: it turns what you say, as you say it, into text where your cursor is. For files, meetings and subtitles, MacWhisper is the better tool.
- Does Inkbie work offline like MacWhisper?
- Yes. Both can run on your Mac. Inkbie's voice model downloads once, about 600 MB, and then needs no connection.
- How much is MacWhisper Pro?
- MacWhisper lists Pro at €64 for a licence, paid once, with lifetime updates, on its own site (5 October 2026). Inkbie's voice typing is free.
- Can I use both?
- Yes. They do different jobs. Use MacWhisper for recordings and Inkbie for talking into whatever you're typing in; give Inkbie its own talk key if they'd clash.