A free Superwhisper alternative, Parakeet included.
By petersindex, who makes Inkbie · Updated 5 October 2026
Superwhisper's free plan is generous, and Pro adds a lot. If you only want fast, private voice typing on your Mac, Inkbie does it free, with the Parakeet model Superwhisper keeps for Pro. Hold fn, talk, let go.
Inkbie and Superwhisper compared
| Feature | Inkbie | Superwhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Price | PriceFree for good, every feature of voice typing | Free plan; Pro is $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year or $249.99 once |
| Speech model | Speech modelParakeet, on your Mac, free | Local Whisper models free; Parakeet, Cohere Transcribe and cloud models on Pro |
| How you talk | How you talkHold fn, talk, let go | A shortcut (⌥ Space) to start, or push to talk: hold, speak, release |
| Works offline | Works offlineYes, after one download | Yes, with local models |
| Your own words | Your own wordsA word list, spelled your way | Custom vocabulary and text replacements |
| AI rewriting | AI rewritingNo: it types what you said | AI modes on Pro (Super, Mail and others) |
| Files and meetings | Files and meetingsNo | Yes: file transcription and speaker separation (its plans page lists what's free) |
| Platforms | PlatformsMac (Apple silicon and Intel Macs, macOS 14 or later) | Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android |
| Extras | ExtrasAn ink drop in your corner, and circles: voice messages to friends' Macs | Modes for different kinds of writing |
Superwhisper details from its own plans and pricing and home page, checked 5 October 2026. Prices in US dollars. Plans change, so check before you buy.
Where Inkbie fits
Parakeet for free, on your Mac, with nothing to subscribe to. One key does it all: hold to talk, let go and it's typed. It waits while you think, learns your names, 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 Superwhisper is the better pick
You want AI to rewrite your words into an email or notes, you transcribe files or meetings, you need more than 25 languages, or you dictate on Windows and your phone too. Superwhisper does all of that, and one Pro licence covers every device.
Questions
- Is there a free alternative to Superwhisper?
- Yes. Inkbie is free voice typing for Mac with no paid tier for typing: hold fn, talk, let go, and your words are typed wherever your cursor is. Superwhisper also has a free plan, with unlimited dictation using local Whisper models.
- Does Inkbie use Parakeet?
- Yes. Inkbie runs the Parakeet speech model on your Mac, free. On Superwhisper, Parakeet is part of Pro.
- Does Inkbie work offline?
- Yes. After the first download, about 600 MB, the voice model runs on your Mac and needs no connection.
- Can Inkbie rewrite what I say with AI?
- No. Inkbie types what you said (without the ums, if you switch that on), and nothing more. If you want AI to reshape your words into an email or a summary, Superwhisper's Pro modes do that.
- Is Inkbie on Windows or my phone?
- Not yet. Inkbie is Mac only for now. Superwhisper runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android with one Pro licence.