VoiceNote vs superwhisper: two on-device dictation tools, compared
Unlike most comparisons on this site, this one is between two tools that agree on the important thing: your voice should be able to stay on your own machine. superwhisper is genuinely good. Here's an honest look at where the two differ, so you can pick the one that fits — including where superwhisper is the better call.
What superwhisper does well
superwhisper is a polished, mature on-device dictation app. It transcribes locally (best on Apple Silicon), offers tone modes — formal, casual, legal, chat — a custom vocabulary, 100+ languages, and it now runs on Mac, Windows and iOS. It also includes a meeting assistant and can transcribe uploaded audio and video files. If you want an iPhone app or the option to reach for a cloud model when you need maximum accuracy, superwhisper has both.
So this isn't a cloud-vs-local story — both tools can keep your voice on your machine. The differences are narrower and more specific.
Where VoiceNote differs
- On-device only — no cloud mode at all. superwhisper can *optionally* use cloud models for accuracy; VoiceNote has no cloud option, so there's nothing to configure to keep everything local. For some regulated environments, "can't send audio anywhere" is easier to sign off than "is set not to."
- One-time price. VoiceNote is a one-time purchase from $49. superwhisper is primarily a subscription, though it does offer a lifetime tier — so compare the plans against how long you'll use it.
- Native Windows-on-ARM. VoiceNote ships a genuinely native ARM64 Windows build for Snapdragon laptops, not x64 emulation.
- Meetings included, on-device. VoiceNote records and summarises meetings locally (Windows-first today), included in the one purchase.
VoiceNote vs superwhisper, side by side
| VoiceNote | superwhisper | |
|---|---|---|
| Where speech is processed | On-device only | On-device, with optional cloud models |
| Pricing | One-time, from $49 | Free tier; subscription (Pro); lifetime option |
| Platforms | Windows (x64 + native ARM) & Mac | Mac, Windows, iOS |
| Learns your vocabulary | Yes — permanent, on-device | Yes (custom vocabulary) |
| Formats your speech | Yes — per-app styles | Yes — tone modes |
| Meeting transcription | Included — on-device (Windows-first) | Yes (meeting assistant) |
| Transcribe uploaded files | Not currently | Yes |
| iPhone app | No | Yes |
Who each one is for
Choose superwhisper if you want dictation on your iPhone as well as your computer, occasional cloud accuracy on difficult audio, or the ability to drop in recorded files and get them transcribed.
Choose VoiceNote if you want the simplest possible privacy story — on-device with no cloud switch to think about — a one-time price instead of a subscription, native Windows-on-ARM, and meeting transcription in the same purchase. If you're on Windows specifically, see [dictation software for Windows](/windows-dictation); on a Mac, [voice to text on Mac](/mac-dictation). The [free 3-day trial](/download) is the fair tie-breaker.
Frequently asked
Is there a superwhisper alternative for Windows?
superwhisper itself runs on Windows now, so you may not need one. If what you're really after is a Windows-native tool that's on-device only and paid for once, VoiceNote fits that description — with a native ARM64 build for Snapdragon laptops and meetings included.
Which is more private?
Both can be fully on-device. The practical difference is that superwhisper offers optional cloud models, so its privacy depends on the mode you choose, whereas VoiceNote has no cloud mode to choose from — it's local by construction.
Related
On-device, no cloud switch, paid once.
Free for 3 days, then $49 once. The simplest version of private dictation.