vsSuperWhisperAmical vs SuperWhisper
SuperWhisper is the polished paid dictation app with deep macOS integration and AI text transforms, and a newer Windows build. Here is how Amical stacks up against it honestly.
The short version
Pick Amical if…
Pick Amical if you want cross-platform dictation that works on macOS and Windows, prefer open-source tools, and would rather not pay for a licence to dictate into your everyday apps.
Pick SuperWhisper if…
Pick SuperWhisper if you live entirely on a Mac, want the most refined macOS-native dictation experience available today, and value its mature AI text transform menu and per-app modes.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Amical | SuperWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Runs fully on-device | Yes, local mode available | |
| Open source | Yes, MIT licensed | No, closed source |
| Price | Free | Free tier · paid Pro |
| Platforms | macOS · Windows | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| AI text transforms | Yes, BYO key | Yes, mature |
| Per-app modes and prompts | Basic | Excellent |
| macOS-native polish | Good | Excellent |
| Works offline | Yes, in local mode | |
| Community contributions | Open on GitHub | Closed roadmap |
| Custom vocabulary |
Where SuperWhisper wins
Beautifully refined on macOS
SuperWhisper has spent years polishing every menu, status bar interaction, and keyboard shortcut on macOS. It feels like a first-party Apple tool in a way few third-party apps manage.
Mature AI text transforms
Its library of prompt-based modes for emails, code, summaries, and structured output is more developed than ours today. You can pick a mode per app and get tailored rewrites instantly.
Thoughtful per-app behaviour
Detecting the frontmost app and switching prompts, formatting, or vocabulary automatically is a genuinely useful workflow that SuperWhisper has refined further than most competitors in the space.
Where Amical wins
Local-first on every platform
Amical runs its dictation model entirely on-device on both macOS and Windows. Your microphone audio is never streamed to a server, there is no hosted account, and the privacy story is the same whether you are on a MacBook or a PC at work.
Open source, auditable, forkable
Amical is MIT licensed and developed on GitHub. You can read exactly how audio is captured, where text goes, and how rewrites are wired up. With SuperWhisper you are trusting a closed binary and a privacy policy you cannot verify against the actual code.
Free and community-supported
There is no licence to buy, no upgrade tier, and no seat cap. Amical is funded by the people who use it and contribute to it, which keeps it accessible to students, open-source maintainers, and anyone who would rather not pay an annual fee to dictate text.
Experience the future of dictation
Local and Cloud Models
Choose from powerful cloud-based AI models or run everything locally for maximum privacy and control. Switch seamlessly between providers to find the perfect balance of speed, accuracy, and security.
Custom Vocabulary
Customize the AI to recognize your specific terminology, jargon, and proper nouns for industry-specific accuracy and personalized transcription results.
Custom Shortcuts
Create personalized voice commands and shortcuts to streamline your workflow and boost productivity with hands-free operation.
Multi Language Support
Transcribe and dictate in 100+ languages with native-level accuracy. Switch between languages seamlessly or use mixed-language dictation.
