Is Superwhisper free?

Superwhisper has a real free plan, but not every feature is free. The Free plan gives unlimited dictation with local Whisper models, up to two modes, custom vocabulary and text replacements ¹. Pro adds cloud models, AI processing and file transcription ². Pro costs $8.49 a month ³, $84.99 a year ⁴ or $249.99 once ⁵. Prices checked October 27, 2026.

This page answers the pricing question only. The full picture, with privacy and models, is in our guide to Superwhisper: price, models and privacy, part of our overview of dictation software.

The Free plan is unlimited, with no time limit

The Free plan has no word cap and no expiry. Superwhisper's own documentation says dictation on Free uses local Whisper models with no AI processing, and that nothing you dictate leaves the device ⁶. Every local Whisper model is free, from Tiny to Large v3 Turbo ⁷. That is the same model family many people pay for elsewhere. Our explainer on Whisper covers what it can and cannot do.

Free is a free tier rather than a trial, so it stays free as long as you stay inside its limits. If you only need raw text typed at your cursor, you may never need to pay.

Pro adds the models and AI modes that cost the maker money

The paywall for Parakeet is about the model, not about where it runs: Parakeet also runs on your own computer. Which of these models to choose is covered in the question on which Superwhisper model is best.

Three Pro plans cost the same feature set differently

Every Pro plan includes the same features. One license works on unlimited Macs and Windows PCs, plus an iPhone and an Android phone ⁹.

The lifetime license is a perpetual license. It pays for itself after roughly two and a half years of monthly billing, so it only beats the annual plan if you will still dictate that long.

The price depends on where you buy and who you are

• Store prices are higher. The figures above apply to purchases on superwhisper.com. App Store and Google Play prices are higher ¹².
• Students and non-profits get 40 percent off. Verified students, faculty, academic institutions and non-profits can request the discount by email before buying ¹³. That puts lifetime at about $149.99 ¹⁴.
• There is a 30-day refund window. Website purchases can be refunded within 30 days of the first purchase on all three plans ¹⁵.
• New users get a sample. The first 3,000 words come with every Pro feature, after which the app falls back to Free without deleting anything ¹⁶.

Free is enough in some cases, and Pro is worth it in others

Stay on Free if you dictate mostly English on an Apple Silicon Mac, want raw transcription, and do not need a rewrite step. Pay for Pro if you want AI modes that clean up grammar, a faster local model, file transcription, or cloud models for a slow computer.

If you are unsure, use the 3,000-word sample, then the monthly plan for a month or two, and keep the 30-day refund in mind. Choose the lifetime license only after you know you will use it for years.

Before paying anything, check what your computer already includes. Our comparison of Superwhisper and Apple Dictation shows what you gain by paying, and the guide to free dictation software lists other free options. For price against a rival, see Wispr Flow vs Superwhisper.

What to do next

1. Install the free app and dictate with a local Whisper model for a week.
2. Note what you miss: rewriting, speed, a language, or meetings.
3. If one of those matters, buy the cheapest plan that covers it, on the website rather than in a store.

Whether Free works without internet is answered in does Superwhisper work offline?.