Roundup
Best free dictation apps for Mac (2026)
You can dictate on a Mac for free four ways. Apple Dictation is built in with no time limit. Superwhisper's free plan runs Whisper on your device with no word cap. OneMax gives 5,000 words a week of cleaned-up cloud dictation plus a notebook that organizes your notes. Wispr Flow's free plan has a weekly word limit it doesn't publish.
Free plans compared
| App | Free limit | Cleans up filler words? | Works offline? | Notebook / tasks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Dictation | No time limit; stops after 30 s of silence | No | Some languages | No |
| Superwhisper Free | On-device Whisper, no word cap | With custom prompts | Yes | No |
| OneMax Free | 5,000 words / week | Yes | No | Yes |
| Wispr Flow Free | Limited words / week (no number published) | Yes | No | No |
Checked November 13, 2026 against support.apple.com, superwhisper.com, and wisprflow.ai/pricing.
1. Apple Dictation: already on your Mac
Turn it on in System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation, then press the Microphone key or your Dictation shortcut. Apple says you can dictate text of any length without a timeout; it stops after 30 seconds without speech. It adds commas, periods, and question marks automatically, but it keeps filler words and doesn't learn your vocabulary.
Pick it if: you dictate occasionally and don't want to install anything. Guide: Mac dictation shortcut and commands.
2. Superwhisper Free: on-device and no word cap
Superwhisper's free plan includes voice to text in any app, 100+ languages, Whisper models on your device with no word cap, and custom prompts. Pro ($8.49 per month) adds cloud models, your own API keys, and file transcription.
Pick it if: audio must stay on your Mac and you don't mind choosing models. Details: Superwhisper pricing.
3. OneMax Free: dictation that organizes itself
Press a global shortcut, speak in any app, and cleaned-up, punctuated text is pasted where you're typing. A personal dictionary learns your names and jargon. Every note also syncs to a cloud notebook that groups related notes into topics over days and weeks and turns them into next steps.
The free plan gives you 5,000 words of cloud transcription a week, and new accounts start with a 7-day Pro trial with no card; it moves back to Free automatically. Transcription runs in the cloud and needs macOS 14.4 or later.
Pick it if: your voice notes are ideas, plans, and prompts that should turn into work.
4. Wispr Flow Free: polished, with a weekly cap
Wispr Flow's free plan works on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android. Its pricing page lists the free limit only as "Limited words per week". Heavy daily use usually means Pro at $15 per month or $12 billed yearly.
Pick it if: you want the same dictation app on every device. Details: Wispr Flow pricing.
How to choose
- Occasional dictation, nothing to install: Apple Dictation.
- Must stay on-device: Superwhisper Free.
- Notes should become topics and next steps: OneMax Free.
- Same app on Mac, Windows, and phone: Wispr Flow Free.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free dictation app for Mac?
For occasional use, Apple Dictation is free and built in. For on-device AI transcription with no word cap, Superwhisper's free plan. For cleaned-up cloud dictation plus a notebook that organizes your notes, OneMax's free plan with 5,000 words per week.
Does Mac have free built-in dictation?
Yes. Turn it on in System Settings, Keyboard, Dictation. Apple says you can dictate text of any length without a timeout, and dictation stops after 30 seconds without speech.
Is there a free dictation app for Mac that removes filler words?
Apple Dictation does not remove filler words. Superwhisper's free plan supports custom prompts with local models, OneMax's free plan cleans up filler words and punctuation in the cloud, and Wispr Flow's free plan also cleans up text within a weekly word limit.
Which free Mac dictation app works offline?
Superwhisper's free plan runs Whisper models on your Mac. Apple Dictation can process some languages on-device. OneMax and Wispr Flow need an internet connection.
Also see: Best Mac dictation apps · Wispr Flow pricing · Superwhisper pricing