Vocado vs Superwhisper
Updated
I'm Zam, I make Vocado. Superwhisper is a really capable app. It does a lot more than Vocado does, and for plenty of people that's exactly why they should use it. This page is about whether you need all that, or whether something simpler fits better.
Superwhisper facts come from superwhisper.com and its docs, checked 3 November 2026.
Quick answer
- Pick Superwhisper if you want offline dictation with local models, AI modes that rewrite your speech into emails or messages, your choice of AI model, or one license that also covers Windows, iPhone and Android. Also if you want a lifetime license.
- Pick Vocado if you want a Mac app with nothing to configure: press a key, talk, text appears, for $4.99 a month.
Side by side
| Vocado | Superwhisper | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99/mo or $39.99/yr | Pro $8.49/mo, $84.99/yr or $249.99 lifetime |
| Free option | 14-day trial, no card | Free plan with unlimited local Whisper dictation |
| Paid trial | 14 days | 3,000 words of Pro |
| Offline / local models | No | Yes, local Whisper models free; Parakeet and others on Pro (run best on Apple Silicon) |
| Cloud transcription | Yes (Groq Whisper) | Yes on Pro, plus bring your own API keys |
| AI rewriting modes | No | Yes: message, email, custom prompts, Super Mode |
| Platforms | Mac (macOS 14+) | Mac (macOS 14+), Windows, iPhone, Android on one license |
| Languages | 86 languages; pick yours in Settings (auto-detect is tuned for English) | 100+ (depends on the model you pick) |
| Custom dictionary | Yes | Yes, plus text replacements |
| Refunds | See vocado.talk/refund | 30 days on all plans bought on its website |
Where Superwhisper is better
Offline. Superwhisper's free plan runs Whisper models on your Mac, and its docs say nothing you dictate leaves your device. Vocado is cloud only and needs internet. If you want audio to stay on your machine, Superwhisper wins outright.
AI modes. You can have it turn rambling speech into a tidy email, slide the tone between casual and formal, or write your own prompts and pick models like GPT-5 or Claude Haiku. That's on Pro; the free plan gets up to two modes without AI. Vocado doesn't do any rewriting.
Platforms. One Pro license covers unlimited Macs and Windows PCs, plus an iPhone and an Android phone. Vocado is Mac only.
Pay once. If you hate subscriptions, the $249.99 lifetime license is a real option. Vocado is subscription only.
Free tier. Superwhisper's free plan is genuinely usable forever. Vocado's is a 14-day trial.
Where Vocado is better
Simplicity. There are no modes or models to pick. You set a hotkey and you're done. Some people love configuring Superwhisper. Some people just want to talk.
Price for cloud. If you'd be using Superwhisper's cloud models anyway, Vocado is $4.99 a month versus $8.49, or $39.99 a year versus $84.99.
Consistent cloud speed without needing a fast Mac. Vocado sends audio to Groq Whisper, so a 30-second note comes back in under 2 seconds whether you're on an M4 or an older Intel Mac. Local models depend on your hardware, and Superwhisper says Intel Macs work best with its cloud models.
Tiny and native. 5.7 MB download, about 12 MB installed. No local models to download.
Indie support. I build it and I answer the support email.
Privacy, plainly
This is Superwhisper's strength, not mine. With local models, your audio stays on your Mac. With Vocado, audio is sent to a cloud transcription provider, processed and deleted, not stored. There's no account and your history stays on your Mac, but it's still cloud.
Why I built Vocado
I tried Superwhisper and the rest. Each had something that didn't fit how I work, and for me the biggest problem across apps was speed that got worse over time. Vocado is what I wanted: one key, fast text, nothing else. I've used it for months, hours a day, mostly dictating into Claude Code.
Try it
If Superwhisper feels like more app than you need, try Vocado for two weeks. No credit card.
FAQ
Is Vocado a good Superwhisper alternative?
If you want simple cloud dictation on a Mac and don't need offline mode or AI modes, yes, and it's cheaper than Superwhisper Pro. If you need offline, AI rewriting or other platforms, Superwhisper is the better choice.
How much does Superwhisper cost?
As of November 2026, Superwhisper Pro is $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 lifetime. The free plan includes unlimited dictation with local Whisper models.
Does Vocado work offline like Superwhisper?
No. Vocado needs an internet connection. Superwhisper can run local models offline.
Does Vocado have AI modes like Superwhisper?
No. Vocado transcribes what you say and doesn't rewrite it.
Which is better on an Intel Mac?
Vocado transcribes in the cloud, so speed doesn't depend on your chip. Superwhisper recommends cloud models on Intel Macs, since its offline models run best on Apple Silicon.
Try Vocado free for 14 days
Native Mac app, 5.7 MB download. No credit card. $4.99/month after that, or $39.99/year.
Download for Mac