Superwhisper alternative: YappYapp compared
YappYapp is a Superwhisper alternative for Apple Silicon Macs that is free and open source (MIT), and includes local Parakeet models, local cleanup, local translation and file transcription at no cost. Superwhisper's free plan already gives you unlimited dictation with local Whisper models and custom vocabulary, so the real differences are open source code, which features sit behind a paid plan, and what each app does beyond plain dictation.
Prices and features checked on 25 Oct 2026 on each product's own site.
Both can stay offline
It is worth clearing this up first. Superwhisper is not a cloud-only app. Its plans page says: "Free gives you unlimited dictation with local Whisper models, up to two modes, custom vocabulary, and text replacements." Its docs say local voice models transcribe without an internet connection, and that pairing a local voice model with a local language model keeps every stage on your machine. One caveat from those docs: AI formatting offline needs the local S1-mini model in the Message or Mail mode.
YappYapp only works locally. It has no cloud option at all: speech is transcribed on the Mac with Parakeet, Whisper or Qwen3-ASR, and the optional cleanup and translation models run on the Mac too.
Comparison table (checked 25 Oct 2026)
| YappYapp 0.4.1 | Superwhisper | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no paid plan | Free plan; Pro $8. |
| Where speech is processed | On your Mac only | Local or cloud, your choice |
| Account | None | Not stated on its pages; the app uses licence activation, and its privacy policy lists email, licence key and optional Google or SSO sign-in |
| Works offline | Yes, once a model is downloaded | Yes with local models |
| Open source | Yes, MIT License | Not open source (no repository or licence published) |
| Platforms | Mac, Apple Silicon, macOS 14+ | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Languages | 25 European languages with Parakeet Ultra (default), about 100 with Whisper, 52 languages and dialects with Qwen3-ASR | "100+ languages" |
| Custom vocabulary | Yes, the WORDS tab | Yes, on the free plan |
| Types into any app | Yes, option+space by default | Yes, option+space by default |
| Parakeet models | Free | Pro |
| AI cleanup or formatting | Free, local (CLEAN, EMAIL, LIST, NOTES) | Pro ("AI-powered processing"); free plan has up to two modes without AI processing |
| File transcription | Free | Pro |
Superwhisper's facts come from its plans page, its introduction docs, its privacy policy and its homepage. YappYapp's come from its public source at github.
Where the two really differ
Open source
YappYapp's full source is public under the MIT License, and release builds are signed and notarized by Apple. You can read exactly what the app sends over the network: a daily update check (which you can turn off) and the model downloads you start. Superwhisper is closed source. Its privacy policy says your data is not used for training AI models, and that it collects metadata such as a device ID and word counts, plus crash reports.
What is free
On Superwhisper's free plan you get local Whisper dictation, custom vocabulary and text replacements. Its Pro plan adds the cloud models, the Cohere Transcribe and Parakeet local models, file transcription, unlimited modes, AI processing, context awareness, realtime transcription, speaker separation and Meetings.
In YappYapp, everything ships in the one free app: Parakeet Ultra as the default model, local cleanup modes, translation into ten languages with a local Hy-MT2 model, file transcription on the FILES tab, per-app profiles, snippets and a live preview of your words while you talk (Parakeet only).
What Superwhisper does that YappYapp does not
- Cloud models. Superwhisper Pro offers its own cloud voice and language models and lets you bring your own API keys. YappYapp has no cloud models.
- Other devices. One Superwhisper licence covers macOS, Windows, iOS and Android. YappYapp is Mac only, and Apple Silicon only.
- Screen-aware modes. Superwhisper's Super Mode "adapts to your screen". YappYapp does not read your screen; its per-app profiles only look at which app you are in.
- Meetings and speakers. Superwhisper Pro records meetings and separates speakers. YappYapp transcribes files but does not record meetings or label speakers.
Who should pick which
Pick Superwhisper if you want cloud models as an option, use Windows or a phone as well, want meeting recording, or like its modes and Super Mode enough to pay for Pro. If you only need local Whisper dictation with your own vocabulary on a Mac, its free plan already covers that.
Pick YappYapp if you want the source code open, if you want Parakeet, local cleanup, translation and file transcription without a subscription, or if you prefer an app with no cloud path at all. For help choosing between its engines, see Whisper or Parakeet on a Mac.
Trying YappYapp next to Superwhisper
- Download YappYapp, or run
brew install --cask migueltorrezd/.tap/ yappyapp - Follow the setup guide. DETECT BEST MODELS reads your chip, memory and free disk and suggests a speech model before anything downloads. Parakeet Ultra is about 630 MB, once.
- Change one shortcut. Both apps default to option+space, so rebind YappYapp in Setup > Dictation, or pick a one-key trigger there such as Right Option or Fn.
- Add your vocabulary to the WORDS tab, or import it as JSON or CSV.
To confirm nothing leaves the Mac, the offline dictation guide walks through a test with Wi-Fi off.
FAQ
Does Superwhisper need a subscription to work offline?
No. Its free plan includes unlimited dictation with local Whisper models, which run without an internet connection.
Does YappYapp have an AI rewrite mode?
It has local cleanup modes. CLEAN removes filler words and adds punctuation while keeping your words; EMAIL, LIST and NOTES change the layout. A rewrite that adds words or changes the language is discarded and the raw transcript is pasted.
Does YappYapp work on Intel Macs or Windows?
No. It needs an Apple Silicon Mac with macOS 14 or newer.