Why there is no MacWhisper for Windows
MacWhisper (by Jordi Bruin) is a macOS app that runs OpenAI's Whisper model locally. It is built on Apple's own frameworks and tuned for Apple Silicon, which is a big part of why it feels fast and simple — and also why it cannot simply be ported to a PC.
Workarounds do not really help. Apple's licence only permits macOS on Apple hardware, and a macOS virtual machine on a PC has no GPU acceleration, so Whisper would crawl. If you are on Windows, you need a native Windows app.
Your options for local Whisper transcription on Windows
Three realistic ways to get MacWhisper-style local transcription on a PC. All of them keep your audio on your own machine.
| On Windows | Scrieb | Buzz | Whisper CLI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Installer | Installer | Python + terminal |
| Drag-and-drop app | ✓ | ✓ (basic) | ✗ |
| Speaker recognition | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Export DOCX / PDF | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| GPU acceleration | ✓ | ✓ | Manual setup |
| Runs offline | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price | Free 1 h/day; Pro subscription | Free | Free |
Which one fits? If you are comfortable in a terminal and only need raw text, Whisper CLI is free and powerful. If you want a free app with speaker labels and TXT or subtitle export, Buzz does the job. If you transcribe interviews, meetings or calls and want speaker labels plus summaries and finished DOCX or PDF documents, that is what Scrieb is for. See the full local transcription software comparison for more detail.
Scrieb on Windows: requirements and speed
Windows versions
Windows 10 (version 1903 or later) and Windows 11. Both 64-bit x86 and ARM64 (Snapdragon) PCs.
Memory
8 GB RAM recommended. A dedicated GPU helps a lot but is not required.
With a GPU
5× to 15× real time on an NVIDIA RTX 20-series or newer: a 60-minute file in 4 to 12 minutes. AMD and Intel GPUs are supported too.
CPU only
Roughly 0.5× to 1× real time on a modern laptop. Slower, but it works, and it still runs fully offline.
More detail on the Windows version: Offline Transcription for Windows 10 & 11.
How to get started on a PC
- Download and install Scrieb. A normal Windows installer, x64 or ARM64. No Python, no terminal.
- Let the AI model download once. After that, Scrieb works with no internet connection at all.
- Drag in an audio or video file. MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4 and more. You get a transcript with speaker labels, ready to export as Word, PDF, TXT or Markdown.
Whisper on a Mac: MacWhisper or Scrieb?
On a Mac you have both options, and both run OpenAI's Whisper locally on Apple Silicon or Intel. Each transcribes audio files and video in about 100 languages, and each lets you use the large model for difficult recordings. The difference is what happens around the transcript:
- MacWhisper focuses on transcription and dictation on the Mac, with many export formats including subtitles.
- Scrieb adds speaker labels, summaries for interviews, lectures and meetings, AI chat across all recordings, call recording with echo removal, and the same app on Windows with one licence.
If you work on a Mac and a PC, or share recordings with colleagues on Windows, Scrieb avoids two tools. If you need subtitle files, MacWhisper is the better fit today.
MacWhisper vs. Scrieb – comparison
On a Mac, both are good choices. MacWhisper is a well-regarded app with a free tier; Scrieb is the pick if you also work on Windows or need speaker recognition without an upgrade.
| Feature | Scrieb | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| macOS support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Offline / local | ✓ | ✓ |
| GDPR-compliant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Speaker recognition | ✓ | Pro only |
| Export DOCX / PDF | ✓ | Limited |
| Unlimited files | Pro | Pro only |
| Whisper AI model | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing
One licence for Windows and Mac. No minute limits, no platform split.
Frequently asked questions
- Is "Mac Whisper" (or "MacWisper") the same as MacWhisper?
- Yes, people search all three spellings for the same app: MacWhisper, a macOS app that runs OpenAI's Whisper locally. It has no Windows version; Scrieb is the closest equivalent on Windows and also runs on Mac.
- Is there a MacWhisper for Windows?
- No. MacWhisper only runs on macOS and there is no Windows or PC version. The closest equivalent on Windows is Scrieb: the same local Whisper AI in a drag-and-drop desktop app for Windows 10 and 11, with no upload and no command line.
- Can I run MacWhisper on a Windows PC with a virtual machine or emulator?
- Not in any practical way. MacWhisper needs macOS, and Apple's licence only permits macOS on Apple hardware. A macOS virtual machine on a PC would also have no GPU acceleration, so transcription would be extremely slow. A native Windows app is the realistic option.
- Is there a free MacWhisper alternative for Windows?
- Yes. Buzz is free and open source and runs Whisper locally on Windows, and now identifies speakers too, with a more basic interface and TXT, SRT and VTT export. Scrieb has a free plan (1 hour a day) and a Pro subscription, and adds summaries, DOCX and PDF export and a signed installer.
- Do I need an NVIDIA GPU to run Whisper on Windows?
- No. Scrieb runs in CPU-only mode on any modern Windows PC at roughly 0.5× to 1× real time. With an NVIDIA GPU (RTX 20-series or newer) it reaches 5× to 15× real time, so a 60-minute recording finishes in 4 to 12 minutes. AMD and Intel GPUs are supported too.
- Can Scrieb transcribe video files on Windows?
- Yes. Drop in an MP4, MOV, MKV or WebM and Scrieb extracts the audio track and transcribes it locally, the same way MacWhisper does on a Mac. Screen recordings, lecture videos and Zoom or Teams recordings work without converting them first.
- What is the difference between Scrieb and MacWhisper?
- Both run Whisper locally. The main differences: Scrieb supports Mac AND Windows, includes speaker recognition on all plans, and offers DOCX/PDF export out of the box.
- Is Scrieb a GDPR-compliant MacWhisper alternative?
- Yes. Like MacWhisper, Scrieb processes everything locally — no upload, no third-party processing, GDPR-compliant.
- Can I switch from MacWhisper to Scrieb?
- Easily. Scrieb imports the same file formats (MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4, etc.) and runs on macOS exactly like it does on Windows.
- Is Scrieb free like the MacWhisper basic version?
- Yes, within limits: the free plan gives 1 hour of recording per day, and unlike MacWhisper's free tier it includes speaker labels. Pro removes the limit.