What is MacWhisper?
MacWhisper (by Jordi Bruin) is a macOS app that runs OpenAI's Whisper model locally. It's free, fast, and well-regarded for its simplicity. A paid Pro version unlocks more features.
The key limitation: MacWhisper is macOS-only. Windows users have no way to use it.
MacWhisper vs. Scrieb – comparison
| Feature | Scrieb | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| macOS support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Offline / local | ✓ | ✓ |
| GDPR-compliant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Speaker recognition | ✓ | Pro only |
| Export DOCX / PDF | ✓ | Limited |
| Unlimited files | ✓ | Pro only |
| No account needed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Whisper AI model | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing
Mac and Windows. No minute limits, no platform split.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a MacWhisper for Windows?
- No. MacWhisper is macOS-only. Scrieb is the direct cross-platform alternative with identical local Whisper technology — available for both Mac and Windows.
- What is the difference between Scrieb and MacWhisper?
- Both use 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?
- Scrieb offers a trial period. After that, paid plans include unlimited transcriptions without the feature restrictions of MacWhisper's free tier.