A MacWhisper alternative for Windows, Linux and Mac
MacWhisper is a Mac app best known for transcribing audio and video files with Whisper. There is no MacWhisper for Windows or Linux. OiPer is a dictation app for all three: hold a hotkey, speak, and your words are typed into the app you are using, transcribed locally on your own computer.
Updated
MacWhisper for Windows and Linux
Local Whisper on every desktop, not just the Mac.
Windows
OiPer runs Whisper locally on your PC and uses your graphics card automatically when one is available, falling back to the CPU when it is not.
Read about ModelsLinux
AppImage, .deb and .rpm builds, with X11 and Wayland support through wtype, kwtype, dotool, ydotool or xdotool.
Read about InstallationMac too
Native builds for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs from macOS 10.15 Catalina onwards, with local models on both.
Read about InstallationOne setup on every computer
Hotkeys and auto submit can be set per operating system, so the same configuration works on a Windows PC, a Mac and a Linux laptop.
Read about ProfilesBuilt for live dictation
Speak into any app instead of transcribing a file afterwards.
Types where your cursor is
Hold your hotkey, speak and release. The transcript is inserted into email, chat, documents, the terminal or your editor.
Read about QuickstartChoose your Whisper model
Download any model from the 75 MB Tiny to Large v3 Turbo, plus English-only variants, and run it offline on your own hardware.
Read about ModelsAI formatting
Normal, Prompt, Email, Formal and Casual presets clean up or rewrite what you said, or write your own instructions. Formatting can also translate into just under a hundred languages.
Read about FormattingProfiles
Give each kind of dictation its own hotkey, language, model, formatting and auto submit.
Read about ProfilesHistory with audio
Every dictation is saved on your device with its transcript, timings and the original recording, which you can play back.
Read about HistoryWhen MacWhisper is the better fit
An honest look at what OiPer does not do.
Transcribing files
MacWhisper transcribes audio and video files by drag and drop, in batches and from watched folders, and exports to formats like .docx, .pdf, .srt and .vtt. OiPer only transcribes live dictation.
Meetings and speakers
MacWhisper records Zoom, Teams and other calls without a bot and recognises speakers. OiPer does not record meetings.
A one-time license
MacWhisper has a free version and a Pro license you pay for once. If you only use a Mac and mainly work with recordings, it is a strong choice.
OiPer vs MacWhisper
Feature by feature. Based on public information, checked October 2026.
| Feature | OiPer | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | Yes, Apple Silicon and Intel | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | No |
| Linux | Yes (AppImage, .deb, .rpm) | No |
| Main focus | Live dictation into any app | Transcribing files and meetings |
| System-wide dictation | Yes | Yes |
| Local transcription | Yes, Whisper models | Yes, Whisper and Parakeet models |
| Your own API keys | Yes, any OpenAI-compatible provider | Yes, many providers |
| Different setups per task | Profiles, each on its own hotkey | Per-app prompts |
| Audio and video files | No | Yes, including batch |
| Subtitles (.srt, .vtt) | No | Yes |
| Meeting recording | No | Yes |
| Price | Local transcription free and unlimited | Free version, Pro is a one-time license |
Questions, answered
What people ask before they start dictating with OiPer.
Is there a MacWhisper for Windows?
No. MacWhisper is a Mac-only app. OiPer runs on Windows with local Whisper models on your CPU or GPU, and types what you say into any app.
Is there a MacWhisper for Linux?
No. OiPer runs on Linux, including Ubuntu, Debian and Fedora, with AppImage, .deb and .rpm builds and support for both X11 and Wayland.
What is the best MacWhisper alternative for Windows?
For live dictation, OiPer is a free option that runs Whisper locally on Windows and works offline. If you need to transcribe recorded files, choose a file transcription tool instead, since OiPer does not do that.
Can OiPer transcribe audio files like MacWhisper?
No. OiPer transcribes live dictation from your microphone and types it into the app you are using. It does not import audio or video files.
Does OiPer use Whisper like MacWhisper?
Yes. Local transcription uses Whisper models from Tiny to Large v3 Turbo, downloaded once and run on your device without an internet connection.
Is OiPer free?
Local, on-device transcription is free and unlimited on Windows, macOS and Linux, and no account is required. Paid plans add hosted transcription and formatting models.
Is OiPer open source?
No. OiPer Desktop is not open source. Local transcription is free and unlimited, runs entirely on your device and needs no account.