Pick MacWhisper to transcribe audio and video files on a Mac, fully on-device, for a one-time €65 Pro licence. Pick ahsk to write by voice in every app all day, with cleanup, a dictionary and translation into 50+ languages, on Mac, Windows and iPhone. Both can record meetings and both dictate system-wide, but only MacWhisper works offline and only ahsk runs on Windows.
Where MacWhisper is ahead
Transcribing files. Drop in mp3, wav, m4a or video files and MacWhisper gives you a transcript with automatic speaker recognition, in 100 languages, locally, with no per-minute cost, on a Pro licence you pay for once (€65, checked September 2026). It can translate transcripts and subtitles, and record meetings in Zoom, Teams, Webex and others. ahsk does not transcribe files. If your job is turning recordings into documents, MacWhisper is the tool.
Where ahsk is ahead
Dictating into your work, on more than one computer. ahsk is built around the hold-fn-and-talk loop: fillers and self-corrections cleaned up, punctuation and paragraphs added, your dictionary applied, the result pasted at the cursor in any app. It translates as you speak, and the same account works on Windows and iPhone. MacWhisper also has system-wide dictation, with filler removal and custom prompts, so on the Mac the overlap is real; the difference is Windows, translation while dictating, and one account across devices.
On privacy and price
MacWhisper wins privacy outright: transcription is on-device. ahsk sends audio to the cloud for transcription, does not store it on our servers or use it for training, and keeps your dictionary and learned words local, but it is not offline. On price: €65 once for MacWhisper Pro, or €9.99 a month for ahsk Pro. If you only dictate occasionally on a Mac, MacWhisper may be all you need.
Who should pick which
Buy MacWhisper to transcribe recordings and videos on a Mac, or if audio must never leave your machine. Use ahsk to write by voice all day in every app, across Mac, Windows and iPhone, and in more than one language. Plenty of people own both.
How this comparison was made
Prices, platforms and features for the other product are taken from its own website, pricing page or app store listing, last reviewed 26 September 2026, and ahsk facts from the current builds (Mac 6.11.2, Windows 1.19.0, iOS 2.x). If something has changed or we got a detail wrong, email support@ahsk.app and we will fix it. We would rather be accurate than flattering.
Comparison
| Feature | ahsk | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Live dictation into any app | Transcribing audio and video files |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, iPhone | Mac |
| Price | Free 10,000 words, Pro €9.99/mo | Free version, Pro €65 once (checked September 2026) |
| Transcription runs | Cloud (Whisper large-v3) | On-device (local Whisper models) |
| File transcription | No | Yes, with speaker recognition |
| Meeting recording | Yes, notes with summary and action items | Yes, Zoom, Teams, Webex and more |
| System-wide dictation | Yes, with cleanup and voice modes | Yes, with filler removal and prompts |
| Translate as you speak | Yes, into 50+ languages | Translates transcripts and subtitles (Pro) |
Dictate into every app, on every computer
Free for 10,000 words, no card. Keep MacWhisper for your recordings; try ahsk for everything you type.
Download for MacRelated guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ahsk transcribe an audio file like MacWhisper?
No. ahsk transcribes what you speak into the microphone, live, and records meetings as they happen. For existing audio and video files, MacWhisper is the right tool.
Is MacWhisper's dictation as good as ahsk's?
MacWhisper's dictation removes filler words and supports custom prompts, all on-device. ahsk adds a personal dictionary that learns your corrections, voice modes, translation while you speak, and the same setup on Windows and iPhone. Try both on a real email and compare.
Is ahsk free?
Yes. Every account starts with 10,000 free words and no card. Pro is €9.99 a month for unlimited dictation, translation and AI rewriting, and one subscription covers Mac, Windows and iPhone.
Does ahsk work offline?
No. Transcription runs on Whisper large-v3 in the cloud, a model we chose for accented speech. Audio is not stored on our servers and is not used for training, and your dictionary and learned words stay on your device. If you need fully offline dictation, ahsk is the wrong tool and we say so.
