Roundhand and MacWhisper
Two apps that do dictation, compared on where speech is recognised, what each stores, how it writes for each app and how it is priced.
Choose Roundhand if you want an app built for dictation, with speech always recognised on your own computer and writing styles already set up for code editors, terminals, chat and email. Choose MacWhisper if transcribing audio and video files, YouTube links or podcasts is the main job, if you would rather pay once, or if you want to connect your own AI providers.
| Compared on | Roundhand | MacWhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Mac: a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 14 or later. Windows: a PC with Windows 11 and an x64 (Intel or AMD) processor. | MacWhisper describes itself as an all-in-one Mac app, and its FAQ lists an iOS & iPad version. Its system requirements are not stated on the pages checked.Source: macwhisper.com |
| Where speech is recognised | On your computer. Your audio is never uploaded. | MacWhisper says it uses local models to transcribe your files, and lets you switch between AI models hosted remotely or locally on your Mac.Source: macwhisper.com |
| Stored dictation | Dictation history, and meetings you record, stay in a database on your computer. Roundhand's own servers never receive audio or transcript text. | MacWhisper's privacy policy, last updated Feb 14, 2024, says MacWhisper does all its functionality on your device and that no data (audio, text or other) leaves it, apart from anonymous licensing analytics. Where dictation history is kept is not stated on the pages checkedSource: macwhisper.com/legal/privacy-policy |
| Cloud cleanup | Optional. It sends text, never audio, to the cleanup provider. | MacWhisper connects to AI providers with your own API keys, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, xAI, Azure, Deepseek, Google and OpenRouter, and to local models with Ollama and LM Studio. What is sent to them is not stated on the pages checkedSource: macwhisper.com |
| Writing style per app | Four built-in styles (Terminal, IDE and AI chat, Chat, Prose) picked by the app you are in, and changeable per app. | MacWhisper lists App Specific Prompts, dictating with AI prompts and automatic grammar improvement under DictationSource: macwhisper.com |
| Personal dictionary | A Dictionary where you set how words you say are written, such as a product name. | A personal dictionary for dictation is not stated on the pages checked.Source: macwhisper.com |
| Pricing model | Free to download with a cloud cleanup trial, then Pro or Power plans, billed monthly or yearly. | MacWhisper is free forever, and MacWhisper Pro is a one-time purchase per licence that includes lifetime updatesSource: macwhisper.com |
Each MacWhisper statement is taken from the MacWhisper page it links to, as that page read on 2026-10-09.
Where your speech is recognised
Roundhand recognises speech on your computer. After the speech model has downloaded once, dictation and the built-in cleanup keep working with Wi-Fi off, on a plane or behind a strict network. Dictation audio is never uploaded or saved to disk. MacWhisper says it uses local models to transcribe your files, and lets you switch between AI models hosted remotely or locally on your Mac (macwhisper.com). Roundhand has no choice of remote models for speech: it is recognised on your computer every time, and only cloud cleanup, if you turn it on, sends text.
What each app stores
Roundhand keeps your dictation history, and the meetings you record, in a database on your computer, where you choose how long it is kept or clear it. Roundhand's own servers hold your account, never audio or transcript text. If you turn on cloud cleanup, the text of each dictation (never the audio) goes to the cleanup provider to be tidied. MacWhisper's privacy policy, last updated Feb 14, 2024, says MacWhisper does all its functionality on your device and that no data (audio, text or other) leaves it, apart from anonymous licensing analytics. Where dictation history is kept is not stated on the pages checked (macwhisper.com/legal/privacy-policy). Roundhand never saves your dictation audio, only the text.
How each one writes for the app you are in
Roundhand looks at the app your cursor is in and picks one of four writing styles. Chat apps such as Slack get short, casual messages. Mail, Notes, Pages and Google Docs get full sentences, which cloud cleanup can also split into paragraphs. Visual Studio Code, Cursor, Xcode, Windsurf and Zed get the IDE and AI chat style, and terminals get a single line with commands and paths left as you said them. You can change the style for any app, or switch Roundhand off for one. MacWhisper lists App Specific Prompts, dictating with AI prompts and automatic grammar improvement under Dictation (macwhisper.com).
Files and meetings
MacWhisper transcribes audio and video files, YouTube and media file links and podcasts, labels speakers automatically, and automatically records meetings in Zoom, Teams, Webex, Skype, Chime, Discord and more (macwhisper.com). Roundhand records meetings too, and imports an audio or video recording as one, transcribed on your computer with each speaker labelled. It does not take YouTube or other media links.
Platforms and what you need
Roundhand is a Mac app for Apple silicon, running macOS 14 or later. Intel Macs are not supported. Roundhand for Windows installs from the Microsoft Store. MacWhisper describes itself as an all-in-one Mac app, and its FAQ lists an iOS & iPad version (macwhisper.com). Its system requirements are not stated on the pages checked.
How the pricing works
Roundhand is free to download, and dictation with the offline cleanup stays free with no end date. A new account gets a 30-day trial of cloud cleanup. After it, Pro includes a monthly allowance of managed cloud cleanup, and Power lets you use your own API key, with your provider billing you directly. Both are billed monthly or yearly. MacWhisper is free forever, and MacWhisper Pro is a one-time purchase per licence that includes lifetime updates (macwhisper.com). Current Roundhand prices are on the pricing page.
Questions about switching
- Does MacWhisper send my dictation to the cloud?
- MacWhisper says it uses local models to transcribe your files, and lets you switch between AI models hosted remotely or locally on your Mac (macwhisper.com, checked on 2026-10-09). Roundhand never uploads audio: speech is always recognised on your computer.
- Can Roundhand transcribe audio files like MacWhisper?
- MacWhisper transcribes audio and video files, YouTube and media file links and podcasts, labels speakers automatically, and automatically records meetings in Zoom, Teams, Webex, Skype, Chime, Discord and more (macwhisper.com, checked on 2026-10-09). Roundhand records meetings and transcribes them on your computer with each speaker labelled, and imports an audio or video recording as a meeting the same way. It does not take YouTube or other media links.
- Can I move my MacWhisper settings to Roundhand?
- Roundhand has no import from MacWhisper, so you add your words to Roundhand's Dictionary yourself. Each entry sets how a word you say is written, such as a name or product spelled your way.
- Is Roundhand available on Windows or iPhone?
- Roundhand runs on Macs with Apple silicon, and Roundhand for Windows installs from the Microsoft Store. There is no phone app.