What Is TypeWhisper and What Does It Do?
Updated
TypeWhisper is a private speech-to-text app for macOS, Windows, and iOS. It turns spoken words into text either live across your whole system (system-wide dictation) or from existing audio/video files (file transcription). It also supports AI workflows and local engines, and it is free and open source. Use it when you want dictation or transcription that runs privately on your own devices rather than sending audio to a third-party service.
Core capabilities
System-wide dictation
You speak, and TypeWhisper inserts the transcribed text into whatever app has focus. This is the feature to reach for when you want to write emails, notes, or chat messages by voice without switching to a dedicated transcription window.
File transcription
Instead of dictating live, you point the app at an existing recording and get text back. This suits meeting recordings, voice memos, interviews, or any audio/video file you already have.
AI workflows
Beyond raw transcription, TypeWhisper supports AI workflows — processing the transcribed text further rather than stopping at a plain transcript. Treat this as the layer for turning speech into usable output, not just words on a page.
Local engines
The app supports local engines, which is what makes the "private" claim meaningful: transcription can run on your machine instead of depending on a remote service. This is the key mechanism behind the privacy positioning.
Who it is for
| You want to… | TypeWhisper fits if… |
|---|---|
| Dictate into any app | You want system-wide dictation rather than a single-app tool |
| Transcribe existing recordings | You have audio/video files to convert to text |
| Keep audio private | You prefer local engines over cloud transcription |
| Avoid paid subscriptions | You are comfortable with free and open-source software |
| Extend or inspect the tool | Open source matters to you |
What "free and open source" means here
The project describes itself as free and open source. That tells you the source is available and the software is offered at no cost, but it does not by itself guarantee support, updates, or a particular licensing term — check the repository for the exact license before relying on it commercially.
What to check before committing
- Platform coverage: confirm the build for your specific OS (macOS, Windows, or iOS), since features like system-wide dictation may behave differently per platform.
- Local engine requirements: local transcription depends on your hardware; verify what your device can run.
- AI workflow setup: AI features may need configuration or additional components — confirm what is required for your use case.
- Pricing and account details: the available description does not specify pricing tiers or login requirements beyond "free and open source," so verify current terms on the site before adopting it.
In short: TypeWhisper is a free, open-source speech-to-text tool for Apple and Windows platforms that combines system-wide dictation, file transcription, AI workflows, and local engines — a good fit when privacy and no-cost use matter more than a managed cloud service.