Voice Keyboard Apps Compared: Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, and Talkpad

The voice keyboard space has grown up quickly. A few years ago, your only real option was Apple's built-in dictation — limited, cloud-dependent, and prone to errors. Today there are multiple polished options competing for the same use case: global hotkey, speak, text appears.

But the pricing models couldn't be more different. This article compares the three main contenders honestly — Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, and Talkpad — so you can decide which is right for you.

The contenders

Wispr Flow

Wispr Flow is the most polished and feature-rich option in the category. It was one of the first apps to nail the global hotkey UX and has built a significant user base among knowledge workers. It uses cloud-based AI for transcription, with an optional AI enhancement layer that can clean up and rephrase your dictations.

Pricing: $14/month or $144/year. No free tier with full functionality — there's a limited trial.

Superwhisper

Superwhisper is a macOS app built around OpenAI's Whisper model. It offers both on-device transcription (using your Mac's GPU) and cloud modes. The app has a well-designed interface with multiple modes — dictation, assistant, and custom prompts. It's particularly popular with developers and power users who want control over model quality.

Pricing: Free tier (limited), $9/month, or $108/year for the Pro plan.

Talkpad

Talkpad is a lightweight, focused voice keyboard app built on whisper.cpp — the same underlying technology as Superwhisper, optimised for Apple Silicon. It prioritises speed and simplicity: no cloud, no subscription, no features you don't need. Works offline, runs on-device, global hotkey, text appears wherever your cursor is.

Pricing: Free.

Feature comparison

Feature	Wispr Flow	Superwhisper	Talkpad
Global hotkey	✅	✅	✅
Works offline	❌ (cloud)	✅ (on-device mode)	✅ (always)
On-device AI	❌	✅	✅
Languages supported	~20	~99	100
AI text enhancement	✅	✅ (Pro)	❌
Custom AI modes	✅	✅	❌
macOS	✅	✅	✅
Windows	❌	❌	Coming soon
Privacy (no cloud)	❌	✅ (on-device)	✅
Monthly cost	$14/mo	$9/mo	$0

The pricing reality check

Let's talk about the subscription model honestly.

Voice keyboard apps are a utility, not a platform. Once the software is built and the model is trained, the ongoing cost of serving you is near zero — especially if transcription is on-device. There's no server to run, no API call to pay for, no content to create.

So what are you paying $14/month for with Wispr Flow? Primarily the cloud infrastructure for their AI enhancement features — the layer that paraphrases and cleans up your dictation. If you use those features heavily, the subscription may be worth it. If you mostly want accurate transcription, you're paying a significant premium for features you might not need.

At $144/year, Wispr Flow costs more than Netflix Standard. For a utility app.

A voice keyboard is like a calculator. You pay for it once. You don't subscribe to division.

Transcription quality

All three apps use variants of the same underlying technology: OpenAI's Whisper model (or its derivatives). In practice, transcription quality is very similar across all three for English. The differences emerge in:

• Latency: Cloud-based apps (Wispr Flow) add network round-trip time. On-device apps (Superwhisper, Talkpad) are faster, especially on Apple Silicon.
• Multi-language: Talkpad and Superwhisper handle 99–100 languages with auto-detection. Wispr Flow supports fewer languages.
• Post-processing: Wispr Flow and Superwhisper offer AI cleanup (removing filler words, reformatting). Talkpad transcribes verbatim — what you say is what you get.

Privacy

This matters more than most people realise. Every time you use a cloud-based voice input service, your audio is sent to a server. That server processes it, possibly logs it, and returns text. The provider's privacy policy governs what happens to that data.

On-device transcription (Talkpad, Superwhisper's local mode) sends nothing. Your voice stays on your device. The audio is processed by whisper.cpp running on your Mac's GPU, and only the text output ever leaves the app.

If you're dictating anything sensitive — client names, project details, internal communications — this matters.

Who should use what

Use Wispr Flow if:

• You want AI post-processing to clean up your dictation automatically
• You dictate primarily in English
• Your employer covers the subscription
• You want the most polished, feature-complete experience and price is secondary

Use Superwhisper if:

• You want a balance of features and privacy
• You're a power user who wants custom AI modes and fine-grained control
• You want a mid-tier subscription that's cheaper than Wispr Flow

Use Talkpad if:

• You want fast, accurate transcription with zero friction
• Privacy is important — you don't want audio leaving your device
• You don't want a recurring subscription for a utility app
• You dictate in multiple languages
• You want something that just works, without a dashboard to manage

The five-year cost

Here's the number most people don't calculate when evaluating subscription apps:

App	Monthly	Year 1	5 Years
Wispr Flow	$14	$168	$840
Superwhisper	$9	$108	$540
Talkpad	$0	$0	$0

If you're evaluating voice keyboard apps for the long term, the subscription cost compounds. Over five years, Wispr Flow costs $840. Superwhisper costs $540. Talkpad costs nothing.

Conclusion

The best voice keyboard is the one you actually use consistently. Subscriptions create a subtle psychological pressure — you feel obligated to use the app to "get your money's worth," but that anxiety can also make the app feel like a chore.

A free, lightweight app you open without thinking is often more effective than a premium app you feel guilty about not using enough.

If you need AI post-processing and the subscription is within your budget, Wispr Flow or Superwhisper are excellent choices. If you want a fast, private, frictionless voice keyboard that runs offline and costs nothing, Talkpad is for you.