Frequently asked questions

Whispen is a voice-to-text app for Mac and iOS. On Mac, it runs a local AI model that transcribes your speech in any app — press a shortcut, speak, and the text appears automatically. On iOS, it's a keyboard extension that lets you switch between typing and voice seamlessly.

Whispen runs a local AI speech model on your device, which is more accurate than built-in dictation — especially with accents, mixed languages, and noisy environments. Unlike built-in dictation, Whispen works 100% offline and never sends your audio to the cloud.

Whispen supports 100+ languages for transcription. With the Pro plan, you can also translate your speech into a different language in real-time — speak in one language, type in another.

Yes. Local voice typing on Mac is completely free — unlimited recordings, no time limit, no account needed. The AI model runs on your device. iPhone voice typing is also free. Free users additionally get 1,000 AI characters per week for translation, polish, and smart modes — Pro ($9.99/mo) removes that cap and adds cloud transcription for tougher audio.

Download the DMG from whispen.io, drag it to Applications, and open it. Grant microphone and Accessibility permissions when prompted. The app will download a ~1 GB local speech model on first launch. After that, press the shortcut (default: Option+Space) to start dictating.

Download Whispen from the App Store, then go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → Whispen. Grant Full Access and microphone permissions. Then switch to the Whispen keyboard in any app to start dictating.

Full Access is required for the keyboard to access the microphone for voice transcription. Whispen does not log keystrokes or store any of your typed or spoken content.

No — in the default local mode, all transcription happens on your device. Your audio is never uploaded anywhere. This is a key difference from other voice tools that process audio on their servers. The optional Pro cloud mode sends audio to our servers for transcription, but local mode is always available.

No. Audio is processed in real-time and immediately discarded. Transcribed text is pasted into your active app and not stored by Whispen. Your dictation history stays on your device only.

No. Whispen does not log, record, or transmit any keystrokes. Your typed content stays on your device.

Pro comes with a 3-day free trial. You can try all Pro features (unlimited translation, AI polish, cloud transcription, smart modes) before being charged. No credit card is required for free voice typing — that's always free.

If you subscribed via the iPhone App Store: Settings → [your name] → Subscriptions → Whispen → Cancel Subscription. If you subscribed via the Mac website / RevenueCat: open Whispen → Settings → Account → Manage Subscription, or use the link in your confirmation email. You'll keep Pro access until the end of your billing period; refunds for the current period are handled by Apple if you purchased through the App Store.

Whispen Pro ($9.99/mo or $89.99/year) adds unlimited translation (speak in one language, type in another), unlimited AI polish, unlimited smart modes (email, point-form), and cloud transcription for tougher audio. Free users get unlimited local voice typing, 100+ recognition languages, hold-to-speak shortcuts, auto-paste, local Notes, and 1,000 AI characters per week for translation/polish/smart modes.

No. Voice typing on Mac stays free forever — that's our commitment. v1.5 (April 2026) added optional Pro features (translation, AI polish, cloud transcription) for $9.99/mo. Free users now get 1,000 AI characters per week for those features; voice typing itself remains unlimited and free.

Make sure you've granted microphone permission in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone. Also check that Accessibility permission is granted for auto-paste. If the issue persists, try removing and re-adding Whispen from the Accessibility list.

Speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Reduce background noise when possible. The local AI model handles accents and mixed languages well, but very noisy environments can affect accuracy. You can also try the Pro cloud transcription mode for improved accuracy.

Whispen needs Accessibility permission to simulate keyboard shortcuts for pasting. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility and make sure WhispenMac is listed and enabled. If you recently updated the app, you may need to remove and re-add it.