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MacParakeet vs OpenWhispr: catalog facts
MacParakeet	OpenWhispr
Free Free with no subscription; the source is published on GitHub.	Free Free to download; cloud transcription uses your own API keys.
macOS	macOS
Speech recognition runs on the device Dictation works in any app's text field	Local transcription with Whisper or Parakeet models Bring-your-own-key support for cloud models
Apple Silicon Macs only, macOS 14.2 or later Still a pre-1.0 release	Local models need a capable machine and a model download Cloud models need your own API keys and account with a provider
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.