Wispr Flow is a polished dictation app, and its privacy page states that transcription always happens in the cloud. If you want audio to stay on your Windows PC, or prefer a one-time price, Whisper Dictator is the alternative. Here is the comparison, with sources.
Installed from the Microsoft Store: the app passed Microsoft's review and comes signed by Microsoft, with no Windows warnings.
Available for Windows 10 and 11.
Windows 10/11 (64-bit) · Free tier: 7 transcriptions/day
Wispr Flow's privacy page says audio is sent to its servers over TLS and that transcription always happens in the cloud. It also says audio is deleted once transcribed unless you turn on dictation cloud storage.
The pricing page lists Pro at $15 per user per month, or $12 per user per month on the annual plan. The free plan lists 2,000 words per week on desktop.
The privacy page describes no offline or on-device mode. If you work on a plane, behind a firewall, or with confidential audio, that matters.
Press a key, speak, and the text is typed into the active app. The Whisper model runs on your PC, so no audio is uploaded. Free tier available, with a one-time lifetime plan.
The practical differences when you choose a local Windows app.
Choose a model size and run it on your PC. After the model download, transcription needs no connection.
Pay $99 once for the lifetime plan, up to 3 devices, or $39.99 per year for 2 devices.
Hold a key in Outlook, Word, Slack, Chrome or an editor, and release to type.
Whisper covers 99 languages, switchable from the system tray.
Transcribe audio and video files locally, with plain text export and no speaker labels yet.
Wispr Flow runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, lists SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA and ISO 27001 certifications, and syncs across devices. Whisper Dictator is Windows only and holds none of those certifications.
Get it free from the Microsoft Store. The package is signed by Microsoft, so Windows shows no warning. The setup wizard then offers to download a Whisper model (Large-v3 Turbo recommended for most users) while you confirm your email.
Default hotkey is right-Alt (AltGr). Open any Windows app, hold the key, and speak.
Let go of the key. Whisper Dictator transcribes on your PC and types the text into the active field. No paste, no clipboard, no switching windows.
Using Wispr Flow's pricing, privacy and home pages.
| Capability | Whisper Dictator | Wispr Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Where transcription runs | ✓ On your PC | ✕ Always in the cloud, per its privacy page |
| Works without internet | ✓ | ✕ No offline mode described |
| Free tier | 7 transcriptions/day | 2,000 words/week on desktop |
| Paid price | $39.99/year or $99 one-time | $15/mo or $12/mo billed annually |
| Platforms | ✕ Windows only | ✓ Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android |
| Languages | 99 (Whisper) | 100+ |
| Security certifications listed | ✕ None | ✓ SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, ISO 27001 |
Where Whisper Dictator loses: it runs on Windows only, the free tier is capped at 7 transcriptions a day, and it has no voice commands or custom vocabulary today. Wispr Flow covers more platforms and lists security certifications.
Every statement about another product on this page comes from the official source listed below, checked on the date shown. Products change, so confirm on the vendor's page before you decide. Statements about Whisper Dictator describe the current Windows app.
The free tier covers casual use. Paid plans are a yearly or one-time purchase.
Enough to find out if voice dictation fits your workflow
Installed from the Microsoft Store: the app passed Microsoft's review and comes signed by Microsoft, with no Windows warnings.
Available for Windows 10 and 11.
~$3.33/month, billed annually
Pay once, own forever. No renewals.
Its privacy page says transcription always happens in the cloud and describes no offline or on-device mode.
Whisper Dictator has a free tier of 7 transcriptions per day. Wispr Flow's free plan lists 2,000 words per week on desktop. The two limits are measured differently, so which is larger depends on how you dictate.
We do not claim that. Whisper Dictator uses OpenAI Whisper models, and accuracy depends on the model size and your hardware. Try the free tier on your own voice and compare.
More platforms (Mac, iPhone, Android), cross-device sync, and security certifications listed on its home page (SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, ISO 27001). Whisper Dictator is Windows only.
Yes. They are separate apps, so install Whisper Dictator from the Microsoft Store and set your hotkey. There is nothing to import.
Install Whisper Dictator from the Microsoft Store and try the free tier on your own voice.
Installed from the Microsoft Store: the app passed Microsoft's review and comes signed by Microsoft, with no Windows warnings.
Available for Windows 10 and 11.
Windows 10/11 · Free tier · Works offline