WhisperBar
Get it - $1.99
Voice to text.
No subscription BS.
Press ⌥Space. Speak. Paste. That's it.
Here's the deal
We built a transcription app that doesn't suck. You buy it once for $1.99. Then you use your own OpenAI API key (same one you might use for ChatGPT). No middleman. No monthly fees. No tracking.
⚡ Fast as hell
1-3 seconds from speech to text. Using OpenAI's Whisper API means 99.5% accuracy with zero battery drain. Your Mac stays cool.
🎯 Zero UI
No windows. No widgets. Just a tiny menu bar icon that shows recording status. Press hotkey, speak, done.
🔧 Actually works with code
Try dictating "kubectl apply -f nginx.yaml" to Apple Dictation. Now try WhisperBar. Yeah, we know the difference.
🎵 Respects your music
Auto-ducks audio to 30% while recording. Your podcast keeps playing, just quieter. Like CarPlay but better.
Why our workflow beats everything else
We obsessed over the perfect transcription workflow. Here's why ours wins:
📋 Clipboard = Freedom
When transcription completes, it copies to your clipboard. That's it. No waiting in an input box. No cursor anxiety. Start speaking, then immediately switch to your code editor, terminal, or browser. When you hear the completion sound (or see the menu bar update), just paste. You never lose focus on what you're doing.
👁️ Visual feedback that doesn't annoy
The menu bar icon tells you everything: recording (red dot), processing (spinning), done (check), or error (X). Choose notification sounds if you want them, or go silent and just glance up. Your workflow, your choice. No popups, no interruptions.
💻 Works literally everywhere
Terminal? Check. IDE? Check. That weird legacy app from 2010? Check. Since we copy to clipboard instead of trying to insert text directly, WhisperBar works in every single app on your Mac. No accessibility permissions needed. No compatibility issues. Even works in places where macOS dictation fails completely.
🧘 Zero-anxiety transcription
Other apps make you wait in the exact spot where you want the text. Miss the window? Start over. With WhisperBar, speak your thoughts and keep working. The text will be ready when you are. Paste it anywhere, anytime. It's like having a personal stenographer who never rushes you.
The nerdy details
Actual pricing breakdown
Your costs with WhisperBar:
* OpenAI charges $0.006/minute. You pay them directly. 10 hours = 600 minutes of actual talking. That's a lot of talking.
vs. Everyone else
| Feature | WhisperBar | Apple Dictation | SuperWhisper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 once | Free | $9/month |
| Accuracy | 99.5% | 85% | 99.5% |
| Speed | 1-3 sec | 2-5 sec | 3-5 sec |
| Technical terms | Perfect | Terrible | Perfect |
| Battery drain | None | Low | None |
| Your data | Direct to OpenAI | Apple servers | Their servers |
Quick answers
How do I get an OpenAI API key?
Go to platform.openai.com, sign up, add $5 credit. Takes 2 minutes. That $5 lasts ~14 hours of transcription.
Why not local Whisper?
Local = 15+ seconds processing, battery drain, fan noise. Cloud = 2 seconds, no heat, no drain. Easy choice.
Is my data safe?
Your audio goes straight to OpenAI. No middleman. We don't even have servers to spy on you with.
Can I change the hotkey?
Yep. Default is ⌥Space but set whatever you want.
Why so cheap?
Because subscription software is a scam for simple tools. You buy a hammer once, right?
Ready?
Join thousands of developers who stopped typing everything.
Get WhisperBar - $1.99macOS 12.0+ • 3MB download • Universal binary