This guide is written by Vanguard Forge, the maker of Murmur. Competitor details below come from official product or privacy pages checked 17 October 2026.
Local processing
Audio and model work can stay on the computer. That can matter when you work without a connection or do not want a recording sent to a service. It can also mean a larger download, more dependence on local hardware, and fewer options on older machines.
- Murmur: local Apple speech and clean-up for English on an Apple silicon Mac; the current paid beta is listed on Payhip.
- Superwhisper: its official pages describe offline models, with cloud models available too.
- VoiceInk: its official pages describe local processing by default with optional cloud services.
- MacWhisper: its official privacy documentation describes local transcription by default, with cloud transcription and artificial-intelligence features optional.
Cloud processing
Cloud processing can widen model and platform choices and may reduce local hardware demands. It adds a service dependency and makes the provider’s retention, training and account controls part of your decision.
- Wispr Flow: its official privacy material describes cloud transcription and data controls around retention, training and context.
- Superwhisper, VoiceInk and MacWhisper: each documents optional cloud paths, so check the selected model or service rather than treating the product name as a single processing mode.
Ask before installing: Which features use the network? Are audio and transcripts retained? Can you disable cloud models? What happens when the connection is unavailable? The answers can change by plan, model and platform.