Saypane vs OpenWhispr: open source dictation on Windows

OpenWhispr is an open source (MIT) dictation app for Windows, Mac, Linux and iPhone, made by Gizmo Labs. It runs speech models locally for free and also sells a cloud service with meeting notes, AI commands and team features. Saypane covers the local part on Windows and adds a transcription workbench, with no cloud at all. This page uses OpenWhispr's own website and pricing page.

	Saypane	OpenWhispr
Source code	Closed source app; open models and libraries	Open source, MIT
Platforms	Windows 10 and 11	Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone
Local dictation	Free, unlimited	Free, unlimited
Cloud transcription	None	2,000 words a week free; unlimited in Pro; or your own API keys
AI features	None	AI cleanup, voice instructions such as "clean this up", agent mode in Pro
Meetings	Recording of microphone and PC sound in Pro, transcribed locally	Meeting notes without a bot: 5 hours a month free, 20 in Pro, unlimited in Business
Speaker labels	In Pro	On every plan
Custom vocabulary	10 entries free, unlimited in Pro	Yes, learned from your corrections
Price	Pro is a one-time in-app purchase	Pro $80 per user a year; Business $160; Enterprise on request

Local first, or local only

OpenWhispr lets you choose per task: local models on your computer, its own cloud, or cloud providers through your own API keys. Its website says local dictation sends nothing to anyone and cloud recordings are deleted after transcription. Saypane has only the local path. There is no account, no API key and no cloud setting to get wrong, which is simpler to explain to an IT department or an ethics board.

Price

Both give unlimited local dictation for free. OpenWhispr charges a yearly subscription for unlimited cloud transcription, more meeting hours, device sync and agent mode. Saypane Pro is bought once in the Microsoft Store and unlocks unlimited file length, speaker labels, meeting recording, a batch queue and every export format.

What OpenWhispr does better

Open source. You can read the code and check its privacy claims.
AI on your words: clean up, rewrite or draft text by voice command.
More platforms, with sync across devices in Pro.
Team and compliance features for companies, such as SSO and audit logs in Enterprise.

What Saypane adds

A transcription workbench for long interviews and lectures, with files split at pauses and checked for repetition loops.
Exports to SRT, VTT, Word and JSON (Pro).
Windows details such as typing into terminals and a clear notice when an administrator window blocks input.
No subscription and nothing that can reach a cloud.

Which one to choose

Choose OpenWhispr if you want open source, AI commands, Mac or Linux support, or a team plan.
Choose Saypane if you want a Windows app that only works locally, transcribes long recordings with speaker labels, and costs one payment.

Sources: openwhispr.com, OpenWhispr pricing.

Prices and plans of other apps were checked on their websites on October 27, 2026. They change often, so confirm them with the vendor before you buy.

Questions

Is OpenWhispr free?

Its local dictation and transcription are free and unlimited, and so is using your own API keys. Its own cloud transcription is free up to 2,000 words a week; more needs Pro at $80 per user a year.

Does OpenWhispr work offline?

Yes, with its local models. Cloud transcription and AI features need a connection.

Last updated October 28, 2026.