Comparison
Diktat vs. Whisper Notes
Whisper Notes and Diktat share the basics: a one-time purchase, no subscription, recognition on the device, iPhone and Mac. On the App Store, Whisper Notes costs $6.99.
The differences are in trying it out, in the flow, and on the Apple Watch. That is what decides which app fits you.
At a glance.
| Diktat | Whisper Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | One-time purchase | One-time purchase |
| Price | from €9.99 at launch, later €19.99. One purchase for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Mac app sold separately: €19.99, later €39.99. | $6.99 on the App Store (iPhone, iPad, Mac App Store version); the full Mac download version separately $6.99 (as of 5 August 2026) |
| Free to use | 5 dictations a day, permanently, with all recognitions | No free tier on the App Store. Per the vendor, the Mac download version can be tried with 10,000 words. |
| Where recognition runs | On the device | On the device |
| Account | No account | Not stated on the vendor's site (as of 5 August 2026) |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch. The Mac app is a separate purchase. | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Apple Watch | Included in the purchase | Not stated on the vendor's site (as of 5 August 2026) |
| What happens after recognition | No language model runs over your text. No word changes unless you ask. | Not stated on the vendor's site (as of 5 August 2026) |
Prices and details checked on 5 August 2026 at whispernotes.app. Facts, not scores. What the vendor's site does not say, this page does not say either.
The core difference.
Both recognize on the device. Both are one-time purchases. Whisper Notes is the cheaper one. This comparison is not here to talk that down. The full Mac version with system-wide dictation adds another $6.99.
The first difference is trying it out. On the App Store, Whisper Notes is a paid app: you buy before you have used it. Only the Mac download version can be tried beforehand, with 10,000 words per the vendor. Diktat is a free download on every device. 5 dictations a day stay free. You know the recognition before you pay.
The second is the flow. With Diktat, opening the app means recording, and stopping drops the text into the clipboard with no copy button. The Apple Watch is included in the same purchase. Record on the watch, the iPhone transcribes, and Universal Clipboard carries the text on. That takes a moment, and the iPhone has to be reachable.
When Whisper Notes is the better fit.
Price decides it. Two purchases at $6.99, iPhone plus the full Mac version, still cost less than Diktat. That is a real argument.
You would rather buy everything through the App Store. Whisper Notes is there for the Mac too. Diktat's Mac app is a direct download and needs macOS 15 and Apple Silicon.
You need neither the Apple Watch nor the clipboard automation. Whisper Notes recognizes on the device and costs $6.99, paid once.
When Diktat is the better fit.
You want to know before buying whether the recognition works for you. 5 dictations a day are free, indefinitely.
The path from speaking to pasted text should be automatic. After you stop, the text is in the clipboard. On the Mac it is in the focused field.
The Apple Watch is part of your everyday life. With Diktat, it is included in the iPhone purchase.
Questions about the comparison.
Can Whisper Notes be tried for free?
Partly. On the App Store, Whisper Notes is a paid app at $6.99 (as of 5 August 2026). Per the vendor, the Mac download version can be tried with 10,000 words. Diktat is a free download on every device, with 5 dictations a day, permanently.
Are both apps really local?
Yes, both recognize on the device, with no server. Diktat downloads a model once, and the built-in Apple recognition fetches its language packs as needed. The Mac also goes online to unlock your purchase and to check for updates. Your dictation itself never goes online.
Why is Diktat more expensive?
Diktat costs more because one purchase covers iPhone, iPad, and the Apple Watch app: from €9.99 at launch, later €19.99. The Mac app is a separate purchase. You also get the permanent free tier and the automatic path into the clipboard. Whether that is worth the difference, you can find out for free.
Do both apps need two purchases for iPhone and Mac?
Yes, if you want system-wide dictation on the Mac. Whisper Notes sells the full Mac version separately from the App Store version. With Diktat, the Mac app is its own purchase and a direct download. The Mac App Store requires a sandbox, and the sandbox blocks pasting into the focused field.
Try Diktat.
5 dictations a day are free. No account, no subscription. The purchase is one-time.