How to Transcribe Audio on Mac: 5 Best Methods (2025)

Quick Method Comparison

Here's an overview of the five main ways to transcribe audio on Mac:

Method 1: Whisper Dictation (Best for Privacy & Quality)

Whisper Dictation is the easiest way to get professional-quality transcription on your Mac while keeping your audio completely private. It uses OpenAI's Whisper AI but runs everything locally on your computer.

Why It's Our Top Recommendation

• 100% local processing — Your audio never leaves your Mac
• Whisper AI accuracy — Same technology as ChatGPT's voice features
• No per-minute fees — Transcribe unlimited audio for one price
• Works offline — No internet needed after setup
• Simple interface — Drop files or record directly
• Multiple formats — Supports MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, and more

How to Transcribe with Whisper Dictation

1. Download and install Whisper Dictation
2. Open the app and select your audio file (or drag & drop)
3. Choose your preferred Whisper model (Turbo recommended)
4. Click transcribe — your text appears in minutes
5. Copy, export, or save your transcript

Best For

• Confidential recordings (legal, medical, business)
• Users who transcribe frequently (no per-minute costs)
• Anyone who values privacy
• Offline transcription needs

Method 2: Whisper Command Line (Free, Technical)

If you're comfortable with Terminal, you can run OpenAI's Whisper model directly on your Mac for free. This is the same AI that powers Whisper Dictation, just without the user interface.

Requirements

• Python 3.8+ installed
• Homebrew package manager
• Basic Terminal knowledge
• 8GB+ RAM (16GB recommended)

Installation

# Install Python and ffmpeg
brew install python@3.10 ffmpeg

# Install Whisper
pip3 install -U openai-whisper

Usage

# Basic transcription
whisper audio.mp3 --model turbo

# Specify language for better accuracy
whisper interview.m4a --model turbo --language English

# Output as subtitles
whisper podcast.mp3 --model turbo --output_format srt

Pros

• Completely free
• Full control over settings
• Same accuracy as paid solutions
• 100% local processing

Cons

• Requires technical setup
• No graphical interface
• Manual file handling
• Need to manage Python environment

Best for: Developers, technical users, and anyone comfortable with command line who wants free transcription.

For a complete guide, see our article on How to Run Whisper on Mac Locally.

Method 3: Online Transcription Services (Quick, Cloud-Based)

Cloud-based services like Otter.ai, Rev, and Descript offer quick transcription without installing anything. You upload your audio and get text back.

Popular Options

Otter.ai

• 300 minutes free/month, then $16.99/month
• Good for meetings with speaker identification
• Real-time and file upload options

Rev AI

• $0.25/minute for AI transcription
• No subscription required
• Human transcription available at $1.50/min

Descript

• $15/month with transcription included
• Also includes audio/video editing
• Best for podcast/video creators

Pros

• No software to install
• Works on any computer
• Often includes collaboration features

Cons

• Privacy concerns — Your audio is uploaded to third-party servers
• Ongoing costs — Per-minute or monthly fees add up
• Requires internet — Can't transcribe offline
• File size limits — May restrict upload sizes

Best for: Occasional users who don't have sensitive content and want something quick without installation.

Method 4: macOS Voice Memos (Built-in, Limited)

Starting with macOS Ventura, Voice Memos includes a built-in transcription feature. It's free and already on your Mac.

How to Use

1. Open Voice Memos app
2. Record new audio or import existing files
3. Click on a recording
4. Look for the transcript option (may need to enable in settings)

Limitations

• Only works with Voice Memos recordings — Can't easily transcribe arbitrary files
• Lower accuracy — Uses Apple's speech recognition, not Whisper
• No export options — Transcript is tied to the app
• Limited language support

Best for: Quick notes from recordings you make directly in Voice Memos. Not suitable for serious transcription work.

Method 5: Professional Human Transcription (Highest Accuracy)

For mission-critical transcription where accuracy is paramount (legal depositions, medical records, academic research), human transcription services remain the gold standard.

Services

• Rev Human — $1.50/minute, 99%+ accuracy, 12-hour turnaround
• GoTranscript — $0.90/minute, 24-hour turnaround
• TranscribeMe — $0.79/minute, specialized in medical/legal

When to Use Human Transcription

• Legal proceedings requiring certified transcripts
• Medical records with strict accuracy requirements
• Academic research with specific formatting needs
• Audio with heavy accents, multiple speakers, or poor quality

Cost Consideration

A 1-hour recording costs $90-150 with human transcription vs. essentially free with local AI tools. For most users, AI transcription is now accurate enough, making human services only necessary for specialized needs.

How to Choose the Right Method

Choose Whisper Dictation if:

• You value privacy and don't want audio leaving your Mac
• You transcribe frequently and want to avoid per-minute fees
• You need to work offline
• You want high accuracy without technical setup

Choose Whisper CLI if:

• You're comfortable with Terminal
• You want completely free transcription
• You need to integrate transcription into scripts/workflows

Choose Online Services if:

• You only need occasional transcription
• You don't have sensitive content
• You need collaboration features

Choose Human Transcription if:

• You need certified transcripts
• Audio quality is very poor
• 100% accuracy is legally required

Tips for Better Transcription Results

Regardless of which method you choose, these tips will improve your results:

Recording Quality Matters

• Use a good microphone — Even a $50 USB mic beats laptop built-ins
• Minimize background noise — Record in quiet environments
• Speak clearly — Moderate pace, proper enunciation
• Keep consistent distance — Stay 6-12 inches from the mic

File Preparation

• Use common formats — MP3, WAV, and M4A work best
• Avoid heavy compression — Higher bitrate = better accuracy
• Split very long recordings — 30-60 minute chunks process faster

Specify Language

If you know the language of your audio, always specify it. This significantly improves accuracy, especially for non-English content.

Frequently Asked Questions