F5Type vs Superwhisper: which should you use?
Superwhisper is a well-known Mac dictation app that is strong if you want to choose and run speech models locally on your own machine. F5Type is the simpler pick if you want the same press-a-key dictation on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, with your notes synced between them, ready-made writing styles, and a free plan to start.
F5Type and Superwhisper side by side
| F5Type | Superwhisper | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android | Mac and iPhone — see their site for other platforms |
| Works in any app | Yes. Windows types at your cursor; the Mac App Store version copies the text for ⌘V; on phones, the F5Type keyboard works in any app | Yes on Mac |
| Default shortcut | F5 on Mac, Ctrl+Shift+Space on Windows (F5 available); changeable in Settings | Configurable shortcut |
| Languages | Detects the language you speak automatically; you can also pick one | Many languages, depending on the model you choose |
| Offline | Records offline everywhere. Mac uses on-device speech recognition, Windows has an optional offline mode, phones draft on the device; cleanup runs once you are back online | Yes — can run speech models locally on your Mac |
| AI cleanup and styles | Removes filler words and fixes punctuation, with styles: Clean, Email, Message, Summary, Action Items, Command, Custom | Custom modes with AI formatting |
| Dictionary and snippets | Yes — dictionary for names and terms, plus snippets for repeated phrases | See their site |
| Price model | Free plan with 60 minutes a month (no card); Pro for unlimited dictation; lifetime licence on AppSumo | Free tier and paid plans — See their site |
| Privacy | Recordings and transcripts are not used to train AI models; audio is saved on your device before upload | Local models keep audio on the Mac; read their policy for cloud modes |
Superwhisper details checked on 2026-10-22 from public information; products change, so check their site for the latest.
Choose F5Type if…
- You need Windows or Android as well as a Mac.
- You want to start dictating in a minute without picking models or tuning modes.
- You want notes synced across your computer and phone.
- You like one-tap output styles: Email, Message, Summary, Action Items, Command.
- You prefer a free plan to try it, with a lifetime licence option later.
Choose Superwhisper if…
- You want full control over which speech model runs, and you want it to run locally on your Mac.
- You only work on Apple devices and enjoy tuning custom modes.
- You already own a Superwhisper licence that covers your needs.
Which one is more private?
If your rule is "audio never leaves my computer", running a local model in Superwhisper fits that rule. F5Type keeps your audio on your device first, does not train AI on it, and offers offline transcription on Mac and Windows; its AI cleanup runs in the cloud when you are online. Read Private dictation: what happens to your voice for the details.
Frequently asked questions
Is F5Type available on Windows?
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Yes. F5Type runs on Windows 10 and 11 from the Microsoft Store, as well as Mac, iPhone and Android.
Does F5Type run speech models locally?
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On a Mac, offline dictation uses the on-device speech recognition built into macOS. On Windows, turn on Settings → Local Mode → Offline processing; it downloads a speech model of about 141 MB once.
Do I have to configure anything to start?
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No. Install, allow the microphone, press F5 (Ctrl+Shift+Space on Windows) and speak. Styles, dictionary and snippets are there when you want them.
Which is better for long-form writing?
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Both can handle long dictation. F5Type lets a single dictation run up to 15 minutes on a computer and saves the audio first, so a long take is never lost.
Read next
Try F5Type free
60 minutes of dictation a month on the free plan, no card needed. Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android.