Listen Orb vs. Superwhisper
Superwhisper offers more platforms, offline models, meetings, files, and model choices. Listen Orb focuses on Mac push-to-talk, custom terms, and local models or your own OpenAI or xAI key.
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required · $99 one time
See Listen Orb working
A short, recorded demonstration of Listen Orb inserting text using the Fn key for push-to-talk.
Watch Listen Orb turn the Fn key into push-to-talk dictation in most standard Mac text fields.
On-screen captions · Sound optional
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
For a developer task, dictate an instruction, select the passage to refine, and begin the next spoken instruction with “Orb”. You review the text; Listen Orb does not submit it or execute code. See the developer workflow and selected-text command guide.
The Mac license and provider billing are separate. Read the dated OpenAI transcription cost example and exclusions before estimating your own usage. xAI usage is billed by xAI and is not in that example.
At-a-glance comparison
| Topic | Listen Orb | Superwhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 one time; $99 regular one-time price | $0 Free tier; Pro is $8.49/month, $84.99/year, or $249.99 one time |
| Trial or free access | Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required | Free tier available; check the current app offer for Pro trial access |
| Platforms | macOS | macOS, Windows, iPhone, and iPad |
| Account | No Listen Orb account | Offline mode can be used without an account; paid and cloud workflows use documented account and billing services |
| Offline transcription | Local works offline after model downloads on macOS 14+; cloud requires internet | Yes; on-device models work without internet, with a fully local Mac configuration available |
| Transcription | Local audio stays on your Mac; cloud audio goes directly to OpenAI or xAI with your key | Local models stay on-device; Superwhisper-hosted cloud requests use its proxy, while BYOK uses your provider account |
| API keys and usage | No key for Local; OpenAI or xAI API key for cloud, with usage billed separately | Pro includes hosted cloud models subject to fair-use limits; individual Pro users can optionally bring their own key |
| Vocabulary | Custom terms with multiple local spoken forms | Pro custom vocabulary hints and text replacements |
| Devices | Up to three Macs per license | Unlimited Mac and Windows computers plus the user’s personal iPhone and iPad |
| Broader workflows | Focused push-to-talk insertion | Meeting recording, audio/video file transcription, custom modes, and 100+ languages |
Who each product suits
Choose Listen Orb if
Choose Superwhisper if
Where Superwhisper does more
On-device speech models work without internet, and Mac users can configure local transcription plus local language-model processing.
One Pro license covers macOS, Windows, iPhone, and iPad, including an unlimited number of Mac and Windows computers.
Superwhisper documents meeting recording, audio and video file transcription, custom modes, and more than 100 languages.
Pro includes hosted cloud-model use subject to fair-use limits and also supports optional bring-your-own-key configuration for individuals.
Things to consider
Superwhisper-hosted cloud requests use its proxy. BYOK routes through the user's provider account, while fully local models stay on-device. Listen Orb offers local speech and text processing, or audio sent directly to OpenAI or xAI.
Super Mode can use active-field text, selected text, clipboard text, and system details. Custom modes can choose context types, and history shows what was sent.
Models must be downloaded and benefit from suitable hardware; Superwhisper recommends cloud models for Intel Macs.
Windows is supported but official documentation lists several Mac features as unsupported or still in development.
Things to consider with Listen Orb
Local requires Apple silicon, macOS 14 or later, and downloaded models.
No Windows, iPhone, or iPad app.
No meeting recording or audio/video file transcription.
OpenAI or xAI API key setup and separate API billing apply only to cloud processing.
One license covers up to three Macs.
See it in action
Optional Contextual polish presents the same request for each destination.
What you say
“Hey Sam, quick update — actually make that a question — can you send the launch notes to McAllister by Thursday, and flag the API naming issue?”
Listen Orb writes
Sam — quick question: Can you send the launch notes to McAllister by Thursday and flag the API naming issue?
Privacy
Listen Orb can process speech and text locally, or use your OpenAI or xAI API key with an internet connection. Listen Orb does not operate a speech service.
Listen Orb records only while you dictate. Your OpenAI and xAI keys are stored in Keychain. Settings and vocabulary stay on your Mac.
Local processes audio and text on your Mac. With OpenAI or xAI, audio goes directly to that provider using your key. Preferred written terms may be sent as hints; Contextual polish may send a short nearby-text excerpt. Cloud usage is billed by that provider.
Finished text returns to Listen Orb and appears in the active field.
Current Listen Orb pricing
Simple ownership
Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required. One license works on up to 3 Macs.
Pay once for the Mac app. There is no recurring Listen Orb fee.
Local processing has no API usage fees. For cloud, pay the active provider separately for API usage. OpenAI and xAI each bill the account that issued the key. ChatGPT subscriptions and SuperGrok are not API credit. Listen Orb does not resell usage. Understand API billing or see a real seven-day example.
One-time Mac license
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
One license for up to 3 Macs. No Listen Orb account or subscription. Local needs no API key. For cloud, your OpenAI or xAI API key is stored in macOS Keychain; that provider bills usage separately. Applicable tax is shown at checkout.
License and purchase details · Recover a license · Contact support
Verification and independence
Listen Orb is not affiliated with or endorsed by Superwhisper. Other feature references were checked August 25, 2026 and may change.
Pro prices and device entitlement rechecked September 4, 2026 against official Pro documentation. Local, hosted and own-key data paths were rechecked against model documentation and the data-flow guide. This comparison is not a measured accuracy benchmark.
Sources · checked August 25, 2026
Try it in the apps you already use
Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required.
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
Listen Orb vs. Superwhisper
Superwhisper offers more platforms, offline models, meetings, files, and model choices. Listen Orb focuses on Mac push-to-talk, custom terms, and local models or your own OpenAI or xAI key.
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required · $99 one time
See Listen Orb working
A short, recorded demonstration of Listen Orb inserting text using the Fn key for push-to-talk.
Watch Listen Orb turn the Fn key into push-to-talk dictation in most standard Mac text fields.
On-screen captions · Sound optional
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
For a developer task, dictate an instruction, select the passage to refine, and begin the next spoken instruction with “Orb”. You review the text; Listen Orb does not submit it or execute code. See the developer workflow and selected-text command guide.
The Mac license and provider billing are separate. Read the dated OpenAI transcription cost example and exclusions before estimating your own usage. xAI usage is billed by xAI and is not in that example.
At-a-glance comparison
| Topic | Listen Orb | Superwhisper |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 one time; $99 regular one-time price | $0 Free tier; Pro is $8.49/month, $84.99/year, or $249.99 one time |
| Trial or free access | Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required | Free tier available; check the current app offer for Pro trial access |
| Platforms | macOS | macOS, Windows, iPhone, and iPad |
| Account | No Listen Orb account | Offline mode can be used without an account; paid and cloud workflows use documented account and billing services |
| Offline transcription | Local works offline after model downloads on macOS 14+; cloud requires internet | Yes; on-device models work without internet, with a fully local Mac configuration available |
| Transcription | Local audio stays on your Mac; cloud audio goes directly to OpenAI or xAI with your key | Local models stay on-device; Superwhisper-hosted cloud requests use its proxy, while BYOK uses your provider account |
| API keys and usage | No key for Local; OpenAI or xAI API key for cloud, with usage billed separately | Pro includes hosted cloud models subject to fair-use limits; individual Pro users can optionally bring their own key |
| Vocabulary | Custom terms with multiple local spoken forms | Pro custom vocabulary hints and text replacements |
| Devices | Up to three Macs per license | Unlimited Mac and Windows computers plus the user’s personal iPhone and iPad |
| Broader workflows | Focused push-to-talk insertion | Meeting recording, audio/video file transcription, custom modes, and 100+ languages |
Who each product suits
Choose Listen Orb if
Choose Superwhisper if
Where Superwhisper does more
On-device speech models work without internet, and Mac users can configure local transcription plus local language-model processing.
One Pro license covers macOS, Windows, iPhone, and iPad, including an unlimited number of Mac and Windows computers.
Superwhisper documents meeting recording, audio and video file transcription, custom modes, and more than 100 languages.
Pro includes hosted cloud-model use subject to fair-use limits and also supports optional bring-your-own-key configuration for individuals.
Things to consider
Superwhisper-hosted cloud requests use its proxy. BYOK routes through the user's provider account, while fully local models stay on-device. Listen Orb offers local speech and text processing, or audio sent directly to OpenAI or xAI.
Super Mode can use active-field text, selected text, clipboard text, and system details. Custom modes can choose context types, and history shows what was sent.
Models must be downloaded and benefit from suitable hardware; Superwhisper recommends cloud models for Intel Macs.
Windows is supported but official documentation lists several Mac features as unsupported or still in development.
Things to consider with Listen Orb
Local requires Apple silicon, macOS 14 or later, and downloaded models.
No Windows, iPhone, or iPad app.
No meeting recording or audio/video file transcription.
OpenAI or xAI API key setup and separate API billing apply only to cloud processing.
One license covers up to three Macs.
See it in action
Optional Contextual polish presents the same request for each destination.
What you say
“Hey Sam, quick update — actually make that a question — can you send the launch notes to McAllister by Thursday, and flag the API naming issue?”
Listen Orb writes
Sam — quick question: Can you send the launch notes to McAllister by Thursday and flag the API naming issue?
Privacy
Listen Orb can process speech and text locally, or use your OpenAI or xAI API key with an internet connection. Listen Orb does not operate a speech service.
Listen Orb records only while you dictate. Your OpenAI and xAI keys are stored in Keychain. Settings and vocabulary stay on your Mac.
Local processes audio and text on your Mac. With OpenAI or xAI, audio goes directly to that provider using your key. Preferred written terms may be sent as hints; Contextual polish may send a short nearby-text excerpt. Cloud usage is billed by that provider.
Finished text returns to Listen Orb and appears in the active field.
Current Listen Orb pricing
Simple ownership
Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required. One license works on up to 3 Macs.
Pay once for the Mac app. There is no recurring Listen Orb fee.
Local processing has no API usage fees. For cloud, pay the active provider separately for API usage. OpenAI and xAI each bill the account that issued the key. ChatGPT subscriptions and SuperGrok are not API credit. Listen Orb does not resell usage. Understand API billing or see a real seven-day example.
One-time Mac license
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.
One license for up to 3 Macs. No Listen Orb account or subscription. Local needs no API key. For cloud, your OpenAI or xAI API key is stored in macOS Keychain; that provider bills usage separately. Applicable tax is shown at checkout.
License and purchase details · Recover a license · Contact support
Verification and independence
Listen Orb is not affiliated with or endorsed by Superwhisper. Other feature references were checked August 25, 2026 and may change.
Pro prices and device entitlement rechecked September 4, 2026 against official Pro documentation. Local, hosted and own-key data paths were rechecked against model documentation and the data-flow guide. This comparison is not a measured accuracy benchmark.
Sources · checked August 25, 2026
Try it in the apps you already use
Start with 3 days free. Every 500 words you successfully dictate adds 1 day, up to 7 days total. No card required.
Open this setup and download link on your Mac. Apple silicon · Cloud: macOS 13+ · Local: macOS 14+.