SottoSotto
Sotto vs MacWhisper

Looking for a MacWhisper Alternative?

MacWhisper is great for transcribing audio files. But if you want real-time voice dictation with push-to-talk and auto-paste to any app, Sotto is built specifically for that. Same Whisper AI, different focus.

Different Tools for Different Jobs

MacWhisper transcribes files. Sotto transcribes your voice in real-time.

REAL-TIME DICTATION
SottoSotto
Speak → Text Appears

Push-to-talk hotkey

Auto-paste to any app

Instant transcription

Works globally

$29 one-time

Use on 3 Macs

FILE TRANSCRIPTION
M
MacWhisper
Drop Files → Get Text

Transcribe audio files

Batch processing

No push-to-talk

No auto-paste

$15-$35

Multiple tiers

Get Sotto — $29 One-Time

For real-time voice dictation

Understanding the Difference: File Transcription vs Real-Time Dictation

MacWhisper and Sotto both use OpenAI's Whisper AI for transcription, but they're designed for completely different workflows. Understanding this difference is key to choosing the right tool.

MacWhisper: File-First Workflow

MacWhisper is designed for transcribing existing audio and video files. You drag a file into the app, wait for it to process, then get a transcript. It's excellent for:

  • • Transcribing podcast episodes
  • • Converting recorded interviews to text
  • • Adding subtitles to videos
  • • Processing batch audio files

Sotto: Real-Time Dictation Workflow

Sotto is designed for speaking and having text appear instantly. Press a hotkey, talk, release—text is immediately pasted where your cursor is. It's built for:

  • • Writing emails and messages by voice
  • • Dictating documents and notes
  • • Coding by voice (comments, documentation)
  • • Rapid text input in any application

The Bottom Line

Need to transcribe files? MacWhisper is a solid choice. Need to dictate in real-time? Sotto is purpose-built for that. Many users have both—they're complementary tools, not direct competitors.

Sotto vs MacWhisper: Feature Comparison

Feature
Sotto
MacWhisper
Push-to-Talk Hotkey

Global keyboard shortcut

—
Auto-Paste to Any App

Text inserts at cursor

—
Real-Time Transcription

Instant as you speak

—
Global Accessibility

Works in every app

—
AI Post-Processing

Grammar, formatting

—
Custom Dictionary

Technical terms

—
Cloud Model Support

OpenAI, Groq APIs

—
Local Whisper AI

On-device processing

Recording History

Past transcriptions

File Transcription

Audio/video files

—
Batch Processing

Multiple files

—
Subtitle Export

SRT/VTT formats

—
One-Time Purchase

No subscription

Native macOS App

Built for Mac

Who Should Choose Sotto Over MacWhisper?

Choose Sotto If You...

  • Want to dictate text in real-time
  • Need text to appear where your cursor is
  • Prefer a push-to-talk workflow
  • Write emails, docs, code comments by voice
  • Want AI to fix grammar and formatting
  • Need custom vocabulary for technical terms

MacWhisper Might Be Better If...

  • •You primarily transcribe audio files
  • •You need batch processing for many files
  • •You export subtitles (SRT/VTT)
  • •Real-time dictation isn't your use case

Perfect Sotto Workflows

✉️

Email Power Users

Dictate emails 3x faster than typing. Perfect for busy professionals.

💻

Developers

Code comments, documentation, commit messages—all by voice.

✍️

Writers

Draft articles and documents at the speed of thought.

📝

Note Takers

Capture ideas instantly in any note app.

💬

Messaging

Reply to Slack, Discord, Teams without typing.

📋

Form Fillers

Fill out web forms and documents quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sotto better than MacWhisper?

They're different tools for different jobs. Sotto is better for real-time dictation (speak and text appears). MacWhisper is better for transcribing existing audio files. Many users have both.

Can Sotto transcribe audio files like MacWhisper?

Sotto is optimized for real-time dictation rather than file transcription. If you primarily need to transcribe audio files, MacWhisper is the better choice for that specific use case.

Why doesn't MacWhisper have push-to-talk?

MacWhisper was designed for file transcription, not real-time dictation. Sotto was built specifically for the push-to-talk, instant-paste workflow that MacWhisper doesn't offer.

Can I use both Sotto and MacWhisper?

Absolutely! They complement each other. Use Sotto for real-time dictation during your workday, and MacWhisper when you need to transcribe recordings, podcasts, or meeting audio.

Which has better accuracy?

Both use the same Whisper AI technology, so base accuracy is similar. Sotto adds custom dictionary and AI post-processing to improve real-time dictation results.

Is Sotto more expensive than MacWhisper?

They're similarly priced. MacWhisper ranges from $15-35 depending on tier. Sotto is $29 one-time with all features included and a 3-Mac license.

Does Sotto work offline like MacWhisper?

Yes! Both run Whisper locally on your Mac. Sotto works completely offline once you've downloaded your preferred model.

Can Sotto replace my keyboard for typing?

For many tasks, yes. Users report writing emails, messages, documents, and code comments entirely by voice. The push-to-talk workflow makes switching between voice and keyboard seamless.

Ready for Real-Time Voice Dictation?

If you want text to appear instantly as you speak, Sotto is built for exactly that. Push-to-talk, auto-paste, AI formatting—all for $29 one-time.

Get Sotto — $29 One-Time

Use on 3 Macs • Lifetime updates • All features included