Kalam
$0Free
Pro is $49 a year, or $4.99 a month.
Bring your own key. Kalam Max, hosted, coming soon.
Download freeHold a key, speak, release. Wispr Flow’s annual plan is $144 a year. Kalam’s core stays free. Confirm their price on their site. Current builds are beta.
Price
$0Free
Pro is $49 a year, or $4.99 a month.
Bring your own key. Kalam Max, hosted, coming soon.
Download free
Wispr Flow$144/year on their annual plan
$12/mo billed yearly · save $36 vs monthly
Free plan stops at 2,000 words a week on a computer. Unlimited dictation is Pro.
Their site
Superwhisper$84.99/year on their annual plan
$8.49/mo if you pay monthly · save $17 a year
Free plan has unlimited local Whisper. Cloud models and AI modes are Pro. Also $249.99 once.
Their siteCompetitor prices are public list figures, not a quote. Confirm on their sites before you pay. Competitor pricing last updated 8 October 2026.
Why switch
Matrix
Kalam’s column is the free core plus what Pro adds. Max-hosted AI is coming soon. Scroll sideways on a phone.
| Feature | Wispr Flow | Superwhisper | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 11/13 | 6/13 | 9/13 |
| Pricing model | Yes: Free · Pro $4.99 · Max coming soon | No: $15/mo, or $12/mo billed annually | No: $8.49/mo, $84.99/yr, or $249.99 once |
| Free dictation | Yes: Unlimited (local or BYOK) | No: 2,000 words a week on a computer | Yes: Unlimited, local Whisper models only |
| No API keys needed | No: Coming soon — Kalam Max hosted STT + AI | Yes: Included in the subscription | Yes: Cloud models included in Pro |
| Dictation profiles | Yes: Unlimited custom profiles (Pro) | No: A writing style per type of app (English, desktop) | Yes: Unlimited modes (Pro), two on Free |
| Polish (AI cleanup) | Yes: Toggle on any profile (Pro) | Yes: Built in, on every dictation | Yes: AI modes (Pro) |
| Context awareness | Yes: Toggle on any profile (Pro) | Yes: On by default (Mac and Windows) | Yes: Super and custom modes (Pro) |
| Voice-activated editing | Yes: Highlight → speak (Pro) | Yes: Command Mode (Pro, off by default) | Yes: Super mode commands on selected text (Pro) |
| Offline / local STT | Yes: On-device engines need no internet | No: Cloud only. Needs internet | Yes: Local Whisper models, nothing leaves the device |
| BYOK (your API keys) | Yes: Groq, OpenAI, more | No: Not offered | Yes: Pro |
| Notes, tasks & workspace | Yes: Built-in, free | No: Meeting Notetaker only, no tasks | No: No |
| Multi-device sync + stats | Yes: Pro and trial | Yes: Syncs across Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android | No: Per device. Filesync on Mac only |
| Linux desktop | Yes: Beta (Ubuntu, Mint, Pop!_OS, Fedora, Arch) | No: No official app | No: No |
| Phone app | No: Computer only | Yes: iPhone and Android | Yes: iPhone and Android |
Sources: wisprflow.ai and superwhisper.com.
Head to head
Paid Pro, a word cap on Free, cloud only, and no official Linux app.
Closest match. Unlimited local Whisper. No Linux app.
Switch
Download, hold a key, and speak. Cancel the other plan when you are ready. No steps to learn first.
Questions
Current builds are beta. Features can change, and beta sends telemetry plus diagnostic logs — read the Beta Policy before you install. Core dictation is still free. See Beta Policy.
No. Download and dictate. Sign in later if you want Pro or sync across devices. Kalam Max is coming soon.
Yes. Pick an engine that runs on this computer and dictation works without internet. Cloud engines and polish need a connection. Kalam keeps a short local copy of each recording for History replay, on by default for 7 days.
No. Kalam is a desktop app from Balacode. Core dictation can run on-device with Whisper. It is not an open-source Whisper tray.
It is a published beta for Ubuntu, Mint, Pop!_OS, Fedora, Arch, and CachyOS — not a secret build. Expect sharp edges; that is what beta means.
The macOS beta is on the download page, with Windows and Linux. Stable builds for all three are coming soon. See Download.
Not yet. Kalam runs on Windows, Linux and macOS. Wispr Flow and Superwhisper both have iPhone and Android apps.
They change. On 8 October 2026, Wispr Flow listed Pro at $15/mo or $12/mo billed annually ($144/yr), with a free plan of 2,000 words a week on a computer. Superwhisper listed $8.49/mo, $84.99/yr on its annual plan, or $249.99 once, with unlimited local Whisper on its free plan. Confirm before you buy. See wisprflow.ai.
Windows 11+ and Linux beta. No card. About $144 a year on Wispr’s annual plan stays in your pocket — upgrade later only if you want polish or hosted AI.