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Routines vs Superwhisper. Dictation, plus a whole assistant.

Superwhisper is a beautifully focused, local-first dictation app with great on-device models and voice modes. Routines gives you hotkey dictation too, then keeps going: meeting notes, clipboard history, connectors, and scheduled AI routines, with the notes stored on your Mac. Our full Superwhisper review goes deeper on its models and voice modes.

Feature
Routines
Superwhisper
Where your data lives
On your Mac — markdown + local SQLite
Local-first dictation, transcripts on your Mac
Hotkey dictation
Global hotkey, streams as you speak, auto-paste
Excellent on-device voice modes and presets
Local transcription models
Offline Whisper fallback when Deepgram cannot be used
Deep local Whisper model selection
Meeting transcription
Speaker-separated, live, with AI summaries
Not the focus
Clipboard history
Last 500 copies, searchable, local only
Not included
Scheduled AI routines
Cron + event triggers, plain-English setup
Not included
Connectors
Gmail, Calendar, Slack, Jira, any MCP server
Not included
Model choice / BYOK
AI included with an account, or your own Claude, GPT, or OpenRouter key in the Keychain
Local + optional cloud models for cleanup
Install
Notarized DMG, ~60 seconds
Native Mac app
Price model
One app, 7-day trial, then a license
Subscription or one-time options

Checkmarks both ways · an honest comparison

When Superwhisper is the better choice

  • You want a dedicated dictation app with deep on-device model choices and finely tuned voice modes.
  • Running transcription fully locally with no cloud at all is your top priority.
  • You do not want meetings, clipboard history, or automations bundled in, just great dictation.

When Routines fits

  • You want dictation and meeting transcription, clipboard history, and scheduled AI routines in one place.
  • You want connectors to Gmail, Calendar, Slack, and Jira so your assistant can act, not just transcribe.
  • You want your own Claude, GPT, or OpenRouter key and the freedom to swap models any time.
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FAQ

Routines vs Superwhisper, answered.

Is Superwhisper private?

Superwhisper is built around on-device transcription, so it can run your dictation entirely locally, which is a real strength. Routines is built differently: dictation and meeting audio go to Deepgram for transcription with model training switched off, and the offline Whisper fallback steps in only when Deepgram cannot be used. Your finished text stays on your Mac. If keeping audio on the device is your first priority, Superwhisper is the pick.

Does Superwhisper dictate better than Routines?

Superwhisper is a focused, mature dictation tool with rich voice modes, presets, and local model choices, and it is very good at that single job. Routines streams your words to transcription as you speak and auto-pastes them, with LLM cleanup and Romanian diacritics. If you only want dictation, Superwhisper is a strong, dedicated pick.

What does Routines add beyond dictation?

Routines records and transcribes meetings with speaker separation, keeps a searchable local clipboard history, runs scheduled AI routines, and connects to Gmail, Calendar, Slack, and Jira. It is a whole local assistant rather than a single-purpose dictation app.

Can I bring my own AI model?

Yes, and you can also skip it. Signing in gives you Routines AI with credit included and no key to configure. If you prefer your own, Routines talks to Claude, GPT, or OpenRouter directly from your Mac with a key stored in the macOS Keychain, or you can sign in with a ChatGPT account. Switching models keeps all your memory intact.

Do I need a subscription for Routines?

Routines offers a 7-day trial with no credit card, then unlocks with a license key. Your finished text stays on your Mac in every case.

More than dictation. Still yours.

Dictation, meetings, clipboard, and routines in one native Mac app, with your notes stored on your Mac. For the rest of the field, see the best voice to text apps for Mac.

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