What is Whisper?
Whisper is OpenAI’s automatic speech recognition (ASR) model. It transcribes many languages and handles accents, background noise, and punctuation well. The catch is that it is a large neural network: for years the practical way to run it was to send your audio to a server with a GPU, which sends your voice memos, interviews, and meetings somewhere else.
Why run Whisper on-device
Recent iPhones have enough compute and memory to run Whisper locally, using the Apple Neural Engine and GPU. A short voice memo finishes in seconds, and three things change:
- Private
- Audio is processed on the device and never uploaded.
- Offline
- The bundled model works with no connection at all.
- No per-minute fees
- You are not paying a cloud service every time you record.
The honest part
Your options on iPhone, compared
There is no single “best” — it depends on whether you are transcribing recordings or dictating text, and how much you care about privacy. Here is the whole landscape.
| Option | On-device | Offline | Account | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transcribe HereRecommended | Yes | Yes — bundled Tiny model | No | Recording and transcribing files on iPhone, iPad, and Mac |
| Apple Voice Memos & Dictation | Yes | Yes | Apple ID only | Quick notes with the built-in app; fewer controls |
| Dictation apps (Superwhisper, Wispr Flow) | Usually | Varies | Usually | Speaking text into other apps |
| Other Whisper apps (Whisper Notes, etc.) | Yes | Yes | Varies | On-device transcription — compare features and price |
| Self-hosted (Shortcuts + a Mac server) | On your server | Needs your server | No | Tinkerers with a machine at home |
| Cloud API (OpenAI Whisper, etc.) | No | No | API key | Automation; non-sensitive audio |
Our pick
Why we recommend Transcribe Here
For recording and transcribing audio — voice memos, interviews, meetings, lectures — Transcribe Here is the option built for exactly that.
True on-device Whisper
Local models from Tiny to Large, including a bundled Tiny model that works fully offline.
One purchase, three devices
A single Universal Purchase covers iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Record or import
Capture in the app, share files in from anywhere, or start from widgets, Shortcuts, and Control Center.
No account, no analytics, no ads
Nothing to sign up for; your library stays on your device and your private iCloud.
To be fair: if all you want is to dictate text into other apps, a dictation tool may fit better. For turning recorded audio into text privately, on-device Whisper is the right tool — and Transcribe Here is the simplest way to get it.
Step by step with Transcribe Here
Install the app
Download Transcribe Here from the App Store and open it. There is no sign-up.
Record or import
Tap record to capture audio, or share a file in from Voice Memos, Files, or another app.
Choose a model
The bundled Whisper Tiny model works offline with no download. For higher accuracy, download a larger model once.
Transcribe
The recording is processed on your device. A short memo is usually done in seconds.
Read, copy, or share
Review the transcript, fix anything you like, then copy or export it. Everything stays on the device (and in your private iCloud if you enable sync).
Choosing a Whisper model
Whisper comes in a range of sizes. The right one depends on how much accuracy you need and how much storage you will spend.
| Model | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny | Quick notes, clear speech | Fastest and smallest; bundled and offline |
| Base / Small | Everyday transcription | Good accuracy-to-speed balance |
| Medium / Large | Accents, noisy rooms, technical terms | Slower, more storage |
Frequently asked
Does Whisper on iPhone work offline?
Yes. Whisper models run locally, and the bundled Tiny model transcribes with no network connection at all. Larger models need a one-time download, then run on the device.
Is my audio uploaded anywhere?
Not with an on-device app. Recordings and transcripts stay on your device. If you enable an optional private iCloud sync, data goes to your own iCloud database — not to a third party’s servers.
Which iPhone can run Whisper?
Any recent iPhone runs the smaller models comfortably; larger models benefit from newer chips and more free storage. Check the App Store page for current requirements.
Do I need a subscription?
Transcribe Here is free to download, with an optional Local Pro purchase that unlocks larger models and unlimited imports. It is a Universal Purchase across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Private, on-device Whisper on your iPhone
Record or import, transcribe locally, and keep your audio to yourself. Free to download; Local Pro unlocks larger models and unlimited imports.