Superwhisper
Superwhisper vs Handy
Handy is a free, open-source voice typing tool built by a developer who broke his finger and needed a way to keep working. Superwhisper does the same thing but layers AI intelligence on top. Here's how they compare.
Side-by-side comparison
| Superwhisper | Handy | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Offline mode | Full offline support | Full offline support |
| Privacy | On-device processing | On-device processing |
| Price | Free tier, Pro from $8/mo | Free and open-source |
| Languages | 100+ | Whisper/Parakeet supported languages |
| AI modes | Super, Voice, Email, Message, custom | None |
| Context awareness | Reads screen context | No |
| Text reformatting | AI-powered formatting per mode | Raw transcription only |
| File transcription | Yes | No |
| Activation | Configurable shortcuts | Push-to-talk or toggle |
| GPU acceleration | Yes | Yes (optional, CPU fallback) |
| Mobile app | iOS | No |
| Enterprise | SSO, team billing | No |
Where they actually differ
Raw transcription vs AI intelligence
Handy does one thing well: it turns your voice into text. That's it. No reformatting, no context awareness, no AI processing. You talk, it types what you said.
Superwhisper starts with the same speech recognition but then runs your text through AI modes. Super Mode looks at what's on your screen and formats accordingly. If you're in a code editor, it writes code. In an email client, it writes like an email. You can also create custom modes with your own instructions for specific workflows.
Open-source vs commercial
Handy is MIT-licensed and available on GitHub. You can inspect the code, fork it, contribute to it. If you care about open-source software, that matters. The developer built it because he broke his finger and needed voice input that actually worked. It's a genuine community project.
Superwhisper is a commercial product with a free tier. You get ongoing development, support, and features like team management. The tradeoff is that it's closed-source.
Platform support
Handy runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. That Linux support is worth calling out. If you're on a Linux workstation, Handy is one of the few local voice typing tools that works there.
Superwhisper covers macOS, Windows, and iOS. No Linux support yet. If you work across desktop and mobile, the iOS app syncs your settings and modes across devices.
Where Handy does well
Handy is genuinely good at what it does. It's free, it's private, it works on Linux, and it doesn't try to be more than it needs to be. The push-to-talk and toggle modes are straightforward. GPU acceleration means fast transcription if you have a decent graphics card, and it falls back to CPU if you don't.
For someone who just wants to dictate text without any AI processing, Handy is a great pick. No account needed, no subscription, no cloud dependency. You download it and it works.
What people say about Superwhisper
"Superwhisper delivers on the dream of an AI-native operating system. The best part: it's insanely fast and does just what you expect."
— Guillermo Rauch, CEO of Vercel
"Tools I couldn't live without: @Superhuman, @superwhisperapp, @reflectnotes, @ChatGPTapp / @perplexity_ai"
— Pieter Levels, Founder of Nomad List and PhotoAI
Frequently asked questions
Is Handy really free?
Yes. Handy is free and open-source under the MIT license. You can download it from GitHub and use it without paying anything. Superwhisper has a free tier that doesn't expire, with Pro starting at $8/mo for AI modes and advanced features.
Does Handy work on Linux?
Yes. Handy supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. Superwhisper currently runs on macOS, Windows, and iOS. If you need Linux support, Handy is a solid choice.
Do both tools work offline?
Yes. Both process speech on your device. Handy uses Whisper and Parakeet models locally. Superwhisper also runs recognition models on-device. Neither requires an internet connection for transcription.
What can Superwhisper do that Handy can't?
Superwhisper adds AI processing on top of transcription. Super Mode reads your screen context and formats text accordingly. There are dedicated modes for email, messaging, and coding. You can also build custom modes with your own system prompts. Handy focuses on clean, accurate transcription without reformatting.
Can I use Handy for coding?
Handy can transcribe your voice into any text field, including code editors. But it gives you raw transcription. Superwhisper's Super Mode understands coding context and can format your speech as code, terminal commands, or commit messages depending on what app you're in.
Try Superwhisper free
Free tier that doesn't expire. 30-day refund if Pro isn't for you.
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