Looped Whisper (FOSS) – Voice transcription menubar app for macOS

Hacker News

I built a free, open-source (MIT) macOS menu-bar app that runs Whisper models locally to assist with dictation. There is also the option to use an LLM (BYOK). You hold a global hotkey, speak, and the text gets pasted at your cursor similar to other similar/popular apps. Some details: - Transcription runs locally via WhisperKit (CoreML), so it works offline once the model is downloaded. BYO model — tiny through large-v3, auto-downloaded and cached. The base model has been working surprisingly well for me with gpt-5.4-mini as the transformation model. - Push-to-talk (hold) and start/stop toggle hotkeys, both configurable. - fn/Globe key supported. - Realtime mode for live captions as you speak. - Optional LLM cleanup to fix typos/punctuation — point it at Anthropic or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint, key stored in the macOS Keychain. - A vocabulary feature to bias recognition toward your names, jargon, and identifiers (handy for dictating code). - This works as a menu-bar agent, no Dock icon, optional launch at login. I built this because I wanted local dictation that I could fully own and that handled dev jargon, without a subscription. Superwhisper/Wispr Flow is a more polished and full-featured - this is just a hackable, open source version.

Visit product View on Hacker NewsJun 28, 2026

Share card

Actual performance

2points

4comments

Did not reach leaderboard

Launch Intel predictions

Analyze your own launch →

Product HuntOn track for Day 1 leaderboard · Strong signals: mac, macos, agent · Missing: agents, claude, apple

99%99% predicted probability of success on Product Hunt, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

best fitHighest predicted score across all platforms for this description.

Indie HackersFits the IH revenue-focused audience · Strong signals: compatible · Missing: supports, reddit linkedin, podcasting

86%86% predicted probability of success on Indie Hackers, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Hacker NewsMay not resonate with HN audience · Strong signals: open source, ide, io · Missing: https docs, excited, just released

39%39% predicted probability of success on Hacker News, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

nativeThis product was originally launched on this platform.

TrustMRRLess likely to generate early MRR · Strong signals: apps · Missing: mobile apps, ios, personal

37%37% predicted probability of success on TrustMRR, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

AppSumoMay struggle as an AppSumo deal · Missing: plus, platform, intuitive

24%24% predicted probability of success on AppSumo, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Acquire.comPre-revenue stage for this audience · Strong signals: subscription · Missing: arr, mrr, revenue

21%21% predicted probability of success on Acquire.com, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

BetaListMay not resonate with beta-testers · Missing: web3, chat, crypto

0%0% predicted probability of success on BetaList, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Correct prediction on native model

Similar products

Whistle – Offline, private voice transcription using whisper38%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Whistle – Offline, private voice transcription using whisper

Hacker News2

Niftyman – Notion macOS Menubar App32%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Niftyman – Notion macOS Menubar App

Hacker News1

Free OpenAI Whisper Transcription Tool62%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Free OpenAI Whisper Transcription Tool

Hacker News4

I made a free transcription service powered by Whisper AI48%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

I made a free transcription service powered by Whisper AI

Hacker News224

Find My IP – macOS Menubar App35%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Find My IP – macOS Menubar App

Hacker News1

Track and Compare Audio Transcription with Whisper × W&B63%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Track and Compare Audio Transcription with Whisper × W&B

Hacker News5

OppenheimerGPT – use Bard and ChatGPT side-by-side (macOS menubar app)28%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

OppenheimerGPT – use Bard and ChatGPT side-by-side (macOS menubar app)

Hacker News10

Starwhisper50%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

voice-to-text, dictation, transcription, whisper, windows, a

Indie Hackers1$10/moadvertising

ReelStudio – open-source Instagram Reel transcription with Whisper40%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

ReelStudio – open-source Instagram Reel transcription with Whisper

Hacker News1

Run Whisper audio transcription as an API service56%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Run Whisper audio transcription as an API service

Hacker News3

Browse all products Analyze your launch