Claude Whisper vs Aqua Voice
Aqua Voice is a commercial AI dictation app with its own speech models, screen-aware spelling and apps for desktop and phone. Claude Whisper is a free, open-source desktop app that hands your speech to Claude Code’s own voice dictation.
Written by the developer of Claude Whisper. Facts about Aqua Voice come from its own pages, read in November 2026; every one is listed under Sources.
Feature-rich and screen-aware, or free and minimal
Aqua Voice does more: it reads your screen to spell names and code right, lets you edit selected text by voice, shows words in real time on its Max plan, and runs on phones. Claude Whisper is the free, minimal choice if you already use Claude Code on your computer.
Pick Claude Whisper if
- You already use Claude Code and want no extra subscription.
- You don’t want an app that reads your screen.
- You want the source code: it is MIT licensed.
- Desktop dictation is all you need.
Pick Aqua Voice if
- You want names and code spelled from what is on your screen.
- You want to edit selected text by voice, or words that appear as you speak.
- You want iPhone and Android apps.
- You need SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA or SSO.
Claude Whisper and Aqua Voice compared
| Claude Whisper | Aqua Voice | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free app, MIT licensed. Runs on the Claude account you already use for Claude Code: no extra subscription, no API key | Free to start with 1,000 words; Pro $12/month, or $10 billed annually; Max $24/month, or $19 annually; Business $24/seat/month (minimum 2 seats) |
| Platforms | macOS 14 Sonoma or later (Apple silicon or Intel); Windows 10/11 (x64 and ARM64), first version | Mac (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows 10/11, iOS (26.0+), Android 10+ |
| Phone apps | No | Yes: iOS and Android |
| Where speech is processed | Claude Code’s built-in voice dictation, signed in as you; your speech goes to Anthropic through Claude Code. The app’s only connections of its own are to GitHub, to check for updates when you ask | Aqua’s cloud, with its own models (Avalon) |
| Works offline | No: transcription is done by Claude Code’s voice dictation | Cloud dictation needs internet; Aqua says offline availability varies by platform, version and mode |
| AI cleanup | Improve (macOS only, optional): removes fillers and self-corrections, fixes punctuation and the spelling of product names and technical terms. About a second extra. Not on Windows yet | Grammar and refinement, writing-style rules, Custom Instructions (Pro and up); Edit Mode changes selected text by voice |
| Screen context | Not used: the app gives Claude Code only your voice (and, with Improve, the transcribed text) | Deep Context reads the screen you are on, on every plan |
| Real-time text | No: the text is pasted when you let go | Realtime Mode on Max, with “send it” by voice |
| Languages | Those Claude Code’s voice dictation supports; pick one in Settings | 49, with auto-detect |
| How you trigger it | Hold Right Command (Right Ctrl on Windows), speak, let go. Lock hands-free with Right Option / Right Alt or a double-tap. Esc cancels. Every key can be changed | Push-to-talk, Fn by default on Mac; up to five activation keys per action |
| For developers | No API or CLI of its own | MCP server, CLI and an OpenAI-compatible speech API |
| Teams and compliance | None. It is an independent open-source project with no admin controls or certifications of its own | SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR and HIPAA claims; BAA on Max and Business; zero data retention on Business |
| Open source | Yes, MIT | No |
Prices as of November 2026, in the currency the vendor shows. Claude Whisper needs Claude Code installed and signed in to a Claude account.
What each one costs
Claude Whisper
Free and MIT licensed, with no tiers or word allowances of its own. It runs on the Claude account you are already signed in to Claude Code with; Improve uses your Claude subscription.
Aqua Voice (as of November 2026)
- Free: 1,000 words to start, which Aqua’s FAQ treats as a one-time allowance. No credit card.
- Pro: $12 a month, or $10 billed annually; unlimited words, custom instructions, dictionary.
- Max: $24 a month, or $19 billed annually; Realtime Mode, voice commands, HIPAA BAA.
- Business: $24 per seat a month, or $228 per seat a year, minimum 2 seats. Students get 70% off Pro and Max.
Where your voice goes
Claude Whisper
Claude Code transcribes your speech under your Claude account, so the audio goes to Anthropic. Apart from update checks on GitHub when you ask, the app itself makes no network connections; it does not read your screen and keeps the last 30 dictations on your computer.
Aqua Voice
With Privacy Mode off, Aqua stores dictation audio and transcripts on its servers to provide and improve the service; with it on, it does not (session metadata may still be collected). Deep Context reads your screen. Aqua shares data with advertising partners for ad measurement, and says it never shares transcripts or audio with them. Local history keeps recent audio on your device for 3 days.
Where each one runs
Aqua Voice runs on Mac (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows 10/11, iOS 26 or later and Android 10 or later. It also offers an MCP server, a CLI and a speech API.
Claude Whisper runs on macOS 14 or later and Windows 10/11 (x64 and ARM64); the Windows app is a first version without Improve. There are no phone apps.
What you get beyond plain dictation
Claude Whisper
- Hold-to-talk on Right Command (Right Ctrl on Windows), hands-free lock, Esc to cancel.
- Improve on macOS: removes fillers and self-corrections, fixes punctuation and term spelling.
- History of the last 30 dictations; “Paste and press Return” to send straight away.
Aqua Voice
- Deep Context: spelling of names and code from what is on screen.
- Edit Mode: select text, hold the key, say the change.
- Realtime Mode (Max): words appear as you speak.
- Custom dictionary, writing style and custom instructions.
Claude Whisper’s limits, plainly
- It needs Claude Code installed and signed in to a Claude account, with
/voiceworking. If you do not use Claude Code, it is not for you. - Your speech goes to Anthropic through Claude Code, under your account. It is not an offline or on-device tool.
- Desktop only: macOS 14 or later and Windows 10/11. No iPhone or Android app.
- The Windows app is a first version: no Improve, no capsule position and no Faster start yet.
- The Windows build is not signed yet, so SmartScreen warns on the first launch.
- It is unofficial: not made by, affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic.
When Aqua Voice is the better choice
- You want dictation that uses your screen to spell names, terms and code correctly.
- You want to rewrite selected text by voice, or see words appear as you speak.
- You want iPhone and Android apps.
- You need compliance (SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, HIPAA BAA) or team billing with SSO and SCIM.
- You want developer hooks such as an MCP server, a CLI or a speech API.
- You don’t use Claude Code.
Questions about Claude Whisper and Aqua Voice
Is Claude Whisper a free alternative to Aqua Voice?
For basic desktop dictation, yes. Aqua’s free tier is 1,000 words to start; Claude Whisper has no allowance of its own but needs Claude Code and a Claude account, and it lacks Aqua’s screen context, Edit Mode and phone apps.
Does Claude Whisper read my screen?
No. It holds Claude Code’s voice key in a hidden session and pastes the result. Aqua’s Deep Context reads the screen you are on.
Can I run both?
Aqua uses Fn by default on Mac and Claude Whisper uses Right Command, so they can coexist as long as they are on different keys.
Which one supports more languages?
Aqua lists 49. Claude Whisper understands the languages Claude Code’s voice dictation supports; you pick one in Settings.
Is Claude Whisper made by Anthropic?
No. It is an unofficial, independent project that works with Claude Code. It is not made by, affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic.
Try Claude Whisper
Free and open source. If Claude Code already works on your computer, setup takes a couple of minutes.
More comparisons
Sources
Competitor pages were read on 10 November 2026. Prices are as shown there that day.
- Claude Whisper README: https://github.com/viachm/claude-whisper#readme
- Claude Whisper guide: https://github.com/viachm/claude-whisper/blob/main/docs/GUIDE.md
- Aqua Voice homepage: https://aquavoice.com/
- Aqua Voice pricing: https://aquavoice.com/pricing
- Download: https://aquavoice.com/download
- FAQ: https://aquavoice.com/info/faq
- Privacy policy: https://aquavoice.com/info/privacy
- Languages: https://aquavoice.com/guide/languages
- Deep Context: https://aquavoice.com/deep-context
- Edit Mode: https://aquavoice.com/guide/edit-mode
- Realtime Mode: https://aquavoice.com/realtime
- History: https://aquavoice.com/guide/history
- Activation keys: https://aquavoice.com/guide/how-to-add-multiple-activation-keys
- Aqua Voice on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aqua-voice-ai-dictation/id6759074969