Claude Whisper vs Willow
Willow is a commercial AI dictation app for Mac, Windows and iPhone, with style matching, a learning dictionary and team plans. 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 Willow come from its own pages, read in November 2026; every one is listed under Sources.
Polished service with an iPhone app, or free dictation on Claude Code
Willow gives you more: formatting that matches your style, a learning dictionary, an iPhone app, and business plans with SOC 2 and HIPAA. Claude Whisper is the simpler, free option if you already use Claude Code on your computer and only want hold-to-talk dictation.
Pick Claude Whisper if
- You already use Claude Code and want no extra subscription.
- You want the source code: it is MIT licensed.
- You want the app itself to connect nowhere except GitHub, for update checks you ask for.
- Desktop dictation is all you need.
Pick Willow if
- You want an iPhone app as well.
- You want formatting that matches your style, and a learning dictionary.
- Your team needs SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA or admin controls.
- You don’t use Claude Code.
Claude Whisper and Willow compared
| Claude Whisper | Willow | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free app, MIT licensed. Runs on the Claude account you already use for Claude Code: no extra subscription, no API key | Basic free (lighter “Frontier Mini” model, 20 Scribe uses a week); Pro $15/user/month, or $12 billed annually; Business $35/month, or $28 annually; Enterprise custom |
| Platforms | macOS 14 Sonoma or later (Apple silicon or Intel); Windows 10/11 (x64 and ARM64), first version | Mac, Windows and iPhone (iOS 18+); Android shown as coming soon on the pricing page. Minimum Mac and Windows versions not stated |
| Phone apps | No | iPhone |
| 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 | Willow’s cloud models, on infrastructure in the United States |
| Works offline | No: transcription is done by Claude Code’s voice dictation | Willow lists an offline mode “powered entirely by your device” |
| 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 | Removes fillers, fixes punctuation, formats lists and paragraphs, applies spoken corrections, matches your tone; Scribe turns rough intent into writing |
| Dictionary and shortcuts | No custom dictionary; Improve restores the spelling of names and terms | Auto-learning personal dictionary, voice shortcuts, shared team dictionary |
| Languages | Those Claude Code’s voice dictation supports; pick one in Settings | 100+, with automatic detection |
| 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 | Hold Fn by default, release to paste; double-tap for hands-free; up to four hotkeys |
| Account | A Claude account, signed in to Claude Code, with voice dictation working | A Willow account |
| Teams and compliance | None. It is an independent open-source project with no admin controls or certifications of its own | SOC 2 Type II; HIPAA BAA signed in the app; enforced zero data retention and admin controls 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. It runs on the Claude account you are already signed in to Claude Code with, and Improve uses your Claude subscription. You need that account first.
Willow (as of November 2026)
- Basic: free, no credit card; the lighter Frontier Mini model, unlimited.
- Pro: $15 per user a month, or $12 billed annually; the Frontier Pro model and unlimited Scribe.
- Business: $35 a month, or $28 billed annually; enforced privacy mode, SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA.
- Enterprise: custom. Discounts for students, educators, nonprofits and veterans on Pro.
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; nothing is sent to Claude as a chat message, and the last 30 dictations stay on your computer.
Willow
Willow uses cloud models in the United States. Its Private Mode is on by default: no dictated text is collected, and transcripts, context and audio are kept only on your device. An optional “Help Willow Improve” mode shares anonymized transcript text, not audio. Willow says its providers are bound by zero data retention and no-training controls.
Where each one runs
Willow runs on Mac, Windows and iPhone (iOS 18 or later); its pricing page lists Android as coming soon. Willow does not state minimum Mac or Windows versions on its own pages.
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.
- History of the last 30 dictations; “Paste and press Return”.
Willow
- Smart formatting and style matching across email, chat and documents.
- Voice commands such as “new line” and “bullet”; mid-dictation corrections.
- Learning dictionary, voice shortcuts, optional context awareness.
- Willow Scribe for writing from rough intent.
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 Willow is the better choice
- You want to dictate on your iPhone too.
- You want formatting that adapts to the app and your tone, voice commands and a dictionary that learns.
- You want an offline mode, which Willow lists and Claude Whisper does not have.
- Your organisation needs SOC 2 Type II, a HIPAA BAA, enforced zero data retention or SSO.
- You don’t use Claude Code, or you want a supported commercial product.
Questions about Claude Whisper and Willow
Is Claude Whisper a free alternative to Willow?
For desktop dictation, yes: the app is free and has no plans. It needs Claude Code signed in to a Claude account, and it has far fewer formatting features than Willow.
Can I use both?
Their default keys differ (Fn for Willow, Right Command for Claude Whisper), so they can coexist. Don’t put both on the same key.
Which keeps more on my device?
Willow’s Private Mode, on by default, keeps transcripts and audio on your device after cloud transcription. Claude Whisper keeps its history on your computer, and its speech goes to Anthropic through Claude Code.
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
- Willow homepage: https://willowvoice.com/
- Willow pricing: https://willowvoice.com/pricing
- Willow security: https://willowvoice.com/security
- How Willow protects your data: https://help.willowvoice.com/en/articles/12854269-how-willow-protects-your-data-and-privacy
- Privacy policy: https://willowvoice.com/privacy-policy
- Dictating with Willow: https://help.willowvoice.com/en/articles/10876920-dictating-with-willow-voice
- Hotkey settings: https://help.willowvoice.com/en/articles/10876257-hotkey-settings
- Dictionary and shortcuts: https://help.willowvoice.com/en/articles/13183918-using-personal-dictionary-and-shortcuts
- Voice commands and formatting: https://help.willowvoice.com/en/articles/13183983-voice-commands-and-automatic-formatting-guide
- Dictation time limit: https://help.willowvoice.com/en/articles/12772803-how-to-change-your-dictation-time-limit-in-willow
- Compliance: https://help.willowvoice.com/en/articles/13668493-compliance-certifications-and-security-standards
- HIPAA support: https://help.willowvoice.com/en/articles/13668475-enable-hipaa-support-in-willow
- Install and setup: https://help.willowvoice.com/en/articles/10876111-install-and-setup-willow-voice-mac-windows
- Willow on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/willow-dictation-ai-keyboard/id6753057525