Whisper Notes - Speech to Text1.8.8 - App Store

Maybe the best offline transcription app - 70,000+ journalists, researchers, and professionals seem to think so.

Turn meetings, lectures, and voice memos into accurate text with speaker labels - fast, 100% offline, on your device. No subscription. One purchase, yours forever.

■ Core Features
- Record voice memos and capture ideas instantly-from the Lock Screen, widgets, Action Button, or just say "Hey Siri"
- Import audio and video from any app (WhatsApp, Photos, Voice Memos, etc.)-even extract subtitles
- Turn meetings, lectures, and interviews into transcripts with speaker labels-see who said what, rename speakers, no length limits
- 101 languages, auto-detected (optimized for English)-three models (Parakeet, Whisper, SenseVoice), switch freely
- Export as SRT, VTT, or TXT-timestamps and speaker labels included

■ Privacy & Speed
Because everything runs on your device, there is nothing to upload-and nothing to leak. Turn on airplane mode before you record and leave it on: Whisper Notes works exactly the same. That matters when the recording is an interview, a client meeting, or something you would never put on someone else's server.

Transcribing 5 minutes of audio on iPhone 15: ~18 seconds with Parakeet, ~1 minute with Whisper. SenseVoice is much faster than Whisper and strongest for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Each model has its strengths-choose freely based on language and use case. Older devices are slower but work fine.

■ Honest Pricing
Because transcription runs on your device, we have no server costs-so there is nothing to charge you monthly for. Most similar apps charge $100+/year; we charge once.
No subscriptions, no in-app purchases, no ads.
Not satisfied? Tap Settings → Request Refund.

■ Common Questions

Does it work completely offline?
Yes. Your audio never leaves your device. Works on flights, in remote areas, anywhere.

Can I transcribe WhatsApp voice messages or videos?
Yes. Share or save audio/video from WhatsApp to Whisper Notes and transcribe offline. Perfect for extracting subtitles without uploading to cloud services.

Is there a recording time limit?
No limit. Record for hours if you want. Longer recordings just take more time to transcribe on your device.

Does it support real-time transcription while recording?
Not during recording, but yes during transcription-after you finish recording, you'll see the transcript appear in real-time as it's being generated.

Do you support speaker labels (diarization)?
Yes-fully offline. Tap the speaker icon on any transcript to see who said what, right on your device. We keep improving accuracy and speed.

Where is my data stored?
Only on your device. We have zero access. Note: If you delete the app, your recordings are deleted too (because we don't keep secret backups). Please export important files regularly.

Can I summarize a transcript?
Yes - copy it into whichever AI tool you prefer. Whisper Notes itself never uploads anything; your audio and text stay on your device.

Why does transcription stop when I switch apps?
iOS limits background GPU usage for third-party apps. Just return to the app and tap "Re-transcribe"-it will restart.

Which devices are recommended?
iPhone 12 and newer. Older devices (iPhone 11, iPhone SE 2nd gen) are not recommended-the app will not function properly on these devices.

What languages are supported?
English, Español, Français, Deutsch, Português, Italiano, Nederlands, 简体中文, 繁體中文, 日本語, 한국어, Hindi, Arabic, Русский, Türkçe, Polski, Українська, Tiếng Việt, Thai, Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia, Svenska, Norsk, Dansk, Suomi, Čeština, Greek, Hebrew, Română, Magyar, Persian, Urdu, and 65+ more languages.

■ Contact
Questions? Email support@whispernotes.app
Learn more: whispernotes.app

Version History New Features

- Apple Speech — on iOS 26, choose Apple's speech engine alongside Parakeet, SenseVoice and Whisper. Download only the languages you need; everything stays on your device.
- Recordings resume automatically after a phone call or other interruption (up to two minutes).
- One Share menu for everything — text, timestamps, text + audio, TXT/SRT/VTT — the same on the note and in detail view, plus Bulk Share Text for several notes.

Improvements

- Faster: models are ready sooner after launch, the note appears the moment you stop recording, and saving edits no longer blocks the interface.
- Very long transcripts open instantly — text first, timestamps generated in the background.
- Model downloads resume where they left off, retry automatically, and say why if they fail.
- Speaker detection is in every note's menu and now handles long recordings reliably.
- VoiceOver: every control is labeled, results are announced, notes read as one sentence, and Reduce Motion is respected.

Fixes

- Force-quit while recording? The recording is in your list when you reopen the app, and transcribes automatically.
- Failed transcriptions and imports show the actual reason, and an interrupted transcription keeps the text it already produced.
- Whisper: quiet or distant speech is no longer dropped, and phantom phrases in silent passages are filtered out.
- Silent recordings with a Bluetooth or wired headset? Turn on "Prefer Built-in Microphone" in Recording & Audio.
- Stability improvements throughout, especially SenseVoice, sharing and the custom dictionary. Edits and deletions can no longer be lost or come back. 1.8.8 Sep 18 Long notes open instantly

- Opening a very long transcript — an hour or more of recording — no longer freezes the app; it now opens in about a second.
- Browsing a library full of long notes also uses noticeably less memory.

Translate on the spot

- New "Translate to…" menu: translate any note into any of 20 languages with a single tap, without changing your default language in Settings. Useful for two-way translation while traveling — and like everything else, it runs entirely on your device.

Share text and audio together

- New "Share Text + Audio": the transcript and its recording go out in a single share. One email instead of two.

Shortcuts you can rely on

- "Stop Recording and Get Transcription" now reliably stops the recording and returns your text — no more stuck shortcuts or leftover recording screens.

No more silent failures

- If the language you picked isn't supported by the current transcription model, the app now tells you clearly — in Settings and in Shortcuts — instead of quietly producing unusable text. 1.8.7 Aug 22 New Features

- Translation — translate any note right inside the app, with the original and translation shown side by side, paragraph by paragraph. Runs 100% on your device — your notes never leave your iPhone. (Requires iOS 18.)
- New Shortcuts action: "Stop Recording and Get Transcription" — end a recording and get the text in one step, perfect for automations.
- Export transcripts as TXT files, with speaker labels included.
- Edit an entire note directly from the transcript view.

Recording & Transcription

- Fixed recordings losing their first seconds when an Apple Watch or Bluetooth headset was connected.
- Spoken punctuation ("comma", "period", ...) now works with every transcription model.
- Fixed the Parakeet model failing to load for some users — it now repairs itself automatically.
- Failed transcriptions now reliably show a Retry button, and the record button no longer gets stuck after an error.

Stability & Fixes

- Widgets no longer stop working after an app update.
- Search filters (date, category) now work on their own, without typing a search first.
- Playback highlighting no longer makes text shift while you follow along.
- Copying multiple notes with timestamps now keeps them in chronological order.
- Stability improvements and crash fixes throughout. 1.8.6 Aug 11 New Features

- Speaker Labels — Whisper Notes now labels who said what, automatically splitting any transcript into color-coded speakers you can rename, even across short interjections and quick back-and-forth. Runs 100% on your device, and speaker labels are included in copied text and exported SRT / VTT subtitles.
- Folders — organize your recordings into folders you create. Anything you record or import inside a folder is filed there automatically, with batch move and per-folder search.

Design

- A warmer, easier-on-the-eyes look — soft paper tones instead of stark white, and gentler text in dark mode.
- More refined haptic feedback throughout, and cleaner Share and Export menus.

Reliability

- If storage runs low while recording, you're now warned instead of ending up with a silent, empty file. 1.8.5 Jul 8 This update focuses on speed, recording reliability, and transcription quality.

Performance

- Faster app launch — transcription models load about twice as fast, and your notes appear instantly even with thousands of recordings.
- Long recordings with pauses transcribe much faster — silent stretches are skipped instead of processed.
- Recording starts at full speed the moment you open the app.
- Switching transcription models is now smooth, with no freezes.

Recording reliability

- More reliable recording with AirPods and Bluetooth — less audio lost when you connect or remove a headset mid-recording, and faster recovery if it stops sending audio.
- Fixed rare issues with rapid stop-and-restart recording and recordings interrupted by phone calls.

Transcription quality

- Live transcript lines now always appear in the correct order during long transcriptions.
- More accurate timestamps in recordings with long silences.

Stability

- Fixed the most common crash — transcribing while the app is in the background — plus several rarer reliability issues. 1.8.4 Jul 6 New Features

- Lock Screen & Control Center playback — play, pause, and skip through your recordings without opening the app.
- New storage management — see what's using space (audio, transcripts, models, cache), empty the recycle bin, and delete downloaded models you no longer need.
- Search now sorts by newest, oldest, or relevance, with clearer match highlighting.

Performance & Recording

- Faster app launch, and large histories now load smoothly as you scroll.
- Fewer freezes opening long transcripts, and better memory handling on older iPhones during long transcriptions.
- More stable recording when switching between the built-in mic, AirPods, and other Bluetooth devices.
- Simpler, more natural default recording settings.

Transcription & Playback

- Improved automatic paragraph breaks, including for Chinese/Japanese/Korean and long text without punctuation.
- More accurate spoken punctuation, and smarter "No text detected" handling with automatic retry.
- More consistent timestamps for playback highlighting and SRT export.
- Tap any line in a transcript to jump to that moment in the audio.

Stability & Fixes

- Added speech-model crash recovery with automatic fallback for more reliable transcription across devices.
- Safer storage cleanup that won't mistakenly remove your recordings; fixed duplicate models and stuck processing items.
- Reduced the chance of losing a message when importing or transcribing right after launch.
- Fixed the "Copied" badge sometimes staying on screen, plus several playback display glitches.

Accessibility

- Added Magic Tap to start/stop recording, plus VoiceOver improvements. 1.8.3 Jul 1 New

- New speech model option with improved accuracy for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Cantonese.

Improvements

- Each model now remembers your language preference separately.
- Fixed Dynamic Island staying active after recording ends.
- Improved transcription display and paragraph spacing. 1.8.2 Jun 9 Improvements

- More reliable recording when switching between speakers, headphones, or Bluetooth devices.
- Fixed clipboard not working reliably after transcription.
- Imported audio files are now verified before cleanup, preventing accidental data loss.
- Custom Dictionary now handles large word lists without freezing.
- Spoken punctuation ("new line", "period") now works correctly during editing. 1.8.1 May 27 Improved recording stability — fixed crashes during transcription and reduced audio start delay when using Action Button. 1.8.0 May 12 New Feature

- Filler Word Removal — Automatically clean up "um," "uh," and other filler words from your transcriptions.

Improvements

- Longer recordings are now significantly more accurate — reduced repetition and language-switching errors.
- Bluetooth recording quality improved — noticeably clearer audio with AirPods and other Bluetooth devices.
- Lock Screen widget is now more responsive — no more stuck "Processing" state, and recording starts faster.
- Auto Copy now works reliably when switching to other apps.
- Editing a transcription no longer overwrites the original text.
- Fixed crashes that could occur during transcription. 1.7.9 Apr 20 Improvements

- Transcription is now noticeably faster after the first use — no more repeated model loading.
- Recording starts quicker — less delay between tapping the button and hearing your voice captured.
- Share cards now let you hide the app watermark.
- Fixed several crashes during recording haptics, model extraction on older devices, and background transcription. 1.7.8 Apr 14 New Features

- Auto-Stop Timer — Set a recording time limit (30 min to 6 hours). Recording stops and saves automatically when time is up.
- Siri & Action Button — Start recording hands-free with "Hey Siri, start Whisper" or assign it to your Action Button.
- Custom Dictionary — Add proper nouns and specialized terms to improve transcription accuracy.

Improvements

- Recording now captures a little extra at the end to avoid cutting off the last word.
- Fixed a crash that could occur when running in the background.
- Settings page reorganized for easier navigation. 1.7.7 Apr 2 Improve recording stability and crash recovery. 1.7.6 Mar 18 New Features

- Live audio waveform with a health indicator that warns when no audio is detected.
- Auto Copy now lets you choose: Off, Text Only, or Text + Date & Time.

Improvements

- Long transcriptions are now automatically split into paragraphs for easier reading.
- Improved stability and reliability when downloading models. 1.7.5 Mar 16 New Features

- Parakeet v3 as the default recognition engine — 10× faster, with much more accurate transcriptions and fewer hallucinated words.
- Switch between Whisper and Parakeet models in Settings.

Improvements & Fixes

- Exported audio/video files now preserve original filenames.
- Fixed audio extraction failure for imported videos.
- Recordings are now safely saved if the app exits unexpectedly. 1.7.4 Mar 14 New Features

- Share Extension: Import audio and video files directly from the system Share Sheet.
- Tap-to-Seek: Tap any sentence in a transcript to jump to that exact moment in the audio.
- iOS 26 Liquid Glass: Adapted to Apple's new translucent design language.

Improvements & Fixes

- Background music now ducks during playback and pauses during recording, instead of stopping entirely.
- Fixed tap-to-seek highlight not aligning with the correct audio position.
- Fixed recording view not dismissing when stopping via Live Activity.
- General performance improvements and bug fixes. 1.7.3 Jan 30 New Features

- Dark Mode App Icon: Switch between light and dark app icons in Settings.
- Floating Recording Window: Swipe right during recording to minimize to a compact floating widget.
- Real-time Audio Waveform: See live audio levels while recording.
- Search Category Filter: Filter search results by category — All, Recordings, Imports, or Favorites.

Improvements & Fixes

- Fixed recording view not responding properly to Lock Screen widget.
- Fixed "Instant Record on Open" triggering on brief app switches.
- Improved haptic feedback and audio waveform visualization. 1.7.2 Jan 8 New Features

- Language Pinning: Long-press to pin your most-used languages to the top of the list.
- Smart Folders: Organize recordings by category — All, Recordings, Imports, and Favorites.
- Audio Waveform: Visualize and seek through audio in the detailed transcript view.
- Live Progress & ETA: See real transcription progress with estimated time remaining.
- Export TXT: Export transcripts as plain text files with timestamps.

Improvements & Fixes

- Fixed audio routing issues when switching between speaker and headphones.
- Fixed recordings being interrupted by alarms or phone calls.
- Fixed imported audio files being incorrectly categorized as recordings.
- Fixed UI flickering when returning from Live Activity.
- Improved VAD (Voice Activity Detection) to reduce hallucinations during silence.
- Redesigned Settings page with clearer organization.
- Added Reddit community link for support and feedback. 1.7.1 Jan 2 Better recording stability across various scenarios. 1.7.0 11/23/2025 - Improved recording stability.
- You can now edit/modify transcription results more easily.
- Fixes: Fixed recording issues with AirPods/Bluetooth connections during transcription. Fixed some localization problems. 1.6.9 11/22/2025 Refining product UI and UX—I love the polishing process. 1.6.8 11/07/2025 - Transcription results now support streaming output.
- Optimized search performance for improved product experience. 1.6.7 11/07/2025 - Auto-skip silent segments in recordings for more stable transcription of long audio files.
- Enhanced data storage stability. If data is lost, you can recover unsaved data in Settings - Data Recovery. 1.6.6 10/27/2025 Optimized AirPods recording experience. 1.6.5 09/22/2025 - You can now merge two or more recordings.
- Support for external recording devices.
- Optimized product user experience. 1.6.4 09/16/2025