More than dictation.
Made for your Mac.

A few good options. One clear choice for you.

The right app depends on how you write, where you work, and where you want processing to happen. Here is how Beam sits alongside four familiar alternatives.

Published by SparQan LLC, the maker of Beam. Prices are in USD, checked September 19, 2026, and may change. Device allowances and included features differ; taxes may apply. This is a comparison of published features, not an accuracy or speed benchmark.

For the work that sounds like you.

Choose Beam when you want everyday dictation, meeting summaries, and spoken notes in one Mac app, with both transcription and cleanup handled locally. Add your own vocabulary, choose a cleanup profile for an app, and make the recording indicator feel at home on your desktop.

Beam is made for Apple silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later. Meeting audio capture needs macOS 14.4 or later. Subscriptions need occasional connectivity to keep renewal information current. Text you put into another app follows that app’s sync and privacy settings. See how Beam works.

Choose for the day you actually have.

• Try Beam for a complete Mac writing routine: dictation, meetings, and notes, with local processing and a choice of subscription or ownership.
• Start with Apple Dictation if you mainly want the built-in way to enter text by speaking. Check your Mac’s Dictation settings for its processing details.
• Consider Superwhisper if choosing between local and cloud AI models and building custom modes is central to your workflow.
• Consider Wispr Flow if cloud processing fits your needs and you want its shared workspace, dictionary, and team administration options.
• Consider VoiceInk if a lower-cost, one-time dictation purchase is your priority, with local transcription and optional cloud text enhancement.

Those recommendations are our reading of the features linked above. Privacy settings, model choices, and plan limits deserve a look before you decide.

Let your own words make the case.

Use the trial for three things you would normally type: a reply, a paragraph, and a note to yourself. Then try a meeting summary with the participants’ consent. Listen for your meaning, check the result, and see whether Beam makes your day feel easier.

Every feature is included for 14 days, with no card or account. Afterward, Instant dictation remains free for 2,000 words a week. Paid plans cover two Macs: $5.99 monthly, $59.99 yearly, or $149 once for Founders. The Founders offer is available until November 1, 2026; the license never expires.

From November 1, 2026, new subscriptions will be $7.49 a month or $79 a year. Your subscription rate stays locked while you keep the plan. Purchases and renewal charges have a 30-day refund window. Read the terms.