Buzz
MacWhisper’s basic job, minus the Mac-only part and the invoice.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-10
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- MIT
- Hosting Model
- Local (on your machine)
- Platforms
- desktopclione-click install
- Installation
- Install the desktop package for macOS, Windows, or Linux; package-manager and source installs are also available
- Operational Setup
- The app installs cleanly, but the first transcription triggers a multi-hundred-megabyte or multi-gigabyte model download and CPU-only transcription can be dramatically slower than real time.
- Where Your Data Lives
- With a local backend, source media, downloaded model files, job state, and exported TXT/SRT/VTT/CSV transcripts remain on the computer; selecting an API backend sends the audio to that provider under its terms.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Buzz covers local transcription and batch export, but it is less Mac-native and has a thinner editor, speaker workflow, automation surface, and system integration than MacWhisper.
Replaces 2 paid apps
up to $8.17/mo ($98/yr) in subscriptions
Buzz FAQ
Common questions
Is Buzz free and open source?+
Buzz is an open-source tool licensed under MIT that runs on local. MacWhisper’s basic job, minus the Mac-only part and the invoice.
What paid software does Buzz replace?+
Buzz serves as a free replacement for 2 paid SaaS applications: MacWhisper, Notta, saving up to $8.17/month ($98/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Buzz?+
Installation: Install the desktop package for macOS, Windows, or Linux; package-manager and source installs are also available. Setup notes: The app installs cleanly, but the first transcription triggers a multi-hundred-megabyte or multi-gigabyte model download and CPU-only transcription can be dramatically slower than real time.
What is the catch or trade-off with Buzz?+
Buzz covers local transcription and batch export, but it is less Mac-native and has a thinner editor, speaker workflow, automation surface, and system integration than MacWhisper.