Superwhisper for Linux (2026): What Works and Alternatives

Quick answer: Yes. Superwhisper now has an official Linux page listing Ubuntu 24.04+, Debian 13+, Fedora 40+, Mint 22+, Arch and more, on x86-64 and ARM. It needs Wayland (GNOME, KDE Plasma or Hyprland) and systemd. On X11, or to draft replies by voice with Action Mode, our pick is Blip AI: one x86-64 AppImage for Wayland and X11.

By the Blip AI team. We make a competing app. Superwhisper's Linux page, plans page, README, install script and latest Linux release were checked on 13 November 2026. Its Linux builds change every few days, so check the release notes too.

Is there a Superwhisper Linux version?

Yes, and it's now official: superwhisper.com has a Linux page (checked 13 November 2026; it wasn't on the site when we checked on 25 October). It introduces "Superwhisper for Linux" and lists:

• Distributions: Omarchy 4.0+, Arch, CachyOS, Ubuntu 24.04+, Linux Mint 22+, Debian 13+, Fedora 40+ and openSUSE Tumbleweed.
• Desktops: Hyprland (on any distro), KDE Plasma and GNOME. The page says it "Needs Wayland (Hyprland, KDE Plasma or GNOME) and systemd."
• Architectures: "x86-64 and ARM builds".
• Install: one command, curl -fsSL https://tux.superwhisper.com/install.sh | sh, or manual downloads from GitHub.

On a fresh Omarchy 4.5 install you don't need to install it yourself: the Omarchy 4.5 announcement (4 November 2026, checked 13 November) says Superwhisper is now its default dictation engine. On an existing install you choose it under Setup > Defaults > Dictation, per Omarchy's manual. Shortcuts and the other engines are in dictation on Omarchy.

The builds themselves come from Superwhisper's Linux releases repository, which had these releases when we checked on 13 November 2026:

• 1.3.1, marked Latest on 11 November 2026: offline models now run on processors without AVX2, and a notification tells you when the microphone is muted or lost.
• 1.3.0, 9 November: it works on the niri compositor, and NixOS gets a Nix flake.
• 1.2.0, 3 November: the one-line installer, working shortcuts on GNOME, hold F9 to dictate on KDE and GNOME (Escape cancels), and a switch to your offline models when Cloud has no connection.

The repository's README (checked 13 November 2026) says Superwhisper "is made for Omarchy (Hyprland) and also runs on KDE Plasma and GNOME on Wayland". Its distro list is the Linux page's without Linux Mint. When we read it on 5 November it still called the Linux build "prerelease software". That wording is gone, though the README still refers to "Public preview releases".

The install script (read on 13 November 2026) installs per user, refuses to run as root, accepts x86-64 or ARM64, and warns that "Superwhisper needs Wayland to run" when it doesn't detect a Wayland session. It downloads a .tar.zst archive and checks its hash.

Superwhisper's download page still offers only macOS, Windows, iOS and Android (checked 13 November 2026); Linux is a link in the site footer.

Screenshot of superwhisper.com/download, taken October 25, 2026.

Does Superwhisper work on Ubuntu?

Yes, on Ubuntu 24.04 or later in a Wayland session. Superwhisper's Linux page lists Ubuntu 24.04+, with GNOME, KDE Plasma and Hyprland as its supported desktops. Ubuntu 22.04 isn't on the list.

To check which session you're in, run:

echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE

If it prints wayland, Superwhisper's requirements fit. If it prints x11, Superwhisper's page says it needs Wayland, so it isn't an option on that session; Blip AI runs on both.

Does Superwhisper work on X11?

Not according to Superwhisper. Its Linux page says it "Needs Wayland (Hyprland, KDE Plasma or GNOME) and systemd", and its install script warns when no Wayland session is found. The page doesn't mention X11.

That rules it out in an X11 session, and its page names only GNOME, KDE Plasma and Hyprland as desktops. Blip AI's Linux AppImage runs on both Wayland and X11.

Is Superwhisper free on Linux?

Yes for offline use, and up to a limit in the cloud. Superwhisper's Linux page answers "Is it free?" this way (checked 13 November 2026): "Offline is free, always, with no word limit. Cloud is free for 10,000 words every 30 days." The same page says the cloud allowance resets 30 days after it started, that you can switch to Offline in the meantime, and that "Pro removes the limit."

Pro's price is on Superwhisper's plans page: $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year or $249.99 once (checked 13 November 2026). That page says one Pro licence covers "unlimited Macs and Windows PCs, plus your iPhone and Android phone" and doesn't mention Linux, so if you already own a licence, ask Superwhisper whether it applies to the Linux app before you count on it.

Is Superwhisper open source?

No. Superwhisper's own comparison with Handy calls Superwhisper "a commercial product with a free tier" and says "The tradeoff is it's closed-source" (checked 13 November 2026). Its terms don't allow you to "Reverse engineer or extract the App's source code".

The GitHub repository you find when you search for Superwhisper on Linux, superwhisper-linux-releases, isn't the source either. On 13 November 2026 it held a README and the release downloads.

Free and open source are different things here. Superwhisper's offline models are free on Linux, but you can't read or change the app's code. Three Linux dictation apps do publish their source, and each has its own section below:

• Vocalinux, under the AGPL-3.0 licence.
• Handy, under the MIT licence. Setup is in Handy on Linux.
• OpenWhispr, under the MIT licence. Setup is in OpenWhispr on Linux.

The licences are from each project's GitHub page, checked 13 November 2026.

Should you install Superwhisper on Linux?

Install it if you're on a distro its Linux page lists, in a Wayland session with GNOME, KDE Plasma or Hyprland, and you already like Superwhisper on your Mac or Windows PC. It's also the better pick on an ARM machine, since Blip's Linux build is x86-64 only. Offline use is free with no word limit, per its Linux page, so trying it costs nothing.

Look elsewhere if you're on X11, on a desktop it doesn't list, on an older release such as Ubuntu 22.04 or Debian 12, or your system doesn't use systemd.

What Superwhisper does well, and what a Linux replacement needs

Three things Superwhisper offers that a replacement should match:

1. Local models. Superwhisper can run speech models on your device, so it works offline and your audio stays on your machine. Hardware matters: Superwhisper's own FAQ says, about Intel Macs, that "offline models only run really well on Apple Silicon macs." It doesn't say how well they run on Linux hardware.
2. Modes. A mode pairs a voice model with AI instructions, and you can write custom ones. The plans page says the free plan allows up to two modes without AI processing, and Pro adds AI processing.
3. One licence across Mac, Windows and phones. A free plan with local Whisper models, and Pro at $8.49/month, $84.99/year or $249.99 lifetime. One Pro licence covers your Macs, Windows PCs, iPhone and Android phone.

A Linux replacement should cover local models or modes, and it should be documented for your distro.

What are the best Superwhisper alternatives for Linux?

1. Blip AI: our pick on X11

AppImage · Wayland and X11 · Ubuntu/Debian, Fedora, Arch · free plan with 2,000 words a month; Pro $15/month or $12/month billed yearly

Blip AI is first in this list because it covers the case Superwhisper doesn't: one AppImage that runs on X11 as well as Wayland, on Ubuntu/Debian, Fedora or Arch. Hold Ctrl + Win, talk, let go; filler words are removed, punctuation is fixed, and the text lands in the focused window, terminals included. Get it from the Blip AI for Linux page.

Screenshot of blipai.app, taken October 24, 2026.

What Blip adds for a Superwhisper user:

• X11 and Wayland. Blip runs on both; Superwhisper's Linux page says it needs Wayland.
• Action Mode. Start with "Hey Blip" and describe the reply you want, and Blip drafts the email or Slack message, with no mode to set up. On Mac and Windows, Superwhisper's modes can also rewrite text by your own instructions, with AI processing on Pro, per its plans page. Its Linux page and README don't describe modes; the README says the offline setup includes S1 Mini cleanup, and the Linux page says offline use is free.

Like Superwhisper, Blip has cloud and on-device models (Blip Cloud by default; Whisper models on Pro for offline use) and the same app on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android.

Where Superwhisper is ahead: ARM builds, and price. Its Linux page says offline use is free with no word limit and cloud use is free for 10,000 words every 30 days, and Pro on its plans page is $8.49 a month against Blip's $15 (both checked 13 November 2026; Blip's plans are on the pricing page). Blip's free plan is 2,000 words a month on Blip Cloud, and its on-device models need Pro.

2. Vocalinux: the offline, open-source pick

AGPL-3.0 · Wayland and X11 · free

If running locally was your reason for choosing Superwhisper, Vocalinux is a close match on Linux. It runs whisper.cpp by default (Faster Whisper, Vosk and Parakeet are options), offline by default, and supports both display protocols. There are no Superwhisper-style modes and no built-in AI cleanup, and accuracy depends on the model your hardware can run. Setup is in Vocalinux on Linux.

Screenshot of github.com, taken October 24, 2026.

3. Handy: the smallest offline option

MIT · limited Wayland support · free

Handy is a small app with local models and a minimal interface. Superwhisper's own comparison page calls Handy's Linux support "worth calling out" (that page still said "No Linux yet" for Superwhisper on 13 November 2026), which tells you where Handy sits: simpler, free and offline. Handy's settings turn filler-word removal on by default, and also offer optional post-processing (off by default) through an AI provider you choose, such as OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter or Groq (checked 5 November 2026). On Wayland it needs helper tools such as wtype or dotool.

Screenshot of github.com, taken October 24, 2026.

4. OpenWhispr: local or bring your own key

MIT · free

OpenWhispr runs Whisper, Parakeet or Cohere Transcribe locally, or cloud transcription through OpenWhispr Cloud or your own API key. Cleanup of filler words, grammar and punctuation is on by default. It's the closest open-source match to Superwhisper's "choose your model plus AI cleanup" idea.

Screenshot of github.com, taken October 24, 2026.

Superwhisper for Linux vs the alternatives

Superwhisper's rows come from its Linux page, its README, its release notes and its plans page, checked 13 November 2026. Vocalinux and Handy rows are from their GitHub pages (Vocalinux and Handy's releases checked 2 November 2026, Handy's README 5 November 2026). Blip's are from Blip's pricing page and the Linux page.

Which one should you pick?

• You're on Wayland with GNOME, KDE Plasma or Hyprland, on a distro Superwhisper lists: try Superwhisper, especially if you already use it on another device (ask whether your licence covers Linux) or you're on ARM.
• You're in an X11 session (check with echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE): Blip AI, our pick, which runs on both Wayland and X11.
• You want to say "Hey Blip" and get a reply drafted, with no mode to set up: Blip AI with Action Mode.
• You want free, open source and offline: Vocalinux or Handy; OpenWhispr if you want cleanup too.

Not sure? Install Blip AI on its free plan (2,000 words a month, cloud only) and keep whichever free option suits you for offline use.

Comparing Blip and Superwhisper on features and price? See Blip AI vs Superwhisper. New to dictation on Linux? Start with how to voice type on Linux.

How to install Blip AI on Linux

Download the AppImage from the Linux page, make it executable with chmod +x and run it. On X11 that's all. On Wayland, Blip needs a little setup before it can type into other windows: install wl-clipboard and wtype, add yourself to the input group and log out and back in, and on GNOME and KDE allow Blip to paste the first time it asks. The Linux setup guide has the commands for Ubuntu/Debian, Fedora and Arch.

FAQ

Does Superwhisper work on Linux? Yes. Superwhisper's Linux page lists Ubuntu 24.04+, Debian 13+, Fedora 40+, Linux Mint 22+, Arch, CachyOS, openSUSE Tumbleweed and Omarchy, on x86-64 and ARM. It needs Wayland with GNOME, KDE Plasma or Hyprland, and systemd. Version 1.3.1 came out on 11 November 2026.

Does Superwhisper work on Ubuntu? Yes, on Ubuntu 24.04 or later in a Wayland session, per Superwhisper's Linux page. Ubuntu 22.04 isn't listed.

Does Superwhisper work on X11? Superwhisper's Linux page says it needs Wayland, and its installer warns when no Wayland session is running. Blip AI runs on both X11 and Wayland.

How do I install Superwhisper on Linux? Superwhisper's Linux page gives one command: curl -fsSL https://tux.superwhisper.com/install.sh | sh. The script installs per user and downloads a signed .tar.zst archive. We found no AppImage, .deb or .rpm on Superwhisper's Linux page.

What's the best Superwhisper alternative for Linux? On X11, or if you want Blip to draft replies for you, we recommend Blip AI: one AppImage for Ubuntu/Debian, Fedora and Arch on Wayland and X11, with on-device models on Pro. For free and open source, try Vocalinux or Handy.

Is Superwhisper open source? No. Superwhisper's comparison with Handy says Superwhisper is "closed-source", and its GitHub repository for Linux holds a README and release downloads (checked 13 November 2026). Open-source dictation apps for Linux include Vocalinux (AGPL-3.0), Handy (MIT) and OpenWhispr (MIT).

Is Superwhisper free on Linux? Superwhisper's Linux page says "Offline is free, always, with no word limit" and that cloud use is free for 10,000 words every 30 days; Pro removes that limit (checked 13 November 2026). Pro costs $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year or $249.99 once on Superwhisper's plans page.

Can I use my Superwhisper licence on Linux? Superwhisper's plans page says Pro covers "unlimited Macs and Windows PCs, plus your iPhone and Android phone" and doesn't mention Linux (checked 13 November 2026). Its Linux page says Pro removes the cloud word limit, but not whether a licence bought for another platform applies, so ask Superwhisper before you count on it.

Does Blip AI work offline on Linux? Yes, with an on-device Whisper model downloaded in the app (a Pro feature). Blip Cloud is the default, and the free plan is cloud only.

Full Linux list: the best dictation apps for Linux. More Mac apps on Linux: Wispr Flow for Linux and Typeless for Linux. Feature comparison: Blip AI vs Superwhisper.