Whiskers has a free tier with a weekly word quota and paid tiers that lift the limit and unlock advanced features.
Tiers
| Tier | Quota | File transcription | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 1,000 words / week | — | Full live dictation, local + cloud models, AI Enhancement |
| Paid | Unlimited | ✓ | Adds File Transcription, removes weekly cap |
Free is genuinely usable — most people get a feel for the app well within 1,000 words.
Checking usage
Settings → License shows current tier, words used this week, and license-key status.
Settings → License panel showing tier (Free), 423/1000 words used this week, and an Activate License button
As you approach the free-tier limit, you'll see a heads-up in the menu bar and in the recording HUD.
Activation
- Purchase a license — you'll receive a key by email.
- Settings → License → Activate License.
- Paste the key.
- Click Activate.
Status flips to Active and the counter changes to Unlimited. No restart needed.
Activation contacts the license server once to verify. Afterward, Whiskers works offline.
Moving to a new device
License keys activate on a fixed number of devices (count is on your receipt).
- On the old device: Settings → License → Deactivate.
- On the new device: activate normally with the same key.
If you've lost access to the old device, contact support with your purchase email and we'll reset the count.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Try |
|---|---|
| "Invalid key" | Re-copy from the email; check for trailing whitespace |
| "Maximum devices reached" | Deactivate on an old device, or contact support |
| "Could not contact license server" | Check internet; try again |
| Activation succeeds but tier doesn't update | Quit and relaunch Whiskers |