> For AI agents: the complete documentation index is at [llms.txt](https://saydart.com/llms.txt). A concatenated dump of public pages is at [llms-full.txt](https://saydart.com/llms-full.txt). Markdown versions of pages are available at the same path with a `.md` extension (for example `https://saydart.com/workflows/excel.md`). Source: https://saydart.com/compare/best-speech-to-text-software/ # Best speech to text and dictation software Speech to text software, dictation software and voice to text software all turn talk into writing on Windows and Mac. Compare 10 desktop apps by task, then download SayDart free or choose unlimited Pro. Reviewed October 29, 2026. Prices and platforms rechecked against each vendor's official site. Typeless, Superwhisper and Wispr Flow Linux availability last confirmed October 23, 2026. SayDart publishes this page and is one of the eleven apps listed; see how we chose. ## What is SayDart? SayDart automatically learns the words you correct and the words you use most, so it takes less effort and understands you better the more you use it. SayDart is voice input for any app on Windows and Mac (beta): click into a text field, press Right Alt (Right Option on Mac), talk, and AI cleanup removes filler words and restarts before the text lands at your cursor. It does live dictation, not long recording or meeting transcription. SayDart has a free plan with a modest weekly limit. Pro costs $15/month, or $144/year ($12/month billed yearly, save $36 or 20%). Prices exclude tax. Download for Windows or Mac to try it. ## Dictation and transcription - Dictation (voice typing): press a shortcut, talk, and the text lands where your cursor is: an email, a document, a chat box or an AI prompt. - Transcription: turn an existing recording, meeting or video into a transcript. Most of the apps below are built for the first job, and a few also do the second. If you are not sure which one you need, read voice typing vs. transcription first. Speech to text software helps you write on Windows and macOS by turning what you say into text. Start by deciding which of these two jobs you need: ## Quick picks | If you want… | Start with | | --- | --- | | A cloud AI dictation tool on Mac, Windows and phone | Wispr Flow | | Dictation that can run offline on your own computer | Superwhisper | | One AI dictation app on Mac, Windows and Linux, plus phone | Typeless | | Dictating prompts for Cursor and Claude Code, plus emails and Slack, on Windows or Mac, free to start | SayDart (Mac in beta) | | Writing-style memory and a smarter speech model on Pro | Willow Voice | | Free, nothing to install, on Windows | Windows voice typing (Win+H) | | Free, nothing to install, on a Mac | macOS Dictation | | Transcribing audio and video files on a Mac | MacWhisper | | Voice commands and macros on Windows | Dragon Professional | | Dictating straight into Google Docs in a browser | Google Docs voice typing | | Free, open-source dictation (Windows, Mac, Linux) | Handy | The numbered order below follows the table: general-purpose AI dictation apps first, then built-in tools, then specialist tools. It is not a score. Each app is "best" only for the job listed next to it. ## Comparison table Prices checked October 18, 2026. | App | Desktop platforms | Where speech is processed | Free option | Paid price (official, checked 2026-10-18) | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Wispr Flow | Mac, Windows (also iOS, Android) | Cloud; internet required | Free: 2,000 words/week on desktop, limited weekly use on mobile | Pro $15/user/mo monthly, or $12/user/mo billed annually | Cross-device AI dictation | | Superwhisper | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android; Omarchy Linux builds published on GitHub | Local models on Free; cloud models optional on Pro | Free: unlimited dictation with local Whisper models; up to 2 modes without AI processing | Pro $8.49/mo, $84.99/yr or $249.99 lifetime | Offline dictation | | Typeless | Mac, Windows, Linux (also iOS, Android) | Cloud; Typeless states zero data retention for voice audio | Free: limited words each week | Pro $30/mo monthly, or $12/mo billed yearly | AI dictation on all three desktop OSes | | SayDart | Windows; Mac (beta) | Cloud; history stored locally | Modest weekly limit | Pro $15/mo, or $12/mo billed $144 yearly. Unlimited. | AI prompts and everyday writing on Windows and Mac | | Willow Voice | Mac, Windows, iPhone; check its page for Android | Cloud; check Willow's privacy page for details | Basic: unlimited lighter speech model; 20 Scribe uses/week | Pro $15/user/mo, or $12/user/mo billed annually | Writing-style memory on Pro | | Windows voice typing | Windows 10, 11 | Online speech recognition (Azure); Fluid dictation cleanup on-device on Copilot+ PCs | Included with Windows | — | Quick free input on a PC | | macOS Dictation | Mac | On-device for general dictation on supported setups; check Keyboard settings | Included with macOS | — | Quick free input on a Mac | | MacWhisper | Mac | Local | Free version | Pro €64 one-time license (€65 at the Gumroad checkout) | File transcription and subtitles | | Dragon Professional v16 | Windows 11, 10 | Installed desktop software | None listed | Not listed on Nuance's product page; buy through Nuance or a reseller | Voice commands, macros, legacy workflows | | Google Docs voice typing | Chrome, Edge or Safari (Docs and Slides speaker notes only) | Handled by your browser's speech service | Included with Google Docs | — | Typing inside Google Docs | | Handy | Windows, Mac, Linux | Local | Free and open source | — | Free open-source dictation | "—" means the tool has no separate paid plan. Prices are personal-plan list prices in the vendor's currency before tax. Check the vendor's page before you buy, because these numbers change. ## The 11 best speech to text apps for desktop ## 1. Wispr Flow: best for cross-device AI dictation Wispr Flow is an AI dictation tool that types into almost any app on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, and it has a meeting Notetaker on Mac and Windows. Its help center says transcription happens in the cloud, so it needs an internet connection. Its pricing page lists a dictionary and snippets, support for 100+ languages, and SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 compliance, with HIPAA-ready dictation available under a signed BAA. - Pros: the same app on desktop and phone; the free plan doesn't expire; team features on Pro; published security certifications. - Cons: no offline mode; the free plan has a weekly word cap (2,000 words/week on desktop, limited weekly use on mobile). - Price: Free; Pro $15/user/month billed monthly or $12/user/month billed annually; Growth and Enterprise for teams. Comparing it with us? See SayDart vs Wispr Flow and Wispr Flow pricing. Comparing Wispr Flow with Superwhisper? See Superwhisper vs Wispr Flow vs SayDart. ## 2. Superwhisper: best for dictation that can run offline Superwhisper runs on macOS, Windows (10 and 11, x64 and ARM64), iOS and Android. Its Free plan offers unlimited dictation with local Whisper models, custom vocabulary and up to two modes without AI processing, and Superwhisper says nothing you dictate on Free leaves your device. Pro adds cloud voice models, AI-powered modes, context awareness, file transcription and bring-your-own API keys. One Pro license covers all your Macs, Windows PCs and phones. - Pros: it can work without an internet connection; a lifetime license is available; you can choose between local and cloud models. - Cons: you pick models and modes, which takes some setup; a few Mac features, including coding-agent integrations and the CLI, aren't on Windows yet; Superwhisper notes that offline models run best on Apple silicon Macs. - Price: Free; Pro $8.49/month, $84.99/year or $249.99 once. More detail: Superwhisper on Windows compared with SayDart. ## 3. Typeless: best for AI dictation on Mac, Windows and Linux Typeless offers desktop apps for macOS, Windows and Linux, plus iOS and Android. Its pricing page lists cleanup from "messy thoughts" to clear writing, translation, an "Ask anything" feature, a personal dictionary, different tones for each app, support for 100+ languages and on-device history storage. Typeless says transcription runs in the cloud and that voice audio is not stored. - Pros: one of the few AI dictation apps with a Linux build; mobile apps; per-app tone settings. - Cons: needs an internet connection; the free plan gives limited words each week. - Price: Free; Pro $30/month billed monthly, or $12/month billed yearly; Enterprise custom. More detail: SayDart vs Typeless and Typeless pricing. ## 4. SayDart: best for dictating AI prompts and emails on Windows and Mac This is our product. Click where you want to type, press Right Alt (Right Option on Mac) and talk. Clean text lands right where your cursor is. Also included: Auto cleanup removes filler words and tidies punctuation, or you can keep the original wording. Voice translation writes your speech in a target language you choose. Dictionary: add useEffect or PostgreSQL once and it's in your dictionary on every computer you sign in to, so SayDart writes it your way. History and result versions let you reread, translate and switch between saved results. SayDart Assistant: select an error, press Right Alt + Space on Windows or Right Option + Space on Mac and just ask out loud. The answer appears in a card above the capsule, with web search and deep thinking built in. Snippets: say a shortcut phrase and your saved paragraph drops in. AI prompts: select a rambling thought and ask the assistant to turn it into a clean, structured prompt. - Pros: a free plan with a modest weekly limit (not a trial); Pro is unlimited for $12/month, billed yearly ($144), or $15 month to month; dictation, translation and an AI assistant in one app; history stays on your computer. - Cons: no offline mode, because recognition, cleanup and SayDart Assistant answers run in the cloud; no mobile app; no audio-file transcription; no voice commands for controlling your computer; Free has a modest weekly limit without a guaranteed word or minute count. - Price: Free $0 each week; Pro $15/month or $144/year ($12/month equivalent, billed $144 once per year). Pro renews automatically until cancelled. Prices are in USD and exclude applicable taxes, calculated and collected by Waffo at checkout. See pricing. Download SayDart: Windows · macOS (beta). Mac (beta): Apple Silicon (arm64), macOS 14.2+, notarized. ## 5. Willow Voice: best for writing-style memory on Pro Willow Voice works anywhere you type, with smart correction and formatting, dictionary terms and 100+ languages. Its free Basic plan gives unlimited use of a lighter speech model and 20 Scribe uses a week; Pro adds its top speech model, a smart memory of your writing style and unlimited Scribe. - Pros: writing-style memory on Pro; unlimited Basic dictation on a lighter model; phone and desktop apps listed on its pricing page. - Cons: Pro's smarter model and style memory are paid; not a meeting Notetaker (Wispr Flow covers that job). - Price: Basic free; Pro $15/user/month, or $12/user/month billed annually (list prices on willowvoice.com/pricing, rechecked November 3, 2026). Comparing Willow with Wispr Flow? See Willow Voice vs Wispr Flow on the Wispr Flow comparison page. ## 6. Windows voice typing (Win+H): best free option on a PC Windows 10 and 11 include voice typing. Put the cursor in a text box and press Windows key + H. Microsoft says it uses online speech recognition powered by Azure Speech services, so it needs an internet connection and a working microphone. It supports automatic punctuation. On Copilot+ PCs, Fluid dictation uses on-device small language models to fix grammar, punctuation and filler words, in English locales. - Pros: free and already installed; works wherever your cursor is in a text box. - Cons: needs the internet; there's no history or dictionary inside the tool; the AI cleanup (Fluid dictation) only runs on Copilot+ PCs. - Price: included with Windows. Compare: SayDart vs Windows voice typing · How to voice type on Windows 11 in almost any app. ## 7. macOS Dictation: best free option on a Mac macOS Dictation lets you speak anywhere you can type. Start it with the Microphone key or the Dictation keyboard shortcut. Apple says you can dictate text of any length without a timeout, and dictation stops by itself after 30 seconds of silence. Keyboard settings show whether general dictation is processed on your device instead of being sent to Siri servers. To control your Mac by voice, Apple points you to the separate Voice Control feature. - Pros: free and built in; can process on-device on supported setups; no account to create. - Cons: no AI rewriting or per-app formatting; Apple says it isn't available in every language or region, and features vary. - Price: included with macOS. ## 8. MacWhisper: best for transcribing files on a Mac MacWhisper is a Mac app that transcribes audio, video, meetings and system audio locally, using Whisper, Parakeet and other models. Its site also lists system-wide dictation, subtitle export (.srt/.vtt), batch transcription, speaker recognition and bring-your-own AI provider keys. - Pros: one-time purchase; local processing; strong file, subtitle and meeting-recording tools. - Cons: Mac only; it's built mainly for transcription, so dictation is a secondary feature. - Price: Free version; Pro is a one-time license, €64 on macwhisper.com (the Gumroad checkout showed €65 for one personal license on 2026-10-18). On Windows? See MacWhisper alternatives for Windows. ## 9. Dragon Professional: best for voice commands and macros on Windows Dragon Professional v16 is Nuance's desktop speech recognition software. Nuance says it is optimized for Windows 11 and works back to Windows 10. It handles live dictation and transcription of existing audio files, along with custom voice commands and macros that automate multi-step work. - Pros: deep voice command and macro support; transcribes recordings; long track record in professional settings. - Cons: Windows only; no price on the official product page, so you buy through Nuance or a reseller; it's a heavier tool than a quick dictation app. - Price: not published on Nuance's Dragon Professional page as of 2026-10-18. Compare: Windows dictation vs Dragon vs SayDart. ## 10. Google Docs voice typing: best for dictating inside Google Docs In Google Docs, choose Tools → Voice typing and click the microphone. Google says it works in the latest Chrome, Edge and Safari, and that your browser controls the speech-to-text service. You can also dictate Slides speaker notes. Voice commands such as "select paragraph" only work in English, and the account and document language must both be English. - Pros: free; nothing to install. - Cons: only works inside Google Docs and Slides speaker notes, not in other apps; needs a supported browser. - Price: included with Google Docs. How-to: voice typing in Word and Google Docs. ## 11. Handy: best free, open-source dictation (including Linux) Handy is a free, open-source speech-to-text app. Desktop platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux. You press a shortcut, speak and release, and Handy pastes the text into the field you're typing in. It runs locally with Whisper or Parakeet models, and its site says your voice stays on your computer. Its README says Wayland support is limited and that you need extra tools (wtype or dotool; xdotool on X11) for reliable text input on Linux. - Pros: free; open source; local; covers all three desktop OSes. - Cons: Linux setup can take extra steps; you get community support only. - Price: free. ## Best voice to text app for Mac If you're looking for a voice to text app for Mac, start with macOS Dictation because it's free and already there. Superwhisper adds offline dictation with local models (AI modes are on Pro), and MacWhisper is the pick for transcribing recordings and subtitles. Wispr Flow and Typeless offer cloud AI cleanup and also have phone apps. SayDart for Mac runs on Apple Silicon (arm64) with macOS 14.2+; see the download page for installation notes. Running Whisper models yourself? See Whisper dictation on Mac. ## How to choose the best voice recognition software The best dictation program for your workflow should fit the apps you write in, the computer you use and how much editing you want to do. Use these questions to narrow your shortlist. 1. Dictation or transcription? If you want to talk into almost any text box, pick a dictation app. If you have files to convert, pick a transcription tool such as MacWhisper or Dragon. 2. Do you need it offline? Superwhisper (Free, local models), MacWhisper, Handy and, on supported setups, macOS Dictation can work locally. Wispr Flow, Typeless, SayDart and Windows voice typing rely on online processing. 3. Which desktops do you use? Typeless and Handy also offer Linux builds. If you need a phone app too, look at Wispr Flow, Superwhisper or Typeless. 4. How much AI cleanup do you want? Built-in tools mostly type what you said. AI dictation tools like Wispr Flow, Typeless, Superwhisper Pro and SayDart can also clean up filler words and punctuation. 5. How do you want to pay? A one-time license (MacWhisper, Superwhisper lifetime), a monthly or yearly subscription, or a free tier with a recurring cap (Wispr Flow, SayDart)? Read what the free tier actually limits. 6. Privacy. Read each vendor's data page before you dictate sensitive material. Ours is Voice typing privacy: cloud processing & local history. Writing code prompts by voice? We cover that separately in best dictation apps for vibe coding. ## How we chose (and what we did not test) - Scope: desktop speech to text software that a person can install or turn on today on Windows or macOS. Apps that only exist on mobile, meeting bots and developer speech APIs were left out. - Sources: platforms, features and prices come only from each vendor's official pages, checked on October 18, 2026. If we couldn't confirm a detail on an official page, we left it out. Typeless, Superwhisper and Wispr Flow Linux availability was rechecked October 23, 2026. - No benchmarks: we did not measure accuracy, speed or language coverage and don't rank on them. Results depend on your microphone, accent, vocabulary and the model each app uses. - Ordering: the list is grouped by job (general AI dictation → built-in tools → specialist tools). Each "best for" label names the one job that app's documented features cover best. - Disclosure: SayDart publishes this page. We listed it fourth with its limits stated plainly: it needs a connection and has no mobile app. See the download pages for Mac installation details. ## Which dictation software is most accurate? Accuracy depends on your microphone, language, accent, background noise and vocabulary. To choose the most accurate dictation software for your work, test each candidate on your own speech, including the names and jargon you use every day. Compare how much correction the resulting draft needs. Whatever app you pick, add the names and jargon you use every day. In SayDart, that's the Dictionary: add a term once and it's in your dictionary on every computer you sign in to, so SayDart writes it your way. ## Best free dictation software Free options that already ship on your computer: Windows voice typing (Win+H), Voice access on Windows 11, macOS Dictation, and Google Docs voice typing in Chrome. Free tiers of desktop apps (including SayDart modest weekly Free plan) add cleanup and app-wide dictation without paying first. Paid Pro plans matter when you outgrow weekly caps or need unlimited everyday use. ## Best dictation software for Windows On a Windows PC, start with Win+H for short bursts, then consider Voice access for hands-free control, Microsoft 365 Dictate inside Word/Outlook, Dragon Professional for macros, or cross-app AI apps such as Wispr Flow, Typeless and SayDart when you write in many windows. SayDart is built for live dictation into any focused field on Windows and Mac with cleanup and dictionary learning. ## Best dictation apps for vibe coding Developers who dictate prompts into Cursor, Claude Code or Codex care about reliable desktop capture, low friction switching between the editor and the terminal, and cleanup that does not mangle code identifiers. SayDart targets that prompt workflow on Windows and Mac; also compare Wispr Flow, Aqua Voice, Typeless, VoiceInk and Handy if you need Mac-only or open-source options. Built-in /voice modes inside an IDE are complementary, not a full system-wide dictation layer. ## Related - [what SayDart Free includes](https://saydart.com/product/free-voice-to-text/) - [Windows dictation vs Dragon](https://saydart.com/compare/dragon/) - [Wispr Flow alternatives](https://saydart.com/compare/wispr-flow/) - [SayDart vs Windows voice typing](https://saydart.com/compare/windows-voice-typing/) - [SayDart pricing: Free and Pro](https://saydart.com/pricing/) - [Download SayDart for Windows or Mac](https://saydart.com/download/) - [Replacing Dragon Professional Anywhere before its reported end of sale](https://saydart.com/compare/dragon-professional-anywhere/) - [Aqua Voice alternative](https://saydart.com/compare/aqua-voice/) - [MacWhisper alternative](https://saydart.com/compare/macwhisper/) ## FAQ ### What is the best speech to text software? It depends on the job. For cloud AI dictation on Mac, Windows and phone, start with Wispr Flow. For offline dictation, look at Superwhisper. To cover Mac, Windows and Linux with one AI app, look at Typeless. For a free option you already have, use Windows voice typing (Win+H) or macOS Dictation. For file transcription on a Mac, use MacWhisper. For dictating prompts to Cursor, Claude Code or Codex, plus email and Slack, on Windows or Mac, try SayDart. It's free to start. ### What is the best dictation software for Windows? For free, built-in voice typing, press Windows key + H. For voice commands and macros, Dragon Professional is the paid Windows option. For clean, punctuated text in almost any app with one shortcut, try SayDart, which has a Free plan and a Pro plan. ### Is speech recognition software the same as dictation software? Mostly, yes. Speech recognition is the technology that turns speech into text. Dictation software, voice to text software and speech to text software are apps built on it that type what you say. Some speech recognition tools, like Dragon or Windows Voice access, also let you control the computer by voice. ### Is there free speech to text software for desktop? Yes. Windows voice typing, macOS Dictation and Google Docs voice typing are free built-in tools, and Handy is free and open source. Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Typeless and SayDart all have free plans with different limits, such as weekly word caps, local-only models or a modest weekly limit. On Windows, see what SayDart Free includes. ### What's the difference between a voice to text app and transcription software? A voice to text app (dictation) types what you say into the field you're working in, as you speak. Transcription software converts recordings or meetings into a transcript afterwards. Some apps, like Superwhisper Pro, MacWhisper and Dragon, do both. SayDart only does dictation and doesn't transcribe audio files. ### Does speech to text software work offline? Some does. Superwhisper's Free plan, MacWhisper and Handy process speech locally, and macOS Dictation can process general dictation on-device on supported setups. Windows voice typing, Wispr Flow, Typeless and SayDart need an internet connection. ### Does SayDart work on Mac and phones? Yes on Mac Apple Silicon (arm64, macOS 14.2+), no on phones. SayDart runs on Windows and Mac, and there's no mobile app.