The Best AI Dictation Apps, Tested and Ranked
AI dictation apps have come a long way in a short time. For years they were slow and inaccurate — unless you spoke with a particular accent and enunciated clearly.
Advances in large language models (LLMs) and speech-to-text models have changed that, producing systems that can decipher speech more accurately while retaining enough context to format the text correctly. Developers have also built in features to automatically remove filler words, fix stumbles, and handle punctuation — outputting text that needs far fewer edits.
Wispr Flow
Wispr Flow is a well-funded AI dictation app that lets you add custom words and instructions for dictation. It has native apps for macOS, Windows, and iOS; an Android version is in the works.
Key Features:
- Customize transcription styles: "formal," "casual," and "very casual"
- Integration with vibe-coding tools like Cursor for automatic variable recognition
- Free tier: 2,000 words/week on desktop, 1,000 words/month on iOS
- Paid plans: $15/month for unlimited transcription
Willow
Willow advertises itself as a big time-saver for those who don't like to type.
Key Features:
- Uses LLMs to generate full passages from just a few dictated words
- Privacy-focused: stores transcripts locally on your device
- Opt-out of model training entirely
- Custom vocabulary for industry terminology or local dialects
- Free tier: 2,000 words/month
- Paid plans: $15/month for unlimited dictation and style memory
Monologue
Monologue prioritizes privacy by letting you download its AI model directly to your device for transcriptions, keeping your data off the cloud entirely.
Key Features:
- On-device AI model for privacy
- Customizable tone depending on the app you use it with
- Free tier: 1,000 words/month
- Paid plans: $10/month or $100/year
- Physical shortcut device called the Monokey for most active users
Superwhisper
Superwhisper is primarily a dictation app, but it can also transcribe from audio or video files.
Key Features:
- Choose and download AI models, including Nvidia's Parakeet speech-recognition models
- Write custom prompts to steer the output
- View both processed and unprocessed transcripts
- Free: basic voice-to-text with 15 minutes to test Pro features
- Paid plans: $8.49/month, $84.99/year, or $249.99 lifetime subscription
VoiceTypr
VoiceTypr takes an offline-first, no-subscription approach, letting you use local models for transcription.
Key Features:
- Open source with GitHub repository
- Supports over 99 languages
- Works on Mac and Windows
- Free trial: 3 days
- Pricing: $35 for one device, $56 for two, $98 for four devices (lifetime)
Aqua
Aqua is a Y Combinator-backed voice-typing app for Windows and macOS that claims to be one of the fastest tools in the category in terms of latency.
Key Features:
- Fast latency (minimal delay between speaking and text appearing)
- Autofill text with custom phrases
- Offers its own speech-to-text API
- Free tier: 1,000 words/month
- Paid plans: $8/month (billed annually) for unlimited words
Handy
Handy is an open-source, free transcription tool that runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Key Features:
- Open source and completely free
- Basic settings menu with push-to-talk toggle
- Change hotkey to activate transcription
Typeless
Typeless stands out for its high free word count.
Key Features:
- Doesn't retain data or use it for AI model training
- Rewrite sentences you may have fumbled
- Free tier: 4,000 words/week (roughly 16,000 words/month)
- Paid plans: $12/month (billed annually) for unlimited words
- Available for Windows and macOS only
VoiceInk
VoiceInk is an open-source private dictation app for Mac.
Key Features:
- Global shortcuts for recording start/stop with push-to-talk mode
- Reads context on screen and adjusts output accordingly
- Auto-detect apps and URLs for custom formatting
- Assistant mode for answering questions
- Pricing: $25 for lifetime access (one device), $39 for two devices, $49 for three devices
Dictato
Dictato is a dictionary app for Mac priced at €9.99 (roughly $12) that gives you lifetime access and two years of feature updates.
Key Features:
- Works with offline models like Parakeet, Whisper, and Apple Speech Analyzer
- Uses Apple Intelligence for filler word removal
- Super fast 80ms latency
- One-time payment: €9.99
AudioPen
AudioPen began as a web-based voice notes app but has evolved over the years.
Key Features:
- Dictate text and rewrite it in your preferred format and style
- Store audio notes across platforms
- Combine notes for summaries
- Upload audio files and rewrite existing notes using AI
- Pricing: $33 for three months, $99 for a year, $159 for two years