Compare the Top Free Dictation Software as of November 2025

What is Free Dictation Software?

Dictation software is a tool that allows users to convert spoken words into written text through speech recognition technology. It is commonly used for writing documents, taking notes, or controlling computer systems without the need for typing. These platforms use natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms to accurately transcribe spoken language in real time. Dictation software often includes features such as voice commands for punctuation, editing, and formatting, making it easier to create and modify text without using a keyboard. It is widely used in fields such as healthcare, legal, journalism, and business, where efficiency and hands-free operation are important. Compare and read user reviews of the best Free Dictation software currently available using the table below. This list is updated regularly.

  • 1
    Express Scribe

    Express Scribe

    NCH Software

    Express Scribe is a free audio player specifically designed for typists and transcription work. Featuring foot pedal control, variable speed, speech to text engine integration and support for a wide variety of audio formats including dss, dct, wav, mp3, wma and more. Audio recordings can be loaded automatically from email, LAN, FTP, local hard drive and Express Delegate. Traditional hand held dictation recorders can also be docked.
    Starting Price: $39.95/one-time/user
  • 2
    SnipNotes

    SnipNotes

    SnipNotes

    SnipNotes is your clever notebook on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Capture new ideas with Siri, dictate your thoughts, and create styled text notes with images. Quickly add content from other apps with drag & drop or save your clipboard automatically. Access your notes from anywhere with the versatile home screen widgets. Create reminders for your notes and protect them with a passcode or Touch ID/Face ID. Create styled text notes with images and a variety of formatting options. Dictate notes in the app, with Siri, and on your Apple Watch. Save content from websites and other apps with drag & drop or the share sheet. Capture the contents of your clipboard automatically in split-screen on iPad or when launching the app. Save your current location at any time. For example, the parking lot of your car. Read, search and create notes on your Apple Watch. A wide selection of widgets let you view and open your notes right from the home screen.
    Starting Price: Free
  • 3
    Voicenotes

    Voicenotes

    Voicenotes

    Voicenotes is the easiest and most intuitive way to capture your thoughts and bring them to life. Instead of typing or jotting down notes, just speak your mind. Our app allows you to record your ideas, transcribe them automatically, and use them to create anything from a detailed blog post to a quick tweet. Plus, with our innovative “ask your AI” feature, you can interact with your notes to ask questions and get reminders, ensuring you never forget or miss important details. Record new ideas, family moments, meetings, podcast takeaways, anything. Ask your AI to review past notes or brainstorm new ideas, it has a perfect memory. Create a summary, to-do list, blog post, and more using your notes. Intelligent suggestions, 50+ languages, and a zillion small things. Available on the web, iOS, Android, and soon on smartwatches. Commitment to privacy, longevity, and beauty. Go ahead, and record a quick note; there's no sign-up required.
    Starting Price: Free
  • 4
    TalkTastic

    TalkTastic

    TalkTastic

    Seamlessly integrate crazy accurate dictation across all your macOS applications. Magically understands your context and writes in your app, instantly. More accurate than ChatGPT & OpenAI Whisper. Combines on-device AI with multimodal LLMs to help you write what you mean. Only listen when you say so. Snapshots only on command. Change your settings anytime, anywhere. TalkTastic’s patent-pending technology interprets what you're saying based on what it sees on your computer screen. It combines the capabilities of Apple Dictation, on-device Whisper, ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini into one powerful, easy-to-use package. When you trigger a new note inside another app, TalkTastic analyzes a snapshot of your chosen app using advanced multimodal AI. The LLM understands the tone, style, and substance of your conversation while accurately spelling people's names and easily-confused words.
    Starting Price: Free
  • 5
    TalkText

    TalkText

    TalkText

    TalkText is an AI-powered dictation tool designed to enhance productivity by converting natural speech into polished text across various applications on macOS. By pressing 'option + space', users can dictate in any app, and TalkText refines the input by removing filler words and correcting mistakes, resulting in clear and professional text. The tool also offers a 'restyle' feature, allowing users to select any text and instruct TalkText to rewrite it in a desired tone or style, such as making it more empathetic or confident. Supporting over 30 languages, TalkText ensures accurate transcription and proper formatting, including capitalization and punctuation. Privacy is a priority, with real-time audio processing that is not stored or used for model training. The platform offers a free tier with up to 2,000 words per month, with options to upgrade for unlimited usage.
    Starting Price: $6.50 per month
  • 6
    Wispr Flow

    Wispr Flow

    Wispr Flow

    ​Flow is the superior dictation tool that moves as fast as your thoughts. If the task requires you to use your keyboard, then Flow can do it better. Flow is simply the smoothest, smartest dictation that works as fast as you think. Flow works seamlessly in every application on your computer. Flow adapts to your speaking style and complements the way you communicate. Whether you're moderating discussions, crafting help docs, or logging changes, Flow lets you sound like you, not some robot. Flow securely processes your inputs to create a transcript. Your data is yours and will never be used for training unless you opt-in.
    Starting Price: $12 per month
  • 7
    MacWhisper

    MacWhisper

    Gumroad

    ​MacWhisper enables users to quickly and easily transcribe audio files into text using OpenAI's Whisper technology. Users can record directly from their microphone or any input device on their Mac, or drag and drop audio files for high-quality transcription. It supports recording meetings from platforms like Zoom, Teams, Webex, Skype, Chime, and Discord, with all transcription processing done locally to ensure data privacy. Transcripts can be saved or exported in various formats, including .srt, .vtt, .csv, .docx, .pdf, markdown, and HTML. MacWhisper offers fast transcription speeds, supports over 100 languages, and provides features like search, audio playback synced to transcripts, filler word removal, and speaker addition. The Pro version includes additional functionalities such as batch transcription, YouTube video transcription, AI service integrations (e.g., OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude), system-wide dictation, and translation of audio files into other languages.
    Starting Price: €59 one-time payment
  • 8
    Dictate⁺

    Dictate⁺

    Dictate⁺

    ​Dictate⁺ offers outstanding sound quality, impressively accurate voice activation, secure encryption, and a wealth of transcription options for your dictations. With Dictate⁺, you always have a dictaphone with you on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, and you can send your dictations to your transcriptionist from anywhere. With an optional Bluetooth foot switch, you can even dictate hands-free. Dictate⁺ offers a variety of sharing methods for your dictations, such as e-mail, FTP, WebDAV, SFTP, and cloud services. It generates MP4 and WAV files which can be read by almost any transcription software. The all-new folder system keeps your dictations organized at all times. For doctors, lawyers, accountants, appraisers, journalists, and anyone who dictates a lot, information security is a top priority. You can restrict access to Dictate⁺ with biometric access control, and for maximum security, you can encrypt all data in Dictate⁺ with AES-256.
    Starting Price: Free
  • 9
    Dictation - Voice to Text

    Dictation - Voice to Text

    Christian Neubauer

    ​Dictation - Voice to Text is an application that enables users to dictate, record, and translate text instead of typing, facilitating text generation in a 'dictation' setup with one speaker in front of the microphone. It supports more than 40 languages for dictation and over 40 languages for translation, allowing users to switch between different language projects with a single click. It offers AI-based transcription capabilities, allowing users to transcribe audio recordings, videos, voice memos, URLs, and YouTube content using OpenAI's speech recognition technology. Both audio recordings and text files can be accessed via the Apple 'Files' app and shared along with the text. With iCloud synchronization enabled, text is automatically synchronized across all devices running Dictation, including iPhone, iPad, macOS, and Apple Watch. It also supports the system font size setting and provides configurable button sizes for visually impaired users.
    Starting Price: Free
  • 10
    Dictation Speech to Text
    You can now add custom words to improve speech recognition! Find the list in setup->manage custom words. Dictation Speech to text allows to dictate, record, translate and transcribe text instead of typing. It uses latest speech to text voice recognition technology and its main purpose is speech to text and translation for text messaging. Never type any text, just dictate and translate using your speech! Nearly every app that can send text messages can be configured to operate with 'Dictation Speech to text'. Dictate uses the builtin speech to text recognition engine. Dictation Speech to text supports more than 40 languages. Dictate offers 3 text zones, indicated by language flags, for which you can configure a different language in the settings. Thus you can switch between different language projects with a singe click. Translation is as easy as pushing the translation button. You can specify the translation target language in the app settings.
    Starting Price: $4.49 one-time payment
  • 11
    Aiko

    Aiko

    Aiko

    High-quality on-device transcription. Easily convert speech to text from meetings, lectures, and more. The transcription is powered by OpenAI's Whisper running locally on your device. The audio never leaves your device.
    Starting Price: Free
  • 12
    Thinkbuddy

    Thinkbuddy

    Thinkbuddy

    Set up your shortcut keys and radically transform how you work. if you have a question, just ask out loud. Receive answers with GPT-4 quality. A quick chat is ready for you and everything is at your fingertips. Press the shortcut after selecting the text, and AI will execute your spoken or typed command. Customize your shortcuts, quickly adapt with a few tries, and start using them immediately. Enjoy clutter-free prompts with our clipboard paste that intelligently appends your text. Create your custom prompts, use them whenever you want, and save your time. Leverage OpenAI Whisper-powered dictation for answering emails & writing messages. Switch between models without monthly cost and get the best Mac experience for less. Choose the text you want to respond to, and we'll present you with the most likely options based on the selected text and the app you're using. Select the email, press your shortcut, and simply choose from the options provided.
    Starting Price: $10 per month
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