- MacSpeech Dictate Medical's accuracy and capabilities make it as fun, productive, and intuitive to use as the Mac itself. MacSpeech Dictate Medical provides: Amazing Accuracy: MacSpeech Dictate.
- Dictation software or voice-to-text software has come a long way and advanced in leaps and bounds. It is speech recognition software that allows you to speak, rather than type a wide variety of documents, e.g. Articles, emails, commands or notes. The spoken word is then turned into text.
Could a dictation app save you time? If you’ve
ever needed to write something in a hurry, the answer is “yes.”
ever needed to write something in a hurry, the answer is “yes.”
Software with a good voice to text capability
allows you to capture your ideas as you think them, even if you don’t have a
pen, pencil, or keyboard handy. You could even use a voice to text app while
doing something else. Imagine using one while riding in a cab or even while
exercising. Many of them will work with your mobile device, meaning you can
basically use your dictation app anywhere.
allows you to capture your ideas as you think them, even if you don’t have a
pen, pencil, or keyboard handy. You could even use a voice to text app while
doing something else. Imagine using one while riding in a cab or even while
exercising. Many of them will work with your mobile device, meaning you can
basically use your dictation app anywhere.
The Phonexia Speech Platform software suite is SaaS, Mac, and Windows software. Phonexia Speech Platform is speech recognition software, and includes features such as automatic transcription, Multi-Languages, Speech-to-Text analysis, and voice recognition. Phonexia Speech Platform offers a free trial.
Many personal assistant software tools include voice
recognition features, allowing them to double as a dictation app. (Personal
assistant software performs tasks for you on a mobile device or on your computer). We’ll
take a look at a few of those tools as well.
recognition features, allowing them to double as a dictation app. (Personal
assistant software performs tasks for you on a mobile device or on your computer). We’ll
take a look at a few of those tools as well.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best
dictation software for Macs and PCs. First, I’ll give you some tips on what to
look for in a dictation app. Then, I’ll provide a brief overview of some of the
best dictation software available.
dictation software for Macs and PCs. First, I’ll give you some tips on what to
look for in a dictation app. Then, I’ll provide a brief overview of some of the
best dictation software available.
What Is Voice Dictation Software?
You may be wondering, what is voice dictation
software?
software?
Basically, voice dictation software has speech
recognition capabilities that allows it to respond to the words you say. As you
speak, your works are converted to text. You can then edit and format that
text. Many dictation apps also serve as personal assistant software, which
means that the software can recognize and act upon verbal commands.
recognition capabilities that allows it to respond to the words you say. As you
speak, your works are converted to text. You can then edit and format that
text. Many dictation apps also serve as personal assistant software, which
means that the software can recognize and act upon verbal commands.
A personal assistant app is different from a voice
dictation app (also called a voice to text app). With a personal assistant app you can speak commands and the app
will perform certain predefined tasks.
dictation app (also called a voice to text app). With a personal assistant app you can speak commands and the app
will perform certain predefined tasks.
Voice to text apps and personal assistant apps
are particularly handy if, for some reason, you’re unable to use your computer
keyboard. If you’re not particularly fast at typing, a voice app can also be
quicker than entering information using a keyboard or even a mouse.
are particularly handy if, for some reason, you’re unable to use your computer
keyboard. If you’re not particularly fast at typing, a voice app can also be
quicker than entering information using a keyboard or even a mouse.
Keep in mind that both voice dictation software
and personal assistant software require a microphone. In most cases, they also
require an internet connection. For some apps (especially the free tools), you may be limited in the amount of time you can speak.
and personal assistant software require a microphone. In most cases, they also
require an internet connection. For some apps (especially the free tools), you may be limited in the amount of time you can speak.
What to Look For In Voice Dictation Software
If you’re considering a voice to text app, you want to make
sure you get a tool that you can use. Here are some common features that can be
found in many talk to text apps.
sure you get a tool that you can use. Here are some common features that can be
found in many talk to text apps.
- Accuracy. One of the key features you’ll want
in good voice dictation software is accuracy. The best text to speech software
will recognize and accurately transcribe the majority of words that you speak
to it. - Ease of Use. If your talk to text app has a
steep learning curve or if it’s too difficult to set up, you’re likely to give
up before you even get to use it. So, ease of use is an important consideration
when choosing a voice to text app. - Compatibility. Some dictation apps are designed
to work with a specific device, such as a particular smart phone. Others will
only work on a certain operating system. Make sure the app you choose is
compatible with your system. - Personal Assistant Features. Personal
assistant features are becoming more and more common with talk to text apps. A
personal assistant app can perform tasks for you such as reminding you of an
appointment, finding information online, and more. - Technical Support. Having good technical support
is always helpful when purchasing any software. It’s nice to be able to be able
to get your questions answered should you have any. Technical support can also
notify you if your app is down for a time or let you know if there are any updates. - Price. You’ve likely got a budget for your
dictation app. Or, if you’re just starting out, you may need to limit yourself
to the best free voice dictation software. So, the cost of the software you’re
considering is important.
Of
course, you may have other criteria for your voice dictation software according
to your specific needs. These are just some of the features commonly found in
the best dictation software packages that you may want to consider as you look for your own talk to text app.
course, you may have other criteria for your voice dictation software according
to your specific needs. These are just some of the features commonly found in
the best dictation software packages that you may want to consider as you look for your own talk to text app.
10 Of the Best Dictation Software and Personal
Assistant Software Tools
Now that you’ve learned what voice dictation
software is and what some common features are for this type of software, it’s
time to take a quick look at some of the best dictation software packages, both
free and premium.
software is and what some common features are for this type of software, it’s
time to take a quick look at some of the best dictation software packages, both
free and premium.
1. Google Docs Voice
Typing
Did you know that Google Docs includes a free speak-to-text
feature? To use it, you must be on a Chrome browser. Voice typing also supports
over 100 different languages or dialects. You can even use voice commands to do
some basic formatting of your text or (in certain languages) to add punctuation.
feature? To use it, you must be on a Chrome browser. Voice typing also supports
over 100 different languages or dialects. You can even use voice commands to do
some basic formatting of your text or (in certain languages) to add punctuation.
For more information on how to use the other Google Docs
features, study these tutorials:
features, study these tutorials:
- How to Make a Survey With Google Docs Forms
- How to Share Documents in Google Docs: Everything You Need to Know
- How to Import and Export Documents in Google Drive
2. Apple Dictation
With the free Apple dictation feature, your
spoken words can become text. This tool is available for Apple devices. You can also use your voice to format the text
as you go. Plus, if you select the Enhanced
dictation option, you’ll be able to use dictation even if you’re not
connected to the internet. Also, with the Enhanced dictation option you can speak
for longer periods of time. Learn more about this Apple feature in our short video and
tutorial:
spoken words can become text. This tool is available for Apple devices. You can also use your voice to format the text
as you go. Plus, if you select the Enhanced
dictation option, you’ll be able to use dictation even if you’re not
connected to the internet. Also, with the Enhanced dictation option you can speak
for longer periods of time. Learn more about this Apple feature in our short video and
tutorial:
- Control a Mac With Siri-Like Voice Commands
3. Windows
Speech Recognition
Windows (7 or later) also has free device-based speech
recognition software available. To turn this feature on, go to your Windows Control Panel and click the Settings icon. Click on the Ease of Access settings, the click the Speech menu option. Make sure that the
toggle button for Speech Recognition
is turned on. Press the Windows key + H
to start using the dictation app. Once the tool is turned on, use your voice to
“type” and format your document.
recognition software available. To turn this feature on, go to your Windows Control Panel and click the Settings icon. Click on the Ease of Access settings, the click the Speech menu option. Make sure that the
toggle button for Speech Recognition
is turned on. Press the Windows key + H
to start using the dictation app. Once the tool is turned on, use your voice to
“type” and format your document.
4. Dragon Speech Recognition Products
Dragon Speech Recognition software isn’t one
product, but many. These popular, premium dictation apps use AI technology to
provide some of the most accurate speech recognition tools available. Their speech recognition apps are specialized
by use. They’ve got dictation apps for:
product, but many. These popular, premium dictation apps use AI technology to
provide some of the most accurate speech recognition tools available. Their speech recognition apps are specialized
by use. They’ve got dictation apps for:
- home use
- professional use
- legal use
- medical use
And those are just some of their speech
recognition tools. In fact, the specialized vocabulary available in certain
tools can be a major advantage of this app. Dragon also offers extensive
technical support including a knowledgebase and training.
recognition tools. In fact, the specialized vocabulary available in certain
tools can be a major advantage of this app. Dragon also offers extensive
technical support including a knowledgebase and training.
5. Braina
Here’s a premium AI-based personal assistant app
that includes voice recognition features. In fact, you can convert speech to
text in over a hundred different languages. Braina can also answer questions,
search for information online, check the weather, and more. They’ve got an
active forum where you can discuss questions with other users. Although this is
premium software, a free lite version with more limited features is also
available.
that includes voice recognition features. In fact, you can convert speech to
text in over a hundred different languages. Braina can also answer questions,
search for information online, check the weather, and more. They’ve got an
active forum where you can discuss questions with other users. Although this is
premium software, a free lite version with more limited features is also
available.
6. Speechnotes
This free online dictation app works with a
Chrome operating system. You don’t need to download it onto your equipment. It
was created specifically to replace typing, so if you spend large parts of your
day typing this could be the speech recognition tool you need. Because it’s
free, Speechnotes has ads. Also be aware that any documents you create need to
be copied to your machine since Speechnotes won’t save them.
Chrome operating system. You don’t need to download it onto your equipment. It
was created specifically to replace typing, so if you spend large parts of your
day typing this could be the speech recognition tool you need. Because it’s
free, Speechnotes has ads. Also be aware that any documents you create need to
be copied to your machine since Speechnotes won’t save them.
7. Siri
If you’ve got an iPhone, iPad, or Mac you’re
probably already familiar with Apple’s personal assistant software app. In
fact, you already have it free with your device. What most people don’t realize is that Siri
can also be used as a voice dictation app for shorter messages, or emails. For example, I
was able to create a short note using Siri. So, if you send a lot of email or text
messages, Siri could be helpful. Learn more about Siri in these tutorial guides:
probably already familiar with Apple’s personal assistant software app. In
fact, you already have it free with your device. What most people don’t realize is that Siri
can also be used as a voice dictation app for shorter messages, or emails. For example, I
was able to create a short note using Siri. So, if you send a lot of email or text
messages, Siri could be helpful. Learn more about Siri in these tutorial guides:
![Free Speech Dictation Software For Mac Free Speech Dictation Software For Mac](/uploads/1/1/8/5/118552475/891053590.jpg)
- A Beginner’s Guide to Siri
- How to Use Siri on a Mac
- Create SiriKit Extensions in iOS 10
8. Cortana
Cortana is Microsoft’s personal assistant
app. And while it’s great for voice recognition and performing personal tasks,
if you need to type a long document, you’re better off using Windows Speech
Recognition tool (see #3 above), which is based on the same AI as Cortana.
app. And while it’s great for voice recognition and performing personal tasks,
if you need to type a long document, you’re better off using Windows Speech
Recognition tool (see #3 above), which is based on the same AI as Cortana.
9. Transcribe
Transcribe is a premium software dictation tool.
Record the information you want to convert to text. Then you can
auto-transcribe it (convert it to text). If the original recording isn’t clear
enough, re-speak the recording as you listen to it to create a clearer recording
before you transcribe it. This tool also works with a foot pedal, if you
desire. This tutorial contains information on Transcribe
and other transcription tools:
Record the information you want to convert to text. Then you can
auto-transcribe it (convert it to text). If the original recording isn’t clear
enough, re-speak the recording as you listen to it to create a clearer recording
before you transcribe it. This tool also works with a foot pedal, if you
desire. This tutorial contains information on Transcribe
and other transcription tools:
- The Tuts+ Guide to Transcribing Audio Notes
10. Just Press Record
Here’s another inexpensive transcription tool
that gives you the capability for hands-free recording and text conversion. You
can use it on an iPhone, iPad, or even an Apple watch. This can be a handy way to get those all-important notes if you’ve got nothing on hand but your Apple watch.
that gives you the capability for hands-free recording and text conversion. You
can use it on an iPhone, iPad, or even an Apple watch. This can be a handy way to get those all-important notes if you’ve got nothing on hand but your Apple watch.
5 Tips for Getting the Most From Your Talk to Text App
If you’ve invested in any type of voice recognition software such as a talk to text app you want to make sure that it works well for you. Here are some tips to help:
- Use the Right App. Understand the difference between a
dictation app and a personal assistant app. The app that’s right for you
depends on how you intend to use it. If you want to use it to perform tasks and
check for information online, you need a personal assistant app. If you want to
create documents by speaking into your computer or device, you need a
dictation app. - Check Your Microphone. Your microphone must be
set up in your operating system and turned on to use this type of software. Also, make sure that the microphone volume is
set properly. You may want to test your microphone before using your dictation or personal assistant app. - Speak Clearly and Face the Microphone. The more
clearly you speak, the more accurate your dictation app will be. Also, be
careful to face the microphone as you speak so that it can pick up what you’re
saying. Other factors that can affect the accuracy of your transcription
include the volume at which you speak and the amount of background noise in your environment. - Punctuation. Without punctuation your
transcription will just be a long string of words. While you can go in and add
punctuation manually, it’s quicker to add it as you speak if your app offers
this capability. For most tools adding punctuation is as simple as saying the word
“period” when you want a sentence to end or saying the word
“comma” where you want a pause. - Formatting. Many voice to text apps also accept voice
formatting commands. If your speak to text app has this capability, take the time to learn which
commands your software accepts. Using voice formatting can be a real timesaver.
Consider Using a Dictation App to Save Time
You’ve just learned the what a dictation app is and how it can save you time.
We’ve also discussed the difference between dictation apps and personal
assistant apps. Plus, I’ve shared some common features to look for when
choosing dictation software.
We’ve also discussed the difference between dictation apps and personal
assistant apps. Plus, I’ve shared some common features to look for when
choosing dictation software.
Finally, I’ve provided an overview of ten of the
best dictation software packages available. I’ve also provided some tips to
help you get the most from your dictation app.
best dictation software packages available. I’ve also provided some tips to
help you get the most from your dictation app.
Do you already use a dictation app? If so, which one do
you use and do you think it saves you time? Leave your answers in the comments
below.
you use and do you think it saves you time? Leave your answers in the comments
below.
Introduction: Why speech recognition technology rules
When it comes to maximizing your efficiency, you can’t just rely on technology. You need to utilize every natural thing you’ve got. And typing and clicking away just isn’t enough.
The best speech recognition software makes your voice as productive as your hands. It lets you control your devices or browsers, and manage your day-to-day surroundings.
Voice recognition for dictation
One of the best features of voice recognition software is dictation. Using speech-to-text technology, it transcribes what you say, as you say it, with few errors. You can speak notes to yourself on the go and have them sent by text or email. Longer texts are also not a problem for the best voice recognition apps.
Voice Dictation Software For Mac
In this article, we’ll define speech recognition technology, and look at the different types of voice recognition apps, focusing on dictation. Then we’ll dive into 14 of the best apps for voice recognition, speech-to-text dictation and transcription.
Voice recognition software comparison chart (top 10 highest rated)
Product | Best for | Pricing (starts at) | Url |
Dragon | Top speech to text app overall | $150, $300 | |
Otter | Best voice recognition app for startups | $8.33 /user/month | |
Speechnotes | Best free speech to text app | Free | |
ListNote | Good dictation tool for writers | Free | |
Windows speech recognition | Best speech recognition tool for Windows | Free | |
Braina | $49 /year for Pro | ||
Speech-to-Text | $0.006/00:15 of audio | ||
Transcribe | $20 /year | ||
e-Speaking | $14 | ||
Speechmatics | Contact vendor |
What is voice recognition software?
Voice recognition software are apps where you use your voice and speak in natural language. The best voice recognition software turns speech to text, and understands spoken commands.
Most people are familiar with personal assistants. These include Apple Siri, which came out first in 2011. Then there was Microsoft Cortana and Amazon Alexa which both came out in 2014. In 2016 we got the OK Google Assistant.
Interfacing with technology through speaking is becoming more important. Not long ago a Gartner study claimed about 30% of our interactions with our devices will be with some sort of voice recognition software.
And with more and better microphones on all our devices, we hardly need headsets anymore to use the best speech recognition software.
What are the different types of voice recognition software?
Depending on the speaker
There are two relationships between the speaker and the voice recognition software. The first is when the app learns the speech of one single speaker. This is called speaker-dependent. It's great for iOS devices and Android devices.
Then there is speaker-independent software. This isn't trained on one user. It can be used for any speaker equally. This is common in automated phone services. It's also great for meetings. Some of the best dictation software can even recognize different voices and split the conversation.
Uses of voice recognition software
One of the main things you can do with voice recognition is dictation. The app transcribes your text as you speak in real-time.
The transcription can often be edited and shared in texts or emails. Great transcription software understands context too. It won't mistake 'my bare hands' for 'my bear hands.' Some of the best voice recognition software for dictation does translation.
Voice commands are another useful tool. They let you control your computer without using the keyboard or mouse. This can be great for giving the hands a rest. It is also helpful to people with disabilities.
Voice recognition software can also be a personal assistant. As a virtual assistant, it can set reminders, send texts, schedule calendar events, and more all using voice commands. These can also be used personally for IoT devices like your music or room temperature.
Who uses voice recognition software
Just about anybody would find some voice recognition apps useful. Voice recognition is great to help you with your day-to-day. From setting reminders and placing online orders to controlling your electricity or heating.
They are also great work tools. Transcription software is very useful in a meeting or at a conference. It's also good for when you have a lot of ideas and they are coming out faster than you can type. Some of the best transcription software lets teams collaborate on transcriptions, which is a great boost for a startup or any company.
Writers also benefit greatly from speech to text tools. Whether it's for jotting down long notes while out and about, or dictating page after page when home working. Journalists can also use dictation apps when doing interviews.
It won't be long until voice command technology takes over in many areas of our lives. Like driving, where our hands should stay on the wheel. It's far better to use your voice to control certain things you shouldn’t use your hands for, like the radio or seat adjuster. The same is true for professionals like surgeons or automobile mechanics where hands-free is cleaner or safer.
What is the best voice recognition software? Here's our top 14 list:
When it comes to the top speech recognition software, you’ve got a handful of options. Below are 14 of the best voice recognition apps for dictation. Many of these apps have other features too like voice control and virtual assistants. We compare the features and see which voice recognition software is the best overall, for dictation, for Windows, and other categories.
Dragon (Top speech to text app overall)
Dragon Naturallyspeaking is the suite of speech recognition apps by Nuance. This is a conversational AI company focusing on listening and analysis.
Dragon speech recognition software uses deep learning technology. It boasts an accuracy rate of 99%. That's one of the highest rates out there. Aside from dictation, Dragon uses voice recognition for voice commands. You can browse the web, send emails or publish reports. Dragon integrates with Microsoft Office. It works on macOS, Windows, Android and iOS devices.
Dragon comes in several tiers. Several of the more popular ones are Dragon Anywhere for mobile, Dragon Home ($150), and Dragon Professional Individual ($300).
Dragon is best for:
- One-person business
- Startups
- SMBs
- Dictation
- Transcription
- Voice commands
- Microsoft Office Integration
Website: Dragon by Nuance
Otter (Best voice recognition app for startups)
Otter is a very professional tool for transcribing speech and conversations. It's great for meetings and conferences. It's all done on the cloud and works well on mobile devices and iPads.
You can record any conversation right from your smartphone or laptop. You get real-time transcriptions of the text. You can then edit the text. It lets you add speaker notes, images, video files and audio files. The transcriptions are also fully searchable. It's also easy to share and collaborate on transcriptions with teams.
There's a free version of Otter with 600 minutes of transcriptions per month. The premium plans go for $8.33 and $20 per user per month when billed annually.
Otter is best for:
- One-person business
- Startups
- SMEs
- Dictation
- Transcription services
- Meetings
- Conferences
- Team collaboration
Website: Otter.ai
Speechnotes (Best free speech to text app)
Speechnotes is built using Google's speech recognition technology. One thing about Speechnotes is that it is completely online. No downloading is required. But you'll always need an internet connection.
Anyone can learn Speechnotes in seconds. You visit the site, activate your microphone and start dictating. The transcription works in real-time. It is decent but not nearly 99% accurate. There are also many voice commands to edit the text, which you use by holding down 'enter' and speaking.
Though this is free, you can get a premium version from the Google Chrome web store. It costs $9.99 and works as an extension in Chrome.
Speechnotes is best for:
- Free version
- One-person business
- Startups
- Speech to text
- Chrome extension
Website: Speechnotes
ListNote (Good dictation tool for writers)
ListNote, by Khymaera, is a free mobile app for Android devices. Xcode 7.3 download mac version. It is a pure speech to text platform, with ease of use as its top-selling point. This is a great tool for writers, bloggers and journalists.
You can easily create notes with dictation. All notes and texts are searchable. Your notes can be easily shared in emails, text messages and even Twitter. ListNote has some good organizational features. You can group notes in categories.
You will need Google Voice Search to use all of the features of ListNote.
ListNote name is best for:
- Writers
- One-person business
- Android devices
- Voice to text
- Dictation
- Notes
Website: ListNote
Windows Speech Recognition (Best speech recognition tool for Windows)
Windows Speech Recognition is the standard speech recognition and voice command tool for the Windows platform.
It's very simple to use but still quite powerful. You can use Windows Speech Recognition in any web browser. It also works in any web application. You can open whatever writing app you normally use and turn it into dictation software. There you can use formatting commands and correction commands. There is a personal dictionary as well that saves your unique words.
Windows Speech Recognition also works alongside Microsoft Cortana, which is a virtual personal assistant.
Windows Speech Recognition is best for:
- One-person business
- Startups
- Small businesses
- Speech to text
- Voice commands
- Windows
Website: Windows Speech Recognition
Braina
Braina is a personal virtual assistant. It's powered by artificial intelligence. Braina works with over 100 different languages. It runs on Windows. There are mobile apps as well for Android and iOS.
Braina can be used as a solid dictation tool. It functions on any website and for many apps like Microsoft Word or Notepad. It also has dictionary and thesaurus features. Aside from dictation, you can use Braina for voice commands to control your computer. It can also read texts out loud.
There’s a free version of Braina. Braina Pro starts at $49 per year. Or you can buy it for life, for that see the vendor’s site for current prices and promotions.
Braina is best for:
- Startups
- SMBs
- Virtual assistant
- Dictation
- Text to speech
Website: Braina
Speech-to-Text by Google
Speech-to-Text is built with Google's AI technologies. It's a very simple dictation and transcription software.
Speech-to-Text uses deep learning technology for great accuracy. This means it gets context too. It understands over 100 different languages. You can speak directly into this app, or upload audio files for transcription. It can learn domain or industry-specific terms and phrases. It also handles noisy situations well.
Speech-to-Text has a pricing system based on usage. For example, you get a monthly bill based on $0.006 for every 15 seconds of transcribed audio.
Speech-to-Text is best for:
- One-person business
- Startups
- Small businesses
- Transcription
Website: Speech-to-Text
Transcribe
Transcribe is a light and simple platform. It's great for simple dictation and transcription. There is no download necessary, but it also works without an internet connection.
Transcribe is more for transcribing video and audio files into text. But the platform has voice typing tools too. It can recognize many different languages. Some of these include most Asian and European languages. Transcribe also lets you define acronyms for your most common phrases.
Transcribe is priced at $20 per year.
Transcribe is best for:
- One-person business
- Startups
- Small businesses
- Transcription
- Voice typing
Website: Transcribe
e-Speaking
e-Speaking aims to be one of the simplest speech recognition tools out there. It's a cheap and simple download. It runs on various versions of Windows.
e-Speaking uses Microsoft's Speech Application Program Interface. It can do basic dictation with decent accuracy. But not as great as apps like Dragon. e-Speaking can read texts from your computer out loud. For dictation, there are about 26 voice commands. These are for editing and navigating your text. You can teach e-Speaking new commands and train the app on new words.
e-Speaking is free for the first 30 days. After that it's a very low price of $14.
e-Speaking is best for:
- One-person business
- Startups
- Small businesses
- Dictation
- Text to speech
- Ease of use
Website: e-Speaking
Speechmatics
Speechmatics is a speech recognition software company out of the UK. It's a highly professional platform with many voice technology features. For Speechmatics prices, you have to request a quote from the vendor.
The speech to text dictation of Speechmatics is very accurate. It recognizes over 30 different languages. There's advanced punctuation help, and custom dictionaries. Speechmatics can also identify and label different speakers. Aside from dictation, Speechmatics offers a lot of voice control tools. It can control apps and devices with voice commands.
Speechmatics is best for:
- Startups
- Small businesses
- Large businesses
- Voice commands
- Transcription
Website: Speechmatics
Apple Dictation
Apple Dictation comes in many forms. It can use Siri servers for speech to text. You must be online to use it. This is decent for short note dictation. It can only handle 30 seconds of speech at a time.
Apple Dictation also has a voice-to-text feature that works without an internet connection. This helps you do more than dictation. It controls basic commands on your Mac computer. It is a bit limiting because it won't work with just any web app, but mainly Apple products.
Apple Dictation is best for:
- One-person business
- Startups
- Dictation
- macOS
- iOS devices
Website: Apple Dictation
Cortana
Cortana is Microsoft's personal virtual assistant. It works inside Microsoft 365. There's also a Chrome extension and mobile apps for iOS and Android. It also functions on Xbox OS.
Cortana handles several languages like English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish. Because Cortana is a personal assistant, it can do many things. Create and manage to-do lists, set alarms and reminders and create calendar events. As for being a dictation tool to transcribe notes, Cortana works decently.
Cortana is best for:
- Startups
- SMEs
- Personal assistant
- Dictation
Website: Cortana
Watson Speech to Text
Watson's speech recognition software is made by IBM. This is the same artificial intelligence that once went on Jeopardy back in 2011.
This software has very strong real-time speech recognition. But it goes beyond dictation. Watson can handle batches of audio files. You also have a lot of editing options for the transcriptions. You can add notes, speaker labels and word timestamps.
Watson Speech to text has a free version. You can also have transcriptions done at a price per minute rate. There are many tiers and the lowest one is $0.02/minute.
Watson Speech to Text is best for:
- SMBs
- Large businesses
- Voice dictation
- Transcription services
- Speech recognition technology
Website: Watson Speech to Text
Google Voice Typing
Google Voice Typing is a very simple speech to text tool but also very powerful. You use it directly inside a Google Doc or Google Sheet. It keeps up fast with your speech and knows about 43 languages.
There are many voice commands for editing, correcting, and even moving the mouse cursor. The transcription is smart. It can understand the context of your speech very well.
Google Voice Typing is best for:
- One-person business
- Writers
- Startups
- Dictation
- Google
Website: Google Voice Typing
Free Dictation Software For Mac
Conclusion: Know your voice recognition needs
It’s likely you are already using a macOS or Windows device. In that case, you can try out Apple Dictation or Windows Speech Recognition right away. If you are using Google Chrome, then Google Voice Typing in Google Docs or Sheets is also right there and easy to try.
For a company looking to leverage the best speech recognition app, Dragon Pro or Otter are worthy options. Even if you are a smaller operation on a budget, or a solo entrepreneur, Dragon Professional Individual, Dragon Home or Dragon Anywhere aren’t too expensive. e-Speaking is also a cheap alternative to Dragon.
Ultimately, you need to know how you will be using voice recognition technology. Do you want it trained solely on your voice, or to handle different speakers, perhaps in different languages? Is it for dictation, voice commands, or do you need a personal virtual assistant?
Once you’ve got those questions answered, one of these above platforms will surely get you talking your way up the efficiency ladder.
FAQs
What is the best voice recognition software for Windows 10?
There are several choices for the best voice recognition software for Windows 10. Windows Speech Recognition comes free to use with Windows and works well for dictation and voice commands. Dragon Naturallyspeaking is one of the best speech-to-text transcription tools for Windows 10.
What is the best free speech to text software for Windows?
Speechnotes is a great free speech-to-text platform that can run on Windows. All that is required is to use the Google Chrome browser. You can use your built-in-microphone to dictate speech directly to the website. Transcription happens in real-time. It is quite accurate, even if you talk quickly.
What is the best app for speech to text?
ListNote is an app by Khymaera. It’s a mobile app for Android devices. ListNote is one of the best apps for speech-to-text. It’s great for speaking ideas and notes on the go, or for dictating longer texts. ListNote also makes it easy to edit transcriptions. You can also share transcriptions via SMS or email.
How do I convert voice recording to text?
To convert voice recordings to text, you need a speech-to-text app. This is dictation software that you can speak directly into, and it transcribes your speech in real-time. Or you can upload audio files, and this software will convert the voices speaking into text. Some speech-to-text platforms can even identify different speakers.
Can Siri transcribe audio files?
Apple’s Siri can transcribe audio files into text. It also allows you to dictate speech, and it will transcribe it in real-time. Siri’s accuracy level is fairly good. There are basic formatting voice commands you can also use with Siri. For those with iPhones and iPads, Siri is a great tool for transcribing audio on the go.
What is a voice recognition system?
A voice recognition system is software that recognizes when people are using their voices to interact with it. It can be speaker-dependent, meaning it learns the voice and speaking style of one main user, like on a mobile device. Or speaker-independent, where it can handle multiple speakers. Voice recognition software can be used for speech-to-text dictation, as personal assistants, or for voice commands to control one’s computer, browser, or devices.
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