Audience
Mac users that want to enter messages, documents, and other text fields by speaking instead of typing
About Apple Dictation
Apple Dictation is a built-in macOS feature that lets users speak to enter text anywhere they can type. Once Dictation is enabled, it can be started with the Microphone key, a customizable keyboard shortcut, or Start Dictation, then stopped with Escape, the same shortcut, or the Microphone key. On Apple silicon Macs, users can continue typing while they dictate, and Dictation resumes listening after keyboard input stops. Spoken commands can insert emoji, punctuation, new lines, and new paragraphs, while supported languages can automatically add commas, periods, and question marks. Dictation supports text of any length and stops automatically after 30 seconds without detected speech. When macOS is uncertain about a word, it underlines the text so users can choose an alternative or correct it manually. Multiple Dictation languages can be enabled and switched while speaking, and users can select a preferred microphone or let macOS choose automatically.
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Aiko
Aiko is an AI-powered audio transcription app for macOS, iOS, and visionOS. The app converts speech to text from meetings, lectures, recordings, and other audio files using OpenAI’s Whisper model running locally on the user’s device. Aiko is designed for high-quality on-device transcription, making it useful for sensitive recordings that should remain private. The app supports Shortcuts, allowing users to build workflows for recording, transcribing, copying, saving, or processing transcripts. It is available as a Universal Purchase across supported Apple platforms. Built for Apple users who need private speech-to-text, Aiko helps turn audio into text without sending recordings to cloud transcription services.
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FluidVoice
FluidVoice is a free, open source macOS dictation app that pairs local speech recognition with Fluid-1, an on-device AI model for polishing dictation. One hotkey lets users speak into any text field across email, documents, chat, terminals, code editors, and other apps, with text appearing in near real time. Local speech models keep dictation on-device and work offline, while optional AI post-processing can use Fluid Intelligence, OpenAI, Groq, or custom providers. Fluid-1 cleans up rough dictation, fixes formatting, capitalization, dates, names, and numbers, and adapts tone to the active app without changing the speaker’s meaning. Users can create custom prompts for different apps, while Write Mode, Command Mode, and Direct Dictation make it easy to switch contexts. FluidVoice supports more than 40 languages across models including Nemotron Speech 3.5, Parakeet Flash, Parakeet TDT v2 and v3, Cohere Transcribe, Apple Speech, and Whisper.
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Otter.ai
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DictaFlow
DictaFlow is a hold-to-talk AI dictation app with native apps for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android (Telegram is optional on Android). Hold a shortcut or mouse button, speak, and release. DictaFlow types clean text into the app you are using, in supported text fields such as email, documents, chat, browsers, IDEs and EHRs. On Windows, Typing Mode types character by character, so it works in Citrix, Remote Desktop, VMware Horizon, terminals and fields that block paste. Custom vocabulary handles names, acronyms, code and medical or legal terms, and snippets expand saved text by voice. AI cleanup removes filler and fixes punctuation, and Smart Edit changes selected text by voice. Local Offline dictation works without internet on supported devices after setup. Free plan: 2,000 cloud words per 30 days. Pro: $9/month or $84/year on desktop and web.
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Pricing
Starting Price:
Free
Free Version:
Free Version available.
Integrations
No integrations listed.
Company Information
Apple
Founded: 1976
United States
support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac
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Product Details
Platforms Supported
Mac
iPhone
iPad
Training
Documentation
Support
Online
Apple Dictation Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What kinds of users and organization types does Apple Dictation work with?
Apple Dictation works with these users and organization types: Mid Size Business, Small Business, Enterprise, Freelance, Nonprofit, Government, and Startup.
Q: What languages does Apple Dictation support in their product?
Apple Dictation supports these languages: English.
Q: What kind of support options does Apple Dictation offer?
Apple Dictation offers support via online.
Q: Does Apple Dictation have a mobile app?
Yes, Apple Dictation has a mobile app for iPhone and iPad.
Q: What type of training does Apple Dictation provide?
Apple Dictation provides training in the form of documentation.
Q: How much does Apple Dictation cost?
Pricing for Apple Dictation starts at Free.
