Top AI Dictation Apps for 2025
▼ Summary
– 2025 saw significant improvements in AI dictation apps due to advances in large language and speech-to-text models, making them faster and more accurate.
– Wispr Flow is a featured app that offers style customization for transcriptions and has a free tier with monthly word limits.
– Willow uses LLMs to generate text from brief dictation and emphasizes privacy by storing transcripts locally on the device.
– Monologue prioritizes privacy by allowing users to download its model for offline use and offers a unique physical Monokey for top users.
– Several other apps like Superwhisper, VoiceTypr, Aqua, Handy, and Typeless offer varied features including file transcription, open-source models, speed, and generous free tiers.
The landscape of voice-to-text technology has been transformed, moving far beyond the clunky and often inaccurate tools of the past. Thanks to significant leaps in large language models and speech recognition, modern dictation apps now deliver remarkable accuracy and context-aware formatting. These tools can intelligently remove filler words, correct fumbles, and produce text that requires minimal editing, making them indispensable for professionals, students, and anyone looking to boost productivity. With a crowded market of options, identifying the right app is key. Here’s a look at some of the most compelling AI dictation tools available.
Wispr Flow stands out as a robust, well-funded application. It allows users to add custom vocabulary and specific instructions to tailor the dictation experience. Available natively for MacOS, Windows, and iOS, with an Android version in development, it offers stylistic control. You can select from “formal,” “casual,” or “very casual” writing modes to suit different contexts like emails, work documents, or personal messages. For developers, integration with tools like Cursor enables automatic recognition of code variables. The free tier permits 2,000 words monthly on desktop and 1,000 on iOS, with unlimited transcription starting at $15 per month.
Positioned as a major time-saver, Willow leverages large language models to generate substantial text from just a few spoken prompts. Beyond standard auto-formatting, it emphasizes privacy by storing all transcripts locally on your device and offering an opt-out from model training. The app also learns your unique vocabulary, adapting to industry jargon or local dialects. Its free plan includes 2,000 words per month on desktop, while individual subscriptions begin at $15 monthly for unlimited dictation and style memory.
For those with paramount privacy concerns, Monologue offers a compelling solution. You can download its model to run entirely on your device, ensuring no data is sent to the cloud. It also allows customization of its tone based on the application you’re using. The free version covers 1,000 words monthly, with subscriptions priced at $10 per month or $100 annually. Notably, the company engages its community, even sending a unique “Monokey” hardware device to top users as a novel input method.
Superwhisper functions as both a live dictation tool and a transcription service for audio or video files. A standout feature is the freedom to choose and download different AI models, including its own optimized for speed or accuracy and NVIDIA’s Parakeet models. Users can write custom prompts to guide the output and view both raw and processed transcripts. Basic voice-to-text is free, with a 15-minute Pro trial for features like translation. Paid plans, starting at $8.49 monthly, allow the use of personal API keys and unlimited access to cloud or local models.
Taking an offline-first, subscription-free approach, VoiceTypr uses local models for all transcriptions. An open-source version is available on GitHub for self-hosting. It supports an impressive array of over 99 languages and is compatible with Mac and Windows. After a three-day free trial, users can purchase a lifetime license, with pricing set at $35 for one device, scaling to $98 for four devices.
Aqua, backed by Y-Combinator, claims to be one of the fastest voice typing clients for Windows and MacOS in terms of latency. It handles grammar and punctuation while offering convenient autofill commands; for instance, saying “my address” can insert your full contact details. The app also provides its own speech-to-text API for integration into other applications. The free tier allows 1,000 words per month, with paid plans from $8 monthly (billed annually) unlocking unlimited words and extensive custom dictionary space.
Handy is a straightforward, open-source, and completely free transcription tool for Mac, Windows, and Linux. While it offers minimal customization, its simplicity makes it an excellent starting point for anyone new to voice dictation. The basic settings menu lets users toggle push-to-talk and change the activation hotkey.
Finally, Typeless offers a generous free allowance of 4,000 words per week, roughly 16,000 monthly. The company states it does not retain user data or employ it for model training. A helpful feature suggests improved versions of sentences if it detects a fumble. Unlimited words and new features are unlocked with a subscription of $12 per month on an annual billing cycle. It is currently available for Windows and MacOS.
(Source: TechCrunch)
