2025 was the year AI dictation apps truly took off. Dictation apps have been around for years, but in the past they proved slow and inaccurate. However, advancements in large language models have helped improve systems that can better decode speech while retaining context to format text.
Article contents:
- Introduction
- Wispr Flow app
- Willow app
- Monologue app
- Superwhisper app
- VoiceTypr app
- Aqua app
- Handy app
- Typeless app
- Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction
Developers have built features to automatically format text, remove filler words, and ignore stutters to produce text that requires fewer edits. But with the growing popularity of all things AI, there are dozens of apps on the market. Therefore, we have compiled our selection of the best and most useful dictation apps for this year.
Wispr Flow app
It is a well-funded app that allows you to add custom words and instructions for dictation. It features native apps for Mac, Windows, and iOS. The app lets you customize how the system transcribes your notes by allowing you to choose between “formal,” “casual,” and “very casual” styles. The app allows writing up to 2,000 words per month for free, and paid subscriptions start at $15.
Willow app
It advertises itself as a great time-saver for those who dislike typing. Alongside common features like editing and automatic formatting, the app has a feature that leverages large language models to generate an entire block of text from just a few spoken words. It also focuses on privacy by storing texts locally. The free plan allows 2,000 words.
Monologue app
If you are focused on privacy, this app lets you download its model to run on your device to avoid sending data to the cloud. It allows you to transcribe 1,000 words per month for free, and the subscription costs $10 per month.
Superwhisper app
A basic dictation app that can also transcribe audio or video files. It gives you the freedom to choose and download AI models, including Nvidia’s “Parakeet” models. It also allows you to write custom prompts to guide the output. The basic version is free, and paid plans start at around $8.5.
VoiceTypr app
It takes a no-subscription, offline-first approach, letting you use local models. It supports over 99 languages and works on Mac and Windows. The app is available for a three-day trial, after which you can purchase a lifetime license for $35.
Aqua app
A Y Combinator-backed app claiming to be one of the lowest-latency tools. Along with handling grammar and punctuation, it allows you to auto-fill text by saying specific phrases. The free tier gives you 1,000 words per month.
Handy app
A free, open-source transcription tool that can run on Mac, Windows, and Linux. The app is very basic and does not offer much customization, but it is a good option to get started without paying costs.
Typeless app
It features a high free word count (4,000 words per week). The company claims it does not retain any data. It also suggests a better version of a sentence if you stumble over your words.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best app for privacy?
A: Apps like Monologue, Willow, and VoiceTypr provide local processing options to ensure your voice data is not sent to the cloud.
Q: Do these apps support Arabic?
A: Most apps that rely on large models like Whisper support Arabic, but the accuracy of diacritics and dialects varies from one app to another.
