1. Home
  2. Product categories
  3. Voice AI Tools
  4. AI Dictation Apps

The best AI dictation and speech-to-text software in 2026

Last updated
Feb 4, 2026
Based on
171 reviews
Products considered
30

AI voice input tools let you press a key, speak naturally, and instantly paste clean, structured text into any app. Most of them use a push-to-talk model (usually the Fn key) so you can trigger voice input anywhere without switching windows, opening a modal, or copying and pasting.

They’ve quietly become a new input layer for the computer: faster than typing, more natural than shortcuts, and flexible enough to drive workflows across writing, coding, email, and AI assistants.

Wispr FlowMacWhisperTalkTasticsuperwhisperTypelessAqua Voice
Wispr Flow: Dictation That Works Everywhere
Wispr Flow: Dictation That Works Everywhere — Stop typing. Start speaking. 4x faster.
PromotedProductivity•Artificial Intelligence•Audio

How we chose these products

We don't just aggregate ratings—we dig in. Our recommendations come from a combination of sources that give us a complete picture of each product. Learn more.

Our picks at a glance

Jump to any product, or scroll down for the full breakdown. And for a look at the stories behind the products, check out our Orbit Awards selection announcement thread.

  • Wispr Flow
    Wispr FlowThe People's Champ

    Best for: Power users who want one voice layer across all their devices and apps.

  • Aqua Voice
    Aqua VoiceReadability Award

    Best for: Writers and professionals who dictate articles, documents, or anything others will read.

  • superwhisper
    superwhisperPrivacy Award

    Best for: Clinicians, lawyers, and anyone handling sensitive data who needs offline speech-to-text.

  • Willow Voice
    Willow VoiceEveryday Communication Award

    Best for: Anyone who spends their day in email, Slack, iMessage, or support tools.

  • Ito
    ItoOpen-Source Award

    Best for: Developers and power users who want control over their voice AI stack.

  • Alter
    AlterSystem-Level Intelligence Award

    Best for: PMs, founders, and operators juggling many tools who want AI integrated into their OS.

  • MacWhisper
    MacWhisperTranscription Purist Award

    Best for: Podcasters, journalists, and researchers transcribing recorded audio.

The People's Champ

WisprFlow — Best Overall AI Dictation App

Wispr FlowWispr Flow

Speak naturally, write perfectly & 4x faster in every app

4.7 · 52 reviews
Learn more →

Why we picked it

We've tested dozens of dictation tools, and WisprFlow stands out for one reason: it just works. Fast, accurate, and available everywhere you type—Mac, Windows, iOS. It adapts to your writing style, so the output sounds like you, not a robot. If you're already deep in AI-powered workflows (Cursor, Claude, ChatGPT), WisprFlow slots in perfectly as a voice front-end.

Best for

Power users who want one voice layer across all their devices and apps.

Watch out for

No offline mode. Free tier is limited—$12/mo for heavy use.

Standout features

  • ✓Real-time dictation with instant cleanup
  • ✓True cross-platform: Mac, Windows, iOS keyboard
  • ✓Learns your writing style over time
  • ✓Built for AI-first workflows

WisprFlow is the best speech-to-text software that I have used, and I use it every single day.

Readability Award

Aqua Voice — Best for Long-Form Writing

Aqua VoiceAqua Voice

Fast Voice Input for Mac and Windows

5.0 · 13 reviews
Learn more →

Why we picked it

Most dictation apps transcribe what you say. Aqua Voice transforms it into polished prose. We picked it because the output genuinely reads like finished writing—proper punctuation, natural flow, minimal cleanup. It's context-aware too, matching the tone and syntax of whatever you're working on.

Best for

Writers and professionals who dictate articles, documents, or anything others will read.

Watch out for

Mac only—no Windows or mobile support yet.

Standout features

  • ✓Output reads like edited prose, not transcription
  • ✓Context-aware: matches your document style
  • ✓Voice-native editor for seamless drafting
  • ✓Built for long passages, not quick commands

I'm a writer and would check out dictation apps once a year. Now I dictate the bulk of my writing. It's truly astonishingly accurate.

Privacy Award

Superwhisper — Best Local AI Dictation for Privacy

superwhispersuperwhisper

Extremely accurate, voice to text for Mac & iPhone

4.9 · 19 reviews
Learn more →

Why we picked it

If your audio can't touch the cloud—healthcare, legal, sensitive work—Superwhisper is the answer. It runs Whisper entirely on-device, so nothing leaves your Mac. We picked it because it's fast enough to use dozens of times a day, not just when you remember it exists. Boringly reliable, exactly how infrastructure should be.

Best for

Clinicians, lawyers, and anyone handling sensitive data who needs offline speech-to-text.

Watch out for

Mac only. No style learning or fancy rewriting—just solid text.

Standout features

  • ✓Fully local Whisper transcription—no cloud
  • ✓Fast enough for constant, all-day use
  • ✓Great for medical notes, legal docs, internal reports
  • ✓Simple workflow: press a key, talk, paste

A product that you can use daily with any app and across all of the Mac interface

Everyday Communication Award

Willow Voice — Best AI Dictation for Email & Messaging

Willow VoiceWillow Voice

Voice dictation that actually works

4.9 · 8 reviews
Learn more →

Why we picked it

Willow Voice is built for the 80% of knowledge work that's just... responding to people. Emails, Slack, DMs. We picked it because it auto-formats and tones your message so it's basically ready to send. The iOS keyboard means you can dictate anywhere on your phone, not just inside an app.

Best for

Anyone who spends their day in email, Slack, iMessage, or support tools.

Watch out for

Best for short-form communication—not ideal for long-form writing.

Standout features

  • ✓Auto-formats with proper tone and punctuation
  • ✓iOS keyboard for system-wide mobile dictation
  • ✓Built for quick replies, not long documents
  • ✓Accessibility-first design: simple, forgiving UX

In general, I would say every bug or feature request that you share with them is acted on very diligently and with speed.

Open-Source Award

Ito — Best Open-Source Voice Assistant

ItoIto

VibeType anywhere with your voice (Open Source)

5.0 · 6 reviews
Learn more →

Why we picked it

Ito isn't just dictation—it's an open-source voice assistant you can inspect, fork, and own. We picked it because it captures intent, not just words. Say what you mean loosely, and it writes what you should send. If you're a developer who wants to tune your own voice workflows without a black box, this is it.

Best for

Developers and power users who want control over their voice AI stack.

Watch out for

Requires some technical comfort to get the most out of it.

Standout features

  • ✓Fully open source: self-host, fork, audit
  • ✓VibeTyping: writes what you meant, not what you said
  • ✓Cross-platform: Mac, Windows, iOS
  • ✓Local + optional cloud inference

There's a lot of competition in this space — and so I love that Ito is open source! It's also cross-platform from the jump, and includes a Rust toolchain for building native components, meaning it's faaaaast.

System-Level Intelligence Award

Alter — Best System-Level AI Assistant for Mac

AlterAlter

Talk to your Mac. Get stuff done—fast.

5.0 · 10 reviews
Learn more →

Why we picked it

Alter isn't a dictation tool—it's a Mac-wide AI layer. Lives in your notch, sees your windows, apps, and files, and can act on them. We picked it because it reduces context-switching more than any other tool in this category. Less about transcription, more about orchestration.

Best for

PMs, founders, and operators juggling many tools who want AI integrated into their OS.

Watch out for

Mac only. More of an AI assistant than pure dictation.

Standout features

  • ✓Notch-resident assistant with full app context
  • ✓Pulls in files, screenshots, browser tabs automatically
  • ✓Multi-model routing: picks the right model for the task
  • ✓Designed to feel like part of macOS, not a bolted-on app

As someone who uses AI a great deal, I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone seeking a simple, intuitive, and Apple-esque experience.

Transcription Purist Award

MacWhisper — Best Local Transcription for Audio Files

MacWhisperMacWhisper

High Quality Text Transcription with OpenAI's Whisper on Mac

4.9 · 7 reviews
Learn more →

Why we picked it

Sometimes you don't need an assistant—you just need audio → text. MacWhisper does exactly that: local Whisper transcription with a clean UI. One-time purchase, no subscription, no cloud. We picked it for anyone with recorded interviews, podcasts, or calls who wants reliable offline transcription.

Best for

Podcasters, journalists, and researchers transcribing recorded audio.

Watch out for

No live dictation or real-time voice input. Mac only.

Standout features

  • ✓Fully local Whisper transcription
  • ✓One-time purchase—no subscription
  • ✓Simple, minimal UI
  • ✓Built for batch audio files, not live dictation

We all look like a bunch of weirdos at the office, talking to our laptops. But it's worth it. Typing is so exhausting.

How we chose these products

Every product on this list has earned its spot. Here's what we look at before making a recommendation:

  • Reviews from real users. We read through the detailed reviews of real Product Hunt users to understand what people love (and what frustrates them) about each tool.
  • Insights from real makers. Founders from top companies launch On Product Hunt. We watch how they engage, what tools they use, and who's building to last.
  • Community discussions. Our forums surface the nuanced takes, edge cases, workflow tips, and honest comparisons you won't find in marketing copy.
  • Hands-on testing. We use these products ourselves. There's no substitute for actually living with a tool to understand its strengths and quirks.
  • Track record and momentum. We look at how products evolve—consistent updates, responsive teams, and staying power matter.

The result is a curated list that reflects not just popularity, but genuine quality. If it's on this page, we'd recommend it to a friend.

Frequently asked questions about AI Dictation Apps

Real answers from real users, pulled straight from launch discussions, forums, and reviews.

  • Q: Do AI dictation apps keep audio off-device and respect privacy? 

    Short answer: many modern dictation apps offer on-device/local processing and privacy-first defaults, but it varies by product.

    • Superwhisper: you can pick cloud or local models; several users report good accuracy with local models.
    • Willow Voice: default privacy mode — they say they don’t collect transcriptions or voice data unless you opt in.
    • Voice Gecko: works offline; dictations run locally and audio doesn’t leave your machine.
    • Alter: supports fully offline local models; if you use hosted models they proxy requests and say they don’t store conversations.
    • Aqua Voice: is primarily an online service and needs network access.

    If absolute privacy is required, choose apps that explicitly support local/offline models and verify the default settings before use.

    Sources:reviewreviewreview

  • Q: Are subscription fees worth it versus one-time purchase for dictation apps? 

    Aqua Voice users say a monthly subscription (one reviewer called the $10/month buy-in “easily worth it”) buys faster inference, ongoing improvements, and cloud model power—useful if you want continual accuracy gains and rapid feature updates. By contrast, Superwhisper reviewers highlight lifetime purchase options and the ability to run local models for privacy and one-off cost savings. If you already pay for an AI bundle, Monologue being included in the Every bundle can beat individual subscriptions.

    • Choose subscription for continual updates, streaming/cloud speed, and support.
    • Choose one-time/local for privacy and a single upfront cost.

    Decide based on how much you value updates vs. a single purchase.

    Sources:reviewreviewreview