speech to text notes app

• The Best Tech Deals Right Now
• Is Spotify Premium Worth It?

The 8 Best Voice-to-Text Apps of 2024

Dragon Anywhere is the best overall voice-to-text app

Stacey has worn many hats throughout her writing career, working in content marketing, nonprofit communications, and journalism at different points in her life.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Getty Images / RapidEye-izabell

Voice-to-text apps can be helpful for accessibility needs and busy professionals alike. If you’re always on the go, transcribing interview notes, or you can think faster than you can write, these special programs can increase your efficiency and store the recordings safely and sound via the cloud. Depending on your needs, you can choose an app with customizable language for commonly used words or industry terms.

The main features to consider when looking at voice-to-text apps include accuracy, shortcuts, and available languages. Accuracy is one of the most critical factors, and some options perform much better than others in this area. These apps are becoming more mainstream, from basic software to advanced technology. Whether you want to take notes , send quick messages, or translate on the fly, the best voice-to-text apps below are ready to help.

Best Voice-to-Text Apps of 2024

Best overall: dragon anywhere, best assistant: google assistant.

• Best Transcription: Transcribe
• Best for Long Recordings: Speechnotes

Best for Notes: Voice Notes

• Best for Messages: SpeechTexter  

Best for Translation: iTranslate Converse

Best for niche industry terms: braina.

Dragon Anywhere

• Price: $15 per month or $150 per year
• Free Trial: One week
• Accuracy Rate: 99 percent

Why We Chose It

We chose Dragon Anywhere because of its 99 percent accuracy rating and options for voice editing and formatting.

Pros & Cons

No word limits

99 percent accuracy

Multiple ways to share documents

Expensive compared to some other apps

May take time to learn the built-in commands

Available for Android and iOS devices, Dragon Anywhere is a premium professional tool that’s a big deal in the world of dictation apps. It’s 99 percent accurate and comes with voice editing and formatting. You can use the app for as long as you need—there are no word limits.

Dragon Anywhere allows you to customize industry lingo for even more accuracy. After transcription, share your notes by email, Dropbox, Evernote, and more. For supported versions, you can synchronize Dragon Anywhere with your desktop and do voice work on your computer as well. However, to do this, you will need to purchase a desktop version of Dragon as well.

Its accuracy and rich features come with a cost, but the bill could be a worthy business investment if you often think of ideas on the fly or need to record meetings. The application costs $15 per month or $150 per year.

Google Assistant

• Price: Free
• Free Trial: N/A
• Accuracy Rate: Not disclosed

We chose Google Assistant because it can help you accomplish a variety of tasks.

Integrated into services you already use, such as email and messaging

Free to use

Not specifically designed for note-taking

Must use applets to boost note-taking abilities

Google Assistant does a lot, including playing music and opening maps. One of its best features? Voice recognition. You can use voice command to look up information and tell Google Assistant to perform certain functions, but it can also convert speech to text.

The app sends messages, manages tasks, and sets reminders. While it’s not a speech-to-text app in the purest sense, it will still help organize your ideas and notes with voice recognition.

Use IFTTT (If This Then That) to maximize your Google Assistant note-taking abilities. In one applet , Google Assistant can log all of your notes into a spreadsheet. You can also search IFTTT for other productivity-boosting applets or create your own as you see fit.  

Best for Transcription: Transcribe - Speech to Text

Transcribe - Speech to Text

• Price: $5 per hour of transcription, subscription options also available
• Free Trial: 15 minutes of transcription

Transcribe - Speech to Text offers you the opportunity to transcribe any voice or video file using the help of artificial intelligence.

Transcription available for over 120 languages and dialects

Easy-to-use software

Only available for Apple products

Journalists or executive assistants who have a lot of conversations to track may find this app useful. Using A.I., Transcribe can turn any voice or video memo into a transcription in over 120 different languages and dialects. After recording, you can drop your file in this app and export your raw text into another app such as DropBox.

Keep in mind that Transcribe is only available for Apple products with Voice Memo and video since there’s no direct in-app dictation. Transcribe can also get pricey. Users receive a free trial for 15 minutes of transcription. Every extra hour costs $5 and 10 hours costs $30, but there are also subscriptions available for frequent users.

Best for Long Recordings: Speechnotes - Speech to Text

Speechnotes - Speech to Text

• Accuracy Rate: 90 percent or better

We chose Speechnotes because it allows for extremely long recordings.

Long recordings allowed

Can add in punctuation where needed

In-app advertisements as a free app

Only available in browser and on Android

Writers who think faster than they can type will appreciate this app. Speechnotes is excellent for organizing long notes thanks to two special features. First of all, it doesn't stop recording—even if you pause to think or breathe—so you can keep the recording open for as long as needed. Second, you can tap a button or use a verbal command to insert punctuation marks into your work so they won't become too unwieldy.

The free app has a small ad banner, but you can upgrade to a premium version to get rid of it. Other perks: It won't clog up your phone space at 4 MB, plus it saves all your recordings as TXT files. Plus, you won’t need to open the app to use it either; you can tap on a widget to access Speechnotes. Keep in mind that Speechnotes is only available on your browser and Android. 

Voice Notes

We chose Voice Notes for its efficient layout to help you store notes.

Recognizes 120 languages

Only available on Android phones

Voice Notes has speech recognition that allows you to create notes efficiently. You can then organize your notes into categories and create reminders by customizing alerts synced with your phone calendar. The interface is intuitive and easy to use; simply press the microphone button and speak to record. You’ll even be able to make your notes with the phone screen turned off.

The app can recognize up to 120 languages, just in case you need to record notes in something other than English. The app is free, though you can subscribe to a premium plan to support the developer.

Of course, there are a few caveats. Voice Notes is a popular app, but the one major limitation is that it's only available on Android phones. Plus, you need to have Google voice search installed to use it.

Best for Messages: SpeechTexter - Speech to Text

SpeechTexter - Speech to Text

• Accuracy Rate: Better than 90 percent

SpeechTexter is a useful tool to help you draft texts, notes, emails, reports, and more with your voice. 

Desktop and android versions available

Over 70 languages supported

Customizable commands

Offline mode is less accurate

Need to send a quick message but find your hands occupied with other tasks? Here’s a quick solution. Using Google’s backend, SpeechTexter allows you to create text notes, emails, and reports with your own voice. The easy-to-use app supports over 70 languages with an accuracy rate higher than 90 percent. You can customize your own commands for punctuation as well.

It's possible to use the app when you're not connected to the Internet, though keep in mind that the accuracy lowers in offline mode and the recognition speed depends on your Internet connectivity. To use the app offline, make sure that you install language packs of your preference.

iTranslate Converse

• Price: $6 per month or $50 per year
• Free Trial: Yes

We chose iTranslate Converse because it is designed to help you translate languages on the go in noisy environments.

Works well in noisy environments

Enables real-time communication with someone in another language

38 languages recognized

Subscription fee

Unknown accuracy rate

Brought to you by the same developers behind the popular iTranslate app, iTranslate Converse is as close to real-time translation as you’ll get, which is convenient if you need to communicate with clients who don’t speak the same language as you or if you’re traveling abroad. All you have to do is set the two languages. Then tap, hold, and speak into your phone.

The app will pick up on the language that you’re speaking, then issue out a translation—yes, even in noisy environments. The app is capable of recognizing 38 languages. After your conversation is done, you can download full transcriptions. It’s not always perfect, of course, but it’s faster than going through a personal assistant app to look up translations for you.

While it has a subscription fee, iTranslate won't stretch your budget significantly. When you download it, you'll receive a free trial. After that runs out, you'll be upgraded to the pro version for $6 per month or $50 per year. You must cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the trial to avoid being put on a paid membership.

• Price: $0-$399
• Free Trial: No
• Accuracy Rate: 99%

Briana can help you utilize voice-to-text in a jargon-filled industry.

Personal A.I. builds to recognize your industry jargon

Over 100 languages recognized

May take some time to customize

Braina is a personal A.I. for Windows P.C.s with companion Android and IOS apps. The program can convert your voice into text for any website or software program, including a word processor. It recognizes most medical, legal, and scientific terms, which makes it ideal if you work in a niche industry with technical jargon. You can also teach Braina uncommon names and vocabulary with ease.

Braina has other helpful voice recognition features besides learning niche industry terms. For example, it can recognize over 100 languages to serve non-English users. The program also includes convenient dictation commands for deleting, tabbing, and casing.

The app has a few price tiers; there is a free version with limited access to features, while the pro version costs $79 per year or $399 for lifetime access (which often goes on sale for $199).

Final Verdict

Dragon Anywhere is our pick for the best overall voice-to-text app thanks to its streamlined tools, high accuracy rating, and accessible computer synchronization. The app costs a bit more than other popular options, but discounts are available on annual subscriptions, and it has no limit on words.

As a bonus, Dragon Anywhere also allows users to customize their experience for specific industry lingo and other terms. This app is also accessible for Android and iOS devices and features simple sharing options to multiple apps or email accounts.

Compare the Best Voice to Text Apps

Guide to Choosing a Voice-to-Text App

Not sure how to choose a voice-to-text app? Consider the following factors to select the best option for your needs:

• Accuracy rating
• Available languages
• Limits on words or usage
• Platform (Android or iOS)
• Exporting files
• Translation
• Customizable terms or industry language

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best voice to text app.

Dragon Anywhere is the best voice-to-text app on our list. This app is available for both Android and iOS users, has a high accuracy rating, and makes it easy to export files to your computer, email, or other apps.

What Is the Best Free Voice to Text App?

Speechnotes, Voice Notes, Google Assistant, and SpeechTexter are all great choices for free voice-to-text apps. Choose the best option for your specific needs based on maximum length of recording, available languages, and exporting options.

What Is the Best Way to Convert Voice to Text?

Voice-to-text apps and computer programs are both helpful ways to convert your voice to text. If you need to record notes on the go or away from your computer, a mobile app is likely best for you. On the other hand, some people prefer apps downloaded to their computers to take notes during meetings or classes.

What Is the Most Realistic Speech-to-Text?

Dragon Anywhere has the highest accuracy rating of voice-to-text apps compared in this list. Additionally, this app allows users to customize specific industry language and commonly used terms to make their transcriptions more realistic.

Methodology

To find the best voice-to-text apps we compiled a list of the most popular options available. Next, we took a closer look at several factors, including the price, free trial options, accuracy rates, and more. Finally, we decided which providers were best suited for what our readers needed.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

• The 8 Best TV Streaming Apps of 2024
• The 7 Best Senior Cell Phone Plans of 2024
• The 6 Best Antivirus Apps for iPhones in 2024
• 2024's Best Budget-Friendly Phone Plans
• Best LinkedIn Learning Courses
• The 5 Best Translation Apps of 2024
• The 10 Best Online Photo Printing Services
• The 10 Best Writing Apps of 2024
• The 11 Best Note-Taking Apps for iPad and iPad Pro in 2024
• Best Online Coding Courses
• Best Visual Voicemail Apps of 2024
• The 6 Best Texting Apps for Android Tablets in 2024
• The 6 Best Offline Translators of 2024
• The 9 Best Travel Apps for 2024
• The Best Brainstorming Tools for 2024
• The 5 Best Walkie-Talkie Apps of 2024

Dictation-Powered Notes App.

Dictanote is a modern notes app with built-in speech-to-text integration, making it easy for you to voice type your notes in 50+ languages.

Trusted by 100,000+ users. Get it now for free.

Dictanote ratings Rated 4.4/5 out of 800+ reviews

Join 100K+ Dictanote Users

Companies and users from all over the world use Dictanote to work smarter and more productively.

I didn't think it was true but I believe this works better than any other app. Use it every day. It's fantastic.

Russell Sabella

This is a great web app to speak to text for my Windows Laptop. Easy to use and auto-saves your notes. I love it.

Really great app and so easy to use.I could use it right away without any training time and best of all, it recognises my Indian accent also.

Sanjay Rana

This is one of the best dictation apps out there I have to say this is a must for any writer or journalist who needs an accurate and powerful dictation app.

Music Factory Studios

This is a fantastic application, it works flawlessly on linux, and is a great alternative to dragon naturally speaking.

Darian Brown

I have been using dictanote for some time now and I can say that it really helps me in my day to day meetings. I don't need to save my work from time to time since the app do it for me already. More so, I can access my work anytime anywhere.

Louwelyn Andal

Voice Typing

Dictanote accurately transcribes your speech to text in real time. You can add paragraphs, punctuation marks, and even smileys using voice commands.

With over 90% accuracy, Dictanote performs better than most offline services including Dragon Naturally Speaking.

Multi-Lingual Support

Dictanote supports speech recognition in over 50+ languages and 80+ dialects.

Voice Commands

Use voice commands to insert punctuation, technical terms and to correct mistakes.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Use keyboard shortcuts to start/stop dictation and easily switch languages.

New Audio Scribe

Smart ai writing assistant.

Audio Scribe converts your voice notes into clearly summarized text using power of AI.

Dictate your messy thoughts. Audio Scribe transcribes your audio notes using a very high-accuracy model and rewrites the transcript into clear text. It automatically adds punctuations (like periods), removes filler words, repetitions, and 'umms'.

Learn More →

Questions & answers

Find tutorials & help guides in our documentation .

What are the system requirements to use Dictanote?

Dictanote works on the following platforms: * Desktop: Windows/Linux/Mac in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. You can install it as a standalone app * Android: in Google Chrome. You can install it as a standalone app * iPhone: Safari 12+ (only editing, no voice dictation support) Additional hardware: inbuilt/external microphone

Are Dictanote and Voice In different products?

Yes, Dictanote and Voice In are two separate products built by the same team addressing different use cases. Dictanote is a note-taking app with built-in voice-to-text integration. Writers use it to write their books, students use it to take notes, etc. Dictanote automatically syncs your notes to the cloud and makes them available on all your devices. Learn more about Dictanote . Voice In is a chrome extension that lets you use speech-to-text to type on any website in Chrome. Use it to type emails in Gmail, enter data into Teladoc, write blogs in WordPress, etc.

Can I convert audio files to text?

Yes, checkout Dictanote Transcribe . Transcribe lets you convert pre-recorded audio files to text.

How does Dictanote keep my data safe?

At Dictanote, we take your privacy seriously. All your notes are stored securely encrypted on Dictanote servers. We do not store or process any of your audio. We rely on Chrome's speech to text API to convert audio to text.

How do I manage my subscription?

To manage your account, go to Account Settings .

To cancel your subscription, on the same page click on “Cancel Subscription” within your account profile. Follow the instructions and the subscription will be cancelled immediately afterward. If you cancel before the end of your subscription period, you will still be able to use your Dictanote Pro account (up to the last day of the subscription).

I need help with Dictanote

Need help with Dictanote? You may find answers to your questions in our Help Center .

Also you can checkout the user forum or contact us via email at [email protected] , we’ll be glad to help!

We may take a few hours to answer your message depending on the time of the day. Usually we answer right away or under 24 hours.

Can I use Dictanote offline?

Dictanote does come up offline-support. You can access and edit your notes while offline. Dictation requires a working internet connection .

Try Dictanote Now

Search results for

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.

10 best dictation apps for Android to transcribe audio to text

Published on August 27, 2023

Dictation is a niche, but important function. After all, your voice is a lot faster than typing, pretty much all the time. Your mobile is perfect for this, given its portability. Of course, you’ll need a good app to use speech-to-text. Here are the best dictation apps for Android.

The best dictation apps for Android

Google keep, google translate.

• Live Transcribe

Microsoft Translate

Speechnotes, speechtexter, dragon anywhere, dictation websites, gboard (or most keyboards).

Price: Free

Gboard is a pretty good choice for voice dictation. It has a mic icon that you press. From there, just speak your sentences, and the app types it out. You can do this in a variety of apps, including note-taking apps, emails, or other text documents. We list Gboard because it uses Google’s speech-to-text technology. It works pretty well overall. However, most keyboards have a mic option that also works. It’s a good method for voice dictation because you can use your keyboard in almost any app.

By the way, this option is even better if you have a Pixel 6 or newer Pixel phone. These devices have Assistant voice typing , which is a much more advanced version of this app’s voice-to-text feature.

Google Keep is another good solution for dictation. You do need a keyboard with the functionality as well, though. The charm of Keep is that it keeps your audio file saved while your keyboard types out the transcription as you talk. You wind up with both the original audio file and also the transcription. It’s an excellent tool for this sort of thing, as many people use dictation for notes for the most part. Google Keep is a free option. Those looking for something a bit more professional can try Evernote as well.

Google Translate is a good option for dictation. You can easily and quickly translate between many languages, and a wide variety of them work offline. You can then copy and paste the translations wherever you want. It’s an excellent option for interviews where there is a multilingual element. Every translation stays on screen until you clear it. It can be a little tedious if you need to do a lot of translating, but it gets the job done.

Live Translate

Google’s Live Transcribe is an excellent way to transcribe things. You simply talk into it, and the app puts your voice into text. It has a variety of features, mainly for accessibility. That’s what the app is for, after all. However, it does save every transcription for three days on your phone. While it’s there, you can copy and paste it to your chosen note-taking or text document app. It may not work for super long applications, but otherwise, it works surprisingly well.

Microsoft Translate is one of the better dictation apps for the same reason as Google Translate. You can conduct things like interviews and get translations if the answers are in a different language from yours. The app boasts 70 languages, a two-pane mode in case both speakers need translation, and you can copy and paste stuff from the app into another one for future reference. Google Translate is the better option, but this is a good second option if Google isn’t doing it for you.

Price: Free / $16.99 per month

Otter is one of the most popular dictation apps on mobile right now. It’s technically a voice recorder app. You record voice audio, whether it be a work meeting or a school lecture. The app then gives you the option to listen and transcribe the audio. The free version of the app supports 300 minutes per month for free. Anything more serious and you need the subscription. There are also a bunch of other features, like collaboration features, the ability to identify speakers, and more. This is easily one of the best on mobile and one of the ones we’d recommend first.

Price: Free / $2.99 per month / $22.99 once

Speechnotes is an older option, but it still works decently well. This one is good for longer dictation. It boasts unlimited, non-stop dictation until you fill up your phone storage. Some other features include Google Drive backup, offline support, and controls for punctuation. There is also a home screen widget if you need it. The app has its ups and downs, a result of being around for so long. It’s also reasonably cheap with options for both a single and subscription price tier.

SpeechTexter is one of the better free dictation apps. It’s pretty simple to use. You simply open the app, hit the mic button, and start talking. This one supports more than 70 languages, decent accuracy, a custom commands dictionary, and you can share transcriptions if you need to. There aren’t a ton of features, but it is entirely free (with ad support), so it’s unreasonable to think it’ll compete with more expensive dictation apps. It still works well, even if it’s a bit anemic on features.

Price: $15 per month / $150 per year

Dragon Anywhere is made by Nuance, and is a professional-grade speech recognition service for your mobile device. It offers fast dictation, document creation/sharing, voice editing, cloud syncing, and seamless integration with Dragon Professional desktop services. Sounds fancy? It kind of is, which is why this app has no free version. You can get a 7-day trial, but the app costs $15 a month otherwise.

There are several free services online that can dictate and transcribe voice audio. Some examples include Dictanote, Amazon Transcribe , Speechnotes , Dictation.io , and many others. The services are usually free, at least to an extent, and you can access them from your mobile browser. Your browser needs mic permission, though, so be prepared for that. During testing, it seems most of them need Google Chrome to function properly so you’ll most likely need Chrome to make this solution work.

If we missed any great dictation apps to transcribe audio to text, tell us about them in the comments. You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists .

You might like

The best dictation software in 2024

These speech-to-text apps will save you time without sacrificing accuracy..

The early days of dictation software were like your friend that mishears lyrics: lots of enthusiasm but little accuracy. Now, AI is out of Pandora's box, both in the news and in the apps we use, and dictation apps are getting better and better because of it. It's still not 100% perfect, but you'll definitely feel more in control when using your voice to type.

I took to the internet to find the best speech-to-text software out there right now, and after monologuing at length in front of dozens of dictation apps, these are my picks for the best.

The best dictation software

What is dictation software.

If this isn't what you're looking for, here's what else is out there:

AI assistants, such as Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, and Microsoft's Cortana, can help you interact with each of these ecosystems to send texts, buy products, or schedule events on your calendar.

Transcription services that use a combination of dictation software, AI, and human proofreaders can achieve above 99% accuracy.

What makes a great dictation app?

How we evaluate and test apps.

Dictation software comes in different shapes and sizes. Some are integrated in products you already use. Others are separate apps that offer a range of extra features. While each can vary in look and feel, here's what I looked for to find the best:

High accuracy. Staying true to what you're saying is the most important feature here. The lowest score on this list is at 92% accuracy.

Ease of use. This isn't a high hurdle, as most options are basic enough that anyone can figure them out in seconds.

Availability of voice commands. These let you add "instructions" while you're dictating, such as adding punctuation, starting a new paragraph, or more complex commands like capitalizing all the words in a sentence.

Availability of the languages supported. Most of the picks here support a decent (or impressive) number of languages.

Versatility. I paid attention to how well the software could adapt to different circumstances, apps, and systems.

I tested these apps by reading a 200-word script containing numbers, compound words, and a few tricky terms. I read the script three times for each app: the accuracy scores are an average of all attempts. Finally, I used the voice commands to delete and format text and to control the app's features where available.

What about AI?

Also, since this isn't a hot AI software category, these apps may prefer to focus on their core offering and product quality instead, not ride the trendy wave by slapping "AI-powered" on every web page.

Tips for using voice recognition software

Though dictation software is pretty good at recognizing different voices, it's not perfect. Here are some tips to make it work as best as possible.

Speak naturally (with caveats). Dictation apps learn your voice and speech patterns over time. And if you're going to spend any time with them, you want to be comfortable. Speak naturally. If you're not getting 90% accuracy initially, try enunciating more.  

Punctuate. When you dictate, you have to say each period, comma, question mark, and so forth. The software isn't always smart enough to figure it out on its own.

Learn a few commands . Take the time to learn a few simple commands, such as "new line" to enter a line break. There are different commands for composing, editing, and operating your device. Commands may differ from app to app, so learn the ones that apply to the tool you choose.

Know your limits. Especially on mobile devices, some tools have a time limit for how long they can listen—sometimes for as little as 10 seconds. Glance at the screen from time to time to make sure you haven't blown past the mark. 

Practice. It takes time to adjust to voice recognition software, but it gets easier the more you practice. Some of the more sophisticated apps invite you to train by reading passages or doing other short drills. Don't shy away from tutorials, help menus, and on-screen cheat sheets.

The best dictation software at a glance

Best free dictation software for Apple devices

.css-yjptlz-link{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;outline-offset:1px;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentcolor;outline:1px solid transparent;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='inherit']{font-weight:inherit;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='normal']{font-weight:400;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='bold']{font-weight:700;} apple dictation (ios, ipados, macos).

Look no further than your Mac, iPhone, or iPad for one of the best dictation tools. Apple's built-in dictation feature, powered by Siri (I wouldn't be surprised if the two merged one day), ships as part of Apple's desktop and mobile operating systems. On iOS devices, you use it by pressing the microphone icon on the stock keyboard. On your desktop, you turn it on by going to System Preferences > Keyboard > Dictation , and then use a keyboard shortcut to activate it in your app.

Apple Dictation price: Included with macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Apple Watch.

Apple Dictation accuracy: 96%. I tested this on an iPhone SE 3rd Gen using the dictation feature on the keyboard.

Best free dictation software for Windows

Windows 11 speech recognition (windows).

Windows 11 Speech Recognition (also known as Voice Typing) is a strong dictation tool, both for writing documents and controlling your Windows PC. Since it's part of your system, you can use it in any app you have installed.

To start, first, check that online speech recognition is on by going to Settings > Time and Language > Speech . To begin dictating, open an app, and on your keyboard, press the Windows logo key + H. A microphone icon and gray box will appear at the top of your screen. Make sure your cursor is in the space where you want to dictate.

When it's ready for your dictation, it will say Listening . You have about 10 seconds to start talking before the microphone turns off. If that happens, just click it again and wait for Listening to pop up. To stop the dictation, click the microphone icon again or say "stop talking."  

As I dictated into a Word document, the gray box reminded me to hang on, we need a moment to catch up . If you're speaking too fast, you'll also notice your transcribed words aren't keeping up. This never posed an issue with accuracy, but it's a nice reminder to keep it slow and steady. 

While you can use this tool anywhere inside your computer, if you're a Microsoft 365 subscriber, you'll be able to use the dictation features there too. The best app to use it on is, of course, Microsoft Word: it even offers file transcription, so you can upload a WAV or MP3 file and turn it into text. The engine is the same, provided by Microsoft Speech Services.

Windows 11 Speech Recognition price: Included with Windows 11. Also available as part of the Microsoft 365 subscription.

Windows 11 Speech Recognition accuracy: 95%. I tested it in Windows 11 while using Microsoft Word. 

Best customizable dictation software

.css-yjptlz-link{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;outline-offset:1px;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentcolor;outline:1px solid transparent;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='inherit']{font-weight:inherit;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='normal']{font-weight:400;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='bold']{font-weight:700;} dragon by nuance (android, ios, macos, windows).

In 1990, Dragon Dictate emerged as the first dictation software. Over three decades later, we have Dragon by Nuance, a leader in the industry and a distant cousin of that first iteration. With a variety of software packages and mobile apps for different use cases (e.g., legal, medical, law enforcement), Dragon can handle specialized industry vocabulary, and it comes with excellent features, such as the ability to transcribe text from an audio file you upload. 

For this test, I used Dragon Anywhere, Nuance's mobile app, as it's the only version—among otherwise expensive packages—available with a free trial. It includes lots of features not found in the others, like Words, which lets you add words that would be difficult to recognize and spell out. For example, in the script, the word "Litmus'" (with the possessive) gave every app trouble. To avoid this, I added it to Words, trained it a few times with my voice, and was then able to transcribe it accurately.

It also provides shortcuts. If you want to shorten your entire address to one word, go to Auto-Text , give it a name ("address"), and type in your address: 1000 Eichhorn St., Davenport, IA 52722, and hit Save . The next time you dictate and say "address," you'll get the entire thing. Press the comment bubble icon to see text commands while you're dictating, or say "What can I say?" and the command menu pops up. 

Once you complete a dictation, you can email, share (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox), open in Word, or save to Evernote. You can perform these actions manually or by voice command (e.g., "save to Evernote.") Once you name it, it automatically saves in Documents for later review or sharing. 

Accuracy is good and improves with use, showing that you can definitely train your dragon. It's a great choice if you're serious about dictation and plan to use it every day, but may be a bit too much if you're just using it occasionally.

Dragon by Nuance price: $15/month for Dragon Anywhere (iOS and Android); from $200 to $500 for desktop packages

Dragon by Nuance accuracy: 97%. Tested it in the Dragon Anywhere iOS app.

Best free mobile dictation software

.css-yjptlz-link{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;outline-offset:1px;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentcolor;outline:1px solid transparent;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='inherit']{font-weight:inherit;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='normal']{font-weight:400;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='bold']{font-weight:700;} gboard (android, ios).

Back to the topic: it has an excellent dictation feature. To start, press the microphone icon on the top-right of the keyboard. An overlay appears on the screen, filling itself with the words you're saying. It's very quick and accurate, which will feel great for fast-talkers but probably intimidating for the more thoughtful among us. If you stop talking for a few seconds, the overlay disappears, and Gboard pastes what it heard into the app you're using. When this happens, tap the microphone icon again to continue talking.

Wherever you can open a keyboard while using your phone, you can have Gboard supporting you there. You can write emails or notes or use any other app with an input field.

The writer who handled the previous update of this list had been using Gboard for seven years, so it had plenty of training data to adapt to his particular enunciation, landing the accuracy at an amazing 98%. I haven't used it much before, so the best I had was 92% overall. It's still a great score. More than that, it's proof of how dictation apps improve the more you use them.

Gboard price : Free

Gboard accuracy: 92%. With training, it can go up to 98%. I tested it using the iOS app while writing a new email.

Best dictation software for typing in Google Docs

.css-yjptlz-link{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;outline-offset:1px;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentcolor;outline:1px solid transparent;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='inherit']{font-weight:inherit;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='normal']{font-weight:400;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='bold']{font-weight:700;} google docs voice typing (web on chrome).

Just like Microsoft offers dictation in their Office products, Google does the same for their Workspace suite. The best place to use the voice typing feature is in Google Docs, but you can also dictate speaker notes in Google Slides as a way to prepare for your presentation.

To get started, make sure you're using Chrome and have a Google Docs file open. Go to Tools > Voice typing , and press the microphone icon to start. As you talk, the text will jitter into existence in the document.

You can change the language in the dropdown on top of the microphone icon. If you need help, hover over that icon, and click the ? on the bottom-right. That will show everything from turning on the mic, the voice commands for dictation, and moving around the document.

It's unclear whether Google's voice typing here is connected to the same engine in Gboard. I wasn't able to confirm whether the training data for the mobile keyboard and this tool are connected in any way. Still, the engines feel very similar and turned out the same accuracy at 92%. If you start using it more often, it may adapt to your particular enunciation and be more accurate in the long run.

Google Docs voice typing price : Free

Google Docs voice typing accuracy: 92%. Tested in a new Google Docs file in Chrome.

Best dictation software for collaboration

.css-yjptlz-link{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;outline-offset:1px;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentcolor;outline:1px solid transparent;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='inherit']{font-weight:inherit;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='normal']{font-weight:400;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='bold']{font-weight:700;} otter (web, android, ios).

It's not as robust in terms of dictation as others on the list, but it compensates with its versatility. It's a meeting assistant, first and foremost, ready to hop on your meetings and transcribe everything it hears. This is great to keep track of what's happening there, making the text available for sharing by generating a link or in the corresponding team workspace.

The reason why it's the best for collaboration is that others can highlight parts of the transcript and leave their comments. It also separates multiple speakers, in case you're recording a conversation, so that's an extra headache-saver if you use dictation software for interviewing people.

When you open the app and click the Record button on the top-right, you can use it as a traditional dictation app. It doesn't support voice commands, but it has decent intuition as to where the commas and periods should go based on the intonation and rhythm of your voice. Once you're done talking, Otter will start processing what you said, extract keywords, and generate action items and notes from the content of the transcription.

If you're going for long recording stretches where you talk about multiple topics, there's an AI chat option, where you can ask Otter questions about the transcript. This is great to summarize the entire talk, extract insights, and get a different angle on everything you said.

Otter price: Free plan available for 300 minutes / month. Pro plan starts at $16.99, adding more collaboration features and monthly minutes.

Otter accuracy: 93% accuracy. I tested it in the web app on my computer.

Otter supported languages: Only American and British English for now.

Is voice dictation for you?

Dictation software isn't for everyone. It will likely take practice learning to "write" out loud because it will feel unnatural. But once you get comfortable with it, you'll be able to write from anywhere on any device without the need for a keyboard. 

And by using any of the apps I listed here, you can feel confident that most of what you dictate will be accurately captured on the screen. 

Related reading:

This article was originally published in April 2016 and has also had contributions from Emily Esposito, Jill Duffy, and Chris Hawkins. The most recent update was in November 2023.

Get productivity tips delivered straight to your inbox

We’ll email you 1-3 times per week—and never share your information.

Miguel Rebelo

Miguel Rebelo is a freelance writer based in London, UK. He loves technology, video games, and huge forests. Track him down at mirebelo.com.

• Video & audio
• Google Docs

Related articles

The 4 best online whiteboards for collaboration in 2024

The 4 best online whiteboards for...

The 9 best AI recruiting tools in 2024

The 8 best ChatGPT alternatives in 2024

The 15 best Google Docs add-ons in 2024

Improve your productivity automatically. Use Zapier to get your apps working together.

• Accessories
• Meet the team
• Advertise with us

Some people can type hell for leather, but we have to agree that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. How would it be if you could type as fast as you speak? Well, why think when you can execute! While iPhone’s native Notes app can handle your basic transcribing needs, it lacks added functionality.

So, here’s a list of the best speech-to-text apps for your iPhone!

• dictate2us Record & Transcribe
• Rev Voice Recorder & Memos
• Day One Journal

1. Evernote: Notes organizer – Editor’s choice

Evernote is a widely used application for note-taking. However, it serves multiple purposes like clipping articles, scanning documents, and also allows adding content (pictures, videos, audio, etc.) with notes.  

Open the virtual keyboard and tap the mic below the return key to dictate text. You can now dictate, and it’ll not only be converted but also sync across your devices.

If you’re a student, you can use the app to take notes, track them, and even create separate notebooks. Further, you can also bring people, projects, and ideas together with shared Spaces. This is especially helpful for businesses or if you are working on a group project. Evernote also has multiple other features and is free to use.  

• Scan and convert handwritten notes
• Transcription works flawlessly
• Numerous useful templates
• Note linking
• Excellent organization system
• Cannot save data offline
• Lean cloud storage
• Cannot sync with more than 2 devices with the basic plan

Price : Free (In-App Purchases start at $10.00)

2. dictate2us Record & Transcribe – Fastest transcription service

Dicatate2us is one of the leaders in transcription services, and you can get the audio transcribed within an hour regardless of the time, 365 days a year. You can record letters, reports, case notes, interviews, etc.  

All you need to do is save a recording which will get uploaded to the platform. A person, yes, an actual person, will sit and transcribe the audio, after which an editor will check if there are errors, and then the Google doc file will be sent to you.  

Dicatate2us can be downloaded for free, and you get a $15 free trial credit. After the trial ends, you are charged a minute rate depending on the turnaround time. D2U uses military-grade encryption, so you need not worry about confidential data being hacked.

• Military-grade encryption
• Fast turnaround time
• $15 Trial credit
• Can’t transcribe instantly

Price : Free ($15 trial credit) 

3. Transcribe: Speech to Text – Instant transcription

Some people repeatedly listen to their voice memos as reminders. However, listening to the whole message to get to something you want to hear might be a time-consuming event, and Transcribe comes in. It is among the fastest transcription apps. A tap of a button is all it takes to transcribe your audio or video files. 

It lets you transcribe any voice or video file into text. All is done with the help of AI. You get 15 minutes of the free trial, after which you will need to either upgrade to the Pro version or buy add-on hours. Transcribe Pro offers features like exporting files in TXT, PDF, and DOCX formats. You also get 5 hours of transcription every month and can save up to 50GB of files on its cloud.  

• Instant transcription
• Supports both audio and video files
• Supports multiple file formats
• Not great for longer duration transcriptions
• Users have reported frequent app crashes

Price : Free (In-app purchase starts at $4.99)

4. Rev Voice Recorder & Memos – Simplified design

Rev Voice is yet another transcription service that people have employed to transcribe audio. The company claims a 99% plus accuracy rate alongside fast turnaround times. You can get a 30-minute recording transcribed under 12 hours.  

The Rev Voice app has a clean and minimal user interface. Besides transcribing audio, it also lets you record audio, trim the audio, etc. You can use the recorder in the background, and it will automatically pause when you receive a call.  

While the application is free to download, Rev charges 1 credit for a minute of audio transcribed, and if you avail of their services through their website, it’ll cost you $1.50 for a minute of audio transcribed. You can also view the progress of your order, and once done, you’ll receive it in your email inbox and the app.

• Affordable rates
• Effortless editing
• High accuracy rate
• The subscription model would make the service more appealing
• Turnaround times are longer

Price : Free (1 credit costs $1.99)

5: Dictation: Speech to text – Translate your transcription

Dictation serves one purpose, converting speech to text, and it does the job quite decently. But there are instances where it might miss a few words. You can not only record audio in the app but also import audio files.

Further, translation is a unique feature offered by Dictation. It supports over 40 languages. All you have to do is tap a button to translate the transcribed text.

The app also has iCloud Synchronization. Once turned on, you can dictate text from your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, etc.

Besides, you can also share the text across several social media platforms like Twitter, WhatsApp, etc. However, the app is infested with ads. You will need to upgrade to the pro version to get rid of ads, costing $17.49 per year.

• Translation with support for 40 languages
• Works flawlessly across multiple iOS devices
• Cluttered UI 
• Infested with ads 

Price : Free (Pro version costs $4.99 per month)

6. Day One Journal: Private diary – Journalling made fun

If you want to get into the habit of maintaining a daily journal but have been postponing the idea for a long time because you find writing to be a tedious process, Day One Journal is here to help. You can add notes to your journal at any time of the day as the app provides speech-to-text services.

It’s not just words; you can also add videos and images alongside handwritten entries or drawings to your journal. However, this feature is limited to the premium version. You can also take notes from your Apple watch. If that was not enough, you could also send text messages or emails to your journals.  Pretty impressive, right?

• Easy to use
• Supports and integrates images, videos, etc., in the journal
• Can only be used as a diary

Price : Free (Premium costs $5.99 per month)

7. Otter: Transcribe voice notes – Best for businesses

Otter works flawlessly for transcribing text and is an excellent tool for personal use. But it shines more when put to use in a corporate environment. You can automatically take notes (through speech to text), save these notes, and share them with everyone on the team.

Another great feature of Otter is that it provides live captioning to the deaf or people with special needs. The app also lets users highlight text, and the punctuation is quite accurate.

The integration of Otter with iOS helps you start recording through Siri shortcuts and syncs notes with the iOS calendar, contacts, etc. You can also record with AirPods. The app offers all these features for a limited amount of time as a free trial, after which the Pro subscription offers 6000 transcription minutes per month. A great overall app for businesses!

• Caters to specially-abled users
• Great iOS integration
• The free plan is good for personal use
• Transcription is a hit or miss for longer audio files
• No support for images in notes

Price : Free (Premium Costs $16.99 per month) 

Wrapping up!

Well, this was my list of the best speech-to-text apps for iPhone and iPad, which are beneficial for both students and professionals. If you found the right speech-to-text app that suits your requirements, share your thoughts in the comments below!

• Best translation apps for iPhone and iPad
• Best voice changer for Mac
• Top alarm apps for iPhone and iPad
• Best voice recorder apps for iPhone

Consumer Technology and Motorcycles are the two things that excite Darryl the most. Why? Because Tech helps better people's lives, and solving people's problems related to tech is something he enjoys. And what about bikes, you ask? Well, drop a gear and disappear.

🗣️ Our site is supported by our readers like you. When you purchase through our links, we earn a small commission. Read Disclaimer .

• iPhone Apps

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related Articles

Apps gone free today on the app store, ipad and iphone apps on sale today, best ringtone apps for iphone in 2024 (free and paid), best wallpaper apps for iphone in 2024 (free and paid).

Speechnotes Dictation for Mobile

Speechnotes Dictation is available on mobile through our mobile apps. Here are links to get the app on the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android)

On a personal computer?

Transcribe App and Online Editor

Your personal assistant for note taking and transcribing. our voice transcription service saves you time and helps you focus on what’s important..

Automatic transcription

Transcribe is your AI-powered speech-to-text service. Use the Transcribe app and online editor to automatically generate notes from meetings, interviews, videos and more.

More than 120 languages

Turn audio and video into searchable, editable and shareable content in more than 120 languages.

Spanish (Spain)

Spanish (Mexican)

Spanish (Colombian)

Traditional Chinese

Variety of formats

Import files from any app or cloud storage system. Supported formats include mp3, m4a, wav, m4v, mp4, mov and avi.

Document export

Export transcribed text into a document with timestamps and polish it there. Supported formats include PDF and Microsoft Word.

Zoom integration

Record your Zoom calls and get meeting notes almost instantly.

Voice recorder

Record and review conversations in real time with our live transcription service.

Dim the lights when you work late into the night.

Collaboration tools

Collaborate with your colleagues by exporting voice notes or using Teams feature.

Bonus 5 hours of transcription time

Additional time credits every month.

Additional export formats

Export to TXT, PDF, DOCX, SRT and JPG.

Cloud storage

Up to 500 files of speech recording can be backed up in the cloud.

Synchronization

Access your documents from any device (iPhone, iPad, MacOS or a web browser).

Edit on your phone, PC or Mac

Proofread and polish the transcription on whichever device you prefer.

Priority support

Speedier replies and help when you need it.

Bonus 30 hours of transcription time

Ability to create teams for collaboration (up to 5 teams).

Up to 1 000 audio files with infinite storage time.

For podcasters

Transcribe podcasts into written notes.

For business

Get meeting notes in an instant.

For journalists

Transcribe interviews to get news out fast.

For academics

Save time on your academic research.

For students

Transcribe lectures and seminars.

What our users are saying

I’m a freelance writer who uses the Voice Memo app when conducting interviews. It would take me HOURS to transcribe what was recorded. And that wasted my time when I could have been writing the article. Transcribe has now freed up that time.

I am disabled and I’ve been looking for this exact technology for at least two years because I can’t type anymore. A lot of these transcriptions don’t work, but this one does. I’ve probably done 60 hours of transcribing audio memos checks and with with very few exceptions it was Word for Word perfect. And when you didn’t get the word right it was because I was mumbling, or what have you.

This converted my rambling voice memos directly into text for use in a word document. My audio quality was low: I recorded with my iPhone in my lap while driving on the highway so there is lots of background noise. Still, the imperfections in text are all from me stammering. Actually, the app cut out lots of ums and repeated words improving what I said. It still requires editing and correcting - mostly formatting - but really couldnt be improved much at all. This is mature technology. Also, the software interface is top notch, like google or even better.

Time-saver and amazing results! Thanks a lot for this help! I often have to work with texts in German, English, Italian.

Just used this app to transcribe a 24 minute interview (on Apple Voice Memos) with my dad, about our family history. Using this app vs. transcribing it myself has literally saved me hours. The transcription was good enough that all I will need to do is clean up a few minor “misreads”, and I can present a written version of this interview to my dad as a gift for Christmas. Thanks for a great app!

I am very pleased with this app. I use it primarily to transcribe short information videos. I purchase time in one hour increments which is suitable for my needs.

Experts talk about Transcribe

Best voice-to-text apps.

Voice-to-text apps can be very useful for busy professionals. If you're always on the go or you think faster than you can write, these special programs can increase efficiency and store your recordings safe and sound via the cloud.

The 6 Best Dictation Apps for iPhone

If the iPhone's built-in dictation feature doesn't cut it for you, here are a few good dictation apps for you.

10 iPhone Speech-to-Text Apps 2021

If you don't want to type long texts yourself, a transcription service will be the best solution for you.

Google Chrome Required

Please open dictation.io inside Google Chrome to use speech recognition.

Cannot Access Microphone

Please follow this guide for instructions on how to unblock your microphone.

Dictation is now publishing your note online. Please wait..

Speed is the rate at which the selected voice will speak your transcribed text while the pitch governs how high or low the voice speaks.

Speak Reset

Speechnotes - Speech To Text Notepad

1.2K ratings

Highest rated speech recognition editor on the Chrome store. Increase productivity for free.

Featured on ProductHunt, Techpp.com & other leading tech magazines. Loved by users thanks to its high level of accuracy, great features and ease of use. Powered by Google's Speech-to-Text engines & proprietary algorithms, to make it a business-class working tool. Although free, users find it to be a great alternative to the industry's leader Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Distraction-free clean design. Great both for dictation & regular typing Lets you edit speech results easily. Auto-saves everything. Great export options. One click email, print, google-drive upload and more. -- More: Speechnotes is a powerful speech-enabled online notepad, designed to empower your ideas by implementing a clean & efficient design, so you can focus on your thoughts. Designed to Inspire Creativity and Keep You Focused Features Built to Increase Productivity & Efficiency for both Voice Typing & Regular Key Typing For many of us, key-typing is slow and thus time-consuming. Speechnotes lets you type at the speed of speech (slow & clear speech). Speechnotes lets you move from voice-typing (dictation) to key-typing seamlessly. This way, you can dictate when convenient and type when more appropriate. You can also dictate and edit your text results right away, and continue dictating. No need to go through app modes or even stop dictation. Insert punctuation marks by speech (voice commands) or by a single click. Other features built for productivity for both type of typing are: Auto save that saves the document in real time upon any change, so you don't ever have to disturb yourself with it. Export to Google Drive (cloud saving) or download as a document to your computer. One click to email, or print your note. Automatic smart capitalization of letters at the beginning of sentences. No Login, registration, installation, or download needed. Works "right out of the box". Unlimited usage for free. Leading Technology Speechnotes is based on Google's high-end speech-recognition engines. Accuracy above 90% Health Advantages to Voice Typing Voice typing is one of the main recommended ways to minimize these risks, as it enables you to sit back comfortably, freeing your arms, hands, shoulders and back altogether. Who can benefit from Speechnotes? Anyone who is tired of ordinary key-typing might find Speechnotes useful. It might also be helpful specifically for people with difficulties in typing. Such difficulties could be of a result of physical condition, or simply not mastering the keyboard typing technique in an early enough age. In addition, people who type a lot as their profession or hobby might find Speechnotes very useful as long keyboard typing might be very tyring, and even have medical implications as side effects. Needless to say, transcribers (from students to professionals) will find Speechnotes super helpful, as they can listen to a recording and repeat the speech into the mic, to get Speechnotes to transcribe it for them.

4.5 out of 5 1.2K ratings Google doesn't verify reviews. Learn more about results and reviews.

Carlos Araujo Jul 2, 2023

Ana Loja Feb 18, 2023

interesting but does not give an offline version ...

The 7 Best Android Dictation Apps for Easy Speech-to-Text

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Do You Need to Be a Computer Wiz to Use Linux? 4 Misconceptions Debunked

8 apps apple killed with ios 18, ipados 18, and macos sequoia, the 5 coolest apple home features arriving with ios 18.

Whether you want to dictate notes while you're on the go, share verbal notes with friends and colleagues, or record a message for far-off family members, the Google Play Store has a voice-to-text app that will meet your needs.

Want to learn more? Here are the best speech-to-text and dictation apps for Android.

1. Speechnotes

The best feature of Speechnotes is arguably its punctuation keyboard. Lots of people find it awkward to dictate punctuation marks (for example, you typically have to say, "Hi Mum comma please pick up the kids").

The punctuation keyboard adds on-screen buttons for the most commonly used marks, thus allowing you to dictate faster and more naturally. It also offers emojis and symbols.

Other useful features include Bluetooth support, a home screen widget for instant dictation, and offline note-taking. The app also offers continuous recording. Unlike lots of other dictation apps, that means you can take long pauses between sentences while you gather your thoughts, and the app will keep listening.

Handily, SpeechNotes has also added support for automated Google Drive backups of your notes.

Download: Speechnotes (Free, in-app purchases available)

2. Voice Notes

Speechnotes is geared towards lengthy dictations, such as lectures or essays. Voice Notes takes the opposite approach—it specializes in taking quick notes on the fly.

The app offers two main ways of recording your notes. You can either use the speech-to-text feature to see a transcribed version of your notes on the screen, or you can save the audio file and listen to it later. Additionally, Voice Notes has a reminder feature. This lets you set a time for the nudge, along with the type of alert you want to receive. You can even create recurring reminders.

Finally, the app offers powerful organizational tools. They include customizable categories, colored tags, and the ability to import and export your notes.

Download: Voice Notes (Free, in-app purchases available)

3. SpeechTexter

SpeechTexter is a speech-to-text Android app that works both online and offline. The app uses Google's database, so if you want to use the offline mode, you'll need to download the necessary language packs.

The app supports over 70 languages and works pretty decently with most of them. In addition to basic dictation and speech-to-text, you can use SpeechTexter to create SMS messages, emails, and tweets. The app also boasts a custom dictionary; adding personal information such as phone numbers and addresses is easy.

Download: SpeechTexter (Free)

4. Voice Notebook

Voice Notebook is a full-featured speech-to-text app for Android. Its key features include a customizable list of auto-replaced words and punctuation, a voice-activated undo command, and the ability to import text files from file managers and Google Drive. The app also offers on-screen word and character counters for all your voice notes and dictations.

In-app purchases will unlock access to a power-saving mode, an always-on, non-stop dictation option, and Bluetooth support for transferring files.

Download: Voice Notebook (Free, in-app purchases available)

5. Google Assistant

Google Assistant deserves a mention in this category. It's not a pure productivity app like the first four on the list; it fulfills a different niche. The virtual assistant has many features you'll find useful , including location-based reminders, the ability to control your smart home devices, and a podcast player. We're more interested in the talk-to-text feature, though.

You can use Google Assistant to make verbal reminders, create lists with your voice, and even manage your diary. The Assistant also lets you use speech-to-text to add events to your calendar.

If you're not a fan of Google Assistant, you could try Amazon Alexa instead. The app, which has been around for a while, is also particularly useful for connecting with other Amazon products.

Download: Google Assistant (Free)

6. Voice to text

The simply named Voice to text is lightweight and easy to use. However, it has all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a speech-to-text app.

Because Voice to text supports continuous speech recognition, it's an ideal solution for long notes, essays, reports, and other lengthy documents. There is no limit on the size of the file you can create. The app offers custom keyboards, auto-spacing, auto-saving, and a way to edit the on-screen text while you are still dictating another part of the transcript.

Download: Voice to text (Free)

You might not immediately think of Microsoft's note-taking app as a dictation tool, but it's great for people who want to keep verbal notes and aren't interested in the speech-to-text side.

OneNote even comes with a special microphone widget that you can add to your home screen. To use the dictation widget, long-press any empty space on your home screen and go to Widgets > OneNote > OneNote Audio Note .

Of course, Evernote offers similar functionality. However, many of Evernote's best features require a subscription, while OneNote is free for all users.

Download: OneNote (Free)

Get Even More Productive With Android

If you're not used to taking verbal notes, you might find the transition jarring for a few days. However, once you become accustomed to the new routine, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Apps that offer speech-to-text on Android give you a faster and easier way to stay on top of your life. It's one of the handiest ways to type on your phone.

• Productivity
• Android Apps

Transcribe Speech to Text with Advanced AI

Boost productivity as SpeakApp AI swiftly and accurately transcribes, rewrites, and translates your spoken words in a single tap.

Voice note taking

Write emails, messages, blog posts with voice

Record and summarize meetings and lectures

Get SpeakApp for free

Trusted by 100,000+ users

Our users get more done faster. See what they have to say:

“I have to admit I’m impressed. The accuracy and ability to summarize, translate, and create bullet points from spoken content.”

Wade Warren

“This app is on point. Not even a single miss, best speech to text app I've come across!”

“I so enjoy a possibility to record different audio texts in English and get a decent transcription immediately! Works as a miracle! Even recognizes Estonian! Love it!”

Kristin Watson

“Transcribe perfectamente en tiempo real, y corrige manteniendo el espíritu de lo dicho.Tiene la posibilidad de cambiar la forma de escritura, de varias maneras.Muy recomendable!!”

Martina Martinez

“I am in the process of writing a novel. SpeakApp has helped me a lot in translating everything that is going on in my head and writing down the first features of the scenes that come to my mind. Then I arrange them and formulate them with details at the time of writing, so it deserves all the stars.”

Olivia Alden

Instant voice translation

How SpeakApp works

Transcribe with 99% accuracy

Record your voice and have it instantly transcribed into text. Whether you're capturing personal notes while on the move, brainstorming fresh ideas, or organizing your day, SpeakApp is there to streamline your thoughts into written form.

Instant voice to text

High-quality transcriptions

AI Length Adjustment

Transcribe now

Import recording from other apps

Have a recording in another app? Simply import it to SpeakApp and get instant transcription.

Transcribe voice messages from messengers

Transcribe from files and Voice Memos

Import from other apps

Import your recordings

Meeting summaries are now easier than ever

Record your discussions, and SpeakApp will provide you with concise summaries and bullet points. Imagine drafting emails with your voice on the go. Speak into the app, apply the email filter, and voilà – you get clean, professionally punctuated text ready for sending.

Instant summarization

Change tone and rewrite with AI

Draft email, tasks, any communication on the go

Start recording

Create blog post with your voice

Content creators, say goodbye to the hassle of typing out your blog posts. With SpeakApp, your spoken ideas are instantly ready for publishing, enabling you to create content effortlessly, wherever inspiration strikes.

Create content anywhere, anytime

Write tweets, blog posts, or articles with your voice

Rewrite with AI in one tap

Start creating

Translate your voice in 30+ different languages instantly

SpeakApp automatically detects your language and can transcribe it in the same language or instantly translate it into 30+ languages. Write professionally in a foreign language by simply speaking in your own language.

SpeakApp offers automatic language detection, allowing you to transcribe in your native language or instantly translate it into 20 languages. Effortlessly compose professional content in a foreign language by speaking in your native tongue.

Auto-Detect Language

Grammar-Perfect Translations

Easy Language Switch

Get your translations

Who is it for?

We built our app for many use-cases

Everyday Users

Turn voice into text for notes, tasks, or messages on the go, keeping life organized and clear.

Professionals

Boost productivity with voice-driven emails and meeting notes, ensuring every word counts.

Content Creators

From thought to published content, speak your ideas into existence wherever inspiration strikes.

Students & Learners

Capture lectures and study materials with ease, focusing on learning, and not just note-taking.

Consultants & Coaches

Document client details accurately and quickly, improving your services and saving time.

Legal Practitioners

Lawyers & Paralegals transform consultations and legal proceedings into searchable text.

Private by design

Capturing things you say and write means trust and privacy are more important than anything else.

See our privacy policy

Stored locally

For your privacy, all of the recordings are stored locally on your phone. No one else can access them except you!

All server communication for transcription purposes is encrypted and transcription is not stored server-side.

Simple Data Management

You can delete all of your recordings in one tap from the app’s settings.

Case studies

Why people love SpeakApp

University lecture transcriber.

“I love this app, very useful for studying at university! I record my lectures and can listen to them while commuting. I also love that I can get not just a transcript but the bullet points with the most important information. This makes me a better learner and so much more effective when preparing to exams!”

Emily Williams

Record voice notes & summarize on the go

“I love this app. Easy to use. Great features. I love being able to get bullet points or a summary after it transcribes your conversations”

If your question isn't listed here, click through to the enquiry page and ask us directly. Our team will respond as a priority!

How to import recordings?

How to translate transcriptions?

How to delete a recording?

Improving transcription quality

Supported languages

How to export audio?

Got Questions?

See more FAQ

Try SpeakApp today

Transform your spoken words into instant, accurate text and handy voice notes. Whether you want to write content with your voice or capture and instantly summarize meetings, SpeakApp has you covered.

More resources

Transcribe Lectures

Voice Notes - Take Notes with Your Voice

Write Content with Speech To Text Technology

View SpeakApp AI Blog

Transform your voice into text with the power of AI

Legal Documents

Privacy policy

Terms of service

Cookie policy

[email protected]

© 2024 SpeakApp. All rights reserved.

Top 10 Speech to Text Apps for Transcribing Notes, Meetings, and Lectures

A lot of people like to make voice notes on the move. This is more convenient as it allows for a handsfree approach. You can take voice notes in the middle of anything, especially when you are working on something and want a quick way to record your thoughts more naturally. The real problem is that these voice notes can’t be edited later. For that, you will have to convert voice notes to text. That’s where mobile apps come into the picture.

There are plenty of apps for both Android and iOS that will let you convert voice notes to text irrespective of where you are at. These notes can then be edited and fine tuned based on further investigation, research, and thoughts. You can then organize these notes further with images, relevant links, more audio or video files.

Advantages of Voice to Text Apps

• Allows editing
• Add links, images, files to text notes

Disadvantages of Voice to Text Apps

• Voice to text can have some errors
• May require proofreading

1. Google Keep

Best for taking quick voice notes

Google Keep is an excellent note-taking app. What most people don’t know is that it is also useful for taking voice notes. When you record a voice note with Keep, it will automatically transcribe it into text for you. A new note will be created with the transcribed text and the voice note attached as a file at the bottom.

You can now edit the note to your liking. Keep also has a bunch of other features like drawing, adding checkboxes and labels, and so on and so forth. Really useful if you want to convert voice to text on the fly and keep both the formats saved in the cloud on a single note inside an app.

Google Keep is completely free with no ads whatsoever. It is easy and quick to use and the in-built search is powerful.

• Create text and voice notes
• Web, Android, iOS

Download Google Keep for Android | iOS

Also Read: Best Note-Taking Apps for iPad Pro 2019

2. Evernote

Best for taking audio notes and voice to text notes.

Evernote is another note-taking app that comes with the ability to take voice notes but there is a difference. You can’t take voice notes and convert it to text directly. Instead, you will have to use the built-in speech-to-text feature to convert your voice to text in real-time. If you create voice notes, those will not be converted to text notes.

This means you will have to choose between the two instead of having the ability to create and save both, as in Keep. This also means that your smartphone needs to have this feature.

• Create text or voice notes
• Web, Android,  iOS, desktop
• Can’t create both voice and text notes together

Download Evernote for Android | iOS

Best for converting your calls into text notes.

There are other ways and reasons to take voice notes and have a handy app or service to turn it in to text. For example, you are a lawyer or a doctor and want to convert voice calls with clients or professors into text. These can be handy, no? NoNotes is a popular iOS app that provides transcription and calls recording services for 75¢/min.

Useful for when you don’t have the time to take notes while you are on a call and having an important discussion. This will also save you a lot of time later if you are using a call recorder and taking notes yourself manually.

• Useful for voice calls
• Sharing sensitive data with the company

Download NoNotes: iOS

4. Dragon Anywhere

Best for taking voice notes and correcting it on the go

Dragon Naturally Speaking is probably the most famous speech recognition software available in the market right now. They have released mobile apps too and much like their desktop counterparts, Dragon Anywhere does a wonderful job of converting voice to text. It comes with a correction menu which makes editing text super fast and easy.

A recent version of the app has been found to carry some bugs, but the developers are working on it and should be fixed in the next version. The conversion is truly amazing. It also integrates with a number of third-party apps like GSuite and Evernote above among others. Pricing begins from $14.99/month.

• Leader in speech recognition
• Correction menu
• 3rd party app support
• Available on all platforms
• Editable text
• Current app version has some bugs

Download Dragon Anywhere: Android | iOS

5. Google Keyboard

Best for voice input while browsing on Chrome and YouTube etc.

Google Keyboard is one of the most popular apps in the market and comes with a number of features like built-in integration with Search, Maps, YouTube and more. One of the core features is speech-to-text recognition. Why use Gboard? Because it will not only work as a keyboard but also double as a voice to text translator.

I like to use Gboard because it works inside any app. It doesn’t matter which note app you are using, you can use Gboard to take voice notes and turn it into text on the move.

• Works in all apps

Download Gboard: Android | iOS

6. Speechnotes

Best for taking voice notes with a lot of pauses

Notice how some speech or voice to text apps stop listening to what you are saying the moment you stop speaking? Speechnotes solves this issue. You can now take longer breaks, pause frequently, rethink what you want to say, and then begin where you left off. Speechnotes will still take dictation and works flawlessly.

There is a handy special keyboard that you can use to input numbers or special characters while dictating in real-time. This is a time saver. You can use this app offline and edit text even when the dictation mode is still on. This means real-time editing. The app is free to use and there are no subscriptions. Just some ads that are not intrusive either.

• Longer pauses
• Unique keyboard input
• Not available on iOS

Download Speechnotes: Android

Also Read: 8 Best Voice Recorder Apps for Android 

7. Transcribe

Best for taking voice notes when the audio is not clear

Transcribe is for iOS users what Speechnotes was for Android users. There are some notable differences though. For example, you can subscribe not only voice but also video notes which opens up more ways to convert voice to text notes. This means you can now import saved files from your favorite cloud storage service.

Transcribe works really well and comes with no ads whatsoever. It is however paid and will cost you $4.99 per hour which is very expensive to be honest. The reason it is so popular is that it even works when the words are jumbled up or not clear. Some users have said that the app was able to convert voice to text with a lot of background noise.

• Works with low quality audio
• Supports video to text
• Cloud storage support
• Works on iOS only

Download Transcribe: iOS

8. iTranslate

Best for taking voice notes for travellers

If you are looking for a language translator that can convert voice to text in different languages, then iTranslate is one of the best apps you can get. With support for more than 100 languages, iTranslate will translate voice from one language or dialect to another and type it in for the other user to read in real-time. Useful for travelers who don’t know the native tongue.

Another useful feature is the ability to use the camera to translate text written on signboards. Don’t know what’s on menu? Either scan it using the Lens feature or call in the chef and ask him about today’s special. iTranslate will translate it in to English so you can order that weird looking dish!

• Convert language
• Supports 100+ languages
• Lens for written text

Download iTranslate: Android | iOS

9. Live Transcribe

Best for senior citizens with visibility issues

Next, the app is not a conventional speech to text app, it is an accessibility app designed for the disabled and the elderly. After granting the necessary permissions, the app sits in the accessibility menu and instantly starts translating once invoked. You can select a primary and a secondary language which you can switch with a tap of a button. Live Transcribe supports around 70 languages and can translate to any of them in real time. You just have to select a language in the settings to get started. The speech to text accuracy is great and it also censors curse words which is a nice addition.

Must Read:  Best Apps for Seniors living alone

Live Transcribe is in early stages and may not be available of all the devices right now. You can get it on the Play Store for free.

Install  Live Transcribe  (Android)

Best for transcribing YouTube and video lecture to text.

Voicea is one of our fav speech-to-text apps, so much so that we covered it in one of our  videos . It only supports the English language but it does support English accents like Ghana, Kenya, Philippines, India, etc. You can link your Google Calendar or Office 365 Calendar to automatically set a reminder in the app.

As you start recording with EVA (Voicea’s AI assistant), you can see the text appear on the screen and after you end the session, the audio clip is uploaded to the Voicea servers for detailed transcription. The  accuracy lingers around 90%  and it understands accents pretty well.  Punctuation is added automatically  by the app and after the transcription is processed by Voicea servers, most of the errors are removed.

Voicea keeps a log of all your transcripts and you can access those through the app. Although this service is meant for the organizations, it also offers free services in which you get a capped audio recording of 25 minutes/session, 150 minutes of transcripts/month. If you want to use it in your organization, you can check out their corporate plans.

Install ( Android  |  iOS )

Apps to Convert Voice to Text

Depending on your use case, you can use one or more of the above apps to convert voice to text. Whether you want to take notes or speak a foreign dialect, take dictation or convert phone recordings, there is an app for that on both Android and iOS that will help you reach your goals. So, which one are you using and why?

Gaurav Bidasaria

Gaurav is an editor here at TechWiser but also contributes as a writer. He has more than 10 years of experience as a writer and has written how-to guides, comparisons, listicles, and in-depth explainers on Windows, Android, web, and cloud apps, and the Apple ecosystem. He loves tinkering with new gadgets and learning about new happenings in the tech world. He has previously worked on Guiding Tech, Make Tech Easier, and other prominent tech blogs and has over 1000+ articles that have been read over 50 million times.

You may also like

How to get ipados 18’s math notes calculator..., 3 ways to fix usb debugging greyed out..., 6 unique ways to search your iphone photos..., how to roll back from ios 18 beta..., 3 standout features of calculator app in ios..., 7 home screen customization features on ios 18, 5 must-try new photos app features in ios..., 6 things iphone copied from android in ios..., will your iphone get ios 18 update check..., will your iphone get apple intelligence here’s why..., leave a comment cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Speech To Text - Transcription 4+

Ai dictation otter voice notes, designed for iphone.

• 4.5 • 4 Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

iPhone Screenshots

Description.

A professional speech-to-text software that supports quick conversion of recordings into text in dozens of languages. Experience features like simultaneous interpretation, video-to-text, audio trimming and editing, text-to-speech (dubbing), and more. [Speech-to-Text] - Real-time recording to text conversion. - Import voice memo audio files for text conversion. - Import recordings from third-party apps such as cloud storage, and convert them to text. - Convert video files (including movies, TikTok) to text. [Smart Correction] - Automatically adds punctuation, capital letters, and paragraphs. - Differentiates speakers (e.g., Speaker 1/2...). - Generates word clouds and summary keywords; click on words to jump to their occurrences. [Search and Playback] - Search text without browsing the entire audio file. - Supports adjustable playback speed. - Highlights sentences during audio playback. - Click on search words to jump to their playback position. [Edit and Correct] - Edit text to correct any errors. - Tag identified speakers. - Click on sentences to highlight them. [Convenient Export] - Copy to clipboard or share to other applications. - Export as WORD, TXT, PNG, or MP3 format. [Import and Sync] - Import audio and video files for text conversion. - Upload transcribed files to the cloud for storage and synchronization. - Upload files from other recording software. [Audio Trimming] - Supports trimming, splicing, splitting, format conversion, and adding background music to recordings. [Text-to-Speech/Dubbing] - Choose different voices and tones. - Adjust speech speed. - Add background music to enhance the dubbing effect. [Simultaneous Interpretation] - Real-time translation between dozens of languages. [Extract Audio from Video] - Extract audio from long and short videos with one click. - Convert MP4 to MP3 format. --- If you need assistance, please contact us through the customer service center within the speech-to-text app, and we will respond promptly. When confirming a purchase, payment will be charged to your iTunes account. Unless you turn off auto-renewal at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, the subscription will automatically renew. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal in your account settings after purchase. Subscription Agreement: https://www.luyingou.com/sub.html Terms of Service: https://www.luyingou.com/3user.html Privacy Policy: https://www.luyingou.com/3privacy.html

Version 5.1.0

New Version, More Powerful Features!

Ratings and Reviews

App privacy.

The developer, 嘉 王 , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Identifiers
• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese

• Weekly Subscription $2.99
• Lifetime VIP $29.99
• Monthly Subscription $4.99
• 【录音转文字】转文字高手,语音识别转换文字软件,录音视频识别 $0.99
• Quarterly Subscription $9.99
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

More By This Developer

ChatBot:Chat with AI Companion

You Might Also Like

录音转文字助手 - 语音转文字，视频转文字软件

语音转换文字 - 专业录音转文字&视频音频转文字工具

语音转换文字 - 专业录音转文字,会议记录助手

Transcription - AI Dictation

小鹿声文-录音转文字实时语音翻译

Best text-to-speech software of 2024

Boosting accessibility and productivity

• Best overall
• Best realism
• Best for developers
• Best for podcasting
• How we test

The best text-to-speech software makes it simple and easy to convert text to voice for accessibility or for productivity applications.

1. Best overall 2. Best realism 3. Best for developers 4. Best for podcasting 5. Best for developers 6. FAQs 7. How we test

Finding the best text-to-speech software is key for anyone looking to transform written text into spoken words, whether for accessibility purposes, productivity enhancement, or creative applications like voice-overs in videos. 

Text-to-speech (TTS) technology relies on sophisticated algorithms to model natural language to bring written words to life, making it easier to catch typos or nuances in written content when it's read aloud. So, unlike the best speech-to-text apps and best dictation software , which focus on converting spoken words into text, TTS software specializes in the reverse process: turning text documents into audio. This technology is not only efficient but also comes with a variety of tools and features. For those creating content for platforms like YouTube , the ability to download audio files is a particularly valuable feature of the best text-to-speech software.

While some standard office programs like Microsoft Word and Google Docs offer basic TTS tools, they often lack the comprehensive functionalities found in dedicated TTS software. These basic tools may provide decent accuracy and basic options like different accents and languages, but they fall short in delivering the full spectrum of capabilities available in specialized TTS software.

To help you find the best text-to-speech software for your specific needs, TechRadar Pro has rigorously tested various software options, evaluating them based on user experience, performance, output quality, and pricing. This includes examining the best free text-to-speech software as well, since many free options are perfect for most users. We've brought together our picks below to help you choose the most suitable tool for your specific needs, whether for personal use, professional projects, or accessibility requirements.

The best text-to-speech software of 2024 in full:

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the entries on our best text-to-speech software list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best text-to-speech software overall

1. NaturalReader

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

If you’re looking for a cloud-based speech synthesis application, you should definitely check out NaturalReader. Aimed more at personal use, the solution allows you to convert written text such as Word and PDF documents, ebooks and web pages into human-like speech.  

Because the software is underpinned by cloud technology, you’re able to access it from wherever you go via a smartphone, tablet or computer. And just like Capti Voice, you can upload documents from cloud storage lockers such as Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive.  

Currently, you can access 56 natural-sounding voices in nine different languages, including American English, British English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch. The software supports PDF, TXT, DOC(X), ODT, PNG, JPG, plus non-DRM EPUB files and much more, along with MP3 audio streams. 

There are three different products: online, software, and commercial. Both the online and software products have a free tier.

Read our full NaturalReader review .

• ^ Back to the top

The best text-to-speech software for realistic voices

Specializing in voice synthesis technology, Murf uses AI to generate realistic voiceovers for a range of uses, from e-learning to corporate presentations. 

Murf comes with a comprehensive suite of AI tools that are easy to use and straightforward to locate and access. There's even a Voice Changer feature that allows you to record something before it is transformed into an AI-generated voice- perfect if you don't think you have the right tone or accent for a piece of audio content but would rather not enlist the help of a voice actor. Other features include Voice Editing, Time Syncing, and a Grammar Assistant.

The solution comes with three pricing plans to choose from: Basic, Pro and Enterprise. The latter of these options may be pricey but some with added collaboration and account management features that larger companies may need access to. The Basic plan starts at around $19 / £17 / AU$28 per month but if you set up a yearly plan that will drop to around $13 / £12 / AU$20 per month. You can also try the service out for free for up to 10 minutes, without downloads.

The best text-to-speech software for developers

3. Amazon Polly

Alexa isn’t the only artificial intelligence tool created by tech giant Amazon as it also offers an intelligent text-to-speech system called Amazon Polly. Employing advanced deep learning techniques, the software turns text into lifelike speech. Developers can use the software to create speech-enabled products and apps. 

It sports an API that lets you easily integrate speech synthesis capabilities into ebooks, articles and other media. What’s great is that Polly is so easy to use. To get text converted into speech, you just have to send it through the API, and it’ll send an audio stream straight back to your application. 

You can also store audio streams as MP3, Vorbis and PCM file formats, and there’s support for a range of international languages and dialects. These include British English, American English, Australian English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Danish and Russian. 

Polly is available as an API on its own, as well as a feature of the AWS Management Console and command-line interface. In terms of pricing, you’re charged based on the number of text characters you convert into speech. This is charged at approximately $16 per1 million characters , but there is a free tier for the first year.

The best text-to-speech software for podcasting

In terms of its library of voice options, it's hard to beat Play.ht as one of the best text-to-speech software tools. With almost 600 AI-generated voices available in over 60 languages, it's likely you'll be able to find a voice to suit your needs. 

Although the platform isn't the easiest to use, there is a detailed video tutorial to help users if they encounter any difficulties. All the usual features are available, including Voice Generation and Audio Analytics. 

In terms of pricing, Play.ht comes with four plans: Personal, Professional, Growth, and Business. These range widely in price, but it depends if you need things like commercial rights and affects the number of words you can generate each month. 

The best text-to-speech software for Mac and iOS

5. Voice Dream Reader

There are also plenty of great text-to-speech applications available for mobile devices, and Voice Dream Reader is an excellent example. It can convert documents, web articles and ebooks into natural-sounding speech. 

The app comes with 186 built-in voices across 30 languages, including English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese and Korean. 

You can get the software to read a list of articles while you drive, work or exercise, and there are auto-scrolling, full-screen and distraction-free modes to help you focus. Voice Dream Reader can be used with cloud solutions like Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive, Pocket, Instapaper and Evernote. 

The best text-to-speech software: FAQs

What is the best text-to-speech software for youtube.

If you're looking for the best text-to-speech software for YouTube videos or other social media platforms, you need a tool that lets you extract the audio file once your text document has been processed. Thankfully, that's most of them. So, the real trick is to select a TTS app that features a bountiful choice of natural-sounding voices that match the personality of your channel. 

What’s the difference between web TTS services and TTS software?

Web TTS services are hosted on a company or developer website. You’ll only be able to access the service if the service remains available at the whim of a provider or isn’t facing an outage.

TTS software refers to downloadable desktop applications that typically won’t rely on connection to a server, meaning that so long as you preserve the installer, you should be able to use the software long after it stops being provided. 

Do I need a text-to-speech subscription?

Subscriptions are by far the most common pricing model for top text-to-speech software. By offering subscription models for, companies and developers benefit from a more sustainable revenue stream than they do from simply offering a one-time purchase model. Subscription models are also attractive to text-to-speech software providers as they tend to be more effective at defeating piracy.

Free software options are very rarely absolutely free. In some cases, individual voices may be priced and sold individually once the application has been installed or an account has been created on the web service.

How can I incorporate text-to-speech as part of my business tech stack?

Some of the text-to-speech software that we’ve chosen come with business plans, offering features such as additional usage allowances and the ability to have a shared workspace for documents. Other than that, services such as Amazon Polly are available as an API for more direct integration with business workflows.

Small businesses may find consumer-level subscription plans for text-to-speech software to be adequate, but it’s worth mentioning that only business plans usually come with the universal right to use any files or audio created for commercial use.

How to choose the best text-to-speech software

When deciding which text-to-speech software is best for you, it depends on a number of factors and preferences. For example, whether you’re happy to join the ecosystem of big companies like Amazon in exchange for quality assurance, if you prefer realistic voices, and how much budget you’re playing with. It’s worth noting that the paid services we recommend, while reliable, are often subscription services, with software hosted via websites, rather than one-time purchase desktop apps. 

Also, remember that the latest versions of Microsoft Word and Google Docs feature basic text-to-speech as standard, as well as most popular browsers. So, if you have access to that software and all you’re looking for is a quick fix, that may suit your needs well enough. 

How we test the best text-to-speech software

We test for various use cases, including suitability for use with accessibility issues, such as visual impairment, and for multi-tasking. Both of these require easy access and near instantaneous processing. Where possible, we look for integration across the entirety of an operating system , and for fair usage allowances across free and paid subscription models.

At a minimum, we expect an intuitive interface and intuitive software. We like bells and whistles such as realistic voices, but we also appreciate that there is a place for products that simply get the job done. Here, the question that we ask can be as simple as “does this piece of software do what it's expected to do when asked?”

Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar .

Get in touch

• Want to find out about commercial or marketing opportunities? Click here
• Out of date info, errors, complaints or broken links? Give us a nudge
• Got a suggestion for a product or service provider? Message us directly
• You've reached the end of the page. Jump back up to the top ^

Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!

John (He/Him) is the Components Editor here at TechRadar and he is also a programmer, gamer, activist, and Brooklyn College alum currently living in Brooklyn, NY. 

Named by the CTA as a CES 2020 Media Trailblazer for his science and technology reporting, John specializes in all areas of computer science, including industry news, hardware reviews, PC gaming, as well as general science writing and the social impact of the tech industry.

You can find him online on Threads @johnloeffler.

Currently playing: Baldur's Gate 3 (just like everyone else).

• Luke Hughes Staff Writer
• Steve Clark B2B Editor - Creative & Hardware

Xender review: the pros and cons of the popular file-sharing app

Copy My Data review: quickly transfer your content between devices

Why data security posture management is essential when deploying AI tools

Most Popular

• 2 The 7 apps you're paying for that iOS 18 could soon replace for free
• 3 There's a massive weekend sale at Best Buy: here are the 15 best deals worth buying
• 4 Digital jobs market has shrunk dramatically since the arrival of ChatGPT, but you can fight for your job
• 5 ChatGPT was down – here's what we know about the huge outage
• 2 Digital jobs market has shrunk dramatically since the arrival of ChatGPT, but you can fight for your job
• 4 Apple quietly released a hardened OS based on iOS and macOS to keep LLM inference tasks private
• 5 Sleep expert shares seven easy tips to boost your sleep, lift your mood and improve your self-control

If you can edit text, you can make videos.

Descript is the AI-powered, fully featured, end-to-end video editor that you already know how to use.