Compare Mac dictation apps
Straight answers on price, privacy and what each app is best at — with sources and the date we checked them. We make Sayburst, and we say when another app is the better fit.
Sayburst vs. the rest
- Sayburst vs Apple Dictation: is the built-in one enough?Sayburst vs Apple Dictation on Mac: Apple's is free and on-device for many languages; Sayburst adds hold-to-talk, real cleanup, your vocabulary and a safety net.
- Sayburst vs MacWhisper: dictation app or transcription app?Sayburst vs MacWhisper: MacWhisper is excellent for transcribing recordings and meetings; Sayburst is built for writing by voice in any app. How to choose, or use both.
- Sayburst vs Superwhisper: which local dictation app for Mac?Sayburst vs Superwhisper: both can dictate on your Mac offline. Superwhisper's AI modes need Pro at $84.99 a year or $249.99 lifetime; Sayburst is $29 once.
- Sayburst vs VoiceInk: two local, pay-once Mac dictation appsSayburst vs VoiceInk: both transcribe on your Mac and cost once. Prices, models, open source, AI cleanup and requirements compared, including where VoiceInk wins.
- Sayburst vs Voicy: Mac dictation, paid once or monthlySayburst vs Voicy for Mac dictation: Voicy is $8.49 a month or $260 lifetime on six platforms; Sayburst is $29 once, Mac-only and offline by default.
- Sayburst vs Wispr Flow: local dictation or a cloud subscription?Sayburst vs Wispr Flow: Wispr transcribes every dictation in the cloud for $12 to $15 a month; Sayburst transcribes on your Mac for $29 once. An honest comparison.
Alternatives
- Dragon Dictation for Mac is gone. Here's what to use instead.Nuance discontinued Dragon for Mac in 2018 and Dragon NaturallySpeaking is Windows-only. The best Dragon dictation alternatives on a Mac today, and what you'll miss.
- MacWhisper alternatives: for dictation and for transcriptionMacWhisper is great at transcribing files. If you want to type with your voice, need Windows, or want a different price, these are the best MacWhisper alternatives.
- Superwhisper alternatives for Mac: 6 apps comparedWant Superwhisper's local dictation without $84.99 a year or a $249.99 lifetime license? Six Superwhisper alternatives for Mac compared on price, privacy and cleanup.
- Voice In alternatives for dictation outside the browserVoice In only types inside Chrome and Edge, and Plus costs $59.99 a year. Here are the alternatives that dictate into every Mac app, with prices checked.
- Voicy alternatives: local Mac dictation without a subscriptionVoicy is $8.49 a month or $260 lifetime and transcribes online by default. Here are the Voicy alternatives for Mac, with prices and privacy compared.
- Whisper AI alternatives for Mac: models, runtimes and appsLooking for a Whisper alternative? Compare Parakeet, OpenAI's newer transcribe models, whisper.cpp and Mac apps that need no Python, with prices and tradeoffs.
- Wispr Flow alternative for Linux: what actually runs thereWispr Flow has no Linux app. The best Wispr Flow alternatives for Linux: hyprwhspr, Handy and nerd-dictation run locally; Voicy and Typeless offer paid Linux apps.
- Wispr Flow alternatives that keep your voice on your MacLooking for a Wispr Flow alternative without a subscription or the cloud? Free and paid-once Mac dictation apps, plus Wispr's cloud competitors, compared on price and privacy.
Pricing
- Dragon dictation pricing 2026: what Dragon costs nowDragon dictation pricing in 2026: Dragon Professional v16 sells for about $686 to $813 at US resellers, Windows only. What each Dragon edition is and a $29 Mac option.
- Superwhisper pricing 2026: Free, Pro and the $249.99 lifetimeSuperwhisper pricing: free plan, Pro at $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year or $249.99 lifetime, the 40% student discount, refunds, and what it costs over five years.
- Voicy pricing 2026: every plan and what 3 years costVoicy pricing: Pro is $8.49 a month or $82 a year, Lifetime is $260 and Team is $6.79 per user. What the free trial includes, 3- and 5-year costs, and a $29 Mac option.
- Wispr Flow pricing in 2026: what you'll actually payWispr Flow pricing: Pro is $15 a month or $144 a year, the free plan's weekly word caps by device, the 14-day trial, team plans, and what three years really cost.
Head to head
- Aqua Voice vs Wispr Flow (2026): price, features, privacyAqua Voice vs Wispr Flow: two cloud dictation apps compared on price, free plans, languages, team plans and what happens to your voice. From official sources.
- Local vs cloud dictation: where does your text go?Local vs cloud dictation compared on privacy, offline use, speed, accuracy and price, with a five-stage checklist for tracing where your voice and your text really go.
- MacWhisper vs Superwhisper: transcription app or dictation app?MacWhisper vs Superwhisper compared on price, dictation, file transcription, meetings and platforms. Which Mac speech-to-text app fits your work, from official sources.
- MacWhisper vs VoiceInk: which local speech-to-text app to buyMacWhisper vs VoiceInk: both transcribe on your Mac and sell one-time licenses. One is built for recordings, one for dictation. Price, features and which to pick.
- MacWhisper vs Voicy vs Superwhisper: which Mac app fits youMacWhisper vs Voicy vs Superwhisper compared on price, platforms, offline use and what each is built for, with official facts checked October 31, 2026.
- MacWhisper vs Wispr Flow: transcription app or dictation app?MacWhisper vs Wispr Flow: one transcribes files on your Mac for €64 once, the other is cloud dictation for $15 a month. What each does best, checked October 31, 2026.
- Monologue vs Wispr Flow: which dictation app should you pick?Monologue vs Wispr Flow: same $15 a month, different reach. Platforms, free tiers, offline use, notes and team plans, from official sites checked October 31, 2026.
- Spokenly vs Wispr Flow: free local models or a cloud plan?Spokenly vs Wispr Flow on Mac: Spokenly's local models are free and offline; Wispr Flow is cloud-only at $12–15 a month. Price, privacy and platforms compared.
- Superwhisper vs Apple Dictation: is the upgrade worth it?Superwhisper vs Apple Dictation on a Mac: what the free built-in tool already does, what Superwhisper's free and Pro plans add, and who should switch.
- Superwhisper vs Aqua Voice: local models or a cloud model?Superwhisper vs Aqua Voice compared on price, offline use, privacy and features. One runs models on your Mac, the other streams to its own cloud model.
- Superwhisper vs Spokenly: which free local dictation app wins?Superwhisper vs Spokenly: both offer free local dictation on Mac. We compare free plans, Pro prices, one-time options, platforms and features.
- Superwhisper vs Wispr Flow (2026): price, privacy and which to pickSuperwhisper runs locally and sells a lifetime license; Wispr Flow is cloud-only on a subscription. Price, privacy, offline use and features, side by side.
- Typeless vs Wispr Flow: two cloud dictation apps comparedTypeless vs Wispr Flow on price, free plans, platforms, privacy and features, from each company's own pages. Plus where Handy and a local Mac app fit in.
- VoiceInk vs Superwhisper: open source vs the bigger toolkitVoiceInk vs Superwhisper on a Mac: one-time price vs free plan and Pro, local models, cloud options, platforms and features, from each app's official pages.
- VoiceInk vs Wispr Flow: pay once and stay local, or subscribe?VoiceInk vs Wispr Flow: a local, open-source Mac app you buy once against a cloud subscription on every platform. Price, privacy, offline use and features.
- Voicy vs Apple Dictation: is a paid dictation app worth it?Voicy vs Apple Dictation on Mac: free built-in dictation against a cross-platform subscription. Price, privacy, offline use and platforms, from official pages.
- Voicy vs Aqua Voice: two cloud dictation apps, side by sideVoicy vs Aqua Voice compared on price, free options, platforms, offline mode, privacy and features, from each company's official pages. Plus a local Mac option.
- Voicy vs Braina: a dictation app or a voice assistant?Voicy vs Braina: a focused cross-platform dictation subscription against a Windows-first AI assistant with dictation built in. Prices, platforms and privacy.
- Voicy vs Dictation.io: an app or a web page for dictation?Voicy vs Dictation.io: a paid dictation app that types into any app against a free-to-open Chrome web page you copy text out of. Price, privacy and limits.
- Voicy vs Dragon Professional: which dictation tool fits?Voicy vs Dragon Professional v16 compared from official sources: platforms, Mac support, voice commands, offline use and pricing, plus a one-time option for Mac.
- Voicy vs Gboard voice typing: is a paid app worth it?Voicy vs Gboard voice typing: Gboard is free on Android and iPhone, Voicy is paid and also covers desktops. How they differ on privacy, cleanup and price.
- Voicy vs Google Docs voice typing: Docs-only or everywhere?Voicy vs Google Docs voice typing: what each does in Docs, voice commands, punctuation, browsers, privacy and price, from official pages, plus a Mac-native option.
- Voicy vs Handy: paid cross-platform or free open source?Voicy vs Handy, the free open-source dictation app: platforms, offline modes, models, price and who each one suits, from official sources, plus a Mac option.
- Voicy vs Just Press Record: dictation app or voice recorder?Voicy vs Just Press Record: one types your words into any app, the other records and transcribes on Apple devices. Platforms, prices and best uses compared.
- Voicy vs MacWhisper: dictation service or Mac transcriber?Voicy vs MacWhisper compared from official sources: what each does best, local vs cloud processing, file and meeting transcription, and €64 once vs $8.49 a month.
- Voicy vs Monologue: which dictation subscription to pick?Voicy vs Monologue compared: platforms, offline transcription, modes, meeting notes and price ($8.49 vs $15 a month), from each app's own site, plus a pay-once Mac option.
- Voicy vs Typeless: AI dictation compared on price and privacyVoicy vs Typeless: two cloud AI dictation apps for Mac, Windows and phones. Typeless has a free weekly plan; Voicy has an offline mode and a lifetime license.
- Wispr Flow vs Apple Dictation on Mac: is the upgrade worth it?Wispr Flow vs Apple Dictation on Mac: what $15 a month buys over the free built-in dictation, from filler removal to styles, and where Apple's version is enough.
- Wispr Flow vs Dragon Dictation: modern AI dictation or the classic?Wispr Flow vs Dragon dictation: cost, platforms, Mac support and voice control compared. Dragon is a Windows license sold through sales; Wispr Flow is $15 a month.
- Wispr Flow vs Speechify: voice typing, transcription and readingWispr Flow vs Speechify: one writes what you say, the other mostly reads text aloud but now has voice typing and file transcription too. Features and prices compared.
- Wispr Flow vs Willow Voice: which cloud dictation app fits you?Wispr Flow vs Willow Voice: same $15 Pro price, different free tiers, platforms and AI writing tools. A sourced comparison, plus a local option for Mac users.
- Wispr Flow vs Windows Speech Recognition: is the upgrade worth it?Wispr Flow vs Windows Speech Recognition, voice typing and voice access on Windows: price, offline use, cleanup and PC control compared, with sources checked.
Reviews
- Dragon Professional 16 review: still worth it in 2026?Dragon Professional 16 review from Nuance's own docs: features, Windows requirements, about $686 to $813 at resellers, who it suits, and what Mac users should use.
- MacWhisper review (2026): free vs Pro, features and verdictMacWhisper review: what the free version does, what €64 Pro adds, how dictation and meeting recording work, and who should buy it. Based on official sources.
- VoiceInk review (2026): pricing, features and who it's forVoiceInk review: what the open-source Mac dictation app does, what its $25 to $49 licenses include, how local and cloud models work, and where it falls short.
- Voicy review: is the Voicy dictation app safe to use?Voicy review: where your audio goes, what its privacy policy promises, what it costs and who it suits. Is Voicy safe? Here's what its official pages say.
Best apps by job
- Best dictation apps with automatic punctuation (2026)Stop saying "comma" and "period". We compare dictation apps that punctuate and format for you on a Mac: Sayburst, Apple Dictation, Wispr Flow, Word and Superwhisper.
- Best dictation software for case notes and client summariesWrite case notes and client summaries by voice. We compare Sayburst, Beam Notes, Upheal, Apple Dictation and Wispr Flow on privacy, workflow and price for caseworkers.
- Best dictation software for occupational therapists (2026)Dictation for OTs, for your own notes and for clients: Sayburst, free Apple Dictation and Voice Control, WebPT's scribe, Jane AI Scribe and Heidi compared on a Mac.
- Best Dictation Software for Paralegals (2026)The best dictation software for paralegals: tools for drafting summaries and letters by voice, and for transcribing attorney recordings, on Mac and Windows.
- Best Dictation Software for People Who Hate Typing (2026)Hate typing? The best dictation software lets you talk and get clean, punctuated text in any app. Our picks for Mac, Windows and phones, with honest trade-offs.
- Best Dictation Software for Physical Therapists (2026)Dictation software for physical therapists: Mac apps, AI scribes and hospital tools for daily notes, evals and progress reports, compared on price and privacy.
- Best Dictation Software for Psychologists and Therapists (2026)The best dictation software for psychologists and therapists: dictate progress notes after sessions, or use an AI note tool. Prices, privacy and trade-offs.
- Best Dictation Software for Real Estate Agents (2026)The best dictation software for real estate agents: write listing descriptions, client emails and showing notes by voice on your Mac and phone. Prices checked.
- Best Dictation Software for Recruiters (2026)The best dictation software for recruiters: talk out candidate summaries, outreach and interview feedback in any app, plus AI interview notetakers, compared.
- Best Dictation Software for Social Workers (2026)The best dictation software for social workers on a Mac or agency PC, for case notes, home visit write-ups and court reports, and where your words go.
- Best Dictation Software for Speech Therapists (2026)The best dictation software for speech therapists writing session notes, evaluations and progress reports, from Mac apps to clinic scribes, with prices checked.
- Best Dictation Software for Teachers (2026)The best dictation software for teachers: give feedback, write report comments and answer parent emails by voice. Free and paid picks for Mac and Google Docs.
- Best speech-to-text software for customer support teams (2026)Speech-to-text for support teams: dictation for agents writing ticket replies, and call transcription for phone queues. Prices, platforms and honest fits.
- Best voice to text apps for founders and entrepreneurs (2026)The best voice to text apps for founders: dictate investor updates, sales emails and Slack replies on a Mac, capture ideas on a walk, and keep calls on the record.
- Best voice to text apps for product managers (2026)Voice to text apps for product managers: dictate tickets, specs and Slack updates on a Mac, transcribe user interviews, and keep stand-ups on the record. Prices compared.
- Best voice typing tools for legal writing (2026)Voice typing tools for legal writing on Mac and Windows: Dragon Legal, Word Dictate, Sayburst and more, compared on legal vocabulary, where audio goes and price.
- Best Whisper apps for Mac in 2026: dictation and transcriptionWant OpenAI's Whisper running locally on your Mac? The best Whisper apps for dictation and file transcription, compared on price, speed and features.
- Dictation for developers: the best voice tools on Mac (2026)Dictation for developers on a Mac: the best voice tools for AI prompts, PR descriptions, commits and reviews, compared on privacy, price and coding-specific features.
- Mac dictation apps with no subscription: 7 to buy once (2026)Tired of $12–15 a month for voice typing? Seven Mac dictation apps with no subscription, paid once or free, compared on price, privacy and what you actually get.
- The best bilingual dictation apps for Mac (2026)Bilingual dictation apps compared: which detect your language, which switch by hand, which translate, and which keep your voice on your Mac. Prices checked.
- The best Chrome extensions for productivity (2026)Ten Chrome productivity extensions worth installing in 2026, from passwords and ad blocking to tasks and focus, plus a Mac pick for typing less by voice.
- The best dictation apps for accented English (2026)Which dictation apps understand accented English best on a Mac? Compare Sayburst, Apple Dictation, Google Docs, Word, Wispr Flow and Superwhisper, plus setup tips.
- The best dictation apps for email on Mac (2026)Speak your emails instead of typing them. We compare Sayburst, Apple Dictation, Outlook Dictate, Wispr Flow and Superwhisper for Mail, Gmail and Outlook.
- The best dictation apps for Mac in 2026The best dictation apps for Mac, compared on where your voice goes, what you pay and how clean the text is. Nine voice-to-text apps, from free to one-time to monthly.
- The best dictation apps for Microsoft Word on Mac (2026)Word's own Dictate, Apple Dictation, Sayburst, Wispr Flow, Superwhisper and Dragon compared for writing Word documents by voice: price, privacy and cleanup.
- The best dictation software for chiropractors (2026)Finish SOAP notes between adjustments. We compare Sayburst, ChiroTouch Rheo, Jane AI Scribe, Heidi, Freed and Apple Dictation for chiropractic documentation.
- The best dictation software for consultants (2026)Consultants write all day: client emails, status updates, findings, proposals. Compare Sayburst, Granola, Otter, Wispr Flow and Apple Dictation for that work.
- The best dictation software for insurance agents (2026)Dictate activity notes, quote follow-ups and renewal emails instead of typing them. Sayburst, Apple Dictation, Wispr Flow, Superwhisper and Otter compared for agents.
- The best dictation software for lawyers (2026)Dictation for law firms and solo lawyers compared: Sayburst on the Mac, Dragon Legal, Philips SpeechLive, BigHand, Apple Dictation and Wispr Flow. Privacy, price, fit.
- The best Mac apps for developers (2026)The best Mac apps for developers: code editors, terminals, Homebrew, containers and a Git client, with prices, platforms and what each one is actually for.
- The best mail apps for Mac (2026)The best email clients for Mac compared: Apple Mail, Spark, Mimestream, Outlook, Superhuman, Canary, Airmail and Thunderbird, with prices, platforms and who each suits.
- The best microphone for dictation on a Mac (2026)The best microphone for dictation depends on your room, not your budget. Nine picks from free to $497, prices from each maker's site, plus a 10-minute mic test.
- The best offline speech-to-text apps for Mac (2026)Offline speech to text on a Mac: which apps transcribe entirely on your machine, which models they run, what they cost, and how to check one really works offline.
- The best Spanish speech-to-text apps (2026)The best Spanish speech-to-text apps for Mac, Windows and phones: which ones keep your voice on device, which need a subscription, and which handle recordings.
- The best talk to text apps in 2026, by deviceThe best talk to text apps for Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android: what each does with your voice, what it costs, and which one fits how you write every day.
- The best transcription software in 2026, by recording typeThe best transcription software for interviews, meetings, podcasts and voice memos: which tools run locally, which need the cloud, and what each one costs.
- The best veterinary dictation software and AI scribes (2026)Veterinary dictation software compared: AI scribes that write SOAP notes from the exam, and Mac dictation for writing records yourself. Prices, platforms, trade-offs.