Dictate
$8/month, one plan
Our app. Hold a key and speak; polished text lands at your cursor. No models to download.
Alternatives · Apple Dictation
Apple Dictation alternatives, and whether you need one
Apple Dictation is free and good for short messages or notes. Longer work exposes its 30-second silence cutoff and uneven punctuation. Here is when to keep it and when to switch.
Where the built-in wins
Quick bursts
Keep it
Free. Built in. Nothing to install.
The silence cutoff
A short message finishes well before the roughly 30-second silence cutoff.
Punctuation
One spoken punctuation command is easy.
Fixing mistakes
One wrong word is a quick keyboard fix.
Where it types
It works well in native apps such as Notes, Messages, and Mail.
Where it strains
Real writing sessions
Replace it
The friction is per sentence, and it compounds.
The silence cutoff
Pause mid-paragraph for about 30 seconds and the session ends. No setting extends it.
Punctuation
Automatic punctuation can be uneven, so longer work often needs spoken commands or cleanup.
Fixing mistakes
False starts and wrong words add up across longer passages.
Where it types
Behavior can vary in Electron apps and web text fields.
The deciding question
Do you write for a living?
If the silence cutoff interrupts your work, a hold-to-talk app removes it. With Dictate, release the key and polished text lands at your cursor.
Keeping the free tool? Read our guide to dictating on a Mac for setup and commands, Mac dictation not working for fixes, or does Mac dictation work offline for offline details.
The ledger
Four alternatives, one honest line each
Wispr Flow
Subscription
Polished and available on Mac and Windows. It cost more than Dictate when last checked; verify current pricing.
Superwhisper
Subscription or lifetime
Runs on-device. You choose and download the models yourself.
VoiceInk
One-time license
Open source, local models, and one-time pricing. You manage the models and settings.
Dictate sends audio over TLS, transcribes it on our servers, then discards it. History stores text, never recordings. Superwhisper and VoiceInk can keep audio on your Mac.
Before you switch
FAQ
The questions the search box keeps asking about Apple Dictation, answered plainly.
Is Apple Dictation free?
Yes. It ships with macOS. Paid alternatives mainly remove the silence cutoff and reduce keyboard cleanup.
Does Apple Dictation work offline?
Supported languages can process on-device on Apple silicon. Other setups may use Apple’s servers. Dictate always needs a connection for transcription.
Why does Apple Dictation stop after 30 seconds?
It stops after roughly 30 seconds without speech, and macOS has no setting to extend it. If it never starts, check the microphone input and keyboard shortcut.
Do I have to say punctuation out loud?
You can say commands such as "comma", "period", and "new paragraph". Automatic punctuation exists for supported languages, but can be uneven. Paid tools handle punctuation automatically.
Is Dictate local, like Superwhisper or VoiceInk?
No. Audio travels over TLS to our servers, is transcribed, then discarded. History stores text, never recordings. For local processing, stay with Apple or choose Superwhisper or VoiceInk.
No silence cutoff.
One plan, $8 a month, cancel any time. A subscription you never used is refunded in full.