Table of Contents
People may find it hard to figure out which dictation software is best for them, so we tested several and chose the best Dictation Software for you to use. Voice-to-text software, also called dictation software, has come a long way and made a lot of progress. It is speech recognition software that lets you speak documents like articles, emails, commands, and notes instead of typing them. The words are then written down from what was said.
It can help people be more productive because people talk much faster than they type. Students, editors, professional writers, business executives, and just about anyone else who uses a computer often can save time with this kind of software. In this article, we talk about 14 of the best dictation software you can use to create content, articles, emails, and more by speaking instead of typing.
Best Dictation Software
Dragon Professional Individual
Most people agree that Dragon Professional Individual is the best dictation software on the market. The products made by Dragon are reliable, easy to use, and some of the most accurate on the market. Since we’ve used Dragon dictation software on our laptop, we can say that it’s the best of its kind. In a test with 300 words, the software got 299 of them right.
Deep learning technology and artificial neural networks are used in Dragon software, just like in most advanced dictation software. With these technologies, Dragon can change its transcription based on things like the amount of background noise, the speaker‘s accent, and even the tone of their voice.
Features
Pros
- Lifetime subscriptions so no recurring costs
- Best-in-class accuracy
Cons
- Expensive
Dragon Anywhere
The mobile dictation software from Dragon is so good that it deserves its own spot on our list. Dragon Anywhere is different from its desktop version in that it is not a one-time purchase but rather a subscription service. As you might guess, the mobile version of Dragon is a smaller version of the desktop software that can fit in your pocket.
Performance and accuracy are not changed much, if at all. Dragon Anywhere uses data from the cloud and deep learning algorithms to give mobile users a desktop-like experience. We also like that you can teach the software new words to make its vocabulary bigger and make sure it works for you and not the other way around.
Features
Pros
- Best-in-class mobile dictation software
- Add custom vocabulary
Cons
- Desktop software must be bought separately
Otter
Otter is one of the few pieces of dictation software that can come close to Dragon. This popular piece of software is one of the easiest to figure out how to use. It has a number of advanced features that set it apart from some of the providers at the bottom of this list. Speaker identification is one of the things we like best about it.
This is great for meetings or when a lot of people are talking at once. When the Otter software notices a change in the speaker. Otter also lets you record right from the app or add audio and video files that are already on your device. And unlike Dragon, an Otter subscription comes with a version of the software that you can use on your phone.
Features
Pros
- Both desktop and mobile support
- Competitive free-forever plan
- Import audio and video files
Cons
- Expensive
- Limited customer support
Apple dictation
All Apple devices come with free dictation software that is built in. It’s not the best dictation software in general, but it’s the last one on our list because it’s free and works well. On an iOS device, you can use the on-screen keyboard to get to the software, and on a macOS device, you can use a keyboard shortcut.
There is no need to install or set up anything. Just turn on the software and start talking. About 95% of the time, the software works as it should. But you can only dictate for short amounts of time at a time, so this software isn’t great for long texts or people who dictate all day long.
Features
Pros
- Free on Apple devices
- Works on any website
Cons
- Not as accurate as others
Braina
Braina is a popular speech recognition programme that lets you dictate with high accuracy in more than 90 languages. You can use the dictation software to control apps and transcribe text on any app or website. Braina is by far the best dictation software because it can accurately recognise your voice and learn from what you say.
The price of the lifetime version is also low enough that both small businesses and individuals can buy it. best for dictating text on any website or software that has a human language interface. There are three versions of the Braina dictation software. The free version has basic features like voice commands in English, text-to-speech, playing search voice and videos, and searching online information. You can download Braina from here.
Features
Pros
- Very accurate
- Android/iOS app available
- Supports many languages
Cons
- No free option
Winscribe
New Zealand is home to Winscribe, a company that makes software for taking dictation. The company Nuance owns this dictation software, which lets you review and transcribe documents on your phone. It also has workflow management for documenting and organising dictated text. It can be bought in the US, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
Winscribe is a programme for professionals that lets them manage their documents and recognise speech. When the staff uses the software, they can do more work. The price is reasonable for both small and large businesses. For one to nine users, the Winscribe transcription service starts at about $284 per user per year, or $24 per user per month. If you have a big team, you can get a discount.
Features
Pros
- Crammed with advanced features and settings
- 10GB free data allowance
- Unblocks US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, Disney Plus
- Good value with lots of plans and billing options
Cons
- No 24/7 or live chat support
- No security audit
Speechnotes
Screennotes is an online programme that lets you use your voice to type. Long texts can also be added with just one tap. It works with a lot of different languages, like English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Hindu, Urdu, Turkish, Bahasha, and many more. You can also pay $0.1 per minute for a professional transcription service.
Screennotes is an online tool for dictating text that is simple and easy to use. You can use it to dictate text on websites like Outlook and Gmail. The free version is the most basic one. The Premium add-free Chrome extension costs $9.99, and it has an extra feature that lets you dictate on any website.
Features
Pros
- Free functionality
- Works on Chrome and Android
Cons
- Lacks output formats
FAQs
Is Dragon better than Apple dictation?
Dragon NaturallySpeaking changes to match the words you use. Siri and the Google Android app that recognises speech don’t do this. Instead, they use a limited set of words. Dragon NaturallySpeaking for PC is much better at recognising speech than speech recognition on a mobile device.
Is dragon faster than typing?
Dragon makes high-quality documents 3 times faster than typing, so professionals can do more.
Is Dragon dictation free?
You can make templates, add your own words, and dictate your documents right away. Dragon Anywhere will automatically adjust to the way you talk. Get your FREE TRIAL for one week now! Trial turns into a $14.99/month or $149.99/year subscription.
Is Voice123 better than voices?
Voice123 has two paid membership options that cost less than Voices.com, but it’s impossible to say if they’re better or worse because auditioning is so personal. So, it’s hard to say that one is better than the other.