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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.

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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.

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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

Windows 11 Speech Recognition for free dictation software on Windows

Dragon by Nuance for a customizable dictation app

Google Docs voice typing for dictating in Google Docs

Gboard for a free mobile dictation app

Otter for collaboration

What is dictation software?

When searching for dictation software online, you'll come across a wide range of options. The ones I'm focusing on here are apps or services that you can quickly open, start talking, and see the results on your screen in (near) real-time. This is great for taking quick notes , writing emails without typing, or talking out an entire novel while you walk in your favorite park—because why not.

Beyond these productivity uses, people with disabilities or with carpal tunnel syndrome can use this software to type more easily. It makes technology more accessible to everyone .

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.

AI meeting assistants will join your meetings and transcribe everything, generating meeting notes to share with your team.

AI transcription platforms can process your video and audio files into neat text.

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

There are also advanced platforms for enterprise, like Amazon Transcribe and Microsoft Azure's speech-to-text services.

What makes a great dictation app?

How we evaluate and test apps.

Our best apps roundups are written by humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. Unless explicitly stated, we spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it's intended to be used and evaluating it against the criteria we set for the category. We're never paid for placement in our articles from any app or for links to any site—we value the trust readers put in us to offer authentic evaluations of the categories and apps we review. For more details on our process, read the full rundown of how we select apps to feature on the Zapier blog .

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.

I used my laptop's or smartphone's microphone to test these apps in a quiet room without background noise. For occasional dictation, an equivalent microphone on your own computer or smartphone should do the job well. If you're doing a lot of dictation every day, it's probably worth investing in an external microphone, like the Jabra Evolve .

What about AI?

Before the ChatGPT boom, AI wasn't as hot a keyword, but it already existed. The apps on this list use a combination of technologies that may include AI— machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) in particular. While they could rebrand themselves to keep up with the hype, they may use pipelines or models that aren't as bleeding-edge when compared to what's going on in Hugging Face or under OpenAI Whisper 's hood, for example. 

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, 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.

If you want the ability to navigate your Mac with your voice and use dictation, try Voice Control . By default, Voice Control requires the internet to work and has a time limit of about 30 seconds for each smattering of speech. To remove those limits for a Mac, enable Enhanced Dictation, and follow the directions here for your OS (you can also enable it for iPhones and iPads). Enhanced Dictation adds a local file to your device so that you can dictate offline.

You can format and edit your text using simple commands, such as "new paragraph" or "select previous word." Tip: you can view available commands in a small window, like a little cheat sheet, while learning the ropes. Apple also offers a number of advanced commands for things like math, currency, and formatting. 

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.

Recommendation: For the occasional dictation, I'd recommend the standard Dictation feature available with all Apple systems. But if you need more custom voice features (e.g., medical terms), opt for Voice Control with Enhanced Dictation. You can create and import both custom vocabulary and custom commands and work while offline.

Apple Dictation supported languages: 59 languages and dialects .

While Apple Dictation is available natively on the Apple Watch, if you're serious about recording plenty of voice notes and memos, check out the Just Press Record app. It runs on the same engine and keeps all your recordings synced and organized across your Apple devices.

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. 

To activate the computer control features, you'll have to go to Settings > Accessibility > Speech instead. While there, tick on Windows Speech Recognition. This unlocks a range of new voice commands that can fully replace a mouse and keyboard. Your voice becomes the main way of interacting with your system.

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. 

Windows 11 Speech Recognition languages supported : 11 languages and dialects .

Best customizable dictation software

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.

Dragon by Nuance supported languages: 6 languages and dialects in Dragon Anywhere and 8 languages and dialects in Dragon Desktop.  

Best free mobile dictation software

Gboard (android, ios).

Gboard, also known as Google Keyboard, is a free keyboard native to Android phones. It's also available for iOS: go to the App Store, download the Gboard app , and then activate the keyboard in the settings. In addition to typing, it lets you search the web, translate text, or run a quick Google Maps search.

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.

Gboard supported languages: 916 languages and dialects .

Best dictation software for typing in Google Docs

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.

Google Docs voice typing supported languages: 118 languages and dialects ; voice commands only available in English.

Google Docs integrates with Zapier , which means you can automatically do things like save form entries to Google Docs, create new documents whenever something happens in your other apps, or create project management tasks for each new document.

Best dictation software for collaboration

Otter (web, android, ios).

Most of the time, you're dictating for yourself: your notes, emails, or documents. But there may be situations in which sharing and collaboration is more important. For those moments, Otter is the better option.

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.

Not all meeting assistants offer dictation, so Otter sits here on this fence between software categories, a jack-of-two-trades, quite good at both. If you want something more specialized for meetings, be sure to check out the best AI meeting assistants . But if you want a pure dictation app with plenty of voice commands and great control over the final result, the other options above will serve you better.

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:

The best transcription services

Catch typos by making your computer read to you

Why everyone should try the accessibility features on their computer

What is Otter.ai?

The best voice recording apps for iPhone

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.

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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.

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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 .

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The Best Speech to Text Apps

Lee Stanton Lee Stanton is a versatile writer with a concentration on the software landscape, covering both mobile and desktop applications as well as online technologies. Read more February 9, 2024

Natural language processing (NLP) improves as technology advances, producing more accurate speech-to-text software. Most people prefer transcribing their notes to typing because it takes less time and facilitates multitasking. All you need to do is install speech-to-text software on your device, turn the microphone on, and start dictating.

But do you know the best speech-to-text apps you can use? This article reviews the seven best options currently available.

1. Braina Pro

Braina Pro is multifaceted voice-to-text software that operates three times faster than manual typing, giving 99% accurate text.

It can convert real-time dictations to text, write medical, legal, and science jargon without voice training, and double as a transcriber for recorded mp3 and mp4 files. Plus, it supports over 100 languages, giving you various choices.

Apart from converting speech-to-text, Braina Pro also acts as a virtual assistant. You can use customized verbal commands to make it perform tasks such as playing music, browsing the internet, and setting alarms.

Recently, Braina integrated the software with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and you can use it to write emails, blogs, and codes. Braina Pro is compatible with Windows 7 and later. It also has an Android and iOS version, which you can pair with your PC to give voice commands from your phone.

• Gives accurate text.
• Can act as a virtual assistant.
• Supports more than 100 languages.
• Doesn’t work offline.
• Subscription isn’t pocket-friendly.
• Only compatible with Windows, Android, and iOS.

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2. Dragon Professional

If you’re an individual or a business that has to maintain large volumes of speech-to-text records, you’ll find Dragon Professional by Nuance an ideal choice.

It employs deep learning technology to accurately convert real-time dictations and pre-recorded videos into text. After transcribing, you can use built-in voice commands to format and edit your text.

Before achieving high accuracy, Dragon Professional will need voice training. If the software doesn’t recognize the words you frequently use, you can import them into the system’s vocabulary.

Also, you can export a vocabulary list to share with other users. This software won’t be a struggle because it has a learning center to help you navigate the features seamlessly.

• Offers accurate speech-to-text transcriptions, especially after training.
• Can handle industry jargon.
• Feature-rich and great for different types of professionals.
• Expensive compared to other solutions.
• Requires voice training before accuracy improves.
• Resource-intensive and can slow your device.

3. Windows Speech Recognition

Most users don’t know that Microsoft Windows has an in-built voice-to-text in-built feature. You can access it by tapping the Windows key + H , and a microphone will appear on the screen immediately.

You’ll only need to open a blank document such as Microsoft Word or Notepad and tap the microphone to start recording. This software’s accuracy level might be lower, and you’ll also need to dictate the punctuation marks.

Windows Speech Recognition is compatible with Windows 10 and 11.  On Windows 10, it supports only English, while on Windows 11, you can use it for over ten languages. Note that you’ll need a stable internet connection for the speech-to-text processing to be successful.

• Free and accessible.
• Easily integrates with the existing operating system.
• Simple to use.
• Low accuracy level.
• Requires training.
• Frequently freezes if you speak fast.

4. Google Docs Voice Typing

Suppose you frequently use Google Docs to type your content. In that case, you can increase your productivity by using the Voice Typing feature in the Tools to transcribe audio text automatically in real time.

Apart from being easy to use, this speech-to-text feature is easily accessible because it’s compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS.

Google Docs Voice Typing supports multiple languages. The more you use it, the more it learns to provide more accurate text. This software is free, but you can’t access it offline. Also, it can pick up sound a few meters away, so you should ensure your background is noise-free when dictating.

• Open-source software.
• Easy to use.
• Fast and responsive.  
• Supports multiple languages.
• Unsuitable for accented voice and noisy background.
• Might not recognize industry jargon.

5. Apple Dictation

As the name suggests, Apple Dictation is a voice-to-text software built in Mac and iOS. Hence, it’s free, and you won’t need to download it.

It can process 30 to 40 seconds of dictation at a time, making it handy for short notes. However, to transcribe longer voice records, you can upgrade your Mac’s operating system to version 10.9 or later to access enhanced dictation.

The best part about Apple Dictate is you can use it without an internet connection. Also, it has more than 70 voice commands, giving you more control over typing, formatting, and editing.

You only need to tap the microphone icon on your iOS keyboard to begin dictation. On Mac, once you open an app to type text, click on the Edit menu and select Start Dictation .

• This tool is free.
• Accessible offline and online.
• It integrates voice command control.
• Handles 40-second dictations at a time.
• Unsuitable for long dictations.

6. Gboard Voice Typing

Gboard Voice Typing is a Google keyboard feature compatible with Android devices. You can use it on any Android app with a text input feature.

You’ll find a microphone in the top right corner when you open your Android keyboard. If you tap it, it will start voice typing as you speak. One unique feature about Gboard is that it gives you access to Google Translate’s latest version. So, you can dictate as you translate your text.

Although you can use this software offline, by default, the offline feature is disabled. To enable it, you should long-press the comma symbol on the keyboard until the setting gear appears. Tap it, click voice typing, and turn on the toggle for Faster voice typing .

It automatically starts downloading, allowing you to access Gboard Voice Typing offline.

• Translation feature.
• Limited functionalities.
• Not ideal for long dictations.
• Only compatible with Android devices.

7. Otter.ai

Otter.ai is compatible with Android, Mac, iOS, and Windows operating systems. Suitable for transcribing extended interviews, meetings, or lectures.

It employs advanced machine-learning algorithms to enhance accuracy. Also, you can expect the accuracy of your vocabulary and jargon to improve with continued use.

Apart from transcribing, Otter.ai can become your personal assistant to ensure you’re always in the loop. If you can’t attend meetings, it can participate on your behalf and type all the proceedings. In addition, it can recognize different speakers and insert time stamps when each speaker starts talking.

Otter.ai also allows you to import and export files and transcripts. For easy organization and accessibility of your files, it has a file sync feature compatible with Dropbox and Zoom Cloud.

• Enhanced accuracy.
• Compatible with multiple operating systems.
• It can’t work offline.
• You must pay to access advanced features.

Don’t Mistake Speech-To-Text Software for Transcription Software

In this guide, we have strictly discussed speech-to-text software. However, it is easy to conflate speech to text for transcription software. Below are some core differences.

Additionally, you may note that speech-to-text software relies on voice recognition technology to change spoken words into text. They are computational linguistics trained on massive datasets to recognize varying accents, speaking styles, and dialects. Also, they can analyze voice cues such as pitch and intensity.

The technology varies in features and efficiency, however. For instance, some have sophisticated algorithms with higher accuracy levels than simple ones.

Also, a few of the software we explored in this guide serve to convert audio to text like traditional transcription software, as well as real-time voice-to-text.

No More Typing

Technology is here to make our work easy and efficient. You can reduce the time needed to type and organize notes using the above speech-to-text tools.

Even if some of these tools are inaccurate, the time you spend editing is much less than the time you spend typing. You can also multitask as you type your notes.

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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
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Offline privacy transcription 4+

Transcribe speech to text, sarun wongpatcharapakorn.

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Offline Transcription provides a fast and privacy-safe way to transcribe audio, video, and podcast files. If you are looking for an app to transcribe - Minutes of meetings. - Classroom audio recording. - Create subtitles for YouTube videos. - Transcribe podcasts into text. - etc. ◼ Features: - No data leaves your Mac. Transcription happens locally without the internet. - Easy to use interface. Drag and drop + one click are all you need to do. - Supported formats: - Audio: mp3, wav, m4a, ogg, aac, and caf - Video: mov and mp4 - Exported formats: text, srt, vtt, and csv. - Transcribes multiple files at once. ◼ Supported 100 different languages The app can transcribe audio in 100 different languages: Afrikaans, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Assamese, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Bashkir, Basque, Belarusian, Bosnian, Breton, Bulgarian, Burmese, Catalan, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Faroese, Finnish, French, Galician, Georgian, German, Greek, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hausa, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Javanese, Kannada, Kazakh, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Latin, Latvian, Lingala, Lithuanian, Luxembourgish, Macedonian, Malagasy, Malay, Malayalam, Maltese, Māori, Marathi, Mongolian, Nepali, Norwegian, Norwegian Nynorsk, Occitan, Pashto, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Sanskrit, Serbian, Shona, Sindhi, Sinhala, Slovak, Slovenian, Somali, Spanish, Sundanese, Swahili, Swedish, Tagalog, Tajik, Tamil, Tatar, Telugu, Thai, Tibetan, Turkish, Turkmen, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Welsh, Yiddish, Yoruba Terms of Use: https://offlinetranscription.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://offlinetranscription.com/privacy/

Version 1.0.6

Minor bug fixes and improvements.

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Anything remotely long doesn't work.

I had it do something two hours long and it just repeated the same phrase over and over again, like it had just stopped working

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

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

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

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Top Offline Speech-to-Text Transcription Apps

Speech to text service offline is basically a computer program that uses Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to convert human voices into readable and editable texts. You can use an offline speech to text converter to add subtitles and captions to your video or dictate texts on NotePad, Word, and other text editors. So, whether you want to add subtitles or dictate texts, consider using these five voice recognition services.

In this article

Part 1: best 5 stt services you can use offline, part 2: why is transcribe stt often used online, part 3. faqs about speech to text service offline.

Let's quickly discuss the best offline speech to text converters. Of course, this rules out cloud-based services like Google Cloud.

• Windows Speech Recognition – Free/Inbuilt

If you're using a Windows 10/11, you don't necessarily need to install a speech-to-text program, as the OS comes baked with a voice recognition service. It's free to use and allows users to dictate texts into documents, chats, and other windows. All you need is a connected microphone and start dictating texts.

Interestingly, you can dictate texts in multiple languages using Windows Speech Recognition. It supports Spanish, English, Chinese, German, French, and Japanese. You can even train your PC to recognize your voice commands.

Let's take a look!

Step1 First, you'll need to enable the STT feature on your PC. To do that, plug in your microphone before searching and click “Speech Settings.” Now tap “Get Started” and follow the instructions to set up the speech recognition service.

Step2 Open an app that accepts texts. This can be Microsoft Word, Notepad, search box, and more. Then, click the Win + H shortcut to launch the STT tool on top of the window.

Step3 Click the Microphone icon to start dictating texts. You can use commands such as new line, no space, select word, select all, colon, semi-colon, and more.

• Wondershare Filmora 11 – Free (with watermark)/$49.99/year [need network connection]

Wondershare Filmora is a professional-grade video editor for macOS and Windows operating systems. In fact, you'll be surprised that the full version only costs $49.99/year. That said, Filmora 11 comes with a full-fledged SST service that's quick and super accurate. It uses Artificial Intelligence to auto-detect voices before transcribing them to editable texts.

Speaking of text editing, this speech to text converter allows you to customize the text to your preference. You can copy, delete, duplicate, and change the playback duration. And after extracting texts, you can download them to SRT format. Remember, Filmora 11 supports 16+ transcription languages.

Steps to convert speech to text with Filmora 11:

Step1 Launch Wondershare Filmora 11 on your PC and then start a New Project . Then, click Import Media to load audiovisual content and drag it to the editing timeline. Filmora supports all standard video formats.

Step2 Next up, right-click the video track and then choose Detach Audio. After that, select the audio track and click the Speech to Text button to launch the STT feature. Alternatively, right-click the audio track and choose Speech-to-Text.

Step3 Now select the transcription language. For example, you can choose English (US), English (UK), Italian, Japanese, French, German, etc. After that, choose whether to transcribe the entire timeline or a specific clip. Confirm the settings, and Filmora 11 will scan and transcribe the selected voiceover.

Step4 Finally, play the video to view the added subtitles. Double-click the text timeline to view and edit the text tracks. It's that easy!

• Sobolsoft – Free/$19.99

Sobolsoft is a simple speech-to-text converter that converts MP3 audio into readable and editable texts in seconds. With the program's free version, you'll get up to 500 minutes of transcription per month. Sobolsoft is relatively easy to use as you only need to upload your MP3 audio and click “Start Converting” to transcribe it. But remember that this program only has a Windows version. So, macOS users should stick to Filmora 11 .

Follow these steps:

Step1 Launch Sobolsoft MP3 to Text Converter on your PC and click Add MP3 File (s) to upload your audio file.

Step2 After loading audio successfully, click Start Converting to transcribe it to English, French, German, and other languages you select.

Step3 Now decide whether to copy the text to a clipboard or save the result as a .txt file. It's nothing complicated.

• Mac Dictation & Speech – Free/Inbuilt

What Windows can do, Mac can do if not better. Mac computers come with their own inbuilt voice recognition services. It's a keyboard dictation feature for dictating texts anywhere on your computer. You can dictate documents, messages, texts, search queries, and more.

In addition, it supports a host of dictation languages, and you don't need an internet connection to use it. Moreover, you can dictate any text length.

Step1 To begin using Mac's inbuilt STT feature, you first have to enable it. Click Apple > System Preference > Keyboard > Dictation. Tap On and then click Enable Dictation. You can also choose a dictation language beforehand.

Step2 Open a text editor on your MacBook and press the Microphone icon on the function keys row. When the active Microphone symbol appears, start dictating your text. Like the Windows versions, Mac's STT feature supports multiple voice commands.

Step3 After dictating enough content, open the dictation keyboard shortcut and click Done. All unrecognized texts will be underlined in blue.

• Live Transcribe & notification - Free

We can't wrap up this list without reserving a spot for at least one audio-to-text service for Android. With Live Transcribe & notification app, you can transcribe speech in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, and Japanese. It's a reasonably easy-to-use app. Just allow microphone permission and transcribe texts. You can also adjust the text size.

Below are the quick steps:

Step1 Install and run Live Transcribe & Notification on your Android phone.

Step2 Go to your device settings and permit the app to access your microphone. If successful, the app will tell you, “Ready to transcribe.”

Step3 Lastly, dictate your text, and you'll see the text on your mobile screen. Copy the transcribed text to your clipboard and paste it elsewhere.

Up to this point, we've discussed the best offline speech to text converters. In other words, you don't need any internet connection to transcribe audio with these programs. But one thing is sure; there are countless audio-to-text converters out there. So, why do most people prefer to use online speech to text converters?

First, online transcription services are free and straightforward to use. In most cases, you don't need to register or pay anything to transcribe texts. Just upload your audio or connect a microphone and start dictating or converting. After conversion, these apps will often let you copy and use the text anywhere on your device.

Another reason why online STTs are attractive is that you don't need to install anything to transcribe audio. While macOS and Windows systems come with their inbuilt STT services, these tools can only work with text dictation. In other words, you can't upload local audio and transcribe it. So, if you're in a hurry to convert audio to text, use the online converters.

But don't be so quick to dismiss the offline STT versions. You may need to convert a long audio into text often. Now, if you're using an online tool, you'll most likely get a text limit. On the other hand, offline tools allow you to dictate or transcribe unlimited audio durations. And without forgetting that you don't need any internet connection to do that.

How long does it take to transcribe speech to text offline?

Luckily, you don't need to wait for long to convert speech to text, thanks to AI and ML (Machine Learning) technologies. You only have to connect your microphone and start dictating texts on your device. However, converting background audio to subtitle tracks can take a while, depending on the file size or length.

How accurate is STT conversion?

STT conversion is typically very accurate, whether dictating texts or extracting subtitles. However, be as clear as possible and use an external microphone to get the best results. And if you notice any errors, most programs would easily allow you to edit the text to your preference.

Which Audio/Video files can I transcribe on Filmora 11?

Filmora 11 generally accepts all standard video and audio formats. You can transcribe MP4, MOV, AVI, WebM, MP3, M4A, and more. Also, there's no limit on the transcription duration.

Final Words

Please refer to this list the next time you're looking for a speech to text service offline. Both Windows and macOS systems come with built-in voice recognition services that allow you to input texts by merely uttering a word. But if you want to convert a video or audio file to editable text, use Filmora 11. Give it a try!

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Related articles

Best dictation software of 2024

For easy speech recording

Best overall

Best for on the move, best for microsoft 365 users, best free for apple users, best for google users, best for multi-linguals, best virtual assistant, best for icloud users, how we test.

The best dictation software makes it simple and easy to record speech on your desktop or mobile device.

1. Best overall 2. Best for on the move 3. Best for Microsoft 365 users 4. Best value 5. Best free for Apple users 6. Best for Google users 7. Best for multi-linguals 8. Best virtual assistant 9. Best for iCloud users 10. FAQs 11. How we test

It also allows you to speak instead of typing and converts your spoken words into text. This can save you a lot of time and energy and is very useful for anyone who might have difficulty typing for any period, such as those with RSI or a disability.

Although dictation software has been around since the 1990s, it was mostly seen as a gimmick due to low accuracy. However, technological advancements have made them more accurate and usable; you can now dictate text with accuracy levels of over 90%. 

The most popular office software, Word, comes with a built-in speech-to-text converter, and it's back engine has almost certainly been helped by Microsoft 's purchase of the Dragon software company, which leads the field when it comes to dictation software for all applications. Apple and Google also provide similar options for their software platforms.

However, there are other competitors worth looking at, according to your needs and budget. Below we list what we think are the best dictation software options currently available.

We've also featured the best speech-to-text software.

The best dictation 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.

1. Dragon Professional Individual

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

Dragon Professional Individual dictation software is widely recognized as the best in the business. Dragon products are reliable, easy to use, and among the most accurate available.

Having used Dragon dictation software on our laptop, we can attest to its best-in-class performance. In a 300 word test, the software got 299 words correct. 

Like most advanced dictation software platforms, Dragon software leverages deep learning technology and artificial neural networks. These technologies enable Dragon to adjust its transcription based on several factors, such as the amount of ambient noise, the speaker’s accent, and even the tone with which they speak. 

For businesses, several Dragon dictation products may be suitable. This is because Dragon has gone beyond merely offering one software package for all purposes, and has created dictation software custom-designed for specific industries. The most popular are Dragon Legal, Dragon Medical One, and Dragon Law Enforcement. 

The biggest downside of Dragon dictation software is the substantial cost for a license. However, Nuance are currently offering 12-months' access to Dragon Anywhere at no extra cost with any purchase of Dragon Home or Dragon Professional Individual.

Read our full Dragon Professional Individual review .

• ^ Back to the top

2. Dragon Anywhere

So powerful is Dragon’s mobile dictation software that it deserves its own spot on our list. Unlike its desktop counterpart, Dragon Anywhere is purchased through an ongoing subscription, rather than a one-off purchase.

As you might expect, the mobile version of Dragon is a pocket-sized version of the desktop software. There is little if any compromise on performance or accuracy. Dragon Anywhere uses cloud-based datasets and deep learning algorithms to provide a desktop experience on mobile.

Another feature we like is the ability to teach the software new words, expand its vocabulary, and ensure that it works for you, not the other way around. This makes using Dragon Anywhere a stress-free experience.  

One of our only complaints about the platform is that you can only dictate text from within the app. If you want to move the transcribed text to another application, you’ll have to copy and paste it. This puts the platform at a disadvantage compared to in-built dictation software used in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or on iOS devices. 

Also note that Nuance are currently offering 12-months' access to Dragon Anywhere at no extra cost with any purchase of Dragon Home or Dragon Professional Individual.

Read our full Dragon Anywhere review .

3. Microsoft Word speech to text

Although not a standalone dictation software platform, we believe Microsoft Word’s dictation functionalities merit a spot on this list. Built directly into Microsoft Word , and included with all Microsoft 365 subscriptions, it is a powerful and accurate dictation tool. 

The platform relies on vast amounts of training data and artificial neural networks, meaning it is continuously improving its ability to transcribe voice to text. Having tested Microsoft’s dictation software, we’re confident it competes in accuracy and ease of use with the leading dictation software providers. 

There are few standout features to mention, but we see this as a strength. Microsoft Word’s dictation software is straightforward to use, with no setup or installations required. It is accessible directly from the Word application, and it only takes one click to begin voice typing. 

Several voice commands enable you to take control of the document. These include punctuation marks and formatting tools. 

A final thing we like about Microsoft Word’s speech to text software is its support for nine different languages, with many more in the testing stage.  

Read our full Microsoft Word review .

One of the few dictation software platforms that can come close to Dragon is Otter. This popular software package is one of the easiest to use. It comes with several advanced features that separate it from some of the lower-ranked providers in this list. 

One of our favorite features is speaker identification. This is ideal for meetings or for when multiple are speaking in succession. When Otter software identifies a change in the speaker, it will signal this in the transcribed text. 

Otter also allows you to record from directly within the app, or import audio and video files stored on your device. And unlike Dragon, an Otter subscription includes a mobile version of the software.

There are three Otter plans available. The free-forever plan is competitive and enables you to transcribe up to 600 minutes of audio per month. The Premium Plan includes 6000 minutes of transcription per month and a suite of premium features. A Teams plan offers all features mentioned above plus enterprise-specific features. 

Read our full Otter review .

5. Apple dictation

Apple’s built-in dictation software is available for free on all Apple devices. It certainly isn’t the best dictation software overall, but it’s earned the final spot on our list because it is free yet highly functional. 

The software can be accessed directly from the on-screen keyboard on an iOS device, or via a keyboard shortcut on macOS devices. There is no installation or setup required—just activate the software and begin to speak. 

The software is reliable, with an accuracy rate of roughly 95%. However, you can only dictate for short periods at a time, meaning this software isn’t ideal for long texts or for people who dictate throughout their day. 

Apple dictation is ideal for infrequent use or for those who want a free but reliable dictation solution.

6. Google Docs Voice Typing

Google Docs is a popular online world processor offered by Google, the tech giant best known for its search engine. It works just like Microsoft Word but online instead of a desktop app. It’s also free to use, so you don’t have to pay any extra fee for a dictation tool. 

Google Docs allows you to type with your voice. When you open the software, just select Tools > Voice Typing and give it access to your device’s microphone. Then, you can click the pop-up microphone button anytime you want to dictate text. During our test, it was very accurate and typed in the correct words that were dictated. Just ensure you speak loudly and legibly because little pauses and stutters can confuse it. 

All you need to use Google Docs is a working Google account. There’s no setup or installation required; you just have to sign in and open a new document. The drawback is that you can not use the voice typing feature offline. 

Read our full Google Docs review .

7. SpeechTexter

SpeechTexter is a free tool that lets you dictate words and convert your voice into text for easy note-taking. You can access it online or download the Android app. There’s no desktop app or app for Apple devices like the iPhone and iPad, which is a drawback. 

One good thing about this tool is that supports many languages other than English. In total, it supports over 70 languages including ranging from English, French, and Chinese to less popular ones like Khmer, Sinhala, and Sundanese. However, we observed complaints from users that SpeechTexter is not as good at transcribing other languages as it does with English. This is not surprising because English is the most popular language globally, meaning more training data is available for the software to recognize English words. 

You’ll have to grant SpeechTexter access to your microphone to use it. Then, you can dictate words and automatically convert them to text. We tested it using English and it was very accurate. The slight flaw we noticed is that SpeechTexter added extra spaces between some words, which needed editing. 

Read our guide to using SpeechTexter .

8. Braina Pro

Braina Pro is a sophisticated speech recognition program that supports over 100 languages. You can dictate text to your device with ease, e.g., to fill out online forms or type on Microsoft Word. 

You can download the Android or iOS app for Braina Pro. It does not have a dedicated desktop app but, instead, you can turn your iOS or Android device into an external microphone for your desktop and dictate text. This dictation tool is very sophisticated and has high accuracy. It can work in noisy environments even though that isn’t ideal. 

Out of the box, Braina can recognize unusual vocabulary, which is helpful if you’re in a technical field where you use uncommon words. Even at that, you can train the software to recognize custom words and give it custom dictation commands, e.g., “New Line” = start a new line of text or “Space” = insert a space in the document. 

Unlike some other tools on this list, Braina Pro is not free. You have to pay $79 for an annual license and continually renew it or $199 for a lifetime license.

Read our full Braina Pro review .

9. Just Press Record

Just Press Record is an audio tool built specifically for iOS users. Transcribing is one of its main features, so you can easily turn your speech into searchable text. This software is user-friendly, having the kind of visually-appealing and smooth interface that iOS is known for. 

Once you launch the app, just tap the button to dictate your words and you'll automatically see them written. It supports over 30 languages, which is large but not as large as some other software on this list. You can set up custom voice commands for the app to prevent punctuation errors. 

One good thing about Just Press Record is that it syncs with iCloud , Apple’s popular cloud storage tool. Thus, you can access your voice recordings and transcribed text from any iOS device linked to your account. For example, you can dictate with your iPhone and switch to your iPad to edit the final text. 

Once you’re done dictating and transcribing your text, you can store it on your device or share it with other people through any app that supports sending audio or text. Likewise, you can keep it in your iCloud account for future use. 

Just Press Record is famous for its ease of use and sophistication. However, it is not free; you’ll have to pay $4.99 to download the app.

We've also listed the best text to speech software .

Which dictation software is best for you?

When deciding which dictation software to download and use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes free and budget software options may only provide basic options, so if you need to use advanced tools you may find a paid platform is much more worthwhile. Additionally, higher-end software can really cater for every need, so do ensure you have a good idea of which dictation features you think you may require.

To test for the best dictation software we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or as an online service. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used for different purposes and in different situations. The aim was to push each dictation software platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.

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

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6 best free audio-to-text converters for transcription on a budget

What type of content do you primarily create?

Manual transcription is time-consuming and requires intense focus. Thankfully, artificial intelligence (AI) technology has gotten to the point where you can now transcribe audio to text automatically in a fraction of the time, with impressive accuracy. Even better, many of the best AI audio-to-text converters out there are completely free. The only problem left is figuring out which software is best for you.

To help, we compiled a list of the best free audio-to-text software. For our selection process, we thoroughly tested many audio-to-text software options, considered online reviews, and reviewed discussions in niche forums where people regularly need transcription apps. We excluded paid tools with only a free trial and transcription-level restrictions. Let's get started.

TL;DR: Best audio-to-text converters in 2024

What is an audio-to-text converter.

Audio-to-text converters use AI to transcribe recordings or voice into text accurately and efficiently, even with nuances like accents and tone variations. They save time on manual transcription and streamline the process of transforming spoken content into written form, which helps with accessibility, boosts SEO, and makes it easy to repurpose audio and video as blog posts and other written content.

Audio-to-text software can help with:

• Transcribing meetings, interviews, conferences, podcasts, lectures, and customer service calls for documentation, reference, analysis, and training purposes
• Creating subtitles or captions for videos to enhance accessibility, engagement, and SEO
• Converting voicemails, voice notes, and interviews into text for better organization
• Creation of searchable archives for audio content, such as speeches or presentations
• Supporting individuals with hearing impairments by providing written transcripts of spoken content

What is the best tool to convert audio to text?

Short answer: Descript. Sure, you'd expect us to say that. But we really do believe Descript’s free audio-to-text converter is overall the best solution for quickly and accurately transcribing audio files.

Long answer: Choosing the best method for converting audio to text depends on the following:

• Needs and goals
• Budget and software pricing
• Ease of use
• Expected accuracy of the transcript
• Availability of additional features (e.g., editing tools, speaker identification)
• Integration with other software or platforms
• Supported file formats and languages
• Security and privacy of your audio content

Narrowing down the options based on the above factors will help you choose the best free audio-to-text software. But for this article, we'll focus on the tools that are best for someone looking for free options—and maybe willing to pay more for additional features.

Top 6 free audio-to-text converters

1. descript.

Descript offers automated transcription for both audio and video files, accessible through its desktop app for Mac and Windows or its browser-based editor. Drag and drop your audio files to convert to text in seconds. Descript supports 23 languages and boasts up to 95% accuracy. The tool transcribes audio verbatim, including pauses and filler words, but makes it easy to remove either with a click.

But Descript goes beyond mere transcription. It's a robust audio and video editor equipped with AI-powered features. Use its voice cloning or text-to-audio feature, Overdub , to refine recorded speech—perfect for correcting mispronunciations or adjusting pacing. Plus, you can effortlessly remove background noise and improve audio quality with just a click thanks to Studio Sound .

Transcribing any video and audio files on a computer.

• Free for up to 60 minutes of transcription per month
• Annual paid plans start at $12 per month

Unique features

• Detects 8+ speakers and labels them automatically
• Transcription glossary for custom dictionaries
• Multitrack transcription for synchronized recordings
• Automatic sync of the transcript to audio, including dialogue and sounds
• Cloud sync and storage up to 5 GB in the free plan
• Data security and privacy
• AI Actions for writing summaries, blogs, and much more
• Supports various audio file formats including WAV, MP3, AAC, AIFF, M4A, and FLAC
• No mobile app
• Not suitable for live transcription of online meetings
• Limited to 60 minutes of transcription per month in the free plan

What are people saying about Descript?

"Saved me so much time in transcribing: I use Descript for quickly and efficiently transcribing videos I've recorded. If I'd recorded an interview or off-the-cuff teaching, it used to take me hours to transcribe it, or I had to put it out without the accessibility features. Now, it does in seconds what it used to take me hours to do. I can include closed captions, transcripts, and audio-only files, which make my courses so much more accessible. ” –Shuna M on G2

2. Otter.ai

Otter is an audio-to-text tool that offers live and automatic transcription within seconds. Out of all the transcription tools we have listed here, it's the only one with a Chrome extension, an iOS app, and an Android app. It integrates seamlessly with platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. 

We found its transcription capabilities to be pretty accurate and it used proper punctuation as per the context of the message. However, it tends to exclude filler words from the transcript, making it challenging to discern the speaker's emotions during recorded calls.

• Basic (free plan): 300 monthly transcription minutes; 30 minutes per conversation; allows importing and transcribing of three audio or video files in a lifetime.
• Annual paid plans start at $10 per month.

Automatically transcribing meetings on platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.

• AI features for meeting notes, summaries, questions, and action items
• Speaker identification by name
• Real-time transcription and notes via the Otter app
• Real-time annotation (highlights, text notes, comments, and images)
• Exportable audio, text, and captions in the free plan
• Editable text and speaker tags
• Takeaways panel for annotations and action items.
• OtterPilot automatically takes and shares notes even if you can’t join a Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet meeting.
• Very limited free plan for transcribing audio files to text
• Supports only the English language

Fathom is one of G2 's highest-rated conversation intelligence solutions—that's a tool that helps businesses record, transcribe, and analyze conversations between their employees and customers. It’s not a traditional audio-to-text converter per se. But it instantly records, transcribes, and summarizes your Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams meetings, allowing you to concentrate on the conversation without worrying about taking notes. 

Sales teams and customer service representatives looking to simplify meeting documentation and extract actionable insights. Use it as a free Otter alternative for automatically transcribing your meetings, as there are no usage limitations on Fathom's free version.

• Free with no usage limitations 
• The Team Edition, Fathom’s paid tier, starts at $24 per user, per month when billed annually and provides additional features for organizational deployment and insights into customer calls.

Unique features 

• Supports seven languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Portuguese.
• Instant access to fully transcribed call recordings and highlighted moments.
• Automatic generation and synchronization of call notes to Salesforce, HubSpot, or Close CRM.
• Seamless integration with Slack for real-time sharing of specific highlights.
• Integration with various productivity tools like Google Docs, Gmail, Notion, Asana, and Todoist for easy sharing of summaries and action items.
• Auto-generates and syncs call notes
• Hosted and developed following security best practices, including end-to-end encryption and regular security audits.
• While the free version has no usage limitations, some advanced features are only available in the paid Team Edition.
• Limited to integration with specific CRM platforms and productivity tools.
• Transcribing is limited to seven languages. 

4. MacWhisper

MacWhisper is a free audio-to-text transcription tool for Mac devices running on Ventura (13.0 and higher). It uses OpenAI's Whisper technology and offers high-quality transcription. The app ensures privacy by performing the transcription on-device, making it ideal for audio-to-text conversion of sensitive information. It's free on the developer's Gumroad page and is also available in the Mac App Store as Whisper Transcription.

• Free with no usage limits 
• MacWhisper Pro: Starts at around $31 per license for additional features including batch transcription, system audio recording, ChatGPT integration, and translation capabilities.

People seeking fast and accurate transcription directly on their Mac, catering to diverse needs such as meetings, interviews, or educational purposes.

• Record and transcribe audio files seamlessly on your Mac
• Export transcripts in various formats: .whisper, .srt, .vtt, csv, dot, docx, pdf, and HTML
• Metal and GPU support for rapid transcription
• Supports 100 languages with accurate text transcriptions
• Automatic filler word removal
• Requires significant computer memory, which may cause lags on your computer
• Performance may vary on older Intel-based Macs due to limited testing
• Only available for Mac users
• Unavailability of automatic speaker identification

5. Google Docs voice typing

Google Docs voice typing is a built-in feature of Google Docs that allows users to transcribe audio input to text directly within the document. It offers a convenient and straightforward way to convert spoken words into written text.

Google Docs Voice Typing, which is part of Google's suite of productivity tools, is available for free to all users of Google Docs.

Individuals and professionals who need a simple, free, and efficient tool for transcribing interviews, meetings, or dictation directly into text within the Google Docs environment.

• Seamless integration with Google Docs: directly accessible within the document—no extra software needed
• Transcribes audio input into text instantly, enabling immediate feedback and editing
• Multilingual support for global accessibility
• Edit and format text within Google Docs, including punctuation and styling
• Control formatting and editing with voice commands
• Requires internet for operation, limiting offline use.
• Transcription accuracy may vary due to factors like background noise and accent
• No automatic speaker identification

6. Windows voice typing and audio conversion using a virtual audio cable

Windows voice typing is Microsoft Windows’ built-in speech-to-text software. It provides a highly accurate transcript of your dictation and can be used without an internet connection—unlike Google Docs. 

You can use a combination of Windows’ dictation tool with a virtual audio cable to transcribe audio into text for completely free. This YouTube tutorial demonstrates how to use the Windows Dictation tool along with a virtual audio cable to achieve this without any cost or time limits.

Both Windows Voice Typing and virtual audio cables are freely available tools.

Windows users seeking a cost-effective solution to transcribe audio files like lectures, meetings, or video recordings into text.

• Windows voice typing has a simple interface for easy usage with live audio input.
• Offers real-time transcription of spoken words into text
• Virtual Audio Cable facilitates the routing of audio output from any application to the Dictation tool.
• The combination enables flexibility in capturing audio from diverse sources for transcription.
• While generally reliable, transcription accuracy may vary, and punctuation might be missed occasionally.
• Users may find configuring the virtual audio cable and sound settings slightly challenging.

Choosing the best audio-to-text converter for you

After you've weighed the pros and cons, test your favorite audio-to-text converters using a short audio clip to find the perfect fit for your specific needs and preferences.

Descript, for example, is not only useful for transcribing recordings, but it can also be a valuable tool for content creators, as it allows them to easily convert their audio and video content into written form for blog posts, YouTube descriptions, and social media captions. It's also a great option if you want to collaborate with others on your audio and video projects.

Want to give it a try? Sign up for a free Descript account now.

Audio-to-text FAQs

Which ai can transcribe audio to text for free.

Many AI-powered tools can transcribe audio to text for free, including Descript, Otter.ai, MacWhisper, and Google Docs Voice Typing.  

What is the best way to convert audio to text?

The best way to convert audio to text depends on your goals, what you need it for, and your budget. You can use AI-powered audio-to-text converters like Descript to transcribe audio and tools like Otter or Fathom if you need transcription software that’s integrated with meeting apps like Google Meet or Zoom. Alternatively, you can use the voice typing feature of Windows or Google Docs in combination with a virtual audio cable to convert audio into text for free. 

What is the most accurate audio-to-text converter?

Determining the absolute most accurate audio-to-text converter is tricky as the accuracy can vary based on factors like audio quality, language, and accent. Plus, many transcription tools claim to provide the highest accuracy. However, some converters with high accuracy are:

• IBM Watson Speech-to-Text

How do I make my voice-to-text more accurate?

To make your voice-to-text more accurate, speak loudly and clearly. Minimize background noise as much as possible to ensure the voice recognition software can focus on your voice. If you're using an external microphone, ensure it's good quality and positioned correctly for optimal voice capture.

In addition to these factors, choosing the right audio-to-text conversion software is equally important. AI-powered conversion tools like Descript are trained on a large amount of data to understand various speech patterns and accents to generate accurate text.

Is there a completely free audio-to-text converter with no limit?

You can use the combination of Windows Voice Typing or Google Voice Typing with a virtual audio cable to convert audio to text for free with no limit, though it's a bit complex to set up. MacWhisper is also a good option for Mac users who need simple audio-to-text software.

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Offline - Text To Speech

About this app

Data safety.

What's new

App support.

The 7 Best Text-to-Speech Apps for Android

Text-to-speech is a handy feature on your Android phone even if you don't have a disability. These text-to-speech apps take it to the next level.

Every Android user should keep a text-to-speech app handy. You don't need to have a vision impairment to enjoy the benefits. For example, they'll let you listen to the news on your morning commute, catch up with new text messages in bed, or even enjoy your favorite eBooks without looking at the screen.

But which Android text-to-speech apps are the best? Keep reading to find out.

1. Android's Native Text-to-Speech Feature

Android has lots of accessibility tools that make a phone easier to use. One of the tools is a native text-to-speech function. The feature has fewer customizable settings than some of its competitors, but you can adjust the speech rate and pitch and install additional languages.

To change the text-to-speech settings, head to Settings > Accessibility > Text-to-speech output .

Android's text-to-speech feature automatically works with other Google apps that offer a read-aloud feature. For all other apps, you'll need to enable Select to Speak in Android's settings menu, which you'll find at Settings > Accessibility > Select to Speak . To use it, select text in any app and choose Speak from the popup menu.

If you only want basic text-to-speech functionality, you can stop here. The other options are only worth exploring if you need more features.

2. Voice Aloud Reader

Voice Aloud Reader is easy to use and supports a few different ways of reading text. If the app from which you want to read text has a share feature, just send the content to Voice Aloud Reader using the native Android Share menu . This also works for on-screen items that have their own share buttons, like tweets and Facebook posts.

Similarly, if the text you want to read is selectable, you can use the Share button in the popup context menu.

The app also works with URLs. Just paste the site's (or article's) address into Voice Aloud Reader, and it will automatically parse and read the relevant text for you. It's intelligent enough to strip out the menus and other junk. You can even add text files (like DOC and PDF) directly into the app; it can open the files and read their contents.

Download: Voice Aloud Reader (Free)

3. Narrator's Voice

Narrator's Voice offers something a bit different. The usual features are here: it is an app that reads text from apps, the web, messages, and other sources.

However, the app also has a fun side. You can add various sound effects to the speech synthesis, such as echo, reverb, gargle, and choir. It features a wide selection of voices to choose from. Some tech favorites like Cortana and Siri are present, as are some of the developer's own creations like "Steven" and "Pink Sheep" (don't ask).

Additionally, Narrator's Voice lets you add your own text, which it will then run through its synthesizer. It makes the app a great way to add a voiceover to video narrations, slideshow presentations, and more. You can even save your audio output file as an MP3, store it offline, and share it with friends.

An in-app purchase removes the ads.

Download: Narrator's Voice (Free, in-app purchases available)

Talk takes a more minimal approach than Voice Aloud Reader and Narrator's Voice, but it is still one of the best free text-to-speech apps for Android. The app can import web pages directly from your phone's browser or read the text from other third-party apps. You can export all the audio files and save them offline in the WAV format.

It's important to note that Talk Free relies on your phone's pre-existing text-to-speech (TTS) engine to work. Most Android devices will already have Google's engine installed. If you have deleted your phone's TTS engine, you can re-download Speech Recognition & Synthesis free from the Play Store.

The benefit of using Google's TTS engine is its support for lots of languages. If Google offers the language, Talk can generally work with it.

Download: Talk (Free)

T2S is a text-to-speech app that offers one of the most modern interfaces out of the apps we've discussed so far.

The app's standout feature is the presence of a simple built-in web browser. It's not going to win any awards for the number of features it offers, but it lets you easily listen to web pages without worrying about copying and pasting URLs or using the Share menu.

T2S's copy-to-speak feature is also worth mentioning. It shows an on-screen popup button whenever you copy text into other apps. Pressing the button will make the app start reading the copied text instantly. As with the other apps on this list, T2S lets you save your audio readouts and share them with other people. The pro version removes ads.

Download: T2S (Free, in-app purchases available)

6. NaturalReader

With AI being all the buzz, we ought to include an AI-powered solution to this list. NaturalReader offers almost 150 AI voices in different languages and over 25 dialects so that you can customize your text-to-speech experience to your liking.

The app can run in the background, so you can use other apps while listening to content. Moreover, it supports over 20 document formats, including PDF, DOCX, and eBook formats.

Other than the usual text-to-speech features, you can also use NaturalReader to detect and read text from images. This feature can come in super handy if you deal with a lot of scanned documents.

This feature is not perfect yet, but it works. If you're not satisfied with the built-in image-to-text functionality, you can convert images to text using OCR apps and then use NaturalReader for text-to-speech.

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

We'll leave you with a slightly left-field choice: Pocket. You probably already know it as one of the best apps to save articles to read later when you're offline.

You may not know, however, that Pocket also has a text-to-speech reader. The feature supports multiple voices and languages and includes adjustable pitch and speed. It even supports background playback, meaning you can keep listening while you use other apps.

Because the text-to-speech reader is one of Pocket's native features, it's great when you want to listen to some long-form content on a journey when you are without the internet. Obviously, if you want to listen to text from all your apps, this isn't the right choice for you.

Download: Pocket (Free, premium version available)

The Top Text-to-Voice Apps

Hopefully, you now appreciate the benefits of keeping a text-to-speech app installed on your Android device. Once you become more familiar with their use, you'll start to rely on the apps a lot more. Don't believe us? Try a couple, stick with them for a week or two, and thank us later!

There's also an opposite way of communicating with your Android device, that is, speech-to-text. Such apps are particularly great for note-taking.

5 Of The Best Free Text To Speech Apps For Android And iPhone

It's no secret how reading on screen for long periods can eventually lead to eye problems. If you're someone who typically reads documents and books on your phone and computer, chances are you occasionally suffer from eyestrain and headaches. Fortunately, you now have the option to listen to your digital notes rather than read them, thanks to the rise of text-to-speech (TTS) apps. With the rise of generative AI, companies like Meta are even offering TTS tools that output human-like audio clips .

Text-to-speech software is essentially a tool that transforms any written content into spoken words. It reads the text aloud using a computer-generated voice — for instance, your phone's assistant may be able to read web pages for you — so you won't have to stare at your screen for hours on end. A TTS app is also a great assistant if you're multi-tasking, helping a kid learn how to read, or having speech or visual difficulties. If you're on the hunt for a TTS app for your Android or iOS device, we'll walk you through a list of five of the best ones.

A versatile text-to-speech (TTS) app that supports not only plain text but also other forms of media, Speechify is one of the most popular and downloaded TTS apps. It works like any standard text-to-speech software, where you type out your content and wait as it converts the text into speech.

However, on top of the manual input, the app features multiple import options. You can directly scan a physical book or paper document with your phone's camera, upload a picture of the document, paste a link to a web page, search for a web page directly within the app, and import a digital document from your computer, phone, Google Drive, or DropBox.

Speechify comes with handy features for the speech function itself, featuring at least 100 different voices and supporting languages other than English, such as Chinese, Italian, and Brazilian. If you upgrade to a premium account, you'll get access to the voices of Gwyneth Paltrow and Snoop Dogg. You also have the option to choose an offline voice, which serves as the default voice when you're not connected to the internet.

One limitation of Speechify is that you can't save the audio as an MP3 file. You can, however, share a link to the Speechify page, where you can see the content and play the translated audio. You can open the link in any browser without opening an account or signing in to one. Speechify is available both on Android and iOS .

NaturalReader

Featuring a clean and minimalist user interface, NaturalReader makes it straightforward to convert any written content to spoken words. The app consists of only three main tabs: Add, Library, and Account. The Add tab is where you import your content of choice. NaturalReader accepts manually imputed text, publicly accessible web pages, photos of books and notes, and digital documents from your local storage and cloud service. The Library tab stores the contents you've previously imported. And the Account tab lets you check and change app settings like subscription, daily usage limits, and reset button.

On top of the app's intuitive interface, what makes it stand out is the range of audio options it offers. You can select from numerous natural-sounding voices in English, German, Russian, and Portuguese among others. Even as a free user, you can still use the premium and plus voices for a limited duration every day (20 minutes for premium and five minutes for plus).

It's also free to customize the reading settings to skip certain texts, edit the pronunciation, adjust the reading speed, auto-scroll the document, and highlight the text as it's translated to speech. Additionally, you can download the audio as an MP3 file but only if you're subscribed to the Plus Plan.

A downside of NaturalReader, however, is that once you use up your limits for the premium and plus voices, you're stuck with the free voices that don't sound as natural. You can find NaturalReader on Android and iOS .

Spoken, available on Android and iOS , isn't your typical text-to-speech app. It's developed to serve as an alternative communication tool for people with speech and language difficulties, including aphasia, non-verbal autism, and stroke. With Spoken, such users can readily communicate with their families or caregivers by simply tapping words on the screen to form sentences easily and then letting their mobile devices do the talking.

The app is powered by two main features: the text-to-speech tool and a machine learning-based word prediction. The TTS feature comes with over 10 natural-sounding voices. You can modify the voice's speed and pitch to suit your taste. The word prediction feature, on the other hand, makes it quick for you to create sentences as it displays potential words you'll likely use based on the other words in the sentence.

This prediction capability is enhanced the longer you use the app. You can also personalize the prediction further by answering a few questions in the Settings tab, selecting a new theme for the predicted words (e.g., words for eating, school, medical, shopping), and changing the context based on your location.

Aside from tapping the words, Spoken includes the option to write/draw the sentence on the screen and type the sentence directly. If you frequently make the same phrase or sentence, you can also save it for future use. Unfortunately, Spoken's free account limits the words used to 600, so you'd need to upgrade to a premium account to enjoy the app.

Speech Central

For people who prefer listening to online articles instead of reading them, check out Speech Central on Android and iOS . The app features two distinct sections — Headlines and Books & Articles — to organize your content and keep all your headlines separate from the entire articles themselves.

The Headlines section is where you'll add the homepage of your favorite websites. There are already predefined sites here for your convenience, but you can also include your own. When you tap on a website in the Headlines section, Speech Central will show you that site's homepage and read aloud the headline and short meta-description of the articles found on the homepage. Think of it like scanning through a physical newspaper's front page.

On the other hand, the Books & Articles section is where you can add links to the full online articles to turn them into audiobook-like content . You can also type and paste text content and import files like photos and PDFs here. For the text-to-speech functionality itself, there are a few customizations you can do, such as changing the speed, volume, and pitch, skipping in-text citations, and adding a sleep timer.

The great thing about Speech Central is that it comes with multi-language support, but unfortunately, the voices are very robotic and unnatural. Another major drawback of the app is that the free account only allows adding only two articles per day. To remove this restriction, there's a pro plan available for a one-time purchase.

Narrator's Voice

If you're in search of a TTS app with diverse language support, Narrator's Voice — available on Android and iOS — might just be what you need. It features not only the commonly used ones like English and Spanish but also at least 30 other languages, such as Vietnamese, Hungarian, Serbian, Swahili, Estonian, and Kazakh. Unlike other text-to-speech programs with monotone voice options, Narrator's Voice boasts multiple voices with different tones (e.g., angry, friendly, terrified, sad), making it a lot more fun to listen to the spoken words.

When it comes to media support, the app accepts images, TXT files, PDFs, and even voice. You can readily type the content in the text field, too. If you choose to share the audio, there are several options available. You can share it via Bluetooth or instant messaging, convert the audio to video, send it to your Timeline (a public newsfeed that other users can see), save the audio for offline use, or save it locally to your phone.

The great thing about Narrator's Voice is that, unlike other TTS apps, you don't need to create an account to use it. You only need to sign in if you'll be using the Timeline feature. However, one thing that users hate about Narrator's Voice is that it frequently crashes even during an active TTS conversion. Unless you upgrade to the premium account, you'll also be flooded with annoying ads that pop up right in the middle of the screen.