The short answer
On a computer, start with what is built in. Add an app when you need more.
- SayBriefly: best if you talk for client work. Your own words, any language, tasks to your list, Mac and Windows.
- macOS Dictation and Windows voice typing: best free option, already installed.
- Google Docs voice typing: best free option inside Google Docs.
- MacWhisper: best fully local app for Mac.
- Superwhisper and Wispr Flow: best for AI modes and polished writing.
We build SayBriefly, so here is our bias up front. We say where the others are the better pick, including the free ones.
Phones already have voice typing. This page is about computers.
On an iPhone or Android phone, the microphone on the keyboard already turns talk into text. Most people do not need a separate talk to text app there. On a Mac or Windows PC it is less obvious where to start, so that is what this guide covers.
How a voice to text app works
Every voice to text application does the same basic job. The differences are in four places.
The shortcut. How fast you can start talking from any app.
Your words or a rewrite. Some apps type what you said, others polish it.
Local or cloud. Local works offline. Cloud needs a connection.
What happens next. Does a spoken task stay a line of text, or reach your list?
Most apps stop when the text lands. Ours knows where it belongs.
The 7 voice to text apps at a glance
| App | Best for | Mac | Windows | Runs | Beyond dictation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 SayBriefly | Talk plus your work | Yes | Yes | Cloud | Meetings, tasks, calendar, projects, agent |
 macOS Dictation | Occasional use on Mac | Built in | No | On the Mac for many languages | Voice punctuation |
| Windows voice typing | Occasional use on PC | No | Built in | Mostly cloud | Voice punctuation |
 Google Docs voice typing | Writing in Google Docs | In Chrome | In Chrome | Cloud | Docs only |
 MacWhisper | Fully local | Yes | No | Local | Meeting recording, files |
 Superwhisper | AI modes, local models | Yes | Yes | Local or cloud | Meeting assistant, files |
 Wispr Flow | AI-polished writing | Yes | Yes | Cloud | Notetaker, snippets |
Checked on each app's own website, September 2026.
The 7 voice to text apps, reviewed
1. SayBriefly: best if you talk for client work
Double-tap Shift on Mac, or press Ctrl+Shift+D on Windows, talk, and your words are typed where your cursor is. It keeps your wording, handles any language, and needs an internet connection. A dictated task can land on your to-do list, next to the tasks from your calls and email. More on SayBriefly dictation.
Good
- Your own words, any language
- One app for dictation, meetings, tasks and projects
Worth knowing
- Needs a connection, no offline mode
- No iPhone or Android app
Pick SayBriefly if you want your voice and your work in one app.
2. macOS Dictation: best free option on a Mac
Switch it on in System Settings, Keyboard, then press the Microphone key in any text field. It understands spoken punctuation and runs on the Mac for many languages on Apple silicon. Our speech to text on Mac guide walks through setup.
Good
- Already installed
- Works offline for many languages
Worth knowing
- Basic editing only
- Text stays text, nothing else happens
Pick it if you dictate now and then on a Mac.
3. Windows voice typing: best free option on a PC
Press Win+H in any text box and talk. Microsoft says it needs an internet connection on most PCs, with on-device dictation on Copilot+ PCs, and supports 40+ languages.
Good
- Already installed
- Works in most text boxes
Worth knowing
- Online on most PCs
- Basic editing only
Pick it if you dictate now and then on Windows.
4. Google Docs voice typing: best inside Google Docs
Open a doc in Chrome, choose Tools, then Voice typing, and click the microphone. It is handy for long drafts, but it only types into Google Docs, not your email or chat.
Good
- Free with a Google account
- Good for long drafts
Worth knowing
- Google Docs only
- Needs Chrome and a connection
Pick it if your writing lives in Google Docs.
5. MacWhisper: best fully local app for Mac
MacWhisper runs on your Mac, and its site says your data never leaves it. Pro adds system-wide dictation, meeting recording without a bot and file transcription.
Good
- Fully local
- Pay once
Worth knowing
- Mac only
- No task or project features
Pick MacWhisper if nothing should leave your Mac.
6. Superwhisper: best for AI modes and local models
Superwhisper works in any app, offers local models that run offline, and has modes for different writing styles. Reviewers mention setup takes a little effort.
Good
- Local models, works offline
- A mode per writing style
Worth knowing
- More setup than most
- Check its site for current prices
Pick Superwhisper if you want control over models and style.
7. Wispr Flow: best for AI-polished writing
Wispr Flow turns speech into clean, polished writing on every major device. Reviewers report high memory use. See our Wispr Flow alternatives guide for the full picture.
Good
- Polished output, every device
- 100+ languages listed
Worth knowing
- Rewrites more than it transcribes
- Cloud only
Pick Wispr Flow if you want polished text everywhere.
How to talk to text on a MacBook
- Built in: open System Settings, then Keyboard, and switch on Dictation.
- Click in any text field and press the Microphone key, or the shortcut you chose.
- Talk. Say "comma" or "period" for punctuation, then press the key again to stop.
- With SayBriefly: double-tap Shift anywhere, talk, and your words are typed where the cursor is.
How to choose a voice to text app
| Your situation | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You talk tasks, notes and replies for client work | SayBriefly | Dictation in the app that knows your work |
| You dictate now and then | macOS Dictation or Windows voice typing | Already installed |
| You write long drafts in Google Docs | Google Docs voice typing | Right where you write |
| Nothing may leave your Mac | MacWhisper | Fully local |
| You want polished writing | Wispr Flow or Superwhisper | They rewrite for you |
Comparing more Mac options? See the best dictation apps for Mac.
Live voice to text vs recording to text
People searching for a voice to text app usually want one of two things, and the tools are different.
| Live dictation | Recording to text | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Types your words as you talk, where the cursor is | Turns an audio file or a call into a transcript later |
| Good for | Email, messages, documents, notes | Interviews, lectures, voice memos, meetings |
| Examples | macOS Dictation, Windows voice typing, SayBriefly, Wispr Flow | MacWhisper for files, an AI notetaker for calls |
SayBriefly does both for work: live dictation anywhere, and notes from your client calls with no bot in the meeting. If you mostly need to turn old recordings into text, a file transcription app like MacWhisper is the better fit.
How to set up voice to text on a Windows PC
- Try the built-in one first. Click in any text box and press Win+H. Windows voice typing opens a small bar. Talk, and it types.
- Check your mic. Settings, System, Sound: pick the input you want and watch the level move when you speak.
- Turn on auto punctuation in the voice typing settings (the gear on the bar), so you do not have to say every comma.
- Want more? Install SayBriefly for Windows, sign in, click in any text field and press Ctrl+Shift+D. Your words are typed where the cursor is, in any language.
On Windows, SayBriefly dictation uses cloud speech, so it needs an internet connection. That is also true of Windows voice typing on most PCs, according to Microsoft.
A worked example: a studio project manager
Aisha runs projects at a six-person web studio. She works on a Windows laptop, has back-to-back client calls, and used to spend her evenings writing follow-ups. Here is one follow-up she now dictates in about forty seconds after a call with a client, Tom.
Hi Tom, thanks for today. Quick recap. We agreed to keep the blog on the current theme and move the new pricing page to phase two. You will send the product photos by Wednesday. We will share the staging link on Friday. One new ask came up, the member login, which is not in the current scope. I will send a short quote for it tomorrow. Aisha
Two things make that faster than it looks. The words are hers, so she does not have to reread a rewrite. And in SayBriefly, the call note is already there, so "what did we agree?" is a glance, not a memory test. The tasks (send the quote, share the staging link) go on the studio's to-do list with a link back to the call.
Copyable phrases that make dictation cleaner
Dictation works best when you speak in shapes it expects. Keep these in your head and your text comes out tidy on the first try.
Short sentences with one idea each are easier for any speech engine, and easier for the client to read.
Common voice to text problems
- Nothing gets typed. Click inside the text field first. Then check the app has microphone permission in your system's privacy settings.
- Wrong words in a noisy room. Use a headset or earbuds with a mic. It helps more than any setting.
- Everything is one long sentence. Turn on auto punctuation, or pick an app with cleanup, or say "period" out loud.
- Names come out wrong. Every app struggles with unusual names. Read them once before you send.
- It stops listening. Some built-in tools stop after a pause. Speak in full sentences and keep pauses short, or use an app that waits for you.
More on the Mac side in our speech to text on Mac guide, and a Mac-only roundup in the best dictation apps. Moving from Dragon? Read Dragon alternatives.
Who should use which kind of app
If you type a few messages a day, the built-in tool on your computer is enough, and costs nothing extra. If you write long email and documents all day, a system-wide app with cleanup saves real time. If you meet clients and write to them after every call, look at an app where dictation, call notes and tasks live together, so the follow-up starts from what was said. And if privacy rules mean nothing can leave your machine, choose a fully local app, even if it has fewer features.
How we made this list
We checked each app's own website in September 2026 and read public reviews. We only covered desktop apps, since phones have voice typing built in. SayBriefly is our product, and we have said where the others are the better choice.
Questions people ask about voice to text apps
What is the best voice to text app for a computer?
For dictation in the same app as your calls, tasks and client projects, SayBriefly. For something already installed, macOS Dictation or Windows voice typing. For fully local on a Mac, MacWhisper. For AI-polished writing, Wispr Flow.
Is there a free talk to text app?
Yes. macOS Dictation and Windows voice typing (Win+H) are built in, and Google Docs voice typing works in Chrome. MacWhisper, Superwhisper and Wispr Flow also have free versions or plans.
How do I use talk to text on a MacBook?
Open System Settings, Keyboard, and switch on Dictation. Then press the Microphone key or your shortcut in any text field. With SayBriefly, you double-tap Shift instead.
How do I use talk to text on Windows?
Press Win+H in any text box and start talking. With SayBriefly on Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+D.
What about voice to text apps for iPhone and Android?
Both have voice typing built into the keyboard, so most people do not need a separate app on a phone. This guide is about Mac and Windows computers.
What is the difference between a speech to text app and a voice dictation app?
Mostly the name. Both turn what you say into typed text. Some tools also transcribe audio files or meetings, which is a different job from live dictation.
Does a voice to text app work offline?
Some do. MacWhisper runs locally, Superwhisper has local models, and macOS Dictation runs on the Mac for many languages on Apple silicon. SayBriefly, Wispr Flow and Google Docs voice typing need a connection.
What is the best voice to text app for PC?
Windows voice typing (Win+H) is built in and fine for light use. For dictation tied to your calls, tasks and projects, SayBriefly works on Windows with Ctrl+Shift+D. Wispr Flow and Superwhisper also list Windows apps.
Is there an app that records voice and turns it into text?
Yes. For audio files, MacWhisper on Mac transcribes recordings. For client calls, an AI notetaker like SayBriefly writes notes from the call with no bot joining.
Which voice to text app is best for long documents?
Any system-wide app works. Dictate a rough draft in sections, then edit with the keyboard. Apps that keep your exact words are easier to trust on long text.
Does SayBriefly rewrite what I say?
No. It types your own words, in any language. An optional cleanup tidies punctuation and filler words, and you can switch it off.
Can a voice to text app add tasks to my to-do list?
SayBriefly can. A dictated task lands on the same to-do list as your meeting and email tasks.
