Dictation Software That Types Where You Are Working
Hold a hotkey, talk, and the words land in whatever window has focus: a Word document, an email, a Slack thread, a terminal. hold a hotkey to dictate, then release it and the transcript lands in whatever app has focus. Nothing has to be turned on per application first.
Fast returns the transcript exactly as spoken; Best removes filler words and fixes punctuation with an AI pass; Answer treats what you said as a question and inserts the AI's answer instead. add your own list of names, jargon and terms and transcription applies them, so a drug name, a case citation, or a product name comes out spelled the way you want instead of guessed at.
What you get:
- Dictation on both Mac and Windows desktop apps, not one platform only
- A Best mode that strips filler words like “um” and “uh” and fixes punctuation before you see the text
- An Answer mode that treats what you said as a question and inserts the AI’s answer instead of a transcript of it
- Your own vocabulary list for names, jargon, and terms you use often
- Dictation output in any of 99 languages
- included on every plan, with no separate word limit
How Dictation Software Works
- Hold the hotkey: Press and hold the dictation key on your Mac or Windows desktop app, wherever your cursor is sitting.
- Speak naturally: Talk at a normal pace, with pauses or corrections if you need them. Release the key when you are done.
- Get the text: The transcript, or the AI-cleaned version of it in Best mode, is inserted where you were typing. Add new terms to your vocabulary list once and future sessions apply them.
Accuracy depends on your microphone and how much background noise there is. A quiet room with a laptop or headset mic gives the cleanest result. See how we measure accuracy.
Dictation Software vs Other Tools
| Feature | ScreenApp | Dragon | Apple Dictation | Google Docs Voice Typing | Wispr Flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Mac, Windows | no current public price page; Nuance's Dragon for Individuals and Dragon Professional pages redirect to Microsoft's health solutions site | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Chrome, Edge, and Safari | Mac, Windows, iOS and Android |
| Free tier | included on every plan, with no separate word limit | Not stated | Free, built in to macOS | Free, built in to Google Docs | 2,000 on desktop and 1,000 on iPhone |
| Custom vocabulary | Yes, your own term list | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Yes |
| Filler word removal | Yes, in Best mode | Not stated | No | No | Yes |
| Length limit | None | Not stated | None, stops after 30 seconds of silence | Not stated | Not stated |
| Languages | 99 | Not stated | Not stated | 100+ | Not stated |
| Paid plan | $19/month annual | No current public price | Free | Free | $12/month annual |
Sources, checked 2026-09-12: screenapp.io/pricing, screenapp.io/accuracy#languages, nuance.com/dragon/dragon-for-individuals.html, support.google.com/docs/answer/4492226, wisprflow.ai/pricing, support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac
Where each one fits:
- vs Dragon: no current public price page; Nuance's Dragon for Individuals and Dragon Professional pages redirect to Microsoft's health solutions site, so there is no straightforward consumer price to compare against right now. ScreenApp runs on both Mac and Windows at $19 a month annual for the paid plan, with dictation itself on every plan.
- vs Apple Dictation: Free and built in to macOS, and it does not time out mid-sentence, it only stops after 30 seconds of silence. It has no custom vocabulary and no AI cleanup pass, and it is limited to Apple hardware.
- vs Google Docs Voice Typing: Free and works in Chrome, Edge, and Safari, in 100+ languages. It only inserts text inside a Google Docs tab, so dictating into Outlook, a terminal, or a Jira ticket needs a different tool.
- vs Wispr Flow: Wispr Flow’s free plan caps you at 2,000 on desktop and 1,000 on iPhone, and its paid plan is $12 a month billed annually. ScreenApp’s dictation carries no separate word cap on any plan.
Who Uses Dictation Software
Writers drafting first manuscripts. Novelists and non-fiction authors dictate a messy first draft instead of agonizing over each sentence at the keyboard, then edit by hand afterward. The vocabulary list keeps character names and invented terms spelled consistently across chapters.
Doctors, dentists, and vets capturing clinical notes. Physicians dictate notes between patients rather than typing into the record after hours. A vocabulary list with drug names, procedure terms, and anatomy picks up the specialized language once you add it.
Lawyers dictating briefs and memos. Attorneys move through deposition summaries, demand letters, and discovery responses by speaking. Case captions, statute references, and party names sit in the vocabulary list, so cite checking is cleaner.
People who find typing slow or painful. RSI, carpal tunnel, tremor, low vision, or limited hand mobility make dictation the primary way of getting words onto a screen. No word cap and hotkey activation matter here.
Journalists capturing field notes. Reporters dictating observations from a scene or a quick filing on deadline want text that lands clean, not a wall of transcript to edit later.
FAQ
What is the best dictation software for Mac and Windows?
ScreenApp runs on both Mac and Windows with system-wide insertion into any app, a Best mode that removes filler words, and a custom vocabulary list. included on every plan, with no separate word limit. Dragon Professional historically covered both accuracy needs and platforms, but no current public price page; Nuance's Dragon for Individuals and Dragon Professional pages redirect to Microsoft's health solutions site.
Is dictation software free?
included on every plan, with no separate word limit. Apple Dictation and Google Docs Voice Typing are also free, but Apple Dictation is Mac and iOS only, and Google Docs Voice Typing only works inside a Google Docs tab.
Does dictation software work with Microsoft Word?
Yes. ScreenApp’s dictation hotkey inserts text wherever your cursor is focused on your Mac or Windows desktop, including Word, Outlook, email clients, Slack, and any other text field, without setup per application.
Can dictation software learn medical or legal terminology?
add your own list of names, jargon and terms and transcription applies them. It is a list you build once, not something the AI infers automatically from corrections, so drug names, ICD codes, and case citations come out right after you add them.
How accurate is dictation software?
Accuracy depends on your microphone and how much background noise there is; see how we measure accuracy. A vocabulary list improves recognition of the specific names and jargon you dictate often.
Can I use dictation software offline?
ScreenApp’s dictation needs an internet connection for the cloud processing that powers the AI cleanup and vocabulary matching. Apple Dictation can run mostly on-device on a Mac; ScreenApp trades that off for cross-platform support and the AI modes.
Is dictated text private?
Recordings and dictation audio are encrypted with AES-256 and are not used to train AI models. ScreenApp’s security controls are published on its trust center.
What happened to Dragon dictation software?
no current public price page; Nuance's Dragon for Individuals and Dragon Professional pages redirect to Microsoft's health solutions site. Dragon Anywhere, the mobile subscription, no longer available for new subscriptions or renewals since 1 July 2026, so it is no longer a straightforward option to compare pricing against.
