Compare
Compare dictation apps, and learn the shortcuts
Honest comparisons of dictation and text-to-speech apps for Mac and iPhone, with prices checked on each vendor's own site, plus plain guides to the features already built into your devices.
By the SpeechBee team. Updated 12 October 2026
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Comparisons
- Best dictation apps for MacThe best speech-to-text and dictation apps for Mac, compared on price, privacy, offline use and platforms. Free, one-time and subscription options, with prices checked October 2026.
Wispr Flow alternativesWispr Flow costs $15 a month and sends your voice to its servers. Here are 10 alternatives for Mac, from free local apps to one-time licenses, with prices checked October 2026.- Wispr Flow pricingWispr Flow costs $15 a month, or $12 a month billed yearly. What the free plan's 2,000 words a week gets you, what Pro adds, the student discount, and cheaper options.
- Wispr Flow reviewAn honest look at Wispr Flow from a competitor: what it does well, what it costs, where your voice goes, the real discounts (students get 3 months free), and when to pick something else.
- Wispr Flow vs SpeechBeeWispr Flow is polished cloud dictation for Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android at $144 a year. SpeechBee is on-device dictation plus Read Aloud for Mac, iPhone and iPad at $79 a year or $99 once. Which to pick.
- Wispr Flow vs superwhisperWispr Flow is simple cloud dictation for $15 a month. superwhisper is $8.49, runs local or cloud models, and sells a lifetime license. A side-by-side with real prices.
SpeechBee vs Apple DictationApple Dictation is free on every Mac. SpeechBee adds a custom dictionary, snippets, filler-word removal, guaranteed on-device processing and Read Aloud. What you get for $79 a year, and when free is fine.
Speechify alternativesSpeechify Premium costs $29 a month or $139 a year. Here are 5 text-to-speech alternatives for Mac, including a free built-in one and a local app that also does dictation.
superwhisper alternativessuperwhisper is powerful, but it takes setup and the lifetime license is $249.99. Here are 8 alternatives for Mac, from simpler local apps to free ones, with prices checked October 2026.- superwhisper vs SpeechBeesuperwhisper offers AI modes, local and cloud models, meetings and files on every platform. SpeechBee is simpler on-device dictation plus Read Aloud for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Prices and trade-offs side by side.
Typeless vs SpeechBeeTypeless rewrites your speech with cloud AI for $12 to $30 a month. SpeechBee transcribes on your Mac, adds Read Aloud, and costs $79 a year or $99 once. A fair side-by-side.
VoiceInk alternativesVoiceInk is a $25 one-time local dictation app for Apple silicon Macs. If you need Intel support, Windows, text to speech or less tinkering, here are 6 alternatives with prices checked October 2026.
Aqua Voice alternativesAqua Voice is fast cloud dictation for prompts and code, from $8 a month. If you want local processing, a one-time price or no screen reading, here are 6 alternatives with prices checked October 2026.- Best dictation apps for iPhoneThe best dictation and voice keyboard apps for iPhone, compared on price, privacy, offline use and whether they also run on your Mac. Prices checked October 2026.
MacWhisper alternativesMacWhisper is a file and meeting transcriber first. If you mostly dictate, or want something different, here are 7 alternatives for Mac with prices checked October 2026.
NaturalReader alternativesNaturalReader is a browser-based text-to-speech reader with a free plan. If you want a native Mac app, voices that run offline, or reading inside any app, here are 5 alternatives.
Spokenly alternativesSpokenly gives away unlimited local dictation. If you want less to configure, text read aloud, or a polished cloud app, here are 6 Spokenly alternatives with prices checked October 2026.
Voice Dream alternativesVoice Dream is a reading app built for accessibility. If you want text read aloud inside any Mac app, natural voices, or a free option, here are 5 alternatives with prices checked October 2026.- Wispr Flow vs TypelessWispr Flow and Typeless are both cloud AI dictation apps that rewrite your speech. Typeless adds Linux, translation and voice editing; Wispr Flow adds a Notetaker and team controls. Side by side, with prices.
OpenWhispr alternativesOpenWhispr is free, open-source dictation with meetings and cloud options. If you want something smaller, fully local, or with Read Aloud, here are 6 alternatives with prices checked October 2026.
Willow alternativesWillow is cloud dictation with a free plan and Pro at $12 to $15 a month. If you want local processing, a one-time price or Read Aloud, here are 6 Willow alternatives with prices checked October 2026.
Guides
- How to dictate on a MacTurn on dictation on your Mac in System Settings, start it with the Microphone key or a shortcut, add punctuation by voice, and fix it when it stops. Plus a faster option for daily dictation.
- Mac dictation not workingDictation on your Mac won't start, stops after a few seconds, or types the wrong words? Work through these fixes for settings, shortcut, microphone, Voice Control, language and internet.
- Text to speech on MacHave your Mac read selected text aloud with Speak selection and Option-Esc, change the voice and speed, highlight words as they are read, or use a natural local voice with SpeechBee Read Aloud.
- Dictation with ADHDPractical ways to use dictation on Mac and iPhone when ideas arrive faster than you can type them: one key in any app, talk first and tidy later, snippets, and listening back. Not medical advice.
- Typing less with sore handsHow to replace much of your typing with your voice on a Mac and iPhone: built-in Dictation, Voice Control for hands-free control, one-key dictation apps, snippets, and Read Aloud. Not medical advice.
- Dictation for writersHow to dictate a first draft without it turning into a mess: talk in sections, don't edit as you go, teach the app your character names, and listen back to revise. With the Mac tools that make it work.
- How to dictate on iPhoneTurn on dictation on your iPhone in Settings, General, Keyboard, then tap the microphone and talk. Voice commands for punctuation, spelling and editing, plus why it stops after 30 seconds.
About SpeechBee
SpeechBee turns your voice into text and reads text aloud, on your Mac, iPhone and iPad. Speech recognition and reading voices run on the device, so your audio and text are never uploaded. 7 days free, then $9 a month, $79 a year, or $99 once, and one plan covers all your Apple devices.
Try SpeechBee free for 7 days.
Voice to text and Read Aloud on your Mac, iPhone and iPad. After the week, $9 a month, $79 a year, or $99 once. Every plan has every feature.