Dragon dictation software is made by Nuance, which is now part of Microsoft. If what you want is the basic result – talk, and have the words typed – there are lighter ways to get it, including some already on your computer.
The Dragon facts below are dated 5 November 2026, and a few come from a third party because Nuance does not publish them. Check Nuance’s Dragon Professional page before you decide.
Dragon dictation software today
On 5 November 2026, Nuance’s page says Dragon Professional v16 is optimised for Windows 11 and works on Windows 10. Nuance shows no price, only a “Contact us” button, and its product list shows no Mac version. Its current list also includes Dragon Legal v16, Dragon Law Enforcement v16 and cloud-hosted versions with “Anywhere” in their names.
For what Dragon Professional costs at retailers, and the reports that the cloud versions will stop selling, see Dragon Professional price, status and alternatives. This page is about the alternatives.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking alternative: side by side
| Talkativ | Dragon (as of 5 November 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Windows 10 and 11. Mac too | Windows 11 and 10 (Dragon Professional v16, per Nuance). No Mac version on Nuance’s list |
| Price | Free plan. Pro $7 a month or $56 a year. Max $11 a month or $88 a year | Not shown by Nuance. About £636 to £654 at UK shops on 6 November 2026 |
| Setup | Download, sign in, press the shortcut. No voice training | Installed on your PC. Nuance describes it as accurate right from first use |
| Works offline | No, needs internet | Not stated on the Nuance pages we read |
| Specialist versions | One general version | Dragon Legal v16 and Law Enforcement v16 on Nuance’s list. Dragon Medical One through Microsoft |
| Try before paying | Free plan, plus 7 days of Max with no card | Check Nuance’s page |
Built-in options: Windows and Mac dictation vs Dragon
Before you buy anything, try what you already have.
- Windows voice typing (Win+H). Built into Windows, and Microsoft says you need an internet connection. Its list has more than 40 languages on Windows 11 and seven on Windows 10 (checked 6 November 2026). See our Windows voice typing comparison.
- Voice Access. Built into Windows 11 22H2 and later, where it replaced the older Windows Speech Recognition in September 2024. Microsoft says it works without internet after a one-time set-up that downloads language files, and it covers a short list of languages. See Windows Voice Access vs Talkativ.
- macOS Dictation. Built into the Mac. Apple says it has no time limit and stops by itself after 30 seconds of silence, and it adds commas, full stops and question marks in supported languages. A newer on-device option that improves spelling and capitals needs an M3 or later Mac with 12GB of memory, in English.
For occasional notes, one of these may be all you need.
Which one fits you
- A professional who writes emails and reports. Talkativ is built for this. It types in any app and cleans up the “ums”.
- A clinician or lawyer with specialist vocabulary. Look at Dragon’s specialist versions first.
- Someone who just wants to try dictation. Use the free built-in tools or Talkativ’s free plan before paying for anything.
When Dragon is the better choice
Choose Dragon if:
- you work in law or law enforcement and want a version made for that work (Nuance lists Dragon Legal v16 and Dragon Law Enforcement v16)
- you work in healthcare: Microsoft sells Dragon Medical One, and now points its users to Dragon Copilot
- you want a program installed on your own PC, or need it on Windows Server (Nuance’s v16 release notes list Server 2016, 2019 and 2022)
- you must dictate with no internet connection: Talkativ cannot. Ask Nuance whether Dragon can, and look at Windows Voice Access too
How setup compares in practice
Dragon is a program you install and set up on your PC. Talkativ has no training step at all. You download it, sign in with Google or an email and password, and press the shortcut.
When a name or a technical word comes out wrong, you do not retrain anything. You add the word to Vocabulary, a simple list, and Talkativ spells it your way from then on. Vocabulary is on every plan, including Free.
How Talkativ works
- Click into any text box.
- Press Ctrl + Space on Windows, ⌥ Option + Space on a Mac, or click the small mic dot on your screen.
- Talk the way you normally would. You do not need to say “comma” or “full stop”.
- Press again to stop. Your words appear where your cursor is, moments later.
It is press to start and press to stop, not hold to talk, and the shortcut keys are fixed.
Who should not choose Talkativ
Talkativ is not the right pick if you need to dictate offline, or if you need specialist medical or legal vocabularies. Talkativ types and rewrites your words. It does not run your computer by voice.
What Talkativ adds
- Quick to start. No voice training. Press Ctrl + Space on Windows, ⌥ Option + Space on a Mac, talk, press again.
- Works in any app. Email, chat, documents, browsers and code editors.
- Windows and Mac. Nuance lists no Mac version of Dragon, so Talkativ is one option if you use a Mac. Read about Talkativ for Windows and Talkativ for Mac.
- A free plan and a trial. 2,200 words a week free, or 7 days of Max with no card.
- Vocabulary and history on every plan. Your own words spelt your way, and every dictation saved and searchable.
- Genius Mode and Smart Edits on Max. Highlight text, press Ctrl + D on Windows, ⌥ Option + D on a Mac and say what you want. Smart Edits has 31 writing styles.
- 100 languages, highly accurate in 56.
Talkativ is a general writing tool. It is not a medical product and does not claim to treat anything.
See the plans and prices and the free plan, or go back to the Talkativ home page.