There are more Mac dictation options than ever, and they do different jobs. Some transcribe recordings. Some type as you speak. Some run on your Mac, and some use the internet.
This page lists facts, each read from the maker’s own site on 5 November 2026. It is not a ranking. Talkativ is one of the six, and its Mac app is ready to download for Apple silicon Macs. Prices change, so use the links to check.
Mac dictation apps at a glance
| App | What it is mainly for | Price (US dollars unless marked) | Runs where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Dictation | Built-in dictation in macOS | Apple’s guide states no price | Built into macOS |
| MacWhisper | Transcribing audio and video files, plus dictation | Free version. Pro is a one-time €64 (a euro price, so the site may show your local currency) | macOS only |
| VoiceInk | Dictation on your Mac | $25 one-time for 1 Mac, $39 for 2, $49 for 3 | Mac, Apple silicon, macOS 14.4 or later |
| Superwhisper | Dictation with writing modes, plus file transcription | Free plan. Pro $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 once | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android |
| Wispr Flow | Dictation into any app | Free plan. Pro $15 a month, or $12 a month on the yearly plan | Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android |
| Talkativ | Dictation into any app | Free plan. Pro $7 a month or $56 a year. Max $11 a month or $88 a year | Windows 10 and 11. Mac (Apple silicon) |
Apple Dictation: the one you already have
Apple’s guide for macOS 27 says dictation has no length limit and stops by itself after 30 seconds of no speech. You turn it on in System Settings, then Keyboard, then Dictation, and start it with the Microphone key if your Mac has one or a shortcut you set. It adds commas, full stops and question marks in supported languages, and Apple says Dictation is not available in every language or region.
Apple also describes a newer on-device model that improves spelling, punctuation and capital letters. It is English only and needs a Mac with an M3 chip or later and 12GB or more of memory.
If you dictate now and then, try this first. It is built in.
MacWhisper: mostly for files, with dictation too
MacWhisper’s site describes file, meeting and YouTube transcription, with system-wide dictation as well (better on Pro), and says speech is processed locally without leaving your Mac. It lists over 100 languages. There is a free version and a one-time Pro price of €64.
If your job is turning recordings into text, that is what most of its site is about. What Pro is, and how file transcription differs from live dictation, is on our MacWhisper Pro page.
VoiceInk: a one-time price, Apple silicon only
VoiceInk is a Mac app sold for a one-time fee, from $25. It needs an Apple silicon Mac and macOS 14.4 or later. It also lists an iPhone and iPad app, free during its beta. Its site says a free trial exists and does not state how long. The download count and rating on its site are the company’s own figures, so we leave them out.
Superwhisper: a long list of platforms
Superwhisper runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. Its site lists writing modes, custom vocabulary, file transcription and translation, and says audio stays on your machine. The free plan gives 3,000 words to try Pro features, then local models. Our page on Superwhisper vs Wispr Flow goes further.
Wispr Flow, and its neighbours
Wispr Flow works on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. Its homepage lists 2,000 free words a week, and it names SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 and HIPAA. Read our fuller Wispr Flow alternatives page, or Wispr Flow pricing explained.
Three similar apps get asked about often:
- Aqua Voice: free plan of 1,000 words. Pro is $10 a month on the yearly plan, $12 monthly. Works on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android.
- Typeless: free plan with limited words. Pro is $12 a month on the yearly plan, $30 monthly.
- Willow Voice: Pro is $15 a month, or $12 on the annual plan. It lists Mac, iOS and Windows.
We compare these three with Wispr Flow in Wispr Flow vs Willow, Aqua and Typeless.
Talkativ on Mac
Talkativ types into any app. You press Ctrl + Space on Windows, ⌥ Option + Space on a Mac, talk, and press again, and your words land at the cursor with punctuation and capital letters. Vocabulary keeps your names spelt your way. There is no voice training, and it covers 100 languages, highly accurate in 56. Max adds Genius Mode and Smart Edits.
It needs an internet connection, so it does not work offline. The Free plan gives 2,200 words a week with no card, and the Max trial runs 7 days with no card. Read about Talkativ for Mac and the plans.
Which kind of app fits
- You mostly transcribe recordings: look at MacWhisper first.
- You want to pay once: VoiceInk ($25 to $49), Superwhisper ($249.99 lifetime) or MacWhisper Pro (€64).
- You want your audio to stay on your Mac: Superwhisper and MacWhisper say they use local models.
- You want one app across Mac, Windows and phone: Superwhisper, Wispr Flow and Aqua Voice list all four platforms.
- You want a low monthly price for dictation into any app: Talkativ Pro, at $7 a month or $56 a year, is the lowest subscription on this page. VoiceInk’s one-off $25 costs less up front.
- You dictate now and then: Apple Dictation may be enough.
What Talkativ does not do
- No offline use, no phone app and no audio-file transcription.
- Press once to start and again to stop, not hold to talk. The shortcut is fixed.
- The Mac app needs an Apple silicon Mac (M1 or newer).
Already on Windows? See Talkativ for Windows. Back to the home page.