This page is about Voice Access in Windows 11, not phone apps with similar names.
Voice Access and Talkativ are not really rivals. They solve different problems, and for some people the answer is both.
What Windows Voice Access is good at
Microsoft describes Voice Access as a way to control your PC and write text with your voice, both. It is available in Windows 11 version 22H2 and later. It is a tool to look at if using a mouse or keyboard is hard for you, because it lets you control the PC by voice, not only write.
Two things stand out on Microsoft’s pages (read 5 November 2026):
- It works without internet after set-up. It uses on-device recognition. The first set-up needs a connection to download language files.
- It covers about 8 languages. English (US, UK, India, New Zealand, Canada, Australia), Spanish (Spain, Mexico), German, French (France, Canada), Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Japanese and Italian.
It is built into Windows 11, so there is nothing to download once it is set up.
Start Voice Access
On Microsoft’s page, you start it from the Voice Access settings: open Settings, then Accessibility, then Speech, and turn on the Voice access switch. You can also search Windows for “voice access”. Because it downloads language files the first time, be online for that step.
Turn off Voice Access
Use the same switch: Settings, then Accessibility, then Speech, and turn Voice access off. Microsoft’s pages we read describe turning it on rather than off, so if your Settings looks different, check the set-up page from Microsoft.
Voice Access commands
Voice Access listens for commands that act on your PC, and it also types what you say. Microsoft publishes its full command list on its support site, and the list changes with Windows updates, so we do not copy it here. Read Microsoft’s Voice Access guide for the wording to say.
Talkativ and Voice Access side by side
| Talkativ | Windows Voice Access (5 November 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Writing: your words typed at the cursor in any app | Controlling the PC by voice, and writing text |
| Windows | 10 and 11 | Windows 11, version 22H2 and later |
| Offline | No, needs internet | Yes, after one-time set-up |
| Languages | 100, highly accurate in 56 | About 8 (with regional versions) |
| Price | Free plan: 2,200 words a week. Pro $7 a month or $56 a year | Built into Windows 11 |
| Controls the PC by voice | No | Yes |
| Rewrites text by voice | Yes, with Genius Mode on Max | Not covered on Microsoft’s pages we read |
| Mac | Available on Mac | No, Windows 11 only |
When to use Voice Access
Choose Voice Access if:
- you need to control Windows itself by voice, not only write
- you must work with no internet connection
- your language is in its list and you want a tool that is already in Windows
When to use Talkativ
Choose Talkativ if the job is writing. You click into any text box, press Ctrl + Space on Windows, ⌥ Option + Space on a Mac, talk, and press again. Your words arrive with punctuation and capital letters, and the “ums” are gone. Vocabulary keeps names spelt your way, and your history is saved and searchable.
It also covers languages Voice Access does not list: 100 in all, highly accurate in 56. You can pick the language or let Talkativ work it out.
On Max, Genius Mode lets you highlight text, press Ctrl + D on Windows, ⌥ Option + D on a Mac and say “make this friendlier”. Smart Edits offers 31 writing styles.
Using both
They can fit together. Use Voice Access to get around your PC, then click into the text box, press Ctrl + Space on Windows, ⌥ Option + Space on a Mac and let Talkativ do the writing.
We have not tested the two together on every PC. If you see odd results, turn one off while you use the other.
What Talkativ does not do
- It does not control Windows. It types and rewrites your words, nothing more.
- It does not work offline.
- It is press once to start and press again to stop, not hold to talk. The shortcuts are fixed.
- It has no phone app, and it does not transcribe audio files.
Trying it
The Free plan has 2,200 words a week and needs no card, and Max has a 7-day trial with no card, started in the app. See Talkativ on Windows, the free plan or plans and prices. If you only need the built-in Windows dictation shortcut, read Windows voice typing compared. Back to the home page.