Say it instead of spelling it
If spelling slows you down, typing can feel like a second job. You know what you want to say, but half your attention goes on whether the word looks right.
Talkativ takes that step away. Click into a text box, press Ctrl + Space on Windows, ⌥ Option + Space on a Mac, and say what you want to write. Press it again when you are done. Your words appear at the cursor with punctuation and capital letters added. You do not say “comma” or “full stop”.
This is not a medical product, it is not specialist assistive technology for dyslexia, and it does not treat anything. It is a general dictation app that some people find helpful because speaking is easier for them than typing.
Speech to text software for dyslexia, in the apps you already use
Talkativ works in any app with a text box: email, Word, Google Docs, Slack, Teams, a web form, a job application. That means you do not need a special writing program or a separate window to paste from.
Places it can help:
- Emails to a manager or tutor
- Essays and reports
- Messages in work chat
- Online forms and applications
It runs on Windows. It runs on a Mac too. Read about Talkativ for Mac. If you would rather not use the keyboard shortcut, click the mic dot at the bottom of the screen instead. It does the same thing.
What you will see on screen
The mic dot shows where you are. It is red while Talkativ listens, blue while it works on your words, and green when they have landed. That small signal helps you know when to stop talking and start reading.
Names and tricky words
Talkativ writes what it hears, so a name or a technical word can come out wrong the first time. Add it to Vocabulary and Talkativ listens out for it, so it is more likely to come out your way next time. Vocabulary is on every plan, including Free.
This is a good fit for the words you always worry about: a colleague’s name, your course modules, your company. It is a word list you build up, not something that learns your voice.
Advanced formatting, if you want more tidying
Punctuation, capital letters and removal of “um” and “uh” come by default. With Advanced formatting on, Talkativ also does more: it turns “firstly, secondly, finally” into a numbered list and writes email addresses and times properly. It is off by default. You switch it on in Settings, and every plan has it.
What to expect
Speech to text is not magic, and it helps to know where it can trip you up:
- It can still mishear words, especially names and unusual terms. Read your text before you send it.
- It needs an internet connection and does not work offline.
- It cannot read text back to you.
- You do not see words appear while you speak. They land a moment after you press stop.
- A noisy room makes mistakes more likely.
If it gets something wrong, add the word to Vocabulary or try the Settings option to choose your language rather than leaving it on auto-detect.
Free to try, and the plans if you need more
The Free plan is 2,200 words a week, reset every 7 days, with Vocabulary and Advanced formatting included. That is enough for a good number of emails and a few short pieces of writing. Pro is unlimited for $7 a month or $56 a year. You upgrade and cancel inside the app. Read more about the free plan.
Related reading
If typing hurts as well as being slow, see typing with RSI. If you are studying, see speech to text for students. Talkativ was built for the founder’s mum, and you can read that on the stroke recovery page.
Download Talkativ and try one email.