Top 10 Best Speech to Text Software in 2024

In today’s fast-paced world, speech-to-text software is essential. It helps professionals, students, and anyone looking to be more productive and accessible. This guide reviews the top speech-to-text tools of 2024. We evaluate them based on accuracy, features, ease of use, and pricing to help you find the best solution.

Why Use Speech to Text Software?

Speech-to-text software can change how you work and communicate. It transforms spoken words into written text with speed and precision. Here are some common use cases:

1. Note-taking for Students and Professionals:

• Convert spoken lectures or meetings into text with ease.
• Integrate with note-taking apps smoothly.

2. Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities:

• Empower those with hearing impairments to engage with spoken content.
• Enhance communication for people with mobility challenges.

3. Productivity Enhancement:

• Dictate emails, documents, and creative ideas hands-free.
• Save time and reduce typing fatigue.

4. Transcription Services:

• Transcribe interviews, podcasts, and recorded content with precision.
• Boost efficiency for journalists and content creators.

5. Creative Writing and Brainstorming:

• Capture fleeting thoughts and plot ideas in a flash.
• Overcome writer’s block with voice-driven brainstorming.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing

Best Speech to Text Software for PC and Windows 10

1. Dragon Professional Anywhere

Nuance Communications, the company behind Dragon Anywhere, developed many speech recognition services. On Windows, the professional version gives enterprises and public sectors the best experience.

Features:

Supports English, French, and German

Customizable voice commands to insert text and graphics

Custom vocabularies

Cloud sync

Pricing:

??$699 for a lifetime license

System Requirements:

Windows 10 (32-bit and 64-bit) and 11 (64-bit);

Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022

2. Microsoft Azure Speech to Text

Are you looking for speech-to-text API services? Microsoft Azure offers wonderful AI speech services, including TTS, STT, and speech translation. The Speech SDK is compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS. It’s a well-known, reliable AI service for companies and businesses.

Features:

Supports more than 100 languages and dialects.

Real-time, fast, and batch transcription.

Custom speech model creation.

Pricing:

??Free tier available ??Pay-as-you-go model

3. Braina

Braina is more an AI virtual assistant to help you work and study than dictation software. But it offers a speech-to-text feature for free. Download the free Lite version on your Windows PC and try unlimited voice commands.

Features:

AI-based

Dictation and voice commands in 90 languages

Customizable voice prompts

Integrate with ChatGPT, LLama 3, Gemma 2, etc.

Offline audio file speech-to-text

Pricing:

??Free version available ??Start at $99/year

System Requirements:

Operating System: Works on Windows 11 and Windows 10 (to be installed on admin account)

Disk Space: At least 1.1 GB

Processor: 1.8 GHz or higher, 2.5 GHz or higher with at least 8 threads recommended for Local AI inference

4. FineVoice

FineVoice is an AI voice studio for content creators. You can use it on any web browser with much less cost. It offers AI tools like text-to-speech, speech-to-text, voice changer, extractor, etc.

Features:

Supports common languages

Audio file transcription

Export in TXT, JSON, SRT, VTT

Pricing:

??Free version available ??Start at $8.99/monthly (billed monthly)

System Requirements:

Web browsers

Software installed on Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11 (64-bit version only).

CPU: Intel Core i3 or faster processor (i5 or greater preferred).

RAM: 2 GB RAM. Hard Disk Space: 200 MB and above free space.

Best Speech to Text Software for Mac & iOS

5. Otter.ai

Otter.ai is more an AI transcription tool than a simple speech-to-text software. As paid software, it offers advanced features like search, edit, and AI summaries. It’s great for conversation transcription purposes such as team meetings, interviews, and chats.

Features:

Real-time transcription.

Speaker identification.

Automated meeting notes and summaries.

Real-time collaboration like editing, highlighting, and commenting.

Pricing:

??Free version available ??Start at $8.33/month (monthly billed).

6. Apple Dictation

A built-in feature is always the first option. Try it without downloading any software. Go to the Settings and find the Keyboard tab. Enable Dictation to dictate text by pressing the mic on your keyboard.

Features:

Offline usage

Built-in to macOS, iPadOS, and iOS

Supports 60+ languages

Type text while dictating

Insert emojis or punctuation marks with voice commands

Pricing:

??Free

Best Speech to Text Software for Android

7. Google Assistant

First, try what is already on your phone. Assistant voice typing allows you to type with your voice and edit the text with voice commands. Activating this feature is easy. Open an app that you can type with, and find the keyboard mic. Tap on the mic to convert your speech to text.

Features:

Type with your voice

Edit text with voice commands

Real-time transcription

Supports English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish

Pricing:

??Free

System Requirements:

• Android 5.0+ with at least 1.0GB of available memory or Android 6.0+ with at least 1.5GB of available memory
• Google app 6.13 or higher
• Google Play services
• 720p or higher screen resolution
• You can also use it on iOS 11 or up with a Google Assistant app

8. Speechnotes

Speechnotes offers an Android app, a web-based tool, and a Chrome extension. It’s well-known as a dictation app on Android. It got a 4.1-star rating from 30K reviews and over 5 million downloads on Google Play. Download and try it for free!

Features:

Multilingual support

Voice typing notepad

Supports backup to Google Drive

Incorporated Google speech recognition service

Auto capitalization & spacing

Pricing:

??Free with ads ??In-app purchases

Best Free Speech to Text Software for Writes

9. Google Docs Voice Typing

In Google Docs Tools, this built-in feature is Voice typing. In Google Slides Tools, you can also find it as Dictate speaker notes. You can type and edit your document with your voice without additional software. The latest version of your web browser and a microphone connected are things you need.

Features:

Use phrases to add punctuation to the text

Fix transcription errors without stopping dictating

Use voice commands to edit and format your document

??Free

10. SpeechTexter

SpeechTexter is an online dictation tool. With ads, this free tool offers as many features as any other STT tool. You can download the text you get as a DOC or TXT file. You can also use SpeechTexter as a basic text editor.

Features:

Voice typing

Supports 150+ languages

Customizable commands

Pricing:

??Free

How to Choose the Right Speech to Text Software for Myself

Selecting the ideal software involves assessing your unique requirements:

1. Evaluate Your Needs:

• Consider your use case (e.g., personal, professional, medical).
• Determine what features are most important for your use case.
• Determine the volume of transcription work.

2. Match Features to Requirements:

• Prioritize accuracy, language support, and integration capabilities.
• Check if the software aligns with your workflow.
• Look for user feedback to gauge reliability and performance.

3. Budget and Support:

• Look for software that offers the best value for your money.
• Compare pricing models (subscription vs. pay-as-you-go).
• Explore customer support options.

Wrap it Up!

In conclusion, finding the best speech-to-text software in 2024 depends on your needs. This guide covers options for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android. From powerful tools like Dragon Anywhere to user-friendly choices like Otter.ai and FineVoice, each tool has features to boost productivity and accessibility.

When choosing your software, consider accuracy, language support, integration, and price. Think about your use case, whether for professional dictation, creative writing, or accessibility. With many options available, pick a tool that fits your workflow and meets your needs.

By exploring the software reviewed in this guide, you can make an informed decision. Find the perfect speech-to-text tool to boost your productivity and streamline your tasks. Happy converting!