Mac dictation apps split on one question: where does your voice go? Cloud apps send audio to a server and rewrite what you said into polished text. On-device apps keep audio on your Mac and tidy up rather than rewrite. Decide which you want, then pick on price, platforms and extras.
Prices and features checked on each vendor's site, October 28, 2026.
Best For…
No single app is best at everything, so this isn't a ranking. Each job below names the app that does it best, then others worth a look.
Best AI rewriting
Wispr Flow. Wispr Flow's cloud polish rewrites what you said into finished text, with styles that change per app.
Willow. Willow's cloud formatting removes filler words and matches your style.
Best for Apple devices
Monologue. Monologue's formatting modes switch with the app you're in, with apps for iPhone and iPad.
Best built-in option
macOS Dictation. macOS Dictation is already on your Mac, with nothing to install.
Best on Windows
Dragon. Dragon has deep voice commands, macros and legal and medical editions, but no Mac app today.
What to Look For
Cloud or on-device
Wispr Flow and Aqua Voice transcribe in the cloud, and Willow does by default. MacWhisper, VoiceInk, Spokenly and Superwhisper's local models, macOS Dictation and Retext can keep audio on your Mac.
Rewriting or tidying
Cloud apps like Wispr Flow and Aqua Voice rewrite what you said into finished text. Retext's polish (beta) runs on your Mac with Apple Intelligence: it fixes punctuation and filler words but never adds content.
Live dictation or file transcription
MacWhisper is built for transcribing audio and video files, and Superwhisper, Spokenly and VoiceInk do it too. Retext dictates live at your cursor and doesn't import files.
Where else you type
Wispr Flow, Superwhisper and Aqua Voice run on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. Retext dictates on the Mac only.
What it does besides dictation
Most dictation apps only dictate. Retext adds a full text expander, autocomplete (beta) and notes in the same app, and you can say "insert snippet" (a beta voice command) to drop one in.
Every App, Pros and Cons
Aqua Voice
Best for teams
Cloud rewriting to your tone and rules, apps on all four platforms, an API and CLI, and a Business plan with shared dictionaries.
Price
Pro $10/month billed yearly or $12 monthly; Max $19/month yearly or $24 monthly; Business $19/seat/month yearly or $24 monthly
Free option
1,000 words to start, no credit card
Runs on
Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android
Strengths
Its own speech model, Avalon, with published accuracy results
Writing style rules and custom instructions shape the output
Works on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android
Personal dictionary, and shared dictionaries on Business
Weaknesses
Transcription runs in the cloud
Free plan ends after 1,000 words
Voice commands and Realtime Mode need the Max plan
Transcribes audio, video and YouTube links locally, in batches, with subtitles and speakers. It also dictates system-wide, and Pro is a one-time purchase.
Price
Pro €64 one-time (listed in euros), with lifetime updates; also sold through the App Store
Free option
Free forever, with file transcription, .srt/.vtt and .txt export, and system-wide dictation
Runs on
Mac
Strengths
Transcribes audio and video files on your Mac
Batch transcription, watched folders and YouTube links
Subtitles in .srt and .vtt, plus .docx, .pdf and .md export
Speaker recognition and translation on Pro
Weaknesses
Dictation is a side feature next to file transcription
Better dictation, AI prompts and cleanup need Pro
AI features need your own API keys or a local model setup
Formatting modes that switch with the app you're in, local transcription models on the Mac, and apps for iPhone and iPad. Included with an Every subscription.
Price
Pro $15/month or $144/year; included in Every's paid bundle
Free option
Trial with 1,000 dictation words and 10 notes
Runs on
Mac and iPhone
Strengths
Modes for chat, email, notes and code that switch by app
Local transcription models on Mac that work offline
Best on-device dictation with on-device polishBest if you also use snippets
Hold right Option and talk, or double-tap it (or right Shift, set in Settings) for hands-free (beta), which pauses in password fields. Apple's on-device engine does the transcription, polish (beta) runs on your Mac, and "insert snippet" works by voice (beta). Polish tidies rather than rewrites, it doesn't import files, and dictation is on the Mac only.
Price
Dictation and polish on your Mac come with every plan. See the pricing page.
Free option
Dictation and polish on your Mac, plus 5 snippets
Runs on
Mac
Strengths
Transcribes on your Mac with Apple's speech engine (macOS 26, Apple silicon)
Hold right Option to talk, or double-tap it (or right Shift, set in Settings) to go hands-free (beta)
Optional on-device polish in five modes, set per app (beta)
Voice commands (beta), including "insert snippet" by name
Weaknesses
Local engine needs macOS 26 and Apple silicon
Polish tidies up what you said; it won't rewrite or add to it
Unlimited local dictation with Whisper or Parakeet and no account, your own API keys for cloud models, and apps beyond the Mac, including Windows and Linux.
Price
Local+ $29 one-time; Pro $12/month billed yearly ($144) or $15 month to month
Free option
Unlimited local dictation with Whisper or Parakeet, no account; cloud and AI with your own API keys
Runs on
Mac, Windows, Linux and iPhone
Strengths
Free, unlimited local dictation with no account
Choose Whisper, Parakeet, cloud models or your own API keys
AI modes and instructions for cleanup and formatting
Transcribes audio and video files, with subtitle export
Unlimited dictation with local models on the free plan, AI modes and file transcription on Pro, and one license across Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. A lifetime plan is available.
Price
Pro $8.49/month, $84.99/year, or $249.99 lifetime; one license covers all your devices
Free option
Unlimited dictation with local models, up to 2 modes without AI
Runs on
Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android
Strengths
Free plan with unlimited local dictation
Pick from local and cloud models, or bring your own API key
The strongest cloud polish here, writing styles that change per app, voice snippets, and apps for Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. Transcription always happens in the cloud.
Price
Pro $15/user/month, or $12/user/month billed annually; Growth and Enterprise plans for teams
Free option
2,000 words a week on desktop, limited weekly use on mobile
Runs on
Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android
Strengths
Polishes speech into clean, formatted text
Works on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android
Voice snippets and a dictionary that learns your words
100+ languages with automatic detection
Weaknesses
Transcription always happens in the cloud
Free plan is capped at 2,000 words a week on desktop
For cloud AI rewriting on every device, Wispr Flow or Aqua Voice. For local models you choose, Superwhisper or Spokenly. For transcribing files, MacWhisper. For on-device dictation in the same app as your snippets, Retext. For free and built in, macOS Dictation.
Is there a free dictation app for Mac?
macOS Dictation is free and built in. Spokenly and Superwhisper offer unlimited local dictation for free, MacWhisper has a free plan, Willow has a free plan on its lighter model, and Wispr Flow's free plan has 2,000 words a week on desktop. Retext's dictation comes with every plan.
Which Mac dictation apps work on-device?
MacWhisper, VoiceInk, Spokenly's and Superwhisper's local models, and Retext transcribe on your Mac. macOS Dictation runs on-device where your Keyboard settings say so, and Willow has an optional offline mode. Wispr Flow and Aqua Voice transcribe in the cloud.
Is Dragon available for Mac?
Not today. Nuance's current Dragon pages list Windows, iPhone and Android, and no Mac app. Mac users usually choose one of the apps above instead.
Ready to try Retext?
Download Retext, turn on Voice Dictation in Settings, and hold right Option to talk.