I’m sure the very first thing that comes to mind is Dragon voice recognition software. This software is great and you can use it with Windows and MacOS, however, it is very expensive and only comes with a 30-day trial at most. I mean $84.99 for a single license is pretty steep, which leaves me wondering why so many people are willing to pay such an amount of money for dictation software? That’s where this post comes in.
This blog post features the best dictation software available today. It is divided into two parts: firstly, it examines the best dictation software that can be downloaded for Windows operating systems; then it presents speech recognition software that is compatible with Windows devices.
Dragon Professional Individual
Dragon by far the gold standard when it comes to speech recognition software even today. Filled with several features and extensive customisation capabilities, Dragon Professional Individual is without question the best speech to text software available in the industry. Using deep learning technology allows the program to adapt to the user’s voice and environmental variations in real-time. Dragon automatically adds frequently used words and phrases to an internal repository to minimise the number of corrections.
Furthermore, using the Smart Format Rules, users can easily configure how they want specific items (e.g. dates, phone numbers) to appear. Dragon Professional Individual’s advanced personalisation features allow for maximum flexibility coupled with efficiency and productivity. You can also import or export custom lists for words, acronyms and various business-specific terms. If that was not enough, you could even configure custom voice commands to do the actions you do most often. Or quickly inserting frequently used content (e.g. text, graphics) in documents, and even create time-saving macros to automate multi-step tasks with simple voice commands.
Compatibility: Any device with windows version 7 and up.
Price: $300
Download Link: https://www.nuance.com/dragon/business-solutions/dragon-professional-individual.html
15) Windows Dictation
If you would like a reliable speech to text software for Windows 10, you don’t even need to look elsewhere, as Microsoft’s newest OS already comes with one. The new and improved dictation feature lets you capture all your thoughts and ideas using only your voice both quickly and accurately. Furthermore, due to the deep integration between the app and Windows, Dictation works seamlessly with just about any text field in Windows 10. To start using the app, select a text field and press the “Windows + H” keys in combination to launch the dictation toolbar.
To insert any particular letter, number, punctuation mark, and symbols by just saying their names (e.g. to enter $, say “dollar symbol” or “dollar sign”). Dictation also supports numerous voice commands that allow you to select/edit text, move the cursor to a specified location, and more. However, Dragon is not available in any language besides U.S. English, and you require an internet connection.
Compatibility: Any devices with Windows version 8.1 and up
Price: Free
Get it from Windows or visit:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4042244/windows-10-use-dictation for more
Speechnotes
Otter
Best value dictation software
TODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Both desktop and mobile support +Competitive free-forever plan+Import audio and video files
REASONS TO AVOID
-Expensive-Limited customer support
One of the few dictation software platforms that can come close to Dragon is Otter. This popular software package is one of the easiest to use. It comes with several advanced features that separate it from some of the lower-ranked providers in this list.
One of our favorite features is speaker identification. This is ideal for meetings or for when multiple are speaking in succession. When Otter software identifies a change in the speaker, it will signal this in the transcribed text.
Otter also allows you to record from directly within the app, or import audio and video files stored on your device. And unlike Dragon, an Otter subscription includes a mobile version of the software.
There are three Otter plans available. The free-forever plan is competitive and enables you to transcribe up to 600 minutes of audio per month. The Premium Plan includes 6000 minutes of transcription per month and a suite of premium features. A Teams plan offers all features mentioned above plus enterprise-specific features.
- Read our full Otter review.
Best for dictating text online for free.
Screennotes is online dictation software that lets you type using your voice. You can also insert long texts with just one tap. It supports multiple languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Hindu, Urdu, Turkish, Bahasha, and many other languages. You can also order a professional transcribing service at $0.1 per minute.
Features:
- Fast speech recognition
- Works on any website
- Keyboard shortcut for start and pause
- Custom text stamps
- Export to Google Drive
Verdict: Screennotes is simple and easy to use online tool for dictating text. It is great for dictating texts on websites including Outlook and Gmail.
Price: Basic version is free of cost. The Premium add-free chrome extension costs $9.99 that comes with the additional feature of dictating on any website.
Website: Speechnotes
Vocola3
Vocola3 is yet another great free speech-to-text converter. The software works in association with “Window Speech Recognition”, which helps to improve the accuracy and speed of the transcription service.
To be able to use the software, you would have to activate Windows Speech Recognition, before installing the Vocola3. Once the software is installed, simply turn on the settings of Vocol3 from the system tray and you are good to start transcribing. To further improve the features and functionalities of the software, different extensions can also be integrated into the Vocola3.
e-Speaking
Best for using voice command to control windows without using a keyboard or mouse.
e-Speaking is a dictation tool that allows you to control the Windows operating system. You can use the voice application to replace the keyboard and mouse. It allows you to open applications, browse windows, and create documents with voice commands.
Features:
- 100+ built-in commands
- 26 dictation voice command variation
- Integrate with Office
- Based on Microsoft SAPI speech engine
- Compatible with Windows XP, Vista, Win7, and Win8
Verdict: e-Speaking offers great value for money. It is an excellent app for Windows devices to dictate letters and emails and control the operating system.
Price: Full version costs $14. You can try the software for free for 30 days.
Website: e-Speaking
Microsoft Word speech to text
Best solution for Microsoft 365 users
TODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Included with all Microsoft 365 subscriptions+No installation or setup required+Accurate at distinguishing between text and voice commands+Multiple languages supported
REASONS TO AVOID
-Only with Microsoft 365https://50ad3cc790dc4312eacb0b87f19e1c8e.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Although not a standalone dictation software platform, we believe Microsoft Word’s dictation functionalities merit a spot on this list. Built directly into Microsoft Word, and included with all Microsoft 365 subscriptions, it is a powerful and accurate dictation tool.
The platform relies on vast amounts of training data and artificial neural networks, meaning it is continuously improving its ability to transcribe voice to text. Having tested Microsoft’s dictation software, we’re confident it competes in accuracy and ease of use with the leading dictation software providers.
There are few standout features to mention, but we see this as a strength. Microsoft Word’s dictation software is straightforward to use, with no setup or installations required. It is accessible directly from the Word application, and it only takes one click to begin voice typing.
Several voice commands enable you to take control of the document. These include punctuation marks and formatting tools.
A final thing we like about Microsoft Word’s speech to text software is its support for nine different languages, with many more in the testing stage.
- Read our full Microsoft Word review.
Windows 10 Speech Recognition
Best for Windows users to control the operating system and create documents.
Microsoft included the speech recognition feature for the first time in Windows Vista. All the subsequent releases also contain a speech recognition feature. The Windows 10 speech recognition feature is much better than its previous iteration with enhanced speech recognition. You can train the speech recognition software to recognize your voice.
Features:
- Launch applications
- Dictate text
- Navigate windows
- Use in place of mouse or keyboard
Verdict: Windows 10 speech recognition is simple and easy to use the feature. You can set up a speech recognition feature to control the operating system and create documents through voice command.
Price: Free.
Website: Windows 10 Speech Recognition
Winscribe Speech Recognition Suite
The Winscribe Speech Recognition Suite is a part of their overall digital work-flow management system. It is highly rated by respected reviewers and it enjoys a solid share of the growing voice-to-text software market. Here is what you need to know:
Client and server-side options – It is your choice: using the client-side server means that your voice is converted into text as you speak. On the other hand, the server-side server records your dictation, converts it into a sound file, and sends it to a server. The server will compare the voice file with a profile and converts the sound to text.
User cases – The voice-to-text software can be used in any application that requires the typing of text. Of interest is that you can place the text cursor anywhere inside a document and then dictate additional text. In addition, it also supports bar-code and QR scanning. You can even attach photos and maps to your dictated document.
Reporting – The reporting features allow you to measure your productivity and analyze how you use the dictation software. The versatility of Winscribe is appealing to those who want to choose whether they want their documents to be created as they dictate them or to have them transcribed at a later stage.
Systems: Android, Blackberry, Windows, iOS
Price: n.a. | Rating: ★★★★☆ | Website: Winscribe
Otter
Best for transcribing voice conversations for researchers and students.
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Otter is a responsive dictation software with high accuracy. The software boasts of AI technology called Ambient Voice Intelligence (AVI) which allows it to learn as you speak. It also supports team collaboration features such as sync with zoom, share voiceprints, and user management.
Features:
- Live transcribe
- Share voice
- Record conversation
- Ambient Voice Intelligence
Verdict: Otter is a great dictation software for students and teachers alike. The only shortcoming of the application is the transcription limit. You cannot transcribe a lot of documents using the software.
Price: Otter is available in three packages. The Essential Otter version is free that contains basic features like record and playback, live transcribe, user identification, summary keywords, share audio, and text notes, and sync with Zoom Cloud. It supports a maximum transcription of 600 minutes at 40 minutes per month.
The Premium version costs $8.33 per user per month that allows a maximum transcription of 6000 minutes with 4 hours per month. It supports premium features such as import audio, documents (PDF, DOCX, SRT), custom vocabulary, skip silence, sync with Dropbox, and bulk import and export.
Teams version costs $20 per user, per month that has additional team collaboration features such as live notes for Zoom, team vocabulary with 800 names, and 800 additional terms, shared speaker voice prints, time codes, and usage statistics. Educational institutes are offered a 50 percent discount on the regular price.
You can also request a custom Enterprise plan. Here are the details of the different packages.
Website: Otter
Conclusion
Whether you’re a student or a business professional, as a native speaker of English, you probably rely on the English keyboard more often than not. But what if your device doesn’t have an English keyboard? Or perhaps you travel a lot and you need to type out text on the go only using a phone screen or a tablet keyboard? Enter dictation software.