A documented free plan or version
A product appears here only when its public pages describe a free plan, free tier, or free version. WhisperJot is included for its 30-second demo, not as a free desktop app.
Sourced roundup · Updated 2026-09-01
Best free dictation software
Best free dictation software
in 2026, with limits
These dictation apps document a free plan or free version on their public pages, plus WhisperJot's 30-second browser demo — not a free desktop tier. This is not a ranked list; each pick is tagged with what the free access is best for. macOS and Windows also ship built-in dictation that needs no extra software.
WhisperJot is our product. Competitor facts come from each vendor's public pages and were last verified on the dates shown.
Method
How we picked
What the free access actually includes
Word caps, model limits, and conversation minutes come from the vendor's published plan pages, not from an assumed unlimited free product.
Where free-tier audio is processed
A free plan can still be cloud-only. We note on-device versus cloud processing from each vendor's public pages, matching the linked alternative pages.
Where the free product runs
Platform lists follow each vendor's public pages. Built-in macOS and Windows dictation is mentioned as a generic OS feature, not as a third-party review.
Options
Best free dictation software options
Numbered for scanning, not as a ranking. Each pick is tagged with what it is best for.
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Wispr Flow
Wispr AI, Inc.
Best for: Cloud dictation on every device
Wispr Flow is a cloud dictation app from Wispr AI, Inc. for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android, with no Linux app. The vendor states that transcription always occurs in the cloud, so dictation requires an internet connection. The free plan needs no card and caps desktop use at 2,000 words per week and iPhone use at 1,000 words per week, with unlimited Android use. Pro costs $12 per user per month billed annually or $15 billed monthly, with unlimited dictation. Tools include filler-word removal, a personal dictionary and snippets, per-app tone, more than 100 languages, and Command Mode voice editing on Mac and Windows.
Free plan with word caps; Pro $12/user/month billed annually
Verified August 24, 2026
Compare with Wispr Flow → -
Superwhisper
SuperUltra, Inc.
Best for: Local models and a free tier
Superwhisper is a local-first dictation tool from SuperUltra, Inc. for macOS, Windows, and iOS, with no Linux or Android app. It works fully offline with local models on Apple Silicon; the vendor says Intel Macs work best with cloud models. After a 15-minute Pro trial, a free tier offers unlimited use of small AI models. Paid plans are $8.49 per month, $84.99 per year, or $249.99 once for Lifetime. Pro adds larger local and cloud models plus audio or video file transcription. The privacy policy says the company does not collect audio, transcripts, or personally identifiable information.
$8.49/month, $84.99/year, or $249.99 lifetime; free small-model tier
Verified August 24, 2026
Compare with Superwhisper → -
MacWhisper
Jordi Bruin / Good Snooze
Best for: Mac file and meeting transcription
MacWhisper is a Mac-only app from Jordi Bruin / Good Snooze, built primarily for local audio and video file transcription, meetings, and system audio, with system-wide dictation as a secondary feature in the direct-purchase edition. There is no Windows, Linux, or Android version. A perpetual free tier offers unlimited local transcriptions using smaller Whisper models. Direct-purchase Pro costs €64 once with lifetime updates. Local transcription works offline; optional cloud features need a connection and the user's own third-party API key. The Mac App Store edition does not include dictation.
Free tier, or €64 once for Pro with lifetime updates
Verified August 24, 2026
Compare with MacWhisper → -
Willow Voice
Willow Care, Inc.
Best for: Free cloud dictation, Private Mode
Willow Voice, from Willow Care, Inc., offers dictation on macOS, Windows, and iOS, with Android listed as coming soon and no Linux app. Transcription uses cloud Frontier Mini or Frontier Pro models by default; the homepage also advertises an offline mode. Default Private Mode processes audio and text transiently without retention by Willow or its providers, and transcripts stay on-device. Basic is free with unlimited Frontier Mini use, limited personalization and dictation length, and 20 Scribe uses per week. Pro is $144 per year or $15 per month. Writing tools include an auto-learning dictionary, style matching, and Scribe.
Basic free; Pro $144/year or $15/month
Verified August 24, 2026
Compare with Willow Voice → -
Aqua Voice
Aqua Voice, Inc.
Best for: Fast cloud dictation, screen context
Aqua Voice, from Aqua Voice, Inc., transcribes in the cloud using its Avalon model. No offline mode is advertised on the vendor site. Apps cover macOS on Apple Silicon and Intel, Windows, and iOS, with no Linux or Android app. Starter is free with 1,000 free words. Pro is $96 per year or $10 per month with unlimited words, custom instructions, and an expanded dictionary. Realtime Mode is reserved for Max at $288 per year or $30 per month. Privacy Mode controls whether transcripts are collected; the cited policy does not state which mode is the default. Screen-context awareness uses visible content to inform output.
Starter free (1,000 words); Pro $96/year; Max $288/year
Verified August 24, 2026
Compare with Aqua Voice → -
WhisperJot
FastProducts LLC
Best for: A short free browser demo
WhisperJot has no free desktop tier. What it does offer is a 30-second browser demo so you can try a short dictation before paying. The desktop app is $99/year for unlimited dictation on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Local engines run on-device by default and work offline after the first model download. Optional Jot Cloud is opt-in, used only while selected, and audio is never stored on our servers. Custom vocabulary, voice commands, and microphone-only meeting notes are included in that single plan.
$99/year; no free tier; 30-second browser demo
See WhisperJot pricing →
Summary
Best free dictation software compared
| Product | Best for | Price | Runs where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wispr Flow | Cloud dictation on every device | Free plan with word caps; Pro $12/user/month billed annually | macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android |
| Superwhisper | Local models and a free tier | $8.49/month, $84.99/year, or $249.99 lifetime; free small-model tier | macOS, Windows, and iOS |
| MacWhisper | Mac file and meeting transcription | Free tier, or €64 once for Pro with lifetime updates | macOS only |
| Willow Voice | Free cloud dictation, Private Mode | Basic free; Pro $144/year or $15/month | macOS, Windows, and iOS |
| Aqua Voice | Fast cloud dictation, screen context | Starter free (1,000 words); Pro $96/year; Max $288/year | macOS, Windows, and iOS |
| WhisperJot | A short free browser demo | $99/year; no free tier; 30-second browser demo | macOS, Windows, and Linux (beta) |
Questions
Best free dictation software FAQ
What is the best free dictation software?
It depends on the limits you can live with. Superwhisper's free tier offers unlimited use of small models. MacWhisper's free version offers unlimited local transcriptions with smaller Whisper models. Wispr Flow and Willow have free plans with word, length, or feature caps. Aqua Starter includes 1,000 free words. WhisperJot is not free software; it offers a 30-second browser demo. macOS and Windows also include built-in dictation.
Does WhisperJot have a free tier?
No. WhisperJot has no free desktop plan. There is a 30-second browser demo if you want to try a short dictation before paying. The desktop app is $99/year for unlimited dictation on macOS, Windows, and Linux, with local engines by default and an opt-in Jot Cloud engine. Several other products on this page document a genuine free plan or free version with the limits described in each pick.
Which free dictation apps work offline?
MacWhisper's free tier is local transcription on a Mac. Superwhisper's free tier uses small AI models and can work offline with local models on Apple Silicon. Wispr Flow's free plan is cloud dictation and needs a connection. Aqua's free Starter uses the cloud Avalon model. Willow Basic uses the cloud Frontier Mini model; an offline mode is advertised on the homepage but Frontier models still need internet access.
Is the built-in dictation on Mac or Windows enough?
macOS and Windows ship built-in dictation that can cover short phrases without installing another app. This page does not review those operating system features in detail. Third-party tools on this list add features their vendors document — free cloud plans, local models, file transcription, or a 30-second WhisperJot demo — which may or may not matter for your workflow.
See sourced one-on-one pages in alternatives or the broader dictation app comparison.
Choose where your dictation runs.
Use local transcription by default, or explicitly opt in to Jot Cloud when you select it.