Free Talk To Text Software For Mac
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- Best Free Speech To Text Software For Mac
- Free Voice To Text Software For Mac
Best voice recognition software
Read on for our detailed analysis of each app
Speech-to-text software, or dictation software, lets you control your computer, dictate text, or both. These are the options for Mac OS X users. Speech-to-text software, sometimes known as dictation software, is something that lets you talk to the computer in some form and have the computer react appropriately to what you are saying. If your OS of choice is Mac OS X, and all you need is basic but extremely solid text to speech (TTS) functionality, you don’t even have to bother with a third party software application, as the OS’ native Text to Speech feature has you covered.
Voice recognition is a technology that has definitely come of age over the past decade.
With everything from Siri and Alexa now available as audio assistants, the ability for computers to accurately recognize and represent speech has now become an everyday reality.
Voice-to-text and text-to-speech applications have become common in the mobile app space, but for desktops there's surprisingly limited competition in the market.
This is a shame as this is one of the key areas where voice recognition can really develop, especially in a age where accessibility is key to an increasing number of people. And while voice recognition may be seen as a technology for those with additional needs, the truth is that when it works well it can be so much of a time saver, especially when it comes to typing up documents.
And because there's little need to wrestle with a QWERTY keyword, voice recognition software can be used to help prevent either the occurrence or development of Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, which can otherwise be debilitating to those who have to do large volumes of typing.
While voice recognition isn't yet perfect, the amount of time required to train the software to both recognize and work accurately with your voice is very much reduced these days.
So if you're looking for voice recognition software, take a look at the best that we've featured below.
- We’ve picked out the best free software for small businesses
- Want your company or services to be added to this buyer’s guide? Please email your request to desire.athow@futurenet.com with the URL of the buying guide in the subject line.
1. Dragon
Platforms: Windows, Mac | Features: Voice commands, dictation, transcription
Dragon has long been regarded as ruling the roost when it comes to speech recognition on the PC, with a long line of quality products which work at a high standard. This is not least because of the ‘deep learning’ technology which helps the dictation software achieve greater levels of accuracy the more you use it, learning common words and phrases that you employ, and also adapting to background noise or your accent.
The latest Dragon speech recognition software has a higher baseline accuracy right out of the box, as well. Overall, we found it noticeably more accurate and responsive than older versions.
This software provides full dictation capabilities, as well as voice commands to control your PC (to open programs, navigate web pages and so forth – and note that you can dictate wherever you want, for example, in Gmail in your browser). It’s also built to work with touchscreen devices as required. All of this is included in the Dragon Home edition, which retails at $150.
Additional features are available with the Dragon Professional Individual upgrade, including the ability to create boilerplate forms or email signatures which can be inserted into a document with a single command. There’s also a transcription facility which can analyze an audio clip, podcast or similar, turning it into text. Furthermore, there are advanced custom command options available, plus the ability to synchronize your work with Android or iOS devices.
Dragon Professional Individual retails at $300, but there is also an enterprise package available for business groups which includes all these capabilities and makes them available for multiple users, along with additional integration features.
2. Dragon Anywhere
Benefit from dictation capabilities wherever you may be
Platforms: Android, iOS | Features: Dictation, sync with Dragon Professional and cloud services
Anywhere 12 monthsDragon Anywhere is the mobile product for Android and iOS devices, however this is no ‘lite’ app, but rather offers fully-formed dictation capabilities powered via the cloud.
So essentially you get the same excellent speech recognition as seen on the desktop software – the only meaningful difference we noticed was a very slight delay in our spoken words appearing on the screen (doubtless due to processing in the cloud). However, note that the app was still responsive enough overall.
It also boasts support for boilerplate chunks of text which can be set up and inserted into a document with a simple command, and these, along with custom vocabularies, are synced across the mobile app and desktop Dragon software. Furthermore, you can share documents across devices via Evernote or cloud services (such as Dropbox).
This isn’t as flexible as the desktop application, however, as dictation is limited to within Dragon Anywhere – you can’t dictate directly in another app (although you can copy over text from the Dragon Anywhere dictation pad to a third-party app). The other caveats are the need for an internet connection for the app to work (due to its cloud-powered nature), and the fact that it’s a subscription offering with no one-off purchase option, which might not be to everyone’s tastes.
Even bearing in mind these limitations, though, it’s a definite boon to have fully-fledged, powerful voice recognition of the same sterling quality as the desktop software, nestling on your phone or tablet for when you’re away from the office.
Nuance Communications offers a 7-day free trial to give the app a whirl before you commit to a subscription.
3. Google Docs Voice Typing
A nifty freebie nestling within G Suite
Platforms: Chrome browser, Android, iOS | Features: Dictation
G Suite BusinessGoogle has a free speech recognition facility built right into Google Docs (the word processor in G Suite).
Free Talk To Text Software
The strength with Google’s voice solution is that it’s actually surprisingly accurate, particularly considering this is a freebie offering. If you’re happy using G Suite and want something for casual dictation which will cost you absolutely nothing, this is a great option to have.
However there is a caveat here, namely that you have to be using Google’s Chrome browser for voice to be supported on your desktop PC (Voice Typing can also be used with some Android and iOS devices).
Speech To Text
Also note that this is purely for speech dictation within Google Docs, and the system doesn’t offer the likes of voice commands for the desktop. It’s all about dictating text, and issuing commands regarding formatting your document, but nothing outside that.
You can fire up the voice capability within Google Docs (remember, you have to be using the Chrome browser) by clicking on the Tools menu and then selecting Voice Typing.
4. Braina Pro
A virtual assistant for your PC
Platforms: Windows XP-10 | Features: Voice commands, dictation, AI assistant, Android app for remote control of PC
Braina is speech recognition software which is built not just for dictation, but also as an all-round digital assistant to help you achieve various tasks on your PC. It supports dictation to third-party software in not just English but almost 90 different languages, with impressive voice recognition chops.
Best Free Speech To Text Software For Mac
Beyond that, it’s a virtual assistant that can be instructed to set alarms, search your PC for a file, or search the internet, play an MP3 file, read an ebook aloud, plus you can implement various custom commands.
The Windows program also has a companion Android app which can remotely control your PC, and use the local Wi-Fi network to deliver commands to your computer, so you can spark up a music playlist, for example, wherever you happen to be in the house. Nifty.
There’s a free version of Braina which comes with limited functionality, but includes all the basic PC commands, along with a 7-day trial of the speech recognition which allows you to test out its powers for yourself before you commit to a subscription. Yes, this is another subscription-only product with no option to purchase for a one-off fee. Also note that you need to be online and have Google’s Chrome browser installed for speech recognition functionality to work.
5. Windows 10 Speech Recognition
Microsoft’s desktop OS has fully integrated voice recognition
Platforms: Windows 10 | Features: Voice commands, dictation
If you don’t want to pay for speech recognition software, and you’re running Microsoft’s latest desktop OS, then you might be pleased to hear that Windows 10 actually has some very solid voice recognition abilities built right into the operating system.
Windows Speech Recognition, as it’s imaginatively named – and note that this is something different to Cortana, which offers basic commands and assistant capabilities – lets you not only execute commands via voice control, but also offers the ability to dictate into documents.
The sort of accuracy you get isn’t comparable with that offered by the likes of Dragon, but then again, you’re paying nothing to use it. It’s also possible to improve the accuracy by training the system by reading text, and giving it access to your documents to better learn your vocabulary. It’s definitely worth indulging in some training, particularly if you intend to use the voice recognition feature a fair bit.
This speech recognition capability is actually in previous versions of Windows as well, although Microsoft has honed it more with the latest OS. The company has been busy boasting about its advances in terms of voice recognition powered by deep neural networks, and Microsoft is certainly priming us to expect impressive things in the future. The likely end-goal aim is for Cortana to do everything eventually, from voice commands to taking dictation.
Turn on Windows Speech Recognition by heading to the Control Panel (search for it, or right click the Start button and select it), then click on Ease of Access, and you will see the option to ‘start speech recognition’ (you’ll also spot the option to set up a microphone here, if you haven’t already done that).
- Maybe you’ll use voice recognition with one of our best business laptops
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1 | Voice Insert ActiveX SDK |
|---|---|
| Insert SpeechToText in any Windows Application with Read Aloud Mouse Target Use Voice Insert API to Insert SpeechToText in any Windows Application. Recognizes Full 60000 Word English/Chinese Dictation. Features Limited Dictation, Voice Commands and ... | |
| Size: 50.7 MB, Price: USD $299.00 , License: Shareware, Author: Research Lab Inc (guruperl.net) |
2 | Embedded Speech Recognition Kit |
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| Embedded Speech Recognition Developers Kit using x86 CPU Single Board Computer running Windows CE. Complete Embedded Speech Recognition or SpeechToText Circuit Solution for Development of Speech Recognition System at electronics level. Embedded Windows ... | |
| Size: 1.9 MB, Price: USD $799.00 , License: Shareware, Author: Research Lab Inc (guruperl.net) |
3 | Amacsoft PDF toTextforMac |
|---|---|
| PDF toTextforMac is an easy way to convert multiple PDF documents totext documents on Mac. Only requires three steps you can convert PDF to TXT on Mac successfully. Amacsoft PDF toTextforMac will help you convert PDF toText document on Mac OS ... | |
| Size: 5.8 MB, Price: USD $39.95 , License: Shareware, Author: Amacsoft Studio (amacsoft.com) |
4 | Enolsoft PDF toTextforMac |
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| Enolsoft PDF toTextforMac is specifically tailored forMac users to reuse and edit content from PDF files to get a head start on new project, allows Mac users to save PDF files as Text documents and retain layout, fonts and formatting. Enolsoft PDF ... | |
| Size: 6.2 MB, Price: USD $29.00 , License: Free to try, Author: Enolsoft (enolsoft.com) | |
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5 | Simpo PDF toTextforMac |
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| Simpo PDF toTextforMac is a simple and easy-to-use PDF toText Converter forMac users to convert their PDF files to plain text documents. Simpo PDF toTextforMac is a simple and easy-to-use PDF toText Converter forMac users to convert their PDF ... | |
| Size: 3.4 MB, Price: USD $19.95 , License: Free to try, Author: Simpo Technologies (simpopdf.com) | |
| Convert Pdf To Text On Mac, Convert Pdf To Txt On Mac, Pdf Converter, Pdf To Text Converter For Mac |
6 | Clean TextforMac |
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| Apimac Clean Text eliminates all text formatting, preparing it for pasting. Moreover, the application performs other useful functions, such as removing empty lines, removing multiple spaces, removing tab characters etc. Apimac Clean Text eliminates all ... | |
| Size: 5.0 MB, Price: USD $24.95 , License: Shareware, Author: Apimac (apimac.com) | |
| Automatic Text, Clean Text, Formatting Text, Mac Os X, Text Tool |
7 | Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking |
|---|---|
| Dragon NaturallySpeaking is faster and more accurate speech recognition system than ever. Your transcribed words now appear on the screen in half the time it took in the past and with up to 99% accuracy. Our professional speech recognition system is ... | |
| Size: 1024.0 MB, Price: USD $199.99 , License: Shareware, Author: Nuance Communications, Inc. (speechocrpdfconverters.com) | |
| Dragon Naturallyspeaking, Naturally Speaking, Naturallyspeaking, Speech Recognition, Speech To Text |
8 | Proloquo forMac OS |
|---|---|
| A multilingual speech solution forMac OS X that provides: (1) a full-fledged communication system (AAC) for people who cannot speak; (2) provides speech feedback in any application while typing for children and people with learning disabilities; (3) ... | |
| Size: 25.1 MB, Price: Free, License: Freeware, Author: AssistiveWare (assistiveware.com) | |
| Proloquo |
9 | SayO'Clock |
|---|---|
| SayO'Clock is a talking Digital Clock which speaks 'on demand' or according to a schedule, using either pre-recorded 'Real Speech' or TextToSpeech (TTS). SayO'Clock is a talking Digital Clock which speaks 'on demand' ... | |
| Size: 2.2 MB, Price: Free, License: Freeware, Author: M.A.C Software (measureandconvert.com) |
10 | Exsense Speecher |
|---|---|
| Speecher is a very easy program forspeechtext and string. Speecher is a very easy program forspeechtext and string. Features : - Very lite and little - Play, pause and stop speech - Multi tab and multi speech - Set font and font size - Set speech ... | |
| Size: 705.7 KB, Price: Free, License: Freeware, Author: Exsense Software (exsense-software.com) |
11 | Improve Your English Pro |
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| Improve Your English Pro is an all in one software Reading, Listening,Spelling, Pronunciation, Translator, Dictionaries, Texttospeech, Textto mp3 converter, Word Games etc. Improve Your English Pro is an all in one software Reading, Listening,Spelling, ... | |
| Size: 24.7 MB, Price: USD $49.95 , License: Shareware, Author: rentanadviser (rentanadviser.com) |
12 | SpeechToText - SMS Email Facebook and Twitter |
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| Speech and convert SpeechtoTextto share through SMS, Email, Twitter and Facebook. Speech and convert SpeechtoTextto share through SMS, Email, Twitter and Facebook. | |
| Size: 1.5 MB, Price: USD $0.99 , License: Shareware, Author: Sikander Naseem (uetengr.tripod.com) |
13 | VoiceTech |
|---|---|
| VoiceTech mobile application converts your speechtotext and delivers it wherever you wish. VoiceTech mobile application converts your speechtotext and delivers it wherever you wish. | |
| Size: 2.7 MB, Price: Free, License: Freeware, Author: Intervox Ltd (phonetag.com) |
14 | MeNoSpeak |
|---|---|
| Speechtotext - texttospeech translator. Translate your speech into 10+ languages.Choose your language, choose the target language, slide the central switch and speak! Speechtotext - texttospeech translator. Translate your speech into 10+ languages. | |
| Size: 2.7 MB, Price: USD $0.99 , License: Shareware, Author: AN Grupa (poverkhnost.tv) |
15 | Note, Listen for Deaf |
|---|---|
| A handy application with speechtotext translation for deaf people, allowing a deaf person to write a note for a hearing person. This note will be displayed in large type and will be clearly visible on the device screen. This application allows ... ... | |
| Size: 2.1 MB, Price: USD $3.99 , License: Shareware, Author: Vasily Kiryakov (deaf-hearing.blogspot.com) |
16 | Read Genius |
|---|---|
| Read Genius is a wonderful texttospeech software, It can read every word and sentence that you've just typed, read any selected text or whole article, tell you time and date, work as a speaking alarm clock, and support 11 languages and more voices! ... | |
| Size: 3.7 MB, Price: USD $29.95 , License: Shareware, Author: Text to speech software team (vioio.com) | |
| Alarm Clock, Audio, Clipboard, Read, Sound, Speak, Speaking, Speech, Text To Speech, Text To Speech Program, Text To Speech Software, Text-to-speech, Tts, Tts Software |
17 | 2nd Speech Center |
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| Converts any text into spoken words or even MP3/WAVE audio files. 2nd Speech Center is an award-winning text-to-speech player that lets you listen to documents, e-mails or web pages instead of reading on screen. Converts any text into spoken words or ... | |
| Size: 4.1 MB, Price: USD $39.95 , License: Shareware, Author: Zero2000 Software (zero2000software.com) | |
| Assistive Technology, Audiobook, Dyslexia, Ebook, Ebook Reader, Esl, Natural Voices, Reading Disability, Text To Mp3, Text To Speech, Text To Speech Software, Voice Mail |
18 | Text-to-Speech Master |
|---|---|
| Very interesting texttospeech program which can read your documents aloud Text-to-Speech Master is very powerful and interesting program that lets you listen to documents, e-mails or web pages instead of reading on screen or even convert them to audio ... | |
| Size: 9.6 MB, Price: USD $29.95 , License: Shareware, Author: TTS Master Team (ttsmaster.com) | |
| Free Text To Speech, Free Tts Engines, Microsoft Text To Speech, Msagent, Natural Voices, Sapi, Speech To Text, Text Reader, Text To Mp3, Text To Speech Program, Text To Speech Software, Text To Speech Voice, Tts |
Free Voice To Text Software For Mac
19 | Sayz Me |
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| Simple text-to-speech application. Freeware. Sayz Me is a text-to-speech application for Windows. Text can be typed in or read from clipboard. Words are highlighted when spoken. Select voice, adjust reading speed, voice pitch, font and color. Hides in ... | |
| Size: 2.3 MB, Price: Free, License: Freeware, Author: Adam Bunter (sayzme.sourceforge.net) | |
| Speak, Speaking, Speech, Talk, Talking, Text, Text-to-speech, Voice |
20 | Embedded Speech Synthesis Kit |
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| 0 TTS Developers Kit is your complete Embedded Speech Synthesis or TextToSpeech Circuit Solution for Development of Speech Synthesis System at Electronics level. The design is based on Festival TTS and is Ported to WinCE Embedded Windows CE SAPI 5. | |
| Size: 1.3 MB, Price: USD $799.00 , License: Shareware, Author: Research Lab Inc (guruperl.net) | |
| Embedded Speech Recognition Circuit, Embedded Speech Synthesis Circuit, Embedded Speech To Text Electronics, Nokia Speech Series, Palm Os, Po, Symbian Os, Windows Ce Sapi |
21 | Power TexttoSpeech Reader |
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| Power TexttoSpeech Reader is an award-winning text-to-speech player that lets you listen to documents, e-mails or web pages instead of reading on screen. Power TexttoSpeech Reader is an award-winning text-to-speech player that lets you listen to ... | |
| Size: 3.7 MB, Price: USD $29.95 , License: Shareware, Author: 1SpeechSoft (1speechsoft.com) | |
| Listen To Emails, Read Text Aloud, Text To Mp3, Text To Speech, Text To Wav |
22 | TexttoSpeech Maker |
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| an easy to use text-to-speech player that lets you listen to documents, e-mails or web pages instead of reading on screen.It also allows you to convert textto WAV,MP3 or VOX files for listening later with your portabl MP3 player. TexttoSpeech Maker ... | |
| Size: 8.2 MB, Price: USD $24.95 , License: Shareware, Author: xrlly.com (xrlly.com) | |
| Text To Audio, Text To Mp3, Text To Speech |
23 | Research Lab Speech Engines Suite |
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| Research Lab Speech Engines 2005 Suite Includes Four Powerful Speech Engines: A-Speaker Verification Engine SDK, B- Speech Recognition Engine SDK, C- Voice Insert SAPI Speech Recognition SDK, D- TextTo Wave SAPI Speech Synthesis SDK. Research Lab Speech ... | |
| Size: 72.4 MB, Price: USD $1200.00 , License: Shareware, Author: Research Lab Inc (guruperl.net) | |
| Dragon, Sapi, Speaker Verification, Speech Recognition, Speech Synthesis, Speech To Text, Text To Speech, Text To Wave, Viavoice, Voice Recognition |
24 | Sayvoice Email for Pocket PC |
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| SayvoiceEmail for PPC is an email client program that can read email aloud to you using Text-To-Speech technology from your Pocket PC.It can Listen to your emails, reduce your eyestrain from reading email by eye. Include female male voice. SayvoiceEmail ... | |
| Size: 29.1 MB, Price: USD $19.88 , License: Shareware, Author: Sayvoice.com (sayvoice.com) | |
| Text To Speech, Text To Speech Software, Text To Speech Voices |
25 | IVONA Reader |
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| Personal easy-to-use text reader. Converts any written text from your PC into spoken words. This text-to-speech reader allows computer to read any text aloud. It can read documents, news, RSS, books, web pages and emails. Personal easy-to-use text reader. | |
| Size: 31.5 MB, Price: USD $39.00, EUR 29 , License: Shareware, Author: IVONA Software (ivona.com) | |
| Free Text To Speech, Free Tts, Text Reader, Text To Speech, Text To Speech Software, Text-to-speech, Tts, Tts Reader, Tts Software |
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