I have always been slow at typing, and I think better by talking than by writing. It never felt like a major limitation before, but with AI tools I started to feel it more and more. I kept the directions short, even when I knew I needed to add more details, because typing it all out felt tedious.
Then I tried ChatGPT’s voting feature and something clicked. I could add all the context and nuance that I would normally skip. I wanted that experience everywhere, not just in one app.
That’s why I’ve been testing four AI-powered speech-to-text tools in my daily workflow over the past year. They differ a lot in speed, accuracy and features. Read on to learn more about how I used each tool, how much they cost, and how I integrate dictation into my workflow.
Superwhisper: Powerful, but needs tinkering
Free subscription: 15 minutes of dictation per month
Paid subscription: $8.49 per month
I used it for over a year Super whispering and was quite happy with it. It’s a solid tool with a lot of customization options – you can configure different AI models, custom prompts and modes for different applications, so it applies different presets in Slack versus a coding IDE, for example.
The plan was affordable at less than $10 a month, and for a while it worked well enough. But I encountered two problems. The accuracy wasn’t great for my accent (I’m not a native English speaker) and I often had to do some heavy editing after dictating, especially on technical terms. It was also quite slow: I would dictate something and then wait for it to be processed, which interrupted my flow.
I realized that I didn’t want a tool that required me to tinker and heavily adjust. I wanted something that just worked better out of the box. That prompted me to try other options.
VoiceInk: way to try out dictation the easy way
One-time payment of $25
I tried it StemInk then, based on a teammate’s recommendation. It’s a one-time purchase of $25, and it’s open-source, which I’m happy to support.
The user experience is smart: it integrates directly into the macOS notch. It’s also completely local, so all processing happens on your device, which is excellent from a privacy perspective. It has some customization options and was noticeably faster than Superwhisper.
For my needs, the accuracy was still not quite there with my accent and speaking style, so I kept searching. But if you’re new to dictation tools and want to experiment without a subscription commitment, this is a very solid choice. The price keeps the risk low, and for occasional use or if you have different accuracy needs than I do, it could work very well. Many people at Buffer use VoiceInk.
Wispr Flow: Fast, feature-rich and polished
Free subscription: up to 2,000 words per week
Paid subscription: $15 per month
Wispr current is the tool I currently use.
It is significantly more expensive than the previous options, but the accuracy is noticeably better. It catches technical terms reliably and automatically saves the words I corrected, so it gets better over time.
The biggest difference is the speed. It processes your audio while you’re still speaking, so the transcription appears almost immediately after you’re done. This has transformed my workflow: I can stay in the flow and switch contexts much less often.
It can also handle multiple languages smoothly, which many other tools do not do. I occasionally need to switch between English and Ukrainian (my native language), and Wispr Flow handles this without any problems.
At $15 per month, this is the most expensive option I tested, but the performance and reliability have been worth it for everyday professional use.
Willow Voice: Great quality, but fewer features
Free subscription: up to 2,000 words per week
Paid subscription: $15 per month
Willow voice is priced similarly to Wispr Flow and has many of the same advantages: it’s quite fast and has pretty good accuracy. For my specific use cases, it was a little slower and a little less reliable than Wispr Flow, but not by a huge margin.
It feels like they are a bit earlier as a company, and some of the features I expected weren’t there yet. I’ll keep an eye on it, but I chose Wispr Flow because it was slightly better in most aspects that mattered to me.
| Tool | Price | Platform | Speed | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super whispering | $8/month | MacOS + iOS | Resourse * | Resourse * |
| Voting ink | One-time $25 | MacOS + iOS | Resourse * | Resourse * |
| Wispr current | $15/month | MacOS + iOS | ||
| Windows | ||||
| Android | Very fast | High | ||
| Willow voice | $15/month | MacOS + iOS | Very fast | High |
✏️ One thing to note: For tools like Superwhisper and VoiceInk that run locally, the speed depends on which AI model you choose. Larger models are usually more accurate, but slower to process.
How I use dictation in practice
Dictation quickly became a daily part of my work. Here are the ways it shows up in practice in my work:
AI cues
For the most part, I’ve stopped typing AI prompts when using AI agents for coding or in chat interfaces. This has been the biggest unlock and time saver for me.
It has also made my directions more nuanced and detailed compared to when I typed them, improving AI output. When I type, I tend to keep it short for convenience. When dictating, I naturally provide more context and explanation.
Take brain dumps and notes
When I have something on my mind, I usually dictate it quickly to keep context and come back to it later. These could be project ideas, reflections after meetings or problems I’m thinking about.
I don’t try to write polished lyrics in these moments; I’m just trying to capture thoughts in a format I can revisit. The speed of dictation makes this practical in a way that typing often isn’t.
Messages and quick replies
I also sometimes dictate shorter messages*,*, although this varies. Dictation works especially well for longer explanations where I need to provide context. For very short replies or messages with lots of formatting and links, typing is usually even faster.
Custom workflows
I have also developed some specific workflows around dictation. I have a few custom AI commands in Raycast that process the dictation and then format it in different ways.
One use case that I have found particularly valuable involves job interviews. We’ve been busy hiring at Buffer, so I’ve been doing a lot of job interviews. After an interview I have an AI assignment Muesli where I dictate my thoughts and impressions, structuring them as written feedback for the internal notes. This has streamlined that process significantly.
Reflections and recommendations
I learned a lot during this process. Here are some considerations and recommendations if you’re new to dictation or looking for a new tool:
- Speed has a much bigger impact on usability than I expected. Those few seconds waiting for processing quickly add up and interrupt your flow in ways that aren’t immediately obvious until you experience a faster tool.
- I usually process things by talking about them. Dictation tools help me think through problems and find the right words much faster than typing. If you’re someone who thinks out loud, this can also have a transformative effect on your workflow.
- This is not about completely replacing types. Different contexts require different instruments. I’ve found dictation to be most valuable for AI interactions, quick thought capture, and longer explanations. For quick replies, formatted text, or collaborative editing, typing often remains more efficient.
- If you’re curious about trying out dictation tools, I recommend starting with VoiceInk, given the low stakes. If you find yourself using it regularly and the limitations become frustrating, for me Wispr Flow has been worth the investment for daily professional use.
If you give any of these tools or tips a try, I’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to contact us LinkedIn.
PS This message is largely dictated 😉
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