The Best Apple Dictation Alternative
Apple Dictation is great for casual use, handling the basics with ease. Flow, however, is your go-to for reliable, accurate dictation that helps you get things done faster
and more efficiently.
The TL;DR
Best for power users who need reliable dictation with little to no post edit work.
- Fast and reliable dictation that get’s it right the first time.
- Compatible in any text box—no setup required.
- Adapts to your tone and writes like you.
- AI-powered text structuring and formatting.
Best for casual users looking for a simple built-in dictation solution.
- Free and integrated with all Apple devices.
- Basic voice commands to format dictated text.
- Works offline with Enhanced Dictation.
- Great for multilingual users looking for a free option.
Feature Comparison
Flow
Apple Dictation
If you asked me to be 100% honest
It’s there when you need it, requiring no additional setup or cost.
The upside of Apple dictation:
- Always available: No installation, no setup—just tap and talk (after reading the user manual).
- Apple ecosystem integration: It works perfectly with Apple’s suite of apps. No surprises there.
- Free: Included with your device, no additional charges.
- Multilingual support: Supports 32 unique languages and 60 dialect variations.
- Real-time streaming: You can see the text generate as you speak. This is helpful to keep track of context.
- Voice Commands: Basic commands for punctuation and formatting.
The downside of Apple dictation:
- Inconsistent accuracy: You'll often find yourself correcting errors, which can be frustrating.
- No AI-powered features: Lacks intelligent features for post-dictation tasks like formatting and grammar correction.
- Unnatural formatting commands: The formatting commands don’t feel natural and can interrupt your flow of thought.
- Struggles with accents: If you have an accent, you might experience inconsistent results.
What sets Flow apart is its intelligent AI features that provide a smooth and accurate dictation experience.
The upside of Flow:
- Works across all text boxes: Install Flow with a simple download, and it works everywhere.
- Auto formatting and structuring: Text is automatically formatted and structured, removing typos, grammar mistakes, and those ‘uhms’ and ‘ahs’.
- Tone matching: Adapts to your speaking style based an the app you use—from a casual tone on Slack to a professional one in emails.
- Smart editing commands: Unlike basic voice commands like “new line” or “comma,” Flow lets you highlight a sentence and ask it to revise, bullet-point, or even summarize long text.
The downside of Flow:
- Mac-only (for now): Currently exclusive to Mac Silicon users, with support for other platforms coming soon.
- Edits may still be necessary: Flow isn't perfect yet, and may require some minimal post-dictation edits.
- Paid tool: Free during beta, with freemium and paid models to be introduced later.
- Not ideal for technical industry writing: While I would love to say that doctors and lawyers can benefit from accurate and reliable technical writing, Flow is just not there yet.
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Why you should
make the switch to Flow
Get the exact text you want the first time around
The exact thing you said, in text, just like you wanted it to be (the first time). No more tedious formatting, relentless typos, and ‘ums’ or ‘ahs’ — Flow just get’s it.
Get stuff done faster in the smoothest way possible
Reduce the mental load of typing and work as fast as you think. Stop worrying about the little things and let Flow handle the formatting, spelling, and structure. Simply think it, speak it, and send it.
Intelligent dictation that understands your unique voice
Flow adapts to your speaking style and matches your tone. Whether it’s a quick message or a detailed document, simply express yourself through speech and Flow will say what you mean.
Integrates perfectly with your workflow
Flow fits into your existing workflows, enabling faster communication and simplifying repetitive tasks. Use voice input to swiftly respond to messages, create content, and get stuff done faster.
See why people love using Flow everyday
Flow is that extra little part of your brain that helps you formulate full sentences when you might be stuck in thought and have a jittery response.
Jeannette Tan
Fiction Writer
I've been using Wispr almost every day since I downloaded it. It's probably my favourite part of the day, especially at the end when I go through my inbox Wispr.
Suzanne Xie
Partner, Neo
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Stuttering and it still works really well. I think it's really quick, I love it.
Agam Walia
Student, UC Berkeley
This is the best AI product I've used since ChatGPT
Rahul Vohra
CEO, Superhuman
I was able to dictate ~70% of our Q2 board doc with Wispr, it was a massive time saver!
Jeff Seibert
CEO, Digits AI
Flow is that extra little part of your brain that helps you formulate full sentences when you might be stuck in thought and have a jittery response.
Jeannette Tan
Fiction Writer
I've been using Wispr almost every day since I downloaded it. It's probably my favourite part of the day, especially at the end when I go through my inbox Wispr.
Suzanne Xie
Partner, Neo
Stuttering and it still works really well. I think it's really quick, I love it.
Agam Walia
Student, UC Berkeley
This is the best AI product I've used since ChatGPT
Rahul Vohra
CEO, Superhuman
I was able to dictate ~70% of our Q2 board doc with Wispr, it was a massive time saver!
Jeff Seibert
CEO, Digits AI
I'm afraid I'm getting addicted to this great platform. It allows me to get into a flow state and not have autocorrect or voice dictation stop and interrupt me while I'm attempting to articulate my ideas.
Greg Dickson
Bestselling Author and Business Coach
I can make quick edits while speaking to it because flow really understands me perfectly and can make the necessary changes. Flow's accuracy and speed make it a real game changer.
Shashank Vemuri
Scout at Soma Capital
Flow is that extra little part of your brain that helps you formulate full sentences when you might be stuck in thought and have a jittery response.
Jeannette Tan
Fiction Writer
I've been using Wispr almost every day since I downloaded it. It's probably my favourite part of the day, especially at the end when I go through my inbox Wispr.
Suzanne Xie
Partner, Neo
Stuttering and it still works really well. I think it's really quick, I love it.
Agam Walia
Student, UC Berkeley
I'm afraid I'm getting addicted to this great platform. It allows me to get into a flow state and not have autocorrect or voice dictation stop and interrupt me while I'm attempting to articulate my ideas.
Greg Dickson
Bestselling Author and Business Coach
I can make quick edits while speaking to it because flow really understands me perfectly and can make the necessary changes. Flow's accuracy and speed make it a real game changer.
Shashank Vemuri
Scout at Soma Capital
Flow is that extra little part of your brain that helps you formulate full sentences when you might be stuck in thought and have a jittery response.
Jeannette Tan
Fiction Writer
I've been using Wispr almost every day since I downloaded it. It's probably my favourite part of the day, especially at the end when I go through my inbox Wispr.
Suzanne Xie
Partner, Neo
Stuttering and it still works really well. I think it's really quick, I love it.
Agam Walia
Student, UC Berkeley
Stuttering and it still works really well. I think it's really quick, I love it.
Agam Walia
Student, UC Berkeley
This is the best AI product I've used since ChatGPT
Rahul Vohra
CEO, Superhuman
I was able to dictate ~70% of our Q2 board doc with Wispr, it was a massive time saver!
Jeff Seibert
CEO, Digits AI
I have Parkinson's, and this app has just made my life so much easier using my Mac. I can't even explain the change that it has provided for me.
Rich Pankey
Indirect Sourcing Manager
You're making texting actually delightful right now! Can see it becoming a can't live without product fast. I'm now frustrated with working on my phone because Flow is not on there.
Tara Tan
Founding Partner at Strange Ventures
Stuttering and it still works really well. I think it's really quick, I love it.
Agam Walia
Student, UC Berkeley
This is the best AI product I've used since ChatGPT
Rahul Vohra
CEO, Superhuman
I was able to dictate ~70% of our Q2 board doc with Wispr, it was a massive time saver!
Jeff Seibert
CEO, Digits AI
I have Parkinson's, and this app has just made my life so much easier using my Mac. I can't even explain the change that it has provided for me.
Rich Pankey
Indirect Sourcing Manager
You're making texting actually delightful right now! Can see it becoming a can't live without product fast. I'm now frustrated with working on my phone because Flow is not on there.
Tara Tan
Founding Partner at Strange Ventures