Alternatives · Dictation
Dictato alternatives
Dictato compared with 5 alternatives: VoiceInk, Superwhisper, Wispr Flow, MacWhisper and FluidVoice.
Dictato is a paid product with a free trial, starting at €19.99 one-time, VAT included, for one Mac at a time. 4 of the 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.
5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 6, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| DictatoThis tool | Free trial · from €19.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS |
| VoiceInk | Free trial · from $25 one-time | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| Superwhisper | Free plan · from $8.49/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Wispr Flow | Free plan · from $12/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| MacWhisper | Free plan · from €65 one-time | Yes | macOS |
| FluidVoice | Free | Free | macOS |
How each one differs from Dictato
- Free trial · from $25 one-time
VoiceInk
Open-source Mac dictation with local models and a one-time price
- VoiceInk starts at $25 one-time, for 1 Mac. Dictato starts at €19.99 one-time, VAT included, for one Mac at a time.
- Only VoiceInk lists an iOS app.
- VoiceInk is open source, according to its own site.
- VoiceInk also covers transcription.
- Dictato also covers menu bar app.
Suits: Mac users who want speech transcribed on their own machine
- Free plan · from $8.49/mo
Superwhisper
Voice-to-text app with offline models and custom AI modes
- Superwhisper starts at $8.49 per month, billed monthly ($84.99 billed yearly). Dictato starts at €19.99 one-time, VAT included, for one Mac at a time.
- Superwhisper has a free plan. Dictato does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Superwhisper lists Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Superwhisper also covers meeting notes and transcription.
- Dictato also covers menu bar app.
Suits: People who want dictation that runs on-device and offline
- Free plan · from $12/mo
Wispr Flow
Voice dictation that cleans up your speech in any app
- Wispr Flow starts at $12 per user / month, billed annually. Dictato starts at €19.99 one-time, VAT included, for one Mac at a time.
- Wispr Flow has a free plan. Dictato does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Wispr Flow lists Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Dictato can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Wispr Flow also covers meeting notes, transcription and text expansion.
Suits: People who write a lot of email, chat and documents and prefer to speak
- Free plan · from €65 one-time
MacWhisper
Mac transcription and dictation app that runs models locally
- MacWhisper starts at €65 one-time, per license. Dictato starts at €19.99 one-time, VAT included, for one Mac at a time.
- MacWhisper has a free plan. Dictato does not, though it has a free trial.
- MacWhisper also covers transcription.
- Dictato also covers menu bar app.
Suits: Transcribing interviews, lectures and podcasts without uploading files
- Free
FluidVoice
Free, open-source on-device dictation for macOS
- FluidVoice is free. Dictato starts at €19.99 one-time, VAT included, for one Mac at a time.
- FluidVoice has a free plan. Dictato does not, though it has a free trial.
- FluidVoice is open source, according to its own site.
- Dictato can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Dictato also covers menu bar app.
Suits: Mac users who want free dictation that stays on the device
Limits worth knowing in Dictato
- It runs only on Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 14 or later; Intel Macs are not supported and there are no Windows or mobile apps.
- It is live dictation only and does not transcribe existing audio files.
- A license covers one Mac at a time, with up to 3 moves per 30 days, and the price is listed in euros only.
- Auto-translate needs macOS 26, and tone rewrites need a one-time 3.4 GB model download.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Dictato?
The alternatives to Dictato in this directory are VoiceInk, Superwhisper, Wispr Flow, MacWhisper and FluidVoice. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Dictato.
Is there a free alternative to Dictato?
Yes. FluidVoice is free to use. Superwhisper, Wispr Flow and MacWhisper have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Dictato alternatives work on Windows?
The Dictato listing does not include a Windows app. Superwhisper and Wispr Flow list one.
Which Dictato alternatives work on Android?
The Dictato listing does not include an Android app. Superwhisper and Wispr Flow list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Dictato?
VoiceInk and FluidVoice are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 6, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
Keep reading
- +1Best of
The best voice dictation apps in 2026
Five dictation apps that turn speech into text in any app, from free on-device models to a one-time purchase for the Mac. Each pick says who it suits, what it costs and where it stops.
5 tools · Updated October 2026
