Dictation.io vs SpeechTexter (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Dictation.io and SpeechTexter share a 3.0 GPA, both are free, so the choice depends on which features you need.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on all five counts.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Dictation.io
Free browser dictation tool built on Google speech recognition
SpeechTexter
Free online voice typing in the browser with custom voice commands
Which one is for you
Pick Dictation.io if
- Fits if you want to dictate into a browser tab without installing anything
- Works for people who dictate a note now and then
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to dictate into other apps, since it only types into its own page
- Not for you if you use an iPhone or iPad, as the FAQ says it isn't compatible
- Watch out: it needs the internet because recognition runs on Google's servers
- Too light for bigger jobs: one tab at a time, and no file transcription
Pick SpeechTexter if
- Fits if you want to dictate in many languages without installing anything
- Works for students writing notes and short documents in a browser
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to dictate into other apps, as dictation happens in its own page
- Not for you if you use an iPhone or iPad, which the page says aren't supported
- Watch out: it relies on Google's service, and the page warns recognition can stop after a few words in some languages
- Not for you if you want ads gone, as the page shows them
- Watch out: the old Android app is no longer supported
How we grade them
| 3.0GPADictation.ioVery good | 3.0GPASpeechTexterVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree, with no paid plan on record, so nothing to pay for. | AFree to use, with no installation and no paid plan on record. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole thing is free and no cap is listed. | AThe whole thing is free, and the cost is ads on the page. |
| Features | CReal-time dictation, many languages and voice commands, but it's a single dictation page with no apps, no file transcription and no account features. | CReal-time dictation, over 70 languages, voice commands, autosave and download, but it types only inside its own page and recognition can stop after a few words in some languages. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record. Open the page and talk, with nothing to set up. | BNo store rating on record. Open the page and talk, with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only, and it needs Google Chrome on Windows, Mac or Linux. | CWeb only. It names Chrome on desktop and some Android browsers, and the old Android app is no longer supported. |
| Best for | free dictation in a Chrome tab | free multilingual dictation in the browser |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Dictation.io and SpeechTexter. How we grade
Price against what you get
Dictation.io has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. SpeechTexter has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other voice dictation apps on the chart, none scores higher than Dictation.io for less, and none scores higher than SpeechTexter for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- SpeechTexter also covers transcription.
At a glance
| Dictation.io | SpeechTexter | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | None | Free to use with no installation. The page shows ads. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Digital Inspiration | SpeechTexter |
| Price read from | dictation.io | speechtexter.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Dictation.io
- Needs Google Chrome on Windows, Mac or Linux; the FAQ says it is not compatible with iPhone or iPad.
- It does not work offline, because speech recognition happens on Google's servers.
- Only one browser tab can use speech recognition at a time.
- It is a single dictation page, with no apps, file transcription or account features.
SpeechTexter
- The page names Google Chrome on desktop as the supported browser, and some browsers on Android.
- The old Android app is no longer supported.
- It relies on Google's speech-to-text service, and the page warns that recognition can stop after a few words in some languages.
- Dictation happens inside its own page, not in other apps.
Key features
Dictation.io
- Real-time dictation
- Speech is converted to text as you talk, ready to edit in the page, using Google's speech recognition engine.
- Many languages
- The languages page lists dozens of supported languages, including English, Spanish, French, Hindi, Arabic, Japanese and Korean.
- Voice commands
- Say a command to add a new line, punctuation or a smiley, with command lists published per language.
- Local storage
- Text is stored in your browser, and the site says nothing is uploaded other than the speech sent to Google for recognition.
- Optional publishing
- A Publish button posts your text as a GitHub Gist with a secret URL that anyone who has the link can open.
SpeechTexter
- Real-time dictation
- Speech is converted to text as you talk, with a confidence percentage and a preview box that can be turned off.
- Custom voice commands
- A voice command list inserts punctuation, saved phrases and actions such as undo, redo and new paragraph, and you can edit it.
- More than 70 languages
- The page says over 70 languages are supported, with a keyboard shortcut to switch language.
- Capitalization options
- Settings cover proper nouns, the first letter of a sentence or paragraph, and adding a period at the end of a sentence.
- Download and copy
- A note can be downloaded as a .doc or .txt file, or copied as plain text.
- Autosave
- Notes can be saved automatically in the browser's cache, which the page says is unsuitable for shared computers.
Plans
Dictation.io
Free$0
The vendor describes Dictation as a free online speech recognition tool; no paid plan is listed.
SpeechTexter
Free$0
The full web app, supported by advertising.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Dictation.io or SpeechTexter?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Dictation.io and SpeechTexter are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Dictation.io or SpeechTexter?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Dictation.io and SpeechTexter have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.