Talon vs Windows Voice Access (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Talon and Windows Voice Access share a 2.8 GPA, both have a free plan, and Windows Voice Access has no paid plan to buy, against $5 a month for Talon.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Talon grades higher on features and platforms. Windows Voice Access grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money and the free plan.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Talon
Hands-free computer control by voice, eye tracking and noises
Windows Voice Access
Free voice control and dictation built into Windows 11
Which one is for you
Pick Talon if
- Fits if you have limited or no use of your hands and need the whole computer, not just typing
- Works for programmers who want to code by voice and will script their own commands
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you just want to talk and have text appear, because it needs scripts added before it does anything
- Not for you if you're on Linux with Wayland, as it needs X11 and Wayland isn't planned
- Pricey if you want eye control, since that needs a separate Tobii 4C, Tobii 5 or similar tracker
- Watch out: it's closed-source freeware, and earlier access to new features costs $25 a month on Patreon
- Not for you if you want it on a phone, as it's macOS, Windows and Linux only, with no API on record
Pick Windows Voice Access if
- Fits if you run Windows 11 and want to control it by voice at no cost
- Works for people who need hands-free use of the PC
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you use a Mac, iPhone or Android phone, as it is Windows only
- Skip it if you are on Windows 10 or older, as it needs Windows 11 22H2 or later
- Too light for transcribing meetings or long audio, as it has no transcription features
- Watch out: it replaced Windows Speech Recognition from September 2024, so old habits may need relearning
How we grade them
| 2.8GPATalonGood | 2.8GPAWindows Voice AccessGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AThe public release is free to download and use, speech engine included. The Patreon tiers are support, not a paywall: $5 a month gets a Slack channel, Talon+ at $25 gets new features earlier, and you need neither. | AFree and part of Windows 11 22H2 and later, with no paid tier, against a category where the cheaper quarter pays $7 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree gets you the lot: the built-in speech engine, voice commands, dictation, eye tracking, noise input and Python scripting. Nothing you need day to day sits behind the paid tiers. | AFree outright, with no cap and no account. |
| Features | BVoice commands and dictation, a pointer you move by looking, a pop to click and a hiss to scroll, your own commands in .talon files and Python past that. It works with Dragon too. More than this category normally asks for, though it ships with no command set of its own. | CHands-free control, dictation, text correction and custom shortcuts, but no document or meeting transcription. |
| Ease of use | DNo rating on record, and this one is configuration files and a terminal. Talon recognises nothing until you add scripts, and the suggested start is cloning the talonhub/community repository. Then you're editing .talon files to change a command. | BNothing to install, as it is part of Windows, though you do have to learn its spoken commands. |
| Platforms and integrations | CmacOS, Windows and Linux, and that's the lot: computers only, no phone app and no API on record. On Linux it needs an X11 session, and Wayland support isn't planned. | DWindows 11 only, with no Mac, phone or older Windows version. |
| Best for | working a computer with no hands at all | controlling a Windows 11 PC and dictating by voice |
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: Talon and Windows Voice Access. How we grade
Price against what you get
Talon starts at $5 a month and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Windows Voice Access has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
They score the same, and Windows Voice Access starts $5 a month lower. Of the other voice dictation apps on the chart, 8 score higher than Talon for less, and none scores higher than Windows Voice Access 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
- Talon also covers workflow automation.
At a glance
| Talon | Windows Voice Access | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $5 per month on Patreon; the Talon+ tier is $25 per month | Free |
| Free plan | The public release is free to download and use, including the built-in speech recognition engine, eye tracking, noise input and scripting. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Talon Voice, LLC | Microsoft |
| Price read from | patreon.com | support.microsoft.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Talon
- Talon recognizes no commands until scripts are added; the suggested start is cloning the talonhub/community repository.
- Eye-tracking mouse control needs a separate Tobii 4C, Tobii 5 or equivalent eye tracker.
- On Linux it requires an X11 session, and Wayland support is not planned.
- The app is closed-source freeware, and earlier access to new features is tied to the $25-a-month Talon+ tier on Patreon.
Windows Voice Access
- Needs Windows 11 version 22H2 or later; it is not available on macOS, mobile or older Windows versions.
- Replaced Windows Speech Recognition on Windows 11 22H2 and later starting in September 2024.
- Built around controlling the PC and accessibility, so it has no document or meeting transcription features.
Key features
Talon
- Voice commands and dictation
- Control apps, edit text and dictate by voice. Commands come from user scripts, and the talonhub/community repository supplies a ready-made command set.
- Eye-tracking mouse control
- Several algorithms move the pointer by gaze. This depends on a Tobii 4C, Tobii 5 or equivalent eye tracker.
- Noise input
- A noise recognition system reacts to mouth sounds: by default a pop clicks and a hiss scrolls.
- Custom commands in .talon files
- Short text files map a spoken phrase to typed text or key presses, such as saying "select all" to send Cmd-A.
- Python scripting
- Behavior can be extended in Python 3 through an embedded interpreter, so no separate Python installation is needed.
- Built-in or Dragon speech engine
- Talon comes with a free speech recognition engine, installed from its Speech Recognition menu, and also works with Dragon without extra setup.
Windows Voice Access
- Hands-free PC control
- Open and switch between apps, browse the web, and interact with items on screen, plus keyboard and mouse actions, all by voice.
- Dictation and fluid dictation
- Speak to write text in most text fields. Microsoft's help pages also describe a fluid dictation mode.
- Select, edit and correct text
- Separate help pages cover selecting, navigating, editing and correcting text by voice, so a document can be revised without the keyboard.
- Custom voice shortcuts
- Create your own voice shortcuts, and use voice on a multi-display setup or to set up and log in to the PC.
- On-device recognition
- Microsoft says voice access uses on-device speech recognition and works even without an internet connection.
Plans
Talon
Talon$0
The public release for macOS, Windows and Linux with voice commands, dictation, eye tracking, noise input and Python scripting.
VIP Slack Channel$5
per month on Patreon, or $51 per year
A supporter tier that adds access to the #vip channel on the Talon Slack.
Talon+$25
per month on Patreon, or $255 per year
Earlier access to new features and higher-priority support, with invites to the #beta and #vip Slack channels.
Professional$100
per month on Patreon, or $1,020 per year
For people who depend on Talon for their living and want to help fund it. Includes Talon+ access.
Windows Voice Access
Voice access$0
Part of Windows 11 version 22H2 and later at no extra charge; there is no separate paid tier.
Ways to pay less
Talon
- Annual discount
15% less with annual Patreon billing
Talon+ is $255 a year on Patreon against $25 a month, which is 15% less. The $5 and $100 tiers follow the same ratio at $51 and $1,020 a year.
Windows Voice Access
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Talon or Windows Voice Access?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Windows Voice Access is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $5 a month for Talon. Talon starts at $5 per month on Patreon; the Talon+ tier is $25 per month, and Windows Voice Access is free.
Which has a free plan, Talon or Windows Voice Access?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Talon and Windows Voice Access have a free plan.
Which platforms do Talon and Windows Voice Access run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Talon lists macOS and Linux apps. Both list a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.