The Dictation.io Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Dictation.io in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Dictation.io
The Insider’s Guide
Free browser dictation tool built on Google speech recognition
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among voice dictation apps, read from Dictation.io’s own pages.
Made by Digital Inspiration · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Dictation.io’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Dictation.io’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 31 of the 42 other voice dictation apps we grade
Dictation.io is a web page for typing with your voice in Google Chrome. It relies on Google's speech recognition engine, supports dozens of languages, and keeps your notes in the browser's local storage unless you choose to publish them.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Dictation.io, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's one page: it needs the internet, only one tab can listen at a time, and it doesn't work on iPhone or iPad.
- 1
Best for free dictation in a Chrome tab
Dictation.io is a free web page that turns speech into text in Chrome, with voice commands and many languages.
- 2
It is free
Dictation.io has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Real-time dictation
Speech is converted to text as you talk, ready to edit in the page, using Google's speech recognition engine.
- 5
Many languages
The languages page lists dozens of supported languages, including English, Spanish, French, Hindi, Arabic, Japanese and Korean.
- 6
Voice commands
Say a command to add a new line, punctuation or a smiley, with command lists published per language.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 31 of 42
That is against the other voice dictation apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Dictation.io is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Dictation.io at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Digital Inspiration
- Category
- Voice Dictation
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for free dictation in a Chrome tab
Dictation.io is a free web page that turns speech into text in Chrome, with voice commands and many languages. It's one page: it needs the internet, only one tab can listen at a time, and it doesn't work on iPhone or iPad.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free, with no paid plan on record, so nothing to pay for. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole thing is free and no cap is listed. |
| Features | C | Real-time dictation, many languages and voice commands, but it's a single dictation page with no apps, no file transcription and no account features. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. Open the page and talk, with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only, and it needs Google Chrome on Windows, Mac or Linux. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Dictation.io is for
- Fits if you want to dictate into a browser tab without installing anything
- Works for people who dictate a note now and then
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Quick dictation of emails or short documents in Chrome
- People who want a free tool with nothing to install
- Dictating in languages that Google's recognizer supports
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Dictation.io is free to use.
Free, with no paid plan on record, so nothing to pay for.
Free
$0
The vendor describes Dictation as a free online speech recognition tool; no paid plan is listed.
Read from dictation.io on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Free browser dictation tool built on Google speech recognition. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: dictation, notes.
Web only, and it needs Google Chrome on Windows, Mac or Linux.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Dictation.io is made by Digital Inspiration.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
31/42
Other voice dictation apps it is graded above
Dictation.io's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 31 of the 42 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 7.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 25 of 42) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Dictation.io has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 43 voice dictation apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Dictation.io’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 21 of 42
- AFree plan and trialAbove 25 of 42
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 42
- BEase of useAbove 13 of 42
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 8 of 42
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 32 voice dictation apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Dictation.io is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Dictation.io is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 31 of the 42 other voice dictation apps we grade.
What you could make
- Notes: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Dictation that types into any app on your computer.
What this rests on. Dictation.io’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
SpeechTexter, TalkTyper, Speechnotes, Voice In and Voice Notebook
The 5 tools Dictation.io is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
SpeechTexter
Free
Free online voice typing in the browser with custom voice commands.
- SpeechTexter also covers transcription.
- 2.8GPA
TalkTyper
Free
Free in-browser speech-to-text page for dictating short passages.
- Dictation.io also covers notes.
- TalkTyper also covers transcription.
- 3.2GPA
Speechnotes
Free plan · from $1.9/mo
Free online dictation notepad with a voice-typing extension.
- Only Speechnotes lists an Android app.
- Only Speechnotes lists a browser extension.
- Speechnotes also covers transcription.
- 2.6GPA
Voice In
Free plan · from $5/mo
Speech-to-text extension for typing on websites in Chrome and Edge.
- Only Dictation.io lists a web app.
- Only Voice In lists a browser extension.
- Dictation.io also covers notes.
- 3.2GPA
Voice Notebook
Free plan · from $5.99
Browser speech-to-text with audio file transcription and phone apps.
- Only Voice Notebook lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Voice Notebook lists a browser extension.
- Dictation.io also covers notes.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Dictation.io free?
Yes. Dictation.io is free to use.
How much does Dictation.io cost?
Dictation.io lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Dictation.io work on?
Dictation.io is available on Web.
Does Dictation.io have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Dictation.io is listed for Web.
Does Dictation.io have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Dictation.io is listed for Web.
Is Dictation.io open source?
Dictation.io is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Who makes Dictation.io?
Dictation.io is made by Digital Inspiration.
What are the alternatives to Dictation.io?
The closest alternatives to Dictation.io in our directory are SpeechTexter, TalkTyper, Speechnotes, Voice In and Voice Notebook.
How does Dictation.io compare with other voice dictation apps?
Dictation.io's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 31 of the 42 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 7.
Is Dictation.io good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Dictation.io A for value for money. Dictation.io has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Dictation.io?
Dictation.io is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Dictation.io’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Dictation.io's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Digital Inspiration. Prices change, so check dictation.io before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Dictation.io, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/dictationio
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Dictation.io: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/dictationio
Know someone choosing between voice dictation apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/dictationio/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded voice dictation apps after Dictation.io, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Voice Dictation Insider's GuideEvery one of the 43 voice dictation apps we grade, compared
- OpenWhispr Insider's GuideOpen-source dictation with free local models and meeting notes3.2 GPA
- Speechnotes Insider's GuideFree online dictation notepad with a voice-typing extension3.2 GPA
- TypeWhisper Insider's GuideOpen-source dictation with local engines for Mac, PC, iOS and Android3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Dictation.io’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Dictation.io is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Digital Inspiration. Prices and plans change: check dictation.io before you buy.