The Willow Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Willow 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.
Willow
The Insider’s Guide
AI voice dictation that formats text and matches your style
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among voice dictation apps, read from Willow’s own pages.
Made by Willow Care, Inc. · checked Oct 4, 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 Willow’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Willow’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 4, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 8 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade
Willow is a dictation app for Mac, Windows and iPhone that types what you say into any app. It strips filler words, fixes punctuation and adapts to your writing style over time, and a feature called Scribe drafts text from a spoken description of what you want to say. The free Basic plan runs on a lighter speech model, and Pro switches to the stronger one without limits.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Willow, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The free Basic plan has unlimited dictation on a lighter speech model.
- 1
Best for dictation that ends up sounding like you
Willow types what you say into any app on Mac, Windows and iPhone and learns to match how you write.
- 2
Paid plans start at $12 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $12 per user / month, billed annually.
- 3
There is a free plan
Basic plan: unlimited dictation on the lighter Frontier Mini model, limited personalization and 20 Scribe uses a week. No credit card required.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and iOS.
- 5
Dictation in any app
Speak into any text field, with Slack, Gmail, Cursor, Notion and iMessage given as examples. Willow says text can appear in as little as 200 ms and lists 100+ languages.
- 6
Automatic formatting
Removes filler words, fixes punctuation and structures what you said, so the result needs less editing than a raw transcript.
- 7
Style matching
Learns how you write and adapts the tone of its output, and lets you pick different writing styles for different apps. Style memory is part of Pro.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 8 of 27
That is against the other voice dictation apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Willow you would be making dictation that types into any app on your computer. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Willow at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $12 per user / month, billed annually
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS
- Made by
- Willow Care, Inc.
- Category
- Voice Dictation
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for dictation that ends up sounding like you
Willow types what you say into any app on Mac, Windows and iPhone and learns to match how you write. The free Basic plan has unlimited dictation on a lighter speech model. But the stronger model and style memory need Pro at $12 a month billed annually, offline dictation is Pro too, privacy mode and HIPAA need Business at $28, and there's no Android app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | Pro is $12 a user a month billed annually, or $15 month to month, which lands in the dearest tenth of this category against a usual start of about $8. Enforced privacy mode and HIPAA jump again to Business at $28, and the API is Enterprise only, priced on request. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Basic is free with no card and unlimited dictation, so one person could get by on it. But it runs on the lighter Frontier Mini model, with limited personalization, 20 Scribe uses a week and, by the help center, no offline dictation until you pay. |
| Features | B | The whole dictation job is covered: filler words dropped, punctuation fixed, text shaped for the app you're in, 100+ languages, a dictionary that picks up names by itself and Scribe, which drafts a message from a spoken description instead of word-for-word dictation. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, but there's nothing in the way: download it, speak into any text field, and that's the job. No card and no plan to pick before you start, and style matching happens on its own as you go. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Mac, Windows and iPhone, so computer and phone covered. Android is still marked coming soon, there's no web version, the listing names no integrations at all, and an API only turns up on the custom-priced Enterprise plan. |
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 Willow is for
- Fits if you want dictated text to read like something you'd have typed yourself
- Works for teams with HIPAA or zero-data-retention rules, on Business at $28 a month
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Android, because the download page only lists it as coming soon
- Not for you if you need to dictate offline for free, as the help center lists that as a Pro feature
- Pricey if your team needs enforced privacy mode, since that's Business at $28 a month billed annually
- Tight if you stay on Basic, with the lighter speech model, limited personalization and 20 Scribe uses a week
- Watch out: SSO and the API are Enterprise only, priced on request, and there's no web version
Good to know
Good for
- People who want dictated text to sound like their own writing
- Replacing typing in chat, email and coding tools
- Teams with HIPAA or zero-data-retention requirements
Worth knowing
- The free Basic plan uses a weaker speech model, with limited personalization and 20 Scribe uses a week.
- There is no Android app yet; the download page lists Android as coming soon.
- Enforced privacy mode and enforced HIPAA compliance need Business, and SSO/SAML needs Enterprise.
- The help center lists offline dictation as a Pro feature.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$12
A month to start, for each person. There is a free plan too
Willow has a free plan. Paid plans start at $12 per user / month, billed annually.
Basic is free with no card and unlimited dictation, so one person could get by on it.
Basic
$0
Unlimited dictation on the Frontier Mini model, limited personalization and 20 Scribe uses a week.
Pro
$12
per user / month, billed annually ($15 billed monthly)
Unlimited use of the Frontier Pro model, priority transcription, style memory, unlimited Scribe and longer dictations.
Business
$28
per month, billed annually ($35 billed monthly)
Everything in Pro, plus enforced privacy mode with zero data retention, enforced HIPAA compliance and admin and team controls.
Enterprise
Custom
Adds SSO/SAML, invoice or purchase-order billing, MSA and DPA, advanced dashboards, an API and dedicated support.
The free plan
Basic plan: unlimited dictation on the lighter Frontier Mini model, limited personalization and 20 Scribe uses a week. No credit card required.
Read from willowvoice.com on Oct 4, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 20% with annual billing
The pricing page shows a 20% saving on annual billing: Pro is $12 per user per month instead of $15, and Business is $28 a month instead of $35.
Stated on willowvoice.comEducation
30% off Pro for students and educators
Students and educators can get 30% off Willow Pro. They email proof of eligibility to support and receive a promo code once verified.
Stated on help.willowvoice.comNonprofit
30% off Pro for nonprofit staff
Non-profit staff and volunteers qualify for the same 30% discount on Willow Pro after emailing proof of their affiliation.
Stated on help.willowvoice.comOther savings
30% off Pro for military and veterans
Active duty military and veterans qualify for 30% off Willow Pro after verification by email.
Stated on help.willowvoice.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and iOS
AI voice dictation that formats text and matches your style. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, AI features, dictation.
Mac, Windows and iPhone, so computer and phone covered.
- Dictation in any app
- Speak into any text field, with Slack, Gmail, Cursor, Notion and iMessage given as examples. Willow says text can appear in as little as 200 ms and lists 100+ languages.
- Automatic formatting
- Removes filler words, fixes punctuation and structures what you said, so the result needs less editing than a raw transcript.
- Style matching
- Learns how you write and adapts the tone of its output, and lets you pick different writing styles for different apps. Style memory is part of Pro.
- Scribe
- Instead of dictating word for word, describe what you want to say and Scribe writes it in your style. Basic allows 20 uses a week; Pro is unlimited.
- Personal dictionary and shortcuts
- A dictionary learns names and technical terms automatically, and shortcuts can be saved for reuse. Teams can share both across members.
- Privacy mode and compliance
- Willow states SOC 2 Type II certification and HIPAA compliance. The Business plan enforces privacy mode, with zero data retention, across the team.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Willow is made by Willow Care, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
8/27
Other voice dictation apps it is graded above
Willow's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 8 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 18 of 27) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $12 a month for each person, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 13 of the 16 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 28 voice dictation apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Willow’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 27
- BFree plan and trialAbove 13 of 27
- BFeaturesAbove 11 of 27
- BEase of useAbove 7 of 27
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 18 of 27
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 22 voice dictation apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Willow 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
To replace Willow you would be making dictation that types into any app on your computer. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 14 of the 27 other voice dictation apps grade higher. It costs $144 a year.
What you could not
- Dictation that types into any app on your computer.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: SOC 2 and HIPAA.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Willow’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
Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Typeless and MacWhisper
The 4 tools Willow is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Wispr Flow
Free plan · from $12/mo
Voice dictation that cleans up your speech in any app.
- Only Wispr Flow lists an Android app.
- Wispr Flow also covers meeting notes, transcription and text expansion.
- 2.8GPA
Superwhisper
Free plan · from $8.49/mo
Voice-to-text app with offline models and custom AI modes.
- Only Superwhisper lists an Android app.
- Superwhisper can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Superwhisper also covers meeting notes and transcription.
- 2.4GPA
Typeless
Free plan · from $12/mo
AI voice dictation that edits and formats as you speak.
- Only Typeless lists Linux and Android apps.
- Typeless also covers transcription.
- 3.0GPA
MacWhisper
Free plan · from €65 one-time
Mac transcription and dictation app that runs models locally.
- Only Willow lists Windows and iOS apps.
- MacWhisper can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- MacWhisper also covers transcription.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
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 Willow free?
Willow has a free plan. Basic plan: unlimited dictation on the lighter Frontier Mini model, limited personalization and 20 Scribe uses a week.
How much does Willow cost?
Willow lists 4 plans. Basic: $0.
What platforms does Willow work on?
Willow is available on macOS, Windows and iOS.
Does Willow offer any discounts?
Willow publicly lists the following: Save 20% with annual billing; 30% off Pro for students and educators; 30% off Pro for nonprofit staff; 30% off Pro for military and veterans.
Does Willow have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 4, 2026. Willow is listed for macOS, Windows and iOS.
Does Willow have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 4, 2026. Willow is listed for macOS, Windows and iOS.
Is Willow open source?
Willow is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 4, 2026.
Does Willow work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Does Willow have a student discount?
30% off Pro for students and educators. Students and educators can get 30% off Willow Pro.
Who makes Willow?
Willow is made by Willow Care, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Willow?
The closest alternatives to Willow in our directory are Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, Typeless and MacWhisper.
How does Willow compare with other voice dictation apps?
Willow's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 8 of the 27 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 5.
Is Willow good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Willow D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $12 a month for each person, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 13 of the 16 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Willow?
To replace Willow you would be making dictation that types into any app on your computer.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Willow’s own pages on Oct 4, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Willow's own pages on 4 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-10-03.
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 Willow Care, Inc. Prices change, so check willowvoice.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 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.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Willow, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/willow
- 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, "Willow: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 4, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/willow
Know someone choosing between voice dictation apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/willow/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded voice dictation apps after Willow, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Voice Dictation Insider's GuideEvery one of the 28 voice dictation apps we grade, compared
- OpenWhispr Insider's GuideOpen-source dictation with free local models and meeting notes3.2 GPA
- TypeWhisper Insider's GuideOpen-source dictation with local engines for Mac, Windows and iOS3.2 GPA
- FluidVoice Insider's GuideFree, open-source on-device dictation for macOS3.0 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 Willow’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. Willow is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Willow Care, Inc. Prices and plans change: check willowvoice.com before you buy.