# Windows Voice Access review (2026): is it any good? > Free voice control and dictation built into Windows 11 Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. Voice access is a feature of Windows 11 that lets people control the PC and write text by speaking. Commands open apps, click items on screen and edit text, and dictation works in most text fields. Microsoft says it recognizes speech on the device, so it can run without an internet connection. - **Category:** Voice Dictation - **Made by:** Microsoft - **Website:** https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows/voice-access/use-voice-access-to-control-your-pc-author-text-with-your-voice - **Runs on:** Windows - **Who should skip it:** Not for you if you use a Mac, iPhone or Android phone, as it is Windows only. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, Windows Voice Access is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** None. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Voice access | $0 | Part of Windows 11 version 22H2 and later at no extra charge; there is no separate paid tier. | Read from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows/voice-access/use-voice-access-to-control-your-pc-author-text-with-your-voice on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Windows Voice Access before buying. ## Key features - **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. ## Good for - People with mobility disabilities who need to run a PC without a keyboard or mouse - Windows 11 users who want basic dictation with nothing to install or pay for ## Worth knowing - 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. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.8 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. Voice access is built into Windows 11 and is free, with dictation, on-device recognition and spoken commands for clicking and editing. It works only on Windows 11 22H2 or later and is built around controlling the PC, so it has no transcription of documents or meetings. - **Value for money: A.** Free 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: A.** Free outright, with no cap and no account. - **Features: C.** Hands-free control, dictation, text correction and custom shortcuts, but no document or meeting transcription. - **Ease of use: B.** Nothing to install, as it is part of Windows, though you do have to learn its spoken commands. - **Platforms and integrations: D.** Windows 11 only, with no Mac, phone or older Windows version. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Microsoft's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among voice dictation apps - Windows Voice Access's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 23 of the 46 other voice dictation apps we grade, and level with 11. - It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 28 of 46) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0). - Windows Voice Access has no paid plan. - On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/voice-dictation ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** Windows Voice Access is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. - You could not: Dictation that types into any app on your computer. - You could not: A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. **Tags:** Dictation, Works offline ## Alternatives - [Dragon Professional](https://toolgpa.com/tools/dragon-professional): Windows speech recognition for dictation and voice commands. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/dragon-professional-vs-windows-voice-access) - [Talon](https://toolgpa.com/tools/talon): Hands-free computer control by voice, eye tracking and noises. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/talon-vs-windows-voice-access) - [Braina](https://toolgpa.com/tools/braina): Voice assistant and dictation software for Windows and macOS. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/braina-vs-windows-voice-access) - [Speechnotes](https://toolgpa.com/tools/speechnotes): Free online dictation notepad with a voice-typing extension. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/speechnotes-vs-windows-voice-access) - [Wispr Flow](https://toolgpa.com/tools/wispr-flow): Voice dictation that cleans up your speech in any app. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/windows-voice-access-vs-wispr-flow) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows/voice-access/use-voice-access-to-control-your-pc-author-text-with-your-voice Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/windows-voice-access Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).