"Free" means different things: free forever, free with a monthly word cap, or free for a trial. This guide lists what is free for dictation on Windows, using each vendor's own page, and where the limit is. Whisper Dictator is included, and it is not the most generous free option.
Installed from the Microsoft Store: the app passed Microsoft's review and comes signed by Microsoft, with no Windows warnings.
Available for Windows 10 and 11.
Windows 10/11 (64-bit) · Free tier: 7 transcriptions/day
Windows voice typing comes with Windows. Microsoft's support page says you must be connected to the internet and that it uses online speech recognition.
Wispr Flow's free plan lists 2,000 words per week on desktop. Superwhisper's free tier lists unlimited use of Whisper models, and a trial of Pro features of 3,000 words. Spokenly lists local transcription at $0.
Wispr Flow's privacy page says transcription always happens in the cloud. If audio privacy matters to you, check where processing runs before you pick a free tier.
The free tier gives you 7 transcriptions per day, processed on your PC, in any Windows app. Typical dictation runs 5 to 60 seconds, so 7 covers short emails and notes. If you dictate much more than that, compare the other options below.
No feature is held back in the free tier. Only the daily count is limited.
Base to Large-v3, including Large-v3 Turbo. Pick the size that fits your PC.
The same language coverage as the paid plans.
After the one-time model download, no connection is needed to transcribe.
Hold a hotkey in Outlook, Word, a browser or an editor, and release to type.
It is a count of transcriptions, not minutes. It is the tightest free limit in the table below.
If you dictate heavily and want offline processing at no cost, Superwhisper's free tier and Spokenly's local transcription list fewer limits than ours.
Get it free from the Microsoft Store. The package is signed by Microsoft, so Windows shows no warning. The setup wizard then offers to download a Whisper model (Large-v3 Turbo recommended for most users) while you confirm your email.
Default hotkey is right-Alt (AltGr). Open any Windows app, hold the key, and speak.
Let go of the key. Whisper Dictator transcribes on your PC and types the text into the active field. No paste, no clipboard, no switching windows.
Using each vendor's official page. Limits and prices change, so confirm before you rely on them.
| Capability | Whisper Dictator | Windows voice typing (Win+H) | Superwhisper | Spokenly | Wispr Flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What the free option gives you | 7 transcriptions per day | ✓ Included in Windows | Unlimited Whisper models; 3,000-word trial of Pro features | Local transcription $0 | 2,000 words per week on desktop |
| Works without internet | ✓ | ✕ Needs internet | ✓ | ✓ Optional on-device models | ✕ Cloud transcription |
| Runs on Windows 10/11 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paid price as listed | $39.99/year or $99 one-time | Not applicable | See their pricing page | Pro $9.99/mo or $99.99/yr | $15/mo or $12/mo billed annually |
| Other platforms | ✕ Windows only | Windows | Mac, iOS, Android | macOS, Linux, iPhone | Mac, iPhone, Android |
Whisper Dictator's free tier is the most limited of these. Where Whisper Dictator loses: it runs on Windows only, the free tier is capped at 7 transcriptions a day, and it has no voice commands or custom vocabulary today.
Every statement about another product on this page comes from the official source listed below, checked on the date shown. Products change, so confirm on the vendor's page before you decide. Statements about Whisper Dictator describe the current Windows app.
The free tier covers casual use. Paid plans are a yearly or one-time purchase.
Enough to find out if voice dictation fits your workflow
Installed from the Microsoft Store: the app passed Microsoft's review and comes signed by Microsoft, with no Windows warnings.
Available for Windows 10 and 11.
~$3.33/month, billed annually
Pay once, own forever. No renewals.
It depends on what you need. If an internet connection is fine, Windows voice typing (Win+H) is free and built in. For offline use at no cost, Superwhisper's free tier and Spokenly's local transcription list fewer limits than Whisper Dictator's 7 a day.
Windows voice typing comes with Windows 10 and 11. Microsoft's support page says it needs an internet connection and uses online speech recognition.
Per their official pages, Superwhisper lists on-device models on Windows with a free tier, and Spokenly lists optional free on-device Whisper and Parakeet models. Whisper Dictator also runs offline, with 7 transcriptions per day free.
Its pricing page lists a free plan of 2,000 words per week on desktop and 1,000 per week on mobile, and paid plans from $12 per month on the annual plan.
7 transcriptions per day. It counts each dictation, not minutes, so a short note and a long paragraph each count once.
Install Whisper Dictator from the Microsoft Store and dictate up to 7 times a day at no cost.
Installed from the Microsoft Store: the app passed Microsoft's review and comes signed by Microsoft, with no Windows warnings.
Available for Windows 10 and 11.
Windows 10/11 · Free tier · Works offline