Windows voice typing (Win+H) uses online speech recognition and needs an internet connection. If you need dictation on a plane, behind a firewall, or for confidential audio, this guide compares what works offline on Windows, with sources.
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
Microsoft's support page says you need to be connected to the internet and that voice typing uses online speech recognition. The offline-related text on that page concerns Fluid dictation on Copilot+ PCs.
Microsoft's page for Dictate in Microsoft 365 lists a microphone and a reliable internet connection as requirements.
Wispr Flow's privacy page states that transcription always happens in the cloud. If your audio cannot leave the machine, check how any app you pick processes speech.
Whisper models run locally after the one-time model download. Hold a key, speak, and the text is typed into the active app. No audio is uploaded, and no internet is needed to transcribe.
What Whisper Dictator gives you when the connection is gone or not allowed.
Download a model once (142 MB to 3.1 GB depending on size). After that, transcription needs no connection.
Hold the key in Word, Outlook, a browser or an editor and release to type.
Whisper covers 99 languages, switchable from the system tray.
On NVIDIA cards, CUDA cuts transcription time. Without one, it runs on the CPU.
Transcribe recordings locally. No speaker labels yet, and export is plain text.
Transcription itself is offline. The app checks your license online from time to time, and a network failure does not stop it from working.
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.
Five options, using each vendor's official page. Prices are as listed on the dates in the sources.
| Capability | Whisper Dictator | Windows voice typing (Win+H) | Superwhisper | Spokenly | Wispr Flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Works without internet | ✓ | ✕ Needs internet | ✓ | ✓ Optional on-device models | ✕ Cloud transcription |
| Runs on Windows 10/11 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free option | 7 transcriptions/day | ✓ Included in Windows | ✓ Free tier, Whisper models | ✓ Local transcription $0 | ~ 2,000 words/week on desktop |
| 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 |
On price and free usage, Superwhisper's free tier and Spokenly's free local transcription are more generous than Whisper Dictator's 7 a day. 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.
Microsoft's support page says you need to be connected to the internet and that voice typing uses online speech recognition. It describes on-device small language models only for Fluid dictation on Copilot+ PCs.
From their official pages: Superwhisper (on-device AI models on Windows 10 and 11), Spokenly (optional on-device Whisper and Parakeet models), and Whisper Dictator (local Whisper models). Wispr Flow states that transcription always happens in the cloud.
Transcription runs on your PC with no internet. The initial model download and your license checks use the internet, and a network failure does not stop the app from working.
It depends on the model and your hardware. Larger Whisper models are more accurate and slower on weaker PCs. You can choose the model size in the app.
No. An NVIDIA GPU speeds up transcription, but the app also runs on the CPU, with smaller models recommended on older machines.
Install Whisper Dictator from the Microsoft Store, download a model once, and dictate on a plane, behind a firewall, or with sensitive audio.
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