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Free Speech to Text
Speak and watch your words appear as editable text, then copy them anywhere. Uses your browser's built-in speech recognition — no account, no upload and no recording is kept.
What is the speech to text?
Speech to text, or dictation, converts what you say into written text you can edit and copy. Most people speak around 130 words a minute and type around 40, so dictating a first draft is often three times faster than typing it — particularly useful for long emails, notes and rough drafts you'll tidy up afterwards. This tool uses the speech recognition built into your browser rather than an external transcription service, so there's no account, no upload of an audio file and no recording kept anywhere. It works in Chrome, Edge and Safari; Firefox does not support the underlying API yet.
How our free speech to text works
Choose your language
Pick from a dozen languages and regional accents so recognition is accurate.
Allow the microphone
Your browser asks permission the first time. Nothing is recorded — audio is transcribed as you speak.
Start talking
Words appear as you speak. Say “period”, “comma” or “new line” to add punctuation.
Edit and copy
Fix anything that came out wrong directly in the box, then copy the finished text.
Who uses our free speech to text?
Writers drafting quickly
Get a messy first draft down at speaking speed, then edit it into shape.
People with RSI or limited mobility
Produce text without sustained typing.
Anyone taking notes
Capture thoughts while they're fresh without stopping to type.
Non-native typists
Speaking is often faster and more natural than typing in a second language.
Why use the speech to text?
Roughly 3× faster than typing
Speaking runs at about 130 words a minute against 40 for average typing.
Nothing is recorded
Transcription happens through your browser — no audio file is created, uploaded or stored.
Free and instant
No account, no per-minute charges and no software to install.
Tips for getting the best results
Speak punctuation out loud
Say “comma”, “period”, “question mark” and “new paragraph” — recognition inserts them rather than spelling the word.
Steady pace beats slow
Speaking unnaturally slowly actually hurts accuracy. Talk at a normal conversational pace and enunciate the ends of words.
Cut background noise
A quiet room and a headset microphone make a bigger difference to accuracy than anything else.
Dictate first, edit second
Don't stop to correct every mistake. Get the whole thing down, then fix it in the text box.
Match the language setting
Choosing the right regional accent — UK versus US English, for example — noticeably improves recognition.
Common problems and how to fix them
Nothing happens when I click start
Check your browser allowed microphone access — look for a blocked microphone icon in the address bar. Chrome, Edge and Safari are supported; Firefox isn't.
It keeps stopping on its own
Browsers pause recognition after a stretch of silence. Just press start again; your existing text is kept.
The words come out wrong
Usually background noise, a distant microphone, or the wrong language selected. A headset and the correct regional language fix most accuracy problems.
Punctuation isn't appearing
You need to say it — “period”, “comma”, “new line”. Recognition doesn't infer punctuation from your pauses.
Frequently asked questions
Is my voice recorded or uploaded?
No audio file is created or stored by this tool. Recognition is handled by your browser's built-in speech engine as you speak.
Which browsers support dictation?
Chrome, Edge and Safari support the Web Speech API. Firefox does not yet, and the tool will tell you if your browser can't run it.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes, in Chrome on Android and Safari on iOS. A phone's microphone is usually close to your mouth, which helps accuracy.
How accurate is it?
In a quiet room with a decent microphone, typically 90–95% for clear speech. Expect to correct names, technical terms and unusual spellings.
Is there a time limit?
No fixed limit, though browsers pause recognition after long silences. Press start again to continue — your text is preserved.
Which languages are supported?
Twelve are listed including English (US and UK), Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Hindi, Bengali, Arabic, Italian, Japanese and Mandarin.
