The best Dragon alternative for Mac
There is no current Mac version of Dragon. Nuance discontinued Dragon for Mac in 2018, so any Mac dictation tool is effectively a Dragon alternative. For everyday Mac dictation the best pick is Relay (free, on-device); for power users, Superwhisper; for regulated medical or legal work, the options are narrower.
Last updated . Prices and vendor claims come from the sources listed at the end of the page; re-check before purchase.
People search for "Dragon for Mac" and hit a wall. Nuance ended Dragon Professional for Mac on 22 October 2018 (Nuance end-of-life notice), and the Windows desktop version, Dragon Professional v16, sells for about $699 through resellers. The good news is that on-device Mac dictation has come a long way, and modern Whisper-based tools cover most of what people used Dragon for.
Best Dragon alternatives on Mac
Relay, for everyday dictation
Free during beta, on-device with Whisper, works in any app, with clean formatting and an AI rewrite mode. Covers the email, messaging, documents and prompts that most ex-Dragon users actually need. vs Superwhisper
Superwhisper, for power users and custom vocabulary
On-device, with model selection and custom prompt modes that get closer to Dragon's configurability. Free tier; $8.49/mo or $249.99 lifetime.
Apple Dictation, the free baseline
Built into macOS, on-device on Apple Silicon. Fine for light dictation, weaker on custom vocabulary.
Dragon vs the Mac options
| Relay | Dragon Professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on Mac | Yes | No, Windows only (Mac version ended 22 Oct 2018) |
| Price | Free during beta | About $699 one-time at resellers (Windows) |
| On-device | Yes | Yes |
| Current release | Relay 0.2.2 | Dragon Professional v16 (Windows 10 and 11) |
| Best for | Everyday Mac dictation | Windows medical/legal/professional |
What about medical or legal dictation?
This is the one area where Dragon still genuinely leads, thanks to specialized vocabularies and compliance features, but only on Windows. On Mac there is no exact equivalent. If you need certified accuracy for regulated work, you may need a Windows machine for Dragon, or a cloud service with a HIPAA agreement. For general professional writing on a Mac, Relay or Superwhisper will serve you well. (See also when Relay isn't the right fit.)
Sources
- Nuance: Dragon Professional for Mac 6, end of life and end of support (22 Oct 2018) (checked 2026-09-10)
- Nuance: Dragon Professional (Windows) (checked 2026-09-10)
- Dragon Professional v16 reseller listing (Staples, $699) (checked 2026-09-10)
- Superwhisper: pricing and platforms (superwhisper.com) (checked 2026-09-10)
- Apple Support: Dictate messages and documents on Mac (checked 2026-09-10)
- Relay release notes (GitHub) (checked 2026-09-10)
Frequently asked questions
Is there a version of Dragon for Mac?
No. Nuance discontinued Dragon for Mac in 2018, and there is no current Mac version. Dragon Professional runs on Windows only. On Mac, the best alternatives are Relay, Superwhisper, and Apple's built-in Dictation.
What is the best Dragon alternative for Mac?
For everyday dictation, Relay (free during beta, on-device). For more control and custom vocabulary, Superwhisper. Apple Dictation is a free baseline. None is a drop-in match for Dragon's medical/legal features, which remain Windows-only.
Can I do medical or legal dictation on a Mac?
Not with the same specialized accuracy Dragon offers on Windows. For regulated transcription you may need Windows for Dragon, or a cloud service with a HIPAA agreement. For general professional writing on Mac, Relay or Superwhisper work well.
How much did Dragon cost compared to Mac options?
Dragon Professional v16 sells for about $699 one-time through resellers, on Windows only. Relay is free during its beta; Superwhisper is a free tier or $8.49/month / $249.99 lifetime; Apple Dictation is free.
Dictate on your Mac, no Dragon required
Relay: on-device voice typing for any Mac app. Free during the beta.
Download for MacFree during the beta · Apple Silicon (M1 or later) · Your voice never leaves your Mac
Get a license key and release notes by email (optional; the download does not require it)