Voice dictation, explained

Plain-English answers about voice typing on the Mac: what's private, what's accurate, what it costs, and how to get the most out of it. No jargon, no sales pitch.

Dictation app pricing

A clear price comparison of Mac dictation apps in 2026: free, one-time, and subscription, coveri.

Relay limitations

A clear look at what Relay doesn't do: Apple Silicon only, no Windows or mobile, no file transcr.

Is voice dictation private?

Whether voice dictation is private depends on one thing: on-device vs cloud.

On-device accuracy

Modern on-device Whisper transcription is around 95%+ accurate on clear speech, close to cloud.

Local vs cloud AI

When a dictation app uses AI to polish your transcript, that model can run locally on your Mac o.

Voice typing for RSI

If typing hurts, dictation can take most of the keyboard load off your hands.

Bring your own API key

Some dictation apps let you connect your own AI provider key for text cleanup instead of paying .

Voice dictation tips

Practical tips for better voice typing on a Mac: microphone, environment, speaking pace, punctua.

Looking to compare specific apps? See the comparison hub.

Try Relay free

On-device voice typing for any Mac app. Free during the beta.

Download for Mac

Free during the beta · Apple Silicon (M1 or later) · Your voice never leaves your Mac

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