Glossary
Free tier
A free tier is the no-cost version of a dictation app, with limits such as a weekly word cap, fewer modes or no AI processing. Read those limits before you rely on it, because a free plan can run out in the middle of your work.
Updated October 16, 20264 cited facts, each traced to its source
Also called freemium plan, free plan.
A free tier is the version of a dictation product you can use at no cost, with limits that a paid plan does not have. Vendors say free plan, freemium plan or free tier for the same idea. The limits matter more than the word "free," and each vendor sets its own, so compare the limits on the pricing page before you start.
Real free plans differ in their limits
Wispr Flow's Free plan allows 2,000 dictated words per week on desktop and 1,000 per week on mobile, according to its pricing page 1. A weekly cap can run out before the week does, which matters for heavy dictation. The page does not say how the weekly limit resets, and the vendor can change its terms.
Superwhisper's free plan takes a different approach. It gives unlimited dictation using local Whisper models, with up to two modes, custom vocabulary and text replacements 2. That plan has no word cap on the local models, but it is limited in modes, and its paid tier adds cloud models and AI processing. Plan features change between releases, so check the current table before you decide.
Free can mean free software, not free of charge
The word "free" has a second meaning in software licensing. The GNU General Public License version 3.0 preamble says that when it speaks of free software, it means freedom, not price 3. An open-source dictation app may therefore still charge for copies, and a free-of-charge app may not be open source. Check the license and the price separately.
Check the built-in tools before you pay for a free plan
Many people do not need a third-party app at all. Samsung says Galaxy phones and tablets have two built-in voice-to-text apps, Samsung voice input and Google Voice Typing 4. Built-in dictation on a phone or computer is often enough for messages and short notes, so try it first. Move to a paid app when you need a feature the built-in tool lacks, such as a specialist vocabulary, AI editing or full hands-free control.
Our free dictation software guide lists the no-cost options, and the open-source dictation software guide covers apps whose code is public. To compare free and paid plans on AI features, see AI dictation apps compared. For a quick answer, read whether voice typing is free and how much dictation software costs.
Related terms
A free tier is usually one of the plans offered by dictation software, and it often leaves out the AI dictation features that cost more to run. Paid plans come in several forms, including a perpetual license that you pay for once and a subscription. Some vendors let you bring your own model key, described in bring your own key, which can change what you pay for.
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Related terms
- Dictation Software: How to Choose the Right AppThe topic this term belongs to
- AI dictationAI dictation is dictation in which a language model edits the recognized text after speech recognition, removing filler words, fixing punctuation and sometimes rewording a sentence. It can change your meaning, so check the result before you send it.
- Bring your own key (BYOK)Bring your own key (BYOK) is a setup in which you supply your own API key for an AI or speech provider. The app then sends requests through your account with that provider, so your agreement with the provider governs the data.
- Cloud dictationCloud dictation sends your recorded speech to a remote server, which recognizes it and returns the text. It usually needs an internet connection, and your audio leaves your device, so check the provider's policy before you dictate sensitive material.
- Custom vocabularyA custom vocabulary is a list of words, names and phrases that you add to dictation software so it recognizes and spells them as you intend. It matters most for names, jargon and product terms the recognizer has not learned.
- Dictation softwareDictation software is a program that recognizes your speech and types the words where your cursor is, as you say them. It comes built into many phones and computers and is also sold as separate apps.
- Dragon Medical OneDragon Medical One, abbreviated DMO, is Nuance's speech recognition product for clinicians who dictate notes into health records. Microsoft now combines it with DAX Copilot in a product called Dragon Copilot.
- Dragon NaturallySpeakingDragon NaturallySpeaking, usually called Dragon, is a speech recognition program for dictating text on a computer. Dragon Systems released it in 1997, and Nuance has sold it in several editions since.
- Dragon Professional AnywhereDragon Professional Anywhere is a subscription edition of Dragon that Nuance sells for professional and enterprise users. It is often shortened to Dragon Anywhere, a name that also belongs to Nuance's mobile app, so check which product a listing means.
- Nuance CommunicationsNuance Communications was a speech technology company best known for the Dragon family of speech recognition products. Microsoft announced that it had completed its acquisition of Nuance on March 4, 2022.
- Perpetual licenseA perpetual license is a software license you pay for once. It lets you keep using that version without renewing. Updates, support and new major versions are often separate, time-limited or paid extra.
- PowerScribePowerScribe is a family of radiology reporting products in which a radiologist dictates an imaging report by voice. It began as a Nuance dictation application, and Microsoft completed its purchase of Nuance in 2022, so Microsoft now sells the line.
- Voice profileA voice profile is the set of files that dictation software keeps for one user, with settings such as the microphone they use and their custom words. It is not the same as speaker recognition, which identifies who is speaking.
Pages that use this term
- Free Dictation Software: The Best Free OptionsGuide
- AI Dictation Apps Compared: How the Major Apps DifferGuide
- How much does dictation software cost?Question
- Is Mac dictation free?Question
- Is there a free alternative to Dragon NaturallySpeaking?Question
- Is there a free dictation app for Mac?Question
- Is Windows Voice Access free?Question
- Is Wispr Flow worth it?Question
- What is the best free dictation software for Windows?Question
- Why do AI dictation apps charge a monthly subscription?Question
- AI dictationGlossary
- Cloud dictationGlossary
- Custom vocabularyGlossary
- Dictation softwareGlossary