Should you use Word's Dictate or Windows voice typing?

Use Word's Dictate when you write in Word and already pay for Microsoft 365. Use Windows voice typing when you want one tool for email, browsers and other apps, or when you do not have a subscription. Windows voice typing needs a microphone and an internet connection ¹, so the real choice comes down to where you type and what you already pay for.

Word's Dictate is built into Word and needs a Microsoft 365 subscription

Dictate is a button inside Word, not a separate program. Microsoft says the Dictate feature in the Word desktop app is only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers ². In Word on Windows, you go to Home > Dictate to start it ³.

Voice typing is the other option, and it needs no subscription in Microsoft's list of requirements. Those requirements are a working microphone, an internet connection and the cursor in a text box ¹. You start it with Windows key + H ⁴. Because Microsoft requires only that the cursor is in a text box ⁵, it should reach email, browsers and chat as well as Word. Word's Dictate works inside Word, so it does not cover your other apps. For the rules that decide where voice typing works, see does Windows voice typing work in every app.

The two tools differ in languages and commands

The languages are the largest difference. Microsoft's Dictate list has 15 languages and variants outside its preview group ⁶. Windows voice typing lists 46 languages and regional variants ⁷. If your language is not on Word's list, voice typing is the first thing to test.

The commands also differ, so do not assume a command from one tool works in the other. Voice typing has its own list too. The guide to Windows voice typing commands and punctuation covers that list.

Word's Dictate sends your speech to Microsoft, and voice typing needs the internet

Microsoft says Dictate in Word does not store your audio or transcribed text, but your speech is sent to Microsoft to produce the text ⁸. Those speech utterances are used only to provide the text results ⁹. Windows voice typing also needs an internet connection ¹, so it does not work offline. If you need speech to stay on the device, read offline speech to text on Windows before you choose either tool.

When to choose each, and what to do

Choose Dictate if you write most of your text in Word, you have a subscription, and you want to dictate inside Word. Choose Windows voice typing if you dictate into email, browsers and chat, or if you do not have a subscription.

Microsoft's documentation for voice typing does not name Word, so test it before you rely on it. Type one short sentence in a Word document with the cursor in the body, then check that the words appear. If the Dictate button is missing or greyed out, the causes are in the troubleshooting section of the guide to Windows dictation not working.

Our guide to dictation in Windows apps lists the other apps to test. For the setup steps, see how to dictate on Windows. If you are not sure whether Windows dictation suits you at all, read is Windows dictation good. The glossary entry for voice typing defines the term.