A speech to text app converts spoken words into written text. The best choice depends on whether you want to dictate emails and documents, transcribe meetings or convert an existing recording into text.
For meetings and calls, MeetGeek combines recording and transcription with summaries and action items. For voice typing, Speechnotes offers free browser-based dictation, while Wispr Flow lets you dictate in desktop and mobile apps.
Below, we compare six tools by their main uses, free options, prices and limitations to help you choose one for your work.
Best Speech to Text Apps for Work in 2026
MeetGeek publishes this comparison and is one of the tools in it. Every price and limit below comes from each vendor's own pricing or product pages.
| App | Best for | Main job | Free option | Paid from | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MeetGeek | Meeting and call transcription | Meeting and file transcription | 3 hours a month | $15.99 per user a month ($9.99 per user per month, billed annually) | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Chrome |
| Speechnotes | Free dictation in the browser | Dictation and file transcription | Free dictation with ads | $1.90 a month; files $0.10 per minute | Web, Android |
| Wispr Flow | Typing by voice in any app | Dictation | 2,000 words a week on desktop | $15 per user a month ($12 per user per month, billed annually) | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Voicenotes | Voice notes and quick recordings | Voice notes | 100 minutes a week | $9 per user a month | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, web, watch |
| Dragon | Long documents on Windows | Dictation | Not listed by Nuance | Quote from Nuance | Windows, mobile app |
| Speechmatics | Developers building speech into a product | Speech recognition API | $100 in credits | $0.12 per audio hour | API, web portal |
Table last updated: October 9, 2026.
1. MeetGeek
Best for transcribing meetings and turning them into notes and follow-up actions.
MeetGeek is an AI meeting assistant that records, transcribes and summarizes conversations in 100+ languages. It works on Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, either with a notetaker that joins the call or without a bot, through the desktop app or the Chrome extension.
For in-person meetings, the MeetGeek mobile app records the conversation from your phone. You can also upload an audio or video file and get the same transcript and summary.
Each transcript includes speaker labels and timestamps, making it easy to return to a specific part of the conversation. The summary includes key points, action items and decisions. MeetGeek also adapts the notes to different meeting types, such as sales calls, interviews and team meetings.
After the call, MeetGeek can sync meeting notes and tasks with other apps. It has native integrations with Slack, Notion and HubSpot, so notes and tasks can be sent automatically. AI workflows can trigger actions based on meeting content, while the API and MCP server allow meeting data to be accessed from tools such as ChatGPT or Claude.
The free plan includes 3 hours of transcription a month, AI summaries, uploads, and the mobile, desktop and Chrome apps. Integrations and workflows start on Pro.
MeetGeek turns your calls into notes and action items
Summaries and action items sync to Slack, Notion and your CRM. Free for 3 hours a month.
What it does well:
- Multiple recording options: meeting bot, bot-free desktop and Chrome recording, mobile recording and file uploads;
- Integrations: sync summaries, action items and decisions with a CRM, task manager or Slack;
- Search across meetings: use AI Chat to find information in previous calls;
- Security: SOC 2, GDPR and HIPAA, with EU or US data storage.
Limitations:
- Not a dictation tool: it does not type into other apps as you speak, so it will not replace voice typing in a document;
- Free plan limits: 3 hours a month and 2 hours per recording;
- Custom vocabulary: the custom dictionary for company terms starts on the Business plan.
Pricing:
- Free: 3 hours of transcription a month;
- Pro: 20 hours a month for $15.99 per user a month, or $9.99 per user per month, billed annually;
- Business: unlimited transcription for $27 per user a month, or $17 per user per month, billed annually;
- Enterprise: custom pricing.
Platforms: web app, iOS and Android apps, the MeetGeek desktop app for Mac and Windows, and the MeetGeek Chrome extension.
2. Speechnotes
Best for free dictation in the browser.
Speechnotes is a browser-based dictation app: open the page, click the microphone button and start speaking. It has been available since 2015 and is aimed at writers, students and professionals who want voice typing without installing software.
Besides live dictation, Speechnotes transcribes audio and video files for a per-minute fee, with automatic speaker tagging in English.
What it does well:
- No install: free dictation straight in the browser;
- Android app: dictation is also available on Android;
- File transcription: pay per minute instead of a monthly plan.
Limitations:
- Dictation only in the free version: file transcription is paid;
- Speaker tagging in English only: other languages get a transcript without speaker labels;
- Saved on your device: dictated text is stored locally unless you sync it to Google Drive.
Pricing:
- Free: dictation with ads;
- Dictation Premium: $1.90 a month;
- File transcription: $0.10 per minute of audio.
Platforms: web app and Android app.
3. Wispr Flow
Best for typing by voice in any app.
Wispr Flow is an AI dictation app that types directly into the app or text field you are using, including email, Slack and code editors, without requiring plugins. As you speak, it removes filler words, adds punctuation and formats the text. It supports 100+ languages and runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android.
What it does well:
- Works across apps: use the same dictation tool in different desktop and mobile apps;
- Automatic text cleanup: removes filler words, adds punctuation and formats text while you dictate;
- Cross-device: available on desktop and mobile with the same account.
Limitations:
- Free plan cap: 2,000 words a week on desktop and 1,000 on mobile;
- Meeting notes on desktop only: its Notetaker works on Mac and Windows, not on mobile.
Pricing:
- Free: 2,000 words a week on desktop;
- Pro: $15 per user a month, or $12 per user per month, billed annually;
- Enterprise: custom pricing, billed annually.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS and Android.
4. Voicenotes
Best for voice notes and short recordings.
Voicenotes is a voice notes app that turns recordings into searchable text and summaries. You can record a short meeting, memo or voice note and find it later by searching the transcript. It runs on iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, the web and smartwatches.
What it does well:
- Quick recording: record from a phone or smartwatch;
- AI summaries: meeting recordings get a summary, action items and next steps;
- Searchable history: on Pro, you can search past conversations with no limit on how long they remain in your history.
Limitations:
- Free plan limits: 100 transcription minutes a week, shared across meetings, memos and dictation, and 30 days of history;
- Audio imports are paid: importing existing audio files is part of Pro.
Pricing:
- Basic: free, 100 minutes a week;
- Pro: $9 per user a month, with unlimited transcription;
- Enterprise: $24 per user a month.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, web, Apple Watch and Wear OS.
5. Dragon
Best for long documents in legal, medical and enterprise work on Windows.
Dragon, made by Nuance (part of Microsoft), is desktop dictation software designed for long-form documents such as reports, contracts and case notes. It is optimized for Windows 11 and Microsoft Office, and organizations can share custom vocabulary, commands and reusable text across users.
What it does well:
- Specialized products: Dragon has separate versions for professional, legal and medical use;
- Voice commands: insert standard text or signatures by voice;
- Custom vocabulary: add the terms and phrases your field uses.
Limitations:
- Windows only on desktop: Dragon Professional v16 runs on Windows 10 and 11;
- Dictation software: built for one person dictating documents rather than for recording meetings.
Pricing: Nuance does not list prices on its Dragon Professional page. Licenses are quoted through Nuance sales and resellers.
Platforms: Windows desktop, plus Dragon Anywhere for mobile dictation.
6. Speechmatics
Best for developers adding speech to text to their own product.
Speechmatics is a speech recognition API. Rather than working as a standalone app, it connects to other software to transcribe calls, videos and live audio in 55+ languages. It handles uploaded files and real-time streams, and can run in the cloud, on your own servers or on device.
What it does well:
- Speaker labels included: speaker identification and custom vocabulary are part of the service;
- Flexible deployment: cloud, on-premises or on device;
- Real-time option: live transcription with less than 1 second of delay, according to Speechmatics.
Limitations: it requires technical setup, since Speechmatics is accessed through an API and web portal rather than a ready-made note-taking app.
Pricing:
- Free: $100 in credits, no card required;
- Pay as you go: from $0.12 per hour of pre-recorded audio (Melia 1 model);
- Enterprise: custom pricing.
Platforms: API and web portal.
What Is a Speech to Text App Used for at Work?
Speech to text can reduce the amount of manual typing required for notes, messages and longer documents. In a controlled study by Stanford University and the University of Washington, participants typing short texts on a phone entered English text about three times faster using speech than a keyboard: 153 versus 52 words per minute.
Each use case suits a different type of tool:
- Dictation: one person speaks and the app types into a text field in real time, as Speechnotes, Wispr Flow, Dragon and built-in operating system tools do;
- Meeting transcription: the app records several speakers, identifies who said what and creates a transcript or summary, as MeetGeek does;
- File transcription: you upload an existing recording, which MeetGeek and Speechnotes both support.
If you mostly work in the browser, our guide to speech to text Chrome extensions compares tools that run inside Chrome. To transcribe existing recordings for free, see the best free transcription apps.
Free Speech to Text Tools Already on Your Devices
Your computer or phone may already include a dictation tool. The options below are free and suitable for short emails and notes.
- Windows: press the Windows logo key + H to start voice typing in any text box (an internet connection is required);
- Google Docs: open a document in Chrome, Edge or Safari and go to Tools > Voice typing (spoken punctuation may not work in every language);
- iPhone and iPad: tap the microphone button on the onscreen keyboard to use Apple Dictation; Mac: use the Dictation keyboard shortcut configured in System Settings.
These tools are designed for single-speaker dictation. They do not record meetings, identify multiple speakers or generate meeting summaries.
Features to Look for in a Speech to Text App
Once you know how you plan to use the app, compare these features:
- Accuracy and custom vocabulary: check whether you can add names, product terms and industry-specific vocabulary that may otherwise be transcribed incorrectly;
- Speaker labels with timestamps: useful for meetings and interviews, while dictation does not need them;
- Live and recorded audio: some apps handle live calls, some handle uploaded files and some handle both;
- Editing and export: check how easily you can correct transcription errors and export the result to the formats or apps you use;
- AI summaries: useful for extracting key points and action items without reviewing the full transcript;
- Integrations: look for an app that sends the transcript to your CRM, task manager or Slack automatically;
- Mobile and desktop support: check that the app works on the devices you regularly use;
- Privacy and security: check where your data is stored, whether it is encrypted and whether it is used to train AI models.
Which Speech to Text App Should You Choose?
For meetings, transcription accuracy is only part of the comparison. Also consider how the app handles summaries, action items and integrations after the call. MeetGeek records the call, generates a summary and can sync action items with other work tools, reducing the need to transfer notes manually. MeetGeek's free plan includes 3 hours of transcription a month.
For basic voice typing, the free dictation tool built into your device may be enough. For more frequent dictation, or if you need additional voice commands and support across more apps, compare Speechnotes, Wispr Flow and Dragon.
Key Takeaways
- Speech to text apps cover three main use cases (dictation, meeting transcription and file transcription), and many tools specialize in one of them;
- MeetGeek is best suited to meeting transcription in this comparison, with a free plan of 3 hours of transcription a month and integrations from the Pro plan;
- Windows, Google Docs and Apple devices include free dictation that covers short notes and emails;
- Wispr Flow types into any app on desktop and mobile, with a free plan of 2,000 words a week on desktop;
- Speechmatics is an API for developers, not an app for everyday note-taking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best App to Turn Speech Into Text?
It depends on what you need to transcribe. For work meetings and client calls, MeetGeek records and transcribes the conversation and generates notes and action items. For dictation, Speechnotes is free in the browser, Wispr Flow types into any app, and Dragon suits long documents on Windows.
Can ChatGPT Convert Audio to Text?
Yes, for some use cases. You can dictate your prompts in ChatGPT, and on paid plans the macOS desktop app has a Record mode that transcribes and summarizes sessions of up to 4 hours. Our guide on whether ChatGPT can transcribe audio covers each option.
How Can I Convert Voice to Text for Free?
For short text, you can use the free dictation built into Windows, Google Docs or an iPhone. For meetings, MeetGeek's free plan transcribes and summarizes 3 hours of calls a month. For dictation in the browser, Speechnotes is free.
How Can I Convert Speech to Text in Google Docs?
Open the document in Chrome, Edge or Safari, go to Tools > Voice typing and click the microphone. To get a meeting transcript into Google Docs instead, MeetGeek's paid plans export transcripts to Google Docs, Word or Excel.
Is There a Free Voice to Text App for iPhone?
Yes. Apple Dictation is built into the iPhone keyboard. For recording conversations, the MeetGeek iOS app is free to start, and Voicenotes has a free plan with 100 transcription minutes a week.
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