Updated 2026 · guide
Dictation — speech-to-text — has moved from "occasionally useful" to a tool that genuinely speeds up everyday writing: emails, notes, messages and longer drafts. But not every tool is equal on accuracy, privacy, or where it actually puts the text. Here's a practical way to choose.
Look for a modern model (e.g. Whisper) and, just as importantly, a personal dictionary where you add names, companies and jargon that are otherwise transcribed wrong. In daily use, a good dictionary makes a bigger difference than a couple of percentage points in a benchmark. Multilingual support matters too if you switch languages.
The key question: does your voice get sent to a server? On-device transcription (right on your machine) is the most private — the recording never leaves the device. Cloud can be more accurate on long recordings, but know where the data goes and whether it's stored. The ideal is being able to choose per situation.
The biggest everyday difference: does the transcribed text land right where you're typing (email, chat, document), or do you have to copy it out of another app? A tool that behaves like a keyboard / system layer and inserts anywhere saves dozens of micro-steps a day.
Verbatim transcription is only the start. The real jump comes from modes that shape the text: remove filler words, turn speech into a polite email, or condense ideas into bullets. You speak freely and get usable output.
If you dictate on both computer and phone, one account that syncs your dictionary and settings everywhere is a real convenience — no maintaining a separate vocabulary on Mac, iPhone, Android and your browser.
Partner Voice is built on exactly these points: accurate transcription (Whisper or a fast on-device engine), on-device privacy, inserting text anywhere, smart modes (Verbatim / Polish / Email / Bullets) and Partner ID — one account across Mac, iPhone, Android and the browser. It handles English and other languages well.
It's free to download — try Partner Voice and start dictating anywhere in minutes.
Related: Voice typing on Mac · Dictation on iPhone · Transcribe audio to text