Best Text Dictation Software

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Brand: The Original PC Doctor
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If you’re a writer, then you already know the important role that the ability to type fast and many words on a daily basis plays. Over a series of several years, you may start to notice problems, such as strain in your wrists. This can happen due to the repetitive action of your fingers, typing away on the keyboard. In other times, you may find that your speed is not fast enough to keep up, making it difficult to meet deadlines and achieve your targets.

Text dictation software has become better than ever and is increasing in popularity quickly. The software makes it easy to go from voice to text, which is great for a number of scenarios. While a great addition to a writer’s life, there are many text dictation apps on the market today, so how do you choose among all of these options? We’ll help you discover some of the best software options in this article.

How And Why Use Text Dictation Software?

There are several reasons why dictation software is quickly gaining popularity. Even though they have been used for several years, in recent times, usage has skyrocketed among writers and people in other professions. Latest insight reports that the text dictation software market will reach a global value of $11.21 billion by the end of 2022. Research also shows that the market is currently growing at a 16.3% CAGR, which means it is expanding rapidly.

If you’re not sure whether text dictation software is right for you, then consider the benefits that we share below:

Time Saving: Some people can type really fast, but these speeds do not match the rate at which you can speak. Since you are able to talk faster than you type, the use of dictation software can be a great time saver. As you speak into a microphone, the software recognises your speech, and types out what you are saying.
Easy To Get Started: Another major benefit is the fact that it’s usually very easy to start using dictation software. Depending on the specific app that you decide to use, you’ll usually be able to start dictating and getting text results as you speak in a matter of minutes, sometimes seconds.
Transcription: If you have video or audio content that you need a transcript for, then dictation software can be an excellent choice. This saves you the effort of manually typing the transcript. Instead, simply plug the video or audio into the text dictation software and let it do its work.
Compatibility: While there are several apps available, one thing you’ll notice is that they often offer excellent compatibility. Many of these apps allow you to use the dictation services on both desktop computers and on mobile devices. This ensures you can have your speech converted to text even when you are on the go.

Best Text Dictation Software To Use

Not every dictation app is going to give you the same performance. Some are more accurate and advanced than others. We’ve done an extensive research to find the best-performing text dictation software. We share our findings of both free and paid options in this section.

Google Docs Voice To Text Typing

The first option on our list comes from Google and is free to use. It’s a great choice if you want to give text dictation a try, but without spending any money right now. This particular app comes as an extension and is currently only available for the Google Chrome browser. You can use it on any desktop operating system, but support for mobile devices is still to be implemented.

There are some limitations to the Voice Typing feature that comes with Google Docs, as you do not get a lot of options that you are able to customise. With this said, the technology that the software is based on considerably improves the overall accuracy that you can expect from the feature.

To use this particular feature, you will need to open up Google Docs. Fortunately, you are able to export content from Google Docs in a large variety of formats, including docx and odt. Simply click on “Tools”, followed by “Voice Typing” in Google Docs. In addition to voice to text, you can also use this feature to input voice commands – such as selecting a paragraph in your document.

SpeedNotes

Another free option that you can consider using is SpeedNotes. This web-based option makes it great for people who do not want to be restricted due to compatibility issues. Since it’s a web-based app, it’s easy to access the program not only on desktops but also on your mobile devices.

While the app is free, an upgraded version is also available. If you do not like to have ads displayed on websites or apps, then the upgrade is definitely a feature to consider. You’ll need to sign in with your Google Account to upgrade, but that only takes a few seconds.

To use the software, simply visit the homepage, then click on the “Start Now” button. You will need to provide permission for the software to use your microphone, then you can start talking. After dictating, you can easily download the file and then use it in your preferred document processing application.

Dragon Professional

For those who need something more advanced and want to ensure the accuracy of their dictation, Dragon Professional is a good choice. This is not a free solution, but the good news is that it comes with a once-off price instead of a monthly subscription. After you purchase a license for Dragon Professional, you’ll also be able to continue receiving updates in the future as the developers behind the application continue to improve its features.

Apart from the software itself, the developers also offer professional hardware that performs well with Dragon Professional. The software costs $699 once off. Adding a Bluetooth headset costs another $150 extra, and the PowerMic 4 will set you back $424. While more expensive than many of the alternative solutions, it’s generally worth it for professionals.

Dragon Anywhere

Another entry from Dragon is their mobile text dictation solution. Dragon Anywhere gives you the ability to dictate no matter where you are. It uses a powerful speech recognition engine to ensure the software can accurately identify what you are saying and turn it into text. You can use this particular app on both iOS and Android devices.

The app is only available with an annual subscription, and no monthly plans are available at the moment. At $150 per annum, it will set you back less than $15 per month for a professional solution. If you’re not sure whether you want to make such a commitment, then you can also take advantage of the two-week free trial offer that Dragon offers. This trial gives you access to the app for a period of 14 days, during which you can try it out and decide whether or not you want to subscribe and continue to use it.

How To Pick The Right Text Dictation Software?

Even when you have access to the top dictation software, it’s still a hard task filtering through them. You need to pick dictation software that will work for you in particular, which is why it’s important to know what factors to consider during your search.

We’re going to share a couple of important factors and features that you should keep in mind while you assess the different options that are available:

Pricing: An important factor to keep in mind is the cost associated with the speech-to-text software options. There are several free options available, but they sometimes lack advanced functions. The paid options may provide access to better features, but this can sometimes come at a high cost. Determine what your budget allows, then find the right match.
Interface: You should also pay attention to the user interface that comes with the app. Make sure the app is easy to navigate, as that will simplify life when you need to dictate content quickly.
Output: The output options that are available should also be an important decision-making factor you consider. Keep in mind what document processing software you work with. Ensure the dictation app allows you to export the text in appropriate formats.
Accuracy: The technology behind these apps differs and affects how accurate they convert your speech to text. It’s a good idea to test-drive paid apps first with a demo or trial to ensure they are accurate before you make any investments.

Conclusion

Even if you can type 100 words per minute, speaking will remain a faster choice of communication. This is only one of the reasons why people are turning to text dictation software to type documents, stories, and more. If you’re looking to try speech-to-text software for yourself, then start with the list of top picks that we shared. This will give you a good headstart and allow you to see what these software solutions are capable of.

References

Written by The Original PC Doctor on 14/3/2023.

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