Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
Resources
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Newsletters
  • Resource Library
  • Forums
  • Sponsored
Go Premium
Popular Topics
  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
  • Project Management
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
View All Topics
Go Premium
Software

Screenshots: Five dictation apps for your PC

By Brien Posey April 14, 2016, 6:04 AM PDT

Image
1
of 7

Intro
Intro
Screenshots: Five dictation apps for your PC

Introduction

Image: iStockphoto.com/abadonian

Introduction

As someone who writes for a living, I have relied onrndictation software for a number of years. Dictation software allows me torncomplete my work more quickly than would otherwise be possible, and it reducesrnthe potential for getting carpal tunnel syndrome. Today, a number of dictation appsrnare available for the PC. These applications vary widely in terms of price andrnfeatures. Let’s look at five possible options.

Note: This gallery isrnalso available as an article.

Image: iStockphoto.com/abadonian
Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 Premium
Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 Premium
Screenshots: Five dictation apps for your PC

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 Premium

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 Premium

DragonrnNaturallySpeaking 13 Premium is the speech recognition application I usernfor my day-to-day work. Dragon has been around for many years, so it’s time tornmature. When properly trained, Dragon version 13 makes very few dictationrnerrors.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 Premium
Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 Premium
Screenshots: Five dictation apps for your PC

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 Premium

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 Premium

Although Dragon’s accuracy is definitely its biggest sellingrnpoint, it also includes a number of nice features. For example, it allows yournto link multiple sound hardware devices to a user’s profile, so you can switchrnto a different microphone without creating a brand new profile. Dragon lets yourncreate a backup of your profile, too. This is an important option, becausernDragon learns over time and becomes more accurate as you dictate or performrnadditional training. Without a backup option, a hard disk crash could mean retrainingrnDragon from the beginning.

Dragon 13 Premium sells for $199.

Braina
Braina
Screenshots: Five dictation apps for your PC

Braina

Braina

Braina offers a Lite version of its software for free. The PROrnversion can be licensed for either $29.00 per year or $59 for three years.

Express Dictate
Express Dictate
Screenshots: Five dictation apps for your PC

Express Dictate

Express Dictate

Once recorded, audio can be saved for later, archived, or sentrnto a transcriptionist. The software even supports HIPAA-compliant encryption ofrnaudio data.

Express Dictate sells for $79.99, but a free 14-day trialrnversion is available for download.

SpeakToText
SpeakToText
Screenshots: Five dictation apps for your PC

SpeakToText

SpeakToText

SpeakToText uses its own editor for dictation but containsrnmenu options for copying text to Word or to the clipboard. Clipboard text canrnalso be pasted into the editor.

SpeakToText sells for $39.95, but a free trial is availablernfor download.

Dictation Pro
Dictation Pro
Screenshots: Five dictation apps for your PC

Dictation Pro

Dictation Pro

The voice recognition engine contains options to create andrnmanage voice profiles and to start and stop dictation. The software also containsrna voice training function, and you can add words on an as needed basis, but thernsoftware is not as advanced as Dragon. The built-in word processor is roughlyrnon par with Microsoft WordPad.

Dictation Pro sells for $29.95, but a free trial version isrnavailable for download.

  • Software
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Screenshots: Five dictation apps for your PC

    Your email has been sent

Share: Screenshots: Five dictation apps for your PC
Image of Brien Posey
By Brien Posey
* 1988 - Started teaching myself about computers \ * 1992 - Mainframe programmer for an insurance company \ * 1993 - Network Administrator for a different insurance company \ * 1996 - Author for The Cobb Group \ * 1998 - Network Administrator
  • Account Information

    Contact Brien Posey

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Brien's content

Daily Tech Insider

If you can only read one tech story a day, this is it.

TechRepublic TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on X
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on YouTube
  • TechRepublic on Pinterest
  • TechRepublic RSS
Services
  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • Careers
Explore
  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Editorial Policy
  • Legal Terms
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
CLOSE

Create a TechRepublic Account

Get the web's best business technology news, tutorials, reviews, trends, and analysis—in your inbox. Let's start with the basics.

Already registered? Sign In
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

* - indicates required fields

CLOSE

Sign in to TechRepublic

Not a member? Create an account
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

Lost your password? Request a new password

CLOSE

Reset Password

Please enter your email adress. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

Check your email for a password reset link. If you didn't receive an email don't forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support.

Back to login
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you.

This will help us provide you with customized content.

No thanks, continue without
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Want to receive more TechRepublic news?

Newsletter Name
Subscribe
Daily Tech Insider
Daily Tech Insider AU
TechRepublic UK
TechRepublic News and Special Offers
TechRepublic News and Special Offers International
Executive Briefing
Innovation Insider
Project Management Insider
Microsoft Weekly
Cloud Insider
Data Insider
Developer Insider
TechRepublic Premium
Apple Weekly
Cybersecurity Insider
Google Weekly
Toggle All
No thanks, continue without

You're All Set

Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye out for a confirmation email from our team. To ensure any newsletters you subscribed to hit your inbox, make sure to add [email protected] to your contacts list.

Back to Home Page
×