Apple Dictation review

Apple Dictation is the default answer for Mac owners who just want to talk instead of type. It is part of macOS, and Apple's guide says you can speak to enter text anywhere you can type it. You start it from a keyboard shortcut you choose, such as pressing the Fn key twice, and in supported languages it inserts commas, periods and question marks automatically. Commands like new line and new paragraph handle basic layout, and you can set up several languages and switch between them while dictating. In macOS 27, Macs with Apple Intelligence on M3 or later chips with at least 12GB of memory use an on-device model to improve spelling, punctuation and capitalization in English. What it lacks is the AI cleanup and personal dictionaries of paid apps: it types what you say, filler words and all. For short messages and notes it costs nothing and needs no setup.

Who it is for

Mac users who want free, built-in voice typing with no extra app.

Price

Free, built into macOS.

With Dictation, you can speak to enter text anywhere you can type it.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Dictate anywhere you can type on a Mac
• Automatic commas, periods and question marks in supported languages
• Voice commands such as new line and new paragraph
• Multiple dictation languages with quick switching
• On-device model for spelling and punctuation with Apple Intelligence in macOS 27

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free and already installed on every Mac
• Strength: Start with a keyboard shortcut such as pressing Fn twice
• Strength: Switch between several dictation languages while you talk
• Weakness: Mac only, no Windows version
• Weakness: No custom vocabulary or AI rewriting of rambling speech
• Weakness: Some features vary by language, region and Mac model

Key facts

• Price: Free
• Platforms: macOS (also on iPhone and iPad)
• Start shortcut: Configurable, for example press Fn twice
• Auto punctuation: Yes, in supported languages

Where it ranks

Apple Dictation is No. 5 in our Best Dictation Software verdict.