Wispr Flow is better than your device's built-in voice text tool - how to try it for free
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ZDNet
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9 min read
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A couple of years ago, I fell and fractured my left wrist. The injury meant that I couldn't write, at least not by typing with two hands. As a workaround, I tried dictating text using the voice dictation tools built into Windows. But I was never truly happy with their usability or accuracy. I wish I'd known about Wispr Flow at the time.
Available in free and paid plans, Wispr Flow from Wispr is a reliable and flexible AI-powered speech-to-text tool that lets you dictate emails, text messages, notes, lists, documents, and more. You can also use it to record and transcribe conversations, speeches, presentations, meetings, and similar activities. Plus, if you're into vibe coding, which lets you develop software using natural language, Wispr Flow will understand your instructions .
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The program is available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. The desktop version is a full application that you can trigger with a keyboard shortcut in any program. The mobile version is not only an app but a keyboard, so you're able to use it with any text-based program on your phone or tablet.
Wispr Flow comes in three editions -- Free, Pro, and Enterprise . The freebie provides all the basic features, including support for more than 100 languages, the ability to learn names and jargon, and an option to use your dictated notes in AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude. The program can also identify speakers for your transcribed meeting notes, answer questions about your transcribed meetings, and connect to your calendar and meeting tools such as Slack.
Wispr promises that your data stays private and is HIPAA-ready. There is an option to allow the AI model to train itself based on your data, but you can easily turn that off.
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With the free edition, you get what Wispr calls a 2,000-word soft cap and a 5,000-word hard cap on the desktop and a 1,000-word soft cap and a 1,500-word hard cap on mobile. As you approach the soft cap limit, a warning appears. If you keep going and near the hard cap limit, Wispr Flow slows down until your quota is reset at the end of the week.
With the Pro version ($15 per person per month priced monthly and $12 per person per month priced annually), you get everything included with the Free plan. Plus, you enjoy unlimited dictations, access to advanced AI thinking models, priority support tickets, and centralized billing and user management for organizations.
People who sign up for the free plan will get a 14-day trial of the Pro version. You can also score a free month of Pro by inviting another person to try the program.
The Enterprise version contains everything in the Pro plan and adds enterprise-grade security and administrative controls, complimentary seats for IT admins, audit logs, domain management, dedicated support, volume discounts, advanced usage analytics, and a way to opt out of model training for everyone on your team.
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Before I explain how to use Wispr Flow, you may be wondering if the program is worth your time. My ZDNET colleague David Gewirtz called it the one AI-based voice dictation tool that he keeps coming back to . And I'd agree. I have tried other tools in the past, not just the ones built into Windows, but also third-party utilities. Based on ease of use, accuracy, and flexibility, Wispr Flow is the one I would use whenever I prefer dictating over typing.
This is true not just on the desktop but on mobile. Tapping the tiny keys on the virtual keyboard on my iPhone is often a chore, which is why I'd rather dictate my emails, messages, notes, and other text. But the built-in iOS dictation isn't always accurate. Instead, I've been using Wispr Flow and find it much more effective.
Now, here's how to use Wispr Flow on both desktop and mobile.
To try the program in Windows or MacOS, head to the Wispr Flow website . Click the button for "Get started in Windows" or "Get started on MacOS." You can then set up and sign in with an account using Google, Apple, Microsoft, or your own email address. Download and install the executable file. For mobile, download and install the program for iOS or Android , and then sign in with an account.
With iOS, you'll be prompted to add the Wispr Flow keyboard so that you can access the voice dictation in any text-based app on your device. With Android, you're asked to enable a Flow bubble icon that appears on the screen whenever you tap into a text field. After you set up the software on desktop or mobile, Wispr Flow then launches.
As your first step, you may try dictating a document or other text using the Windows or Mac version. With Wispr Flow running, open the text-based application in which you want to dictate. You can then trigger Wispr Flow two different ways. By default, the Windows version uses the left Ctrl key and the Windows key as the keyboard shortcut to activate it, while the Mac edition uses the fn key, though you can change this.
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In Windows, press down and hold the Ctrl and Windows keys at the same time while you dictate your text. Release the keys, and the text appears in your application. Alternatively, tap the Ctrl and Windows keys twice to turn on dictation mode. When done dictating, tap the two keys again to turn it off. On a Mac, do the same thing but use the fn key.
As you dictate, speak in a natural tone, and Wispr Flow will recognize and display your words. Use names, jargon, slang, and other parts of speech, and the program should pick them up. You can even correct yourself if you make a mistake as you speak. For example, if you dictate the wrong phrase or sentence, say "scratch that," and then dictate the correction. The software will then display the corrected sentence.
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If the software misspells a name or other word or phrase, you can add the correct spelling to the dictionary. For this, open the Wispr Flow program, select Dictionary, and then click Add new word. In the window, turn on the switch for "Correct a misspelling." Type the misspelled version, then type the correct word, and then click the button to add the word. The next time you dictate that word or phrase, the software will get it right.
Now, let's check out the mobile app. Open any text-based app on your phone or tablet, such as Mail or Messages. On an iPhone, tap the globe icon at the lower left and change the keyboard to Wispr Flow. Tap the Start button or microphone icon to begin dictating and then tap the checkmark when you're finished. On an Android device, tap the Flow bubble icon to start dictating and then tap the checkmark to stop.
Using its AI smarts, Wispr Flow will format your dictated words a certain way. For example, if you're dictating a list of items, the software will automatically put those items in a bulleted or dashed list. With the iOS app, you can also change the style among Formal, Casual, Very Casual, and Excited. The style determines how the text is formatted and punctuated.
Next, you're able to check your history with Wispr Flow. For this, I'll use the Windows desktop version. Select the Dictation category on the left to view the transcripts for all the text you've dictated. You can play your recorded speech or copy the transcript text. Click the three-dot icon, and you're able to undo any edits made by the Wispr Flow AI, retry or delete the transcript, and export the audio as a WAV file.
Select the Insight category to view your history with Wispr Flow dictation.
Select Dictionary to view all the words and phrases added to the dictionary. Click the trash can icon to delete an entry; click the pencil icon to edit it.
Select Snippets. Here, you can add voice shortcuts to Wispr Flow. For example, instead of typing out your entire email address, just save it as a shortcut called My Email Address.
Select Styles. Here, you're able to choose specific styles for your personal messages, work messages, email, and other content. Select a specific type of content, click the Start now button, and then choose the style you wish to apply. Click next to choose the style of each type of content.
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Finally, you can customize Wispr Flow through various options. Click the Settings category toward the bottom. The General section lets you change the keyboard shortcut, language, and more. In the System section, you're able to set how the program starts, looks, and sounds. Check out the Vibe coding section if you plan to use Wispr Flow to dictate code for an application you're building. Experimental offers a few more options, including one that tells the program to start a new paragraph if you say, "Press Enter."
Select the section for Data and Privacy. Here, you can control certain privacy-related settings, such as AI model training and cloud storage for your dictated text.
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Overall, Wispr Flow is a handy, helpful dictation program that performs well on both desktops and mobile devices. I've found it accurate and effective, especially in contrast to my devices' built-in dictation features. You can always use it for free and see if it makes a difference whenever you'd rather speak than type.
