Option 1 — Apple Dictation (built-in, free)
Apple includes Dictation in supported macOS versions. Check Apple's current macOS documentation for device and offline availability, then follow these setup steps.
Open System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation
Click the Apple menu → System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS) → Keyboard. Scroll to find the Dictation section.
Toggle Dictation on
Flip the Dictation toggle on. If prompted to enable Enhanced Dictation (on Intel Macs), click Enable — it allows offline use.
Choose your shortcut
The default shortcut is double-pressing the Fn / 🌐 key. You can change this to any shortcut in the Shortcut dropdown. Some users prefer ⌘⌘ (double Command) or a function key.
Click in a text field, press your shortcut, speak
A microphone icon appears near the insertion point. Speak naturally. Press the shortcut again, press Return, or click Done to end dictation.
Tip: Say "new line" to insert a line break, "new paragraph" for a blank line, or "period / comma / question mark" to insert punctuation. Apple Dictation understands these commands in English.
Limitations of Apple Dictation
- Transcribes verbatim — filler words ("um", "uh") appear in the output.
- Punctuation must be spoken explicitly ("comma", "period") or added manually.
- No voice history, no saved clips, no AI rewrite.
- macOS / iOS only — doesn't work on Windows.
Option 2 - AiType (AI cleanup, about 250 ms, supported platforms)
AiType installs as a small menu bar app on macOS. Hold a shortcut, speak, release, then review the cleaned draft in your clipboard. It typically completes transcription and cleanup in about 250 ms; timing varies.
Download and install AiType for Mac
Download the DMG, open it, drag AiType to Applications, and launch it.
Sign in and grant microphone permission
Create a free account or sign in. macOS will ask for microphone permission the first time you dictate — click Allow.
Hold ⌥ Option (or your chosen shortcut) and speak
AiType listens while you hold the key. Release when you're done. Clean text is placed in your clipboard and optionally auto-pasted into the active field.
Review, then paste or send
Review the cleaned draft, then paste or send it. Cleanup may remove filler words, add punctuation, and improve phrasing.
Tip: Try it in the supported apps and text fields you use most, such as Mail, Slack, Notion, Cursor, VS Code, Safari, or Terminal. Compatibility can vary by app and field.
Which should you use?
- Use Apple Dictation if you want zero setup, offline capability, and don't mind editing the transcript.
- Use AiType if you want AI-polished output, cross-platform support (including Windows), or you find editing every dictation tedious.
- Use both — Apple Dictation for quick offline notes, AiType for anything that goes to another person.
Dictation tips for Mac (both tools)
- Speak in full sentences. Shorter fragments produce worse cleanup quality in any tool.
- Don't slow down artificially. Natural conversational speed works better than deliberate slow speech.
- Use a good microphone. Built-in Mac mics can work in a quiet room. A USB cardioid mic may improve audio clarity in a noisy setting; test with your setup.
- Stay consistent. Try drafting the full thought first, then review and edit as needed.
Quick start recommendation
Try Apple Dictation first. If you find yourself correcting each result, test AiType's 14-day free trial and compare the cleanup and review workflow.
Try AiType for Mac
14-day free trial. No credit card. Download and start dictating in under 2 minutes.