Wispr Flow is better than your device's built-in voice

What happened

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.

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. " 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.

Why it matters

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.

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. 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. Before I explain how to use Wispr Flow, you may be wondering if the program is worth your time.

What to watch

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. 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.