Updated October 2026. Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. If you upgrade to Lispr Pro through them, BoostStash earns a commission and your price does not change. The free plan and the trial earn us nothing, so we suggest you start there.
To do speech to text on a Mac, open System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation, switch Dictation on, click into any text field, and press the Microphone key (or your custom shortcut). It is free, built into macOS, and good enough for short notes.
If you would rather hold a key, speak, and let go, in any app, in about 99 languages, with an optional translate-as-you-speak mode, a free Mac app called Lispr does exactly that. This guide covers both options, the fixes for when Mac dictation stops working, and an honest look at who should skip Lispr.
The short version
- You want free, built in, nothing to install: use Apple Dictation (steps below).
- You want push-to-talk in every app, multiple languages, or dictate-and-translate: try Lispr. Its free plan gives you 60 dictation minutes a week with no account and no credit card.
- Dictation is simply broken right now: jump to the six fixes.
Try hold-to-talk dictation on your Mac
Lispr is free to start: no account, no credit card, and every new install includes a 30-day Pro trial.
How to do speech to text on Mac with built-in Dictation
Apple’s own Dictation guide describes the setup. In short:
- Open System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation.
- Switch Dictation on and click Enable.
- Click into a text field in any app, such as Notes, Mail or a browser.
- Press and release the Microphone key on your function row to start. If your keyboard has no Microphone key, set a custom shortcut in the same Dictation settings, or use Edit > Start Dictation from the menu bar.
- Speak. To stop, press Escape, the Microphone key again, or your custom shortcut.
Two details from Apple’s documentation are worth knowing. There is no time limit on how long you can dictate, but Dictation stops by itself after 30 seconds of silence. And on Apple silicon Macs, voice input may be processed on the device, which you can check in the Keyboard settings.
Where it falls short for some people: it is a tap-to-start, tap-to-stop flow, so a pause longer than 30 seconds ends your session. Language support depends on your region, and Dictation has no built-in translate gesture (macOS has a separate Translate app for that).
Mac dictation not working? Six fixes to try first
Before switching tools, rule out the usual causes. Work through these in order and test in Notes or TextEdit so you know whether the problem is your Mac or one specific app.
- Confirm Dictation is on. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation and check the toggle is enabled.
- Check the shortcut. The Dictation pane shows which shortcut is active. Make sure it is the one you are pressing, and change it if another app has taken that key combination.
- Turn off Voice Control. This is the most common surprise. Apple states that when Voice Control is on, you use Voice Control to dictate and standard macOS Dictation is not available. Switch it off under System Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control.
- Check language and microphone. Use the Edit button next to Languages in the Dictation settings, then open System Settings > Sound > Input and confirm the right microphone is selected and its level moves when you talk.
- Unplug the variables. If you use Bluetooth headphones, try the built-in microphone, or the reverse. Switching the input device and switching back often clears a stuck input.
- Restart and update. Restart the Mac and install any pending macOS update.
If dictation still misbehaves, or you are tired of toggling it on and off to get a thought down, a dedicated push-to-talk app is the practical next step.
Skip the settings menu: hold one key and talk
Lispr works in any app with a text cursor. A small download, no account to create, and a free plan that covers 60 minutes a week.
How to change the dictation language on Mac
With Apple Dictation, open System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation and use the Edit button next to Languages to add or switch languages. Which languages are available varies by region, and Apple points to its macOS feature availability page for the current list.
Lispr takes a different approach. It transcribes around 99 languages and can follow you when you switch languages in the middle of a sentence, with no setting to change. If you also want the result in another language, there is a separate translation mode, covered below.
Lispr: hold-to-talk voice to text for Mac
Lispr is a lightweight dictation and translation app from Codebridge Technology. It lives in the menu bar and Dock, and you use it with one key. Here is what it does, based on the developer’s published documentation.
Push-to-talk dictation
Hold the dictation key, say what you want, and release. By default that key is the right Option key on Mac (right Ctrl on Windows), and you can remap it to another modifier. The text appears at your cursor in any text field where a cursor blinks, across browsers, terminals and desktop apps, so you never switch windows to dictate. Lispr’s site lists apps like Slack, Notes, Figma and Terminal as examples.
It also puts your clipboard back. After inserting your words, Lispr restores whatever you had copied before, so dictating does not wipe what you were about to paste.
Hands-free mode for longer thoughts
Double-tap the dictation key and Lispr keeps recording without you holding anything, for up to two hours. It can also stop on its own when you go quiet, and the finished text lands at your cursor when the recording ends.
Translate while you speak
Hold a translation key together with the dictation key, speak in your own language, and release. Instead of a normal transcript, translated text appears at the cursor in about 0.7 seconds. Translation covers 32 target languages and is included in the free plan. You choose your target languages in Settings and can pin your two most-used languages to dedicated keys. According to Lispr’s site, the default translate key is Control (⌃), and you hold it along with Option.
Formatting, vocabulary and history
- Three formatting modes (Settings > Formatting), all free. Off inserts your words exactly as recognized, which suits code or verbatim text. Light adds punctuation, paragraphs and lists without removing words. Concise does the same and also trims filler words and repetitions.
- Custom vocabulary for product names, client names and code identifiers. About once a day Lispr reviews your recent dictations and adds correct spellings on its own, and you can edit or delete any entry. The list is stored on your device only.
- Local history of your last 200 dictations as text. If your connection drops mid-sentence, Lispr keeps the audio locally so you can retry once you are back online.
How to set up Lispr on a Mac
- Download Lispr and open it. It needs macOS 11 Big Sur or newer and runs on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. The download is about 6 MB.
- Approve the two permissions it asks for, Microphone and Accessibility. You grant these once.
- Click into any text field.
- Hold the right Option key, speak, and release. Your text appears at the cursor.
- Optional: double-tap the key for hands-free mode, or open Settings to choose your formatting mode and translation languages.
Set it up in about two minutes
Download, approve microphone and accessibility access once, then hold right Option and talk.
Apple Dictation vs. Lispr: side by side
| Apple Dictation | Lispr | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, built into macOS | Free plan (60 min/week); Pro $79/year or $7.99/month |
| How you start | Press and release the Microphone key, a custom shortcut, or Edit > Start Dictation | Hold right Option, speak, release |
| How it stops | Escape, the shortcut again, or 30 seconds of silence | On key release; hands-free mode runs up to two hours |
| Length limit | None | 60 min/week on Free; unlimited on Pro |
| Languages | Varies by region; add under Languages | About 99, with mid-sentence switching |
| Translation | Not part of Dictation (separate Translate app) | Built in, 32 target languages, about 0.7 s |
| Internet | May run on-device on Apple silicon (check your settings) | Required (cloud transcription) |
| Works on | Mac | Mac and Windows 10+ |
Apple column based on Apple’s Dictation documentation; Lispr column based on Lispr’s partner and product documentation. Features and pricing can change, so check each source before you decide.
Speed
Codebridge, the company behind Lispr, reports a 346 ms median from the moment you release the key to the moment text appears, measured on live traffic. That is the developer’s own measurement, not an independent benchmark, and because transcription happens in the cloud, your own connection will affect what you see. Translation takes about 0.7 seconds, according to the same documentation.
Lispr pricing: what is free and when Pro makes sense
The core features are free for everyone: dictation, translation, the personal dictionary and local history. Pro adds two things.
- Free plan, $0: 60 dictation minutes a week (resetting every Monday), no account, no card, on both Mac and Windows. If you use up your minutes, dictation pauses until Monday and nothing you already dictated is lost.
- Pro, $79/year or $7.99/month: unlimited dictation minutes, plus sync across devices under one account. The annual plan works out to about $6.58 a month, roughly two months cheaper than paying monthly. In some countries regional pricing starts at $44.90 a year, set automatically by your payment card’s country.
- Trial and refund: every new install includes a 30-day Pro trial with no credit card. Payments go through Paddle, you can cancel anytime from your account page, and a first purchase has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Who needs Pro? Sixty minutes a week is plenty for notes, messages and the occasional email. If you dictate long documents every day, or want one account across several computers, that is the point where Pro starts to pay for itself. Start free and see how many of your 60 minutes you actually use. Note that the link in this post carries no special discount; you get Lispr’s standard offer, the same one everyone gets.
Start free, upgrade only if you outgrow it
60 free minutes a week, a 30-day Pro trial on every new install, and a 14-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase.
Privacy: what happens to your voice
Because Lispr transcribes in the cloud, it is worth knowing exactly what that means. Per Lispr’s documentation:
- Your microphone stays off until you hold the key. On a Mac you can see the orange system indicator whenever Lispr is listening.
- Audio travels over an encrypted connection to be transcribed. Codebridge’s relay server keeps no audio and logs no transcript content.
- The upstream transcription provider may retain audio for up to 30 days, strictly for abuse review, then deletes it. Neither Codebridge nor the provider uses your voice, transcripts or translations to train AI models.
- You do not need an account to dictate. Pro uses an optional account that signs you in with a one-time email code, so there is no password to steal.
- Your custom vocabulary and your last 200 dictations are stored on your device, not on a server.
You can read the full details in the Lispr privacy policy.
Who should skip Lispr
- You need offline dictation. Lispr requires an internet connection. Apple Dictation may work on-device on Apple silicon Macs.
- You work with regulated or confidential data. Lispr’s documentation does not make compliance claims such as HIPAA, and audio is processed by a third-party provider. Check with your compliance team and the privacy policy first.
- You want to transcribe recordings or meetings. Lispr is built for live dictation at your cursor, not for uploading audio files. For meeting transcripts, see our roundup of the best AI meeting transcription tools.
- Short, occasional dictation is all you need. If you only dictate a sentence now and then, Apple Dictation is free and already installed.
If you dictate prompts and code with AI tools, you may also like our guide to vibe coding with Wispr Flow, another voice-first tool with a different design.
Frequently asked questions
How do I do speech to text on a Mac?
Turn on Dictation in System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation, click into a text field, and press the Microphone key or your custom shortcut. Speak, then press Escape or the shortcut again to stop. For hold-to-talk in any app, an app like Lispr lets you hold the right Option key, speak, and release.
Is Mac dictation free?
Yes. Apple Dictation is built into macOS at no cost. Lispr also has a free plan with 60 dictation minutes a week and no account or card. Lispr Pro is $79 a year or $7.99 a month for unlimited minutes.
How do I turn on dictation on a Mac?
Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation, switch Dictation on, and click Enable. You can then use the Microphone key, set a custom shortcut in the same pane, or choose Edit > Start Dictation from the menu bar.
Why is dictation not working on my Mac?
The usual causes are Dictation being switched off, a shortcut that is not the one you are pressing, the wrong language or microphone, or Voice Control being on. Apple notes that standard Dictation is not available while Voice Control is on. See the six fixes above.
How do I change the dictation language on a Mac?
In System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation, click Edit next to Languages and add the language you want. Available languages vary by region. Lispr recognizes about 99 languages and can switch between them mid-sentence without changing any setting.
Does Lispr work offline?
No. Lispr transcribes in the cloud using hosted Whisper large-v3-turbo, so it needs an internet connection. If your connection drops mid-sentence, it keeps the audio on your device so you can retry once you are back online.
Can Lispr translate while I dictate?
Yes. Hold the translation key together with the dictation key, speak in your own language, and release. The translated text appears at your cursor in about 0.7 seconds. Translation supports 32 target languages and is included in the free plan.
Is Lispr private?
The microphone is off until you hold the key, and audio is encrypted in transit. Codebridge’s relay keeps no audio and logs no transcript content, though the transcription provider may retain audio for up to 30 days for abuse review. Neither uses your voice or text to train AI models.
Does Lispr work on Windows?
Yes. Lispr runs on Windows 10 or newer (64-bit) and lives in the system tray. The default dictation key on Windows is the right Ctrl key.
Verdict
For most people, the right order is simple. Try Apple Dictation first, because it is free and already on your Mac. If it keeps getting in your way, or you want to hold a key and talk in any app, switch languages mid-sentence, or dictate in one language and type in another, Lispr is a light, free-to-start alternative that costs nothing to try.
Its limits are real: it needs the internet, the free plan is capped at 60 minutes a week, and it is not built for regulated data or file transcription. But if your problem is “I want to talk instead of type, without fighting my settings,” it is worth the two minutes it takes to install.
Ready to talk instead of type?
Free to start on Mac, no account, no credit card. Hold right Option, speak, release.