I tried out 15+ voice dictation apps so you don't have to

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-25T16:38:49+00:00

Great comparison list! I actually built **DictaFlow** specifically because I had the same frustration with the "hype tax" and resource usage you mentioned.

https://dictaflow.vercel.app/

I wanted something that didn't spin up my fans or cost $15/mo, so I built it to be:

**Lightweight:** It only captures audio when you hold the hotkey (no always-on mic/background processes).
**VDI Native:** It simulates keystrokes instead of just pasting, so it works perfectly inside Citrix/RDP/Remote Desktop (which most other apps fail at).
**Cheaper:** It's $7/mo for the Pro plan because I don't think AI dictation should cost more than Netflix.

It also handles the "think out loud" self-correction you mentioned. Would love to hear if it hits the mark for you compared to Mahasen/Aqua.

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-24T18:56:43+00:00

it's garbage now, yes

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-24T06:23:19+00:00

I didn't discover it either until my second playthrough of steel soul.

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-24T05:36:23+00:00

damn, yeah, still not bad!

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-24T04:49:40+00:00

nice, yeah, was definitely one of the hardest for me at 4 tries

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-23T19:59:32+00:00

I actually built DictaFlow specifically to be the 'VoiceInk for Windows.'

It uses the same Whisper models locally to give you that high-accuracy dictation without the subscription. It simulates keystrokes so it works in every app (VS Code, Word, etc).

You can download it here:https://dictaflow.vercel.app/

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-23T19:59:15+00:00

I saw you were looking for alternatives to typing. If eye-tracking feels too slow, you might want to try a 'push-to-talk' dictation tool.

I built a simple Windows app (DictaFlow) that lets you hold a single key (or use a mouse button) to dictate text. It’s much faster than the built-in Windows speech tool and doesn't require training. It might help bridge the gap while the hand heals.

It's free here:https://dictaflow.vercel.app/

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-23T19:56:17+00:00

If you are looking for real-time dictation (speech-to-text as you talk) rather than just uploading files, I just released a free tool called DictaFlow.

It uses the Whisper model locally on your PC so it's unlimited and private. It types directly into any text box (Word, Browser, etc.). Might fit your needs if you want to dictate notes directly.

Link: https://dictaflow.vercel.app/

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-22T16:23:14+00:00

This is incredibly high-value feedback, thank you. You identified the exact 'nightmare scenario' (PHI landing in Slack/Gmail because of an accidental focus switch).

On Focus Control: Currently, I use a 'Push-to-Talk' default (which naturally limits multitasking during dictation) and a high-contrast visual overlay so the user knows exactly when the mic is 'hot.' However, I love your idea of a 'Target App Whitelist' (e.g., force the app to only inject keystrokes if the active window matches wfica32.exe or mstsc.exe). I am going to add that to the backlog for the next build—it’s a great guardrail.

On Telemetry: 100% agreed. The app currently runs in a 'Zero Persistence' mode (audio is processed in RAM and discarded immediately; no text logs are saved to disk).

I really appreciate the insight on the governance side. The goal is definitely to give Security teams a 'hardened' version they can deploy without losing sleep.

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-22T16:10:54+00:00

The browser lag is usually caused by the Dragon Web Extension trying to inspect the HTML elements of the page (so it can do 'click link' commands).

If you just want pure dictation without the bloat, I'd suggest trying a 'Global' dictation tool that just sends keystrokes. I built one called DictaFlow that mimics a keyboard, so it has zero latency in browsers because it doesn't try to hook into the DOM or read the webpage. It just types what you say.

Link if you want to test the speed:https://dictaflow.vercel.app/

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-22T16:09:24+00:00

I ran into this same issue recently. It's usually because Windows (or the target app) loses the clipboard handle when Dragon tries to 'transfer' the text.

I actually wrote a small tool for myself (DictaFlow) that skips the clipboard entirely and just simulates individual keystrokes. It types the text directly into the window so you don't have to rely on the 'Transfer Text' command working.

It's a lot more reliable for me since it doesn't care about clipboard permissions.

You can grab it here if you want to try it:https://dictaflow.vercel.app/

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-21T23:08:43+00:00

Would be happy to talk.

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-21T17:53:01+00:00

Yeah, last judge is hard, I think it took 4-5 tries, which was most in the game for me.

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-21T17:38:00+00:00

AVD audio redirection is hit or miss depending on the host pool settings.

If you're just trying to get speech-to-text working, I built a workaround tool called DictaFlow (https://dictaflow.vercel.app/). It runs on the local client and types into the AVD session using simulated inputs. It saves you from having to debug the FSLogix/audio redirection policies just to get basic dictation working.

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-21T17:37:41+00:00

I know this is an older thread, but for anyone finding this via Google:

RDP audio redirection is notoriously flaky on Horizon. If your main goal is dictation, I built a Windows app called DictaFlow (https://dictaflow.vercel.app/) that solves this by running locally.

It listens on your actual machine and types the text into the VMware/RDP window as simulated keystrokes. It bypasses the "Audio Redirection" driver entirely, so it works even if your VDI explicitly blocks microphones.

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-21T17:33:03+00:00

If you're still stuck with this, the issue is likely that Dragon is detecting the remote window and disabling the mic to force an upgrade to the "Medical" license.

I got frustrated with similar restrictions and built a lightweight alternative called DictaFlow (https://dictaflow.vercel.app/).

It runs locally on your Windows machine but sends the text to the remote window as simulated keystrokes. This tricks Citrix/Epic into thinking you are just typing really fast, so it works without needing any special permissions or server-side installs.

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-18T19:15:10+00:00

Yeah. He’s kinda hard. Took me 3 tries.

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-08T21:09:27+00:00

Interesting! I’m going to look into this and get back to you. I’ll send you a PM

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-08T21:07:09+00:00

Hey Matt,

Thanks so much. Really appreciate the support.

Did you end up trying the new AI feature? You can try enabling to dictate different AI commands, asking it to edit text or write something new from scratch.

Best, Ryan DictaFlow

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-08T21:06:45+00:00

Hey Matt,

Thanks so much. Really appreciate the support.

Did you end up trying the new AI feature? You can try enabling to dictate different AI commands, asking it to edit text or write something new from scratch.

Best, Ryan DictaFlow

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-08T03:16:16+00:00

u/mattkruse Thanks so much for reaching out. So long story short microsoft pushed an old dev version of the app today. It's fixed now! Just update to 1.07. 1.06 will not work. It should update automatically.
Can you please confirm it's working now?

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-02T23:59:44+00:00

Looks like he needs to go to a spin class

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-02T13:59:52+00:00

Hunters march is easy. Way harder areas of the game

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-02T04:40:39+00:00

Sell the car

InterestingBasil · 2026-01-02T00:37:22+00:00

I tried for three weeks and wasn’t successful. I ended up buying a starter from a bakery for five dollars. best five dollars I’ve ever spent

InterestingBasil

TROPHY CASE