Apple Dictation Alternative

Apple Dictation is free and built into every Mac. That's its biggest advantage. But if you've hit its limits — short timeouts, missed punctuation, garbled technical terms — you've probably wished for something better. Blurt uses AI transcription that handles natural speech, adds punctuation automatically, and doesn't cut out after 30 seconds. $10/month with a free tier to test it first.

First 1,000 words free No timeout limits AI-powered accuracy

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The Typing Problem

The timeout interrupts your flow

You're mid-thought and Apple Dictation just stops. The blue microphone icon disappears. You have to start over, remember where you were, and hope it doesn't timeout again. Long emails, detailed notes, stream-of-consciousness writing — none of it works when the tool gives up before you do.

Punctuation is an afterthought

Say 'period' and you get a period. Forget to say it and you get a wall of text. Apple Dictation doesn't understand that a pause means a comma, that a rising tone means a question, that natural speech has rhythm. You end up editing more than you saved by dictating.

Technical terms come out as nonsense

API becomes 'a P.I.' Kubernetes becomes 'Cooper Nettie's.' Your company's product names get creative interpretations. Without any learning or AI context, Apple Dictation guesses based on common words — and technical vocabulary isn't common to it.

Accuracy drops with natural speech

Apple Dictation works best when you speak like a robot — slow, deliberate, pausing between words. Talk naturally and errors multiply. The gap between how you actually speak and how dictation wants you to speak makes the whole process feel unnatural.

How It Works

Blurt uses AI transcription that understands natural speech. Talk how you normally talk — it figures out the rest.

Hold your button

Press your chosen hotkey. A small indicator shows Blurt is listening.

Talk naturally

Speak at your normal pace. Pause, think, continue. Blurt keeps listening.

Release and done

Text appears at your cursor with proper punctuation and capitalization. No editing required.

Real Scenarios

Finally dictating longer than 30 seconds

Apple Dictation times out. Blurt doesn't. Dictate an entire email, a full paragraph, a complete thought — without the tool deciding you're done before you are. Hold the button as long as you need. The recording stops when you stop.

Getting punctuation without saying 'period'

Blurt's AI adds punctuation based on your speech patterns. Pauses become commas. Falling intonation becomes periods. Questions get question marks. Your text comes out formatted and readable without you thinking about punctuation at all.

Technical terms that actually work

AI transcription has context that basic dictation lacks. It knows 'React' is a framework, not a feeling. It recognizes API, JSON, PostgreSQL. Technical vocabulary that Apple Dictation mangles comes out correctly because the AI understands what you're likely saying.

Speaking naturally without robot voice

You don't have to slow down, over-enunciate, or pause awkwardly between words. Talk at your normal pace with your normal speech patterns. Blurt's AI was trained on real human speech, not careful dictation. It handles how you actually talk.

Quick messages without the editing overhead

With Apple Dictation, you dictate then edit. With Blurt, you dictate and send. The AI handles formatting well enough that most messages need no cleanup. The time you save not editing is the time you save overall.

Writing when you're away from the keyboard

Standing at a whiteboard, walking around, thinking out loud — Blurt lets you capture thoughts without sitting at your desk. The quality is good enough that you're not creating work for later. You're creating finished text now.

Apple Dictation and Blurt serve different needs. Here's an honest comparison.

	Blurt	Apple Dictation
Price	$10/month or $99/year	Free (built-in)
Timeout	None — record as long as you need	~30-60 seconds
Punctuation	AI-powered automatic formatting	Manual ('period', 'comma')
Accuracy	AI transcription with context	Basic speech recognition
Technical terms	Handles technical vocabulary well	Struggles with uncommon words
Offline mode	Requires internet	Works offline
Privacy	Audio processed via secure API	On-device processing available
Platform	macOS only	macOS and iOS

When Apple Dictation Is the Better Choice

Blurt isn't right for everyone. Here's when you should stick with Apple Dictation:

You don't want another subscription

Apple Dictation is free. It's already on your Mac. If paying $10/month for voice typing doesn't make sense for your usage, the built-in option costs nothing. For occasional use, free often wins.

You need offline dictation

Apple Dictation can work without internet. Blurt requires a connection for AI transcription. If you work on planes, in cafes with bad wifi, or anywhere connectivity is unreliable, Apple Dictation won't leave you stuck.

Privacy is your top priority

Apple Dictation can process speech entirely on-device. Your voice never leaves your Mac. Blurt sends audio to our servers for AI transcription. If on-device processing matters more than accuracy, Apple's approach is more private.

You also need iOS support

Apple Dictation works on iPhone and iPad too. Blurt is macOS only. If you want the same voice typing on your phone, Apple's built-in solution covers all your devices.

Short dictations work fine for you

If you only dictate quick messages and the timeout doesn't bother you, Apple Dictation might be enough. Not everyone needs to dictate for minutes at a time. For sentence-length dictation, free and built-in is hard to beat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I pay for something that's free on my Mac?

You're paying for the AI. Apple Dictation uses basic speech recognition — it hears sounds and matches them to words. Blurt uses AI transcription that understands context, handles natural speech, and adds proper formatting automatically. The difference shows up in accuracy, especially with technical terms, natural speech patterns, and punctuation.

How much better is Blurt's accuracy really?

For careful, deliberate speech on common topics, they're similar. The gap widens when you talk naturally, use technical vocabulary, or dictate for longer than a minute. If Apple Dictation works fine for you, you may not need Blurt. If you're constantly editing dictated text, Blurt's AI will save you time.

Can I try Blurt before committing to a subscription?

Yes. The free tier gives you first 1,000 words free with no credit card required. That's enough to test it for real work over a few days. If it's not noticeably better than Apple Dictation for you, you've lost nothing.

Does Blurt work offline like Apple Dictation can?

No. Blurt requires an internet connection because AI transcription happens on our servers. This is what enables the better accuracy, but it means you can't use it on a plane or without wifi. Apple Dictation's offline mode is a genuine advantage.

Is my audio data private with Blurt?

Audio is sent securely to our servers for transcription and is not stored after processing. However, it does leave your device, unlike Apple's on-device option. We don't sell data or use it for training, but if on-device processing is important to you, Apple Dictation is more private.

Can I use Blurt and Apple Dictation together?

Absolutely. Many users keep Apple Dictation for quick, simple dictation and use Blurt for longer or more technical content. They use different keyboard shortcuts, so there's no conflict. You can choose the right tool for each situation.

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