Nuance Dictation Alternative
Nuance Dictation is the enterprise standard for voice-to-text, backed by Microsoft with HIPAA compliance and industry-specific solutions. But if you're an individual or small team, their enterprise focus means complex procurement, overkill features, and pricing that doesn't fit. Blurt is built for people who just want to talk and type. Simple pricing at $10/month with a free tier to start.
The Typing Problem
You're not an enterprise, but you're treated like one
Nuance is built for hospitals, law firms, and Fortune 500 companies. Getting a quote means talking to sales. Getting started means IT involvement. You just wanted to type with your voice, not navigate enterprise software procurement.
The features are designed for industries you're not in
Medical vocabulary for radiologists. Legal templates for attorneys. Healthcare compliance for hospitals. You're a freelancer, developer, or small business owner. None of these industry solutions apply to you, but you're paying for the infrastructure that supports them.
Microsoft backing means Microsoft complexity
Since Microsoft acquired Nuance, the products have become part of a larger ecosystem. Azure integration. Microsoft 365 tie-ins. Enterprise licensing models. What used to be dictation software is now part of a corporate software stack you don't need.
There's no simple option for simple needs
You don't need HIPAA compliance. You don't need multi-department deployment. You don't need industry-specific vocabularies. You need to hold a button, talk, and see text. Nuance doesn't offer a lightweight option for people like you.
How It Works
Blurt is the opposite of enterprise software. Download, set a hotkey, start talking. No sales calls required.
Hold your button
Press your chosen hotkey. A small indicator shows Blurt is listening.
Talk naturally
Say what you want to type. Blurt handles punctuation automatically.
Release and done
Text appears at your cursor. No enterprise features getting in the way.
Real Scenarios
Getting voice typing without the enterprise overhead
You've looked at Nuance pricing and found yourself in a 'contact sales' loop. With Blurt, you download the app, pay $10/month (or try the free tier), and start typing with your voice. No procurement process. No IT department approval. No waiting for quotes.
When you're a team of one or a few
Nuance shines with multi-department deployments and enterprise license management. But you're a solo professional or a team of three. You need voice typing software, not voice typing infrastructure. Blurt scales to your actual size.
Writing without industry-specific features you'll never use
You're drafting blog posts, emails, and documentation. You don't need radiology templates or legal citation formats. Blurt transcribes your words with automatic punctuation. No specialized vocabularies, no industry modes, just typing.
Moving fast without corporate software processes
Enterprise software means evaluations, approvals, and rollout plans. You need to type faster today. Blurt installs in under a minute. The free tier means you can test it immediately without any commitment or paperwork.
Paying for what you actually use
Enterprise pricing includes support contracts, SLAs, and features you'll never touch. Blurt is $10/month or $99/year. The price reflects what you get: simple, reliable voice-to-text. No hidden enterprise costs.
Using voice typing on your personal Mac
Nuance focuses on Windows and enterprise web deployments. You work on macOS. Blurt is built natively for Mac, sitting quietly in your menu bar, ready when you need it. No Windows-first design awkwardly ported to your platform.
Blurt and Nuance serve different audiences. Here's how they compare.
| Blurt | Nuance Dictation | |
|---|---|---|
| Target user | Individuals and small teams | Enterprises and regulated industries |
| Getting started | Download and use in 60 seconds | Contact sales, procurement process |
| Pricing model | $10/month or $99/year | Enterprise pricing (contact sales) |
| Free tier | First 1,000 words free | Enterprise trials only |
| HIPAA compliance | No (not needed for most users) | Yes (healthcare-focused) |
| Industry vocabularies | General purpose | Medical, legal, and more |
| Platform | macOS only | Windows, Web, Enterprise |
When Nuance Dictation Is the Better Choice
Blurt isn't trying to replace Nuance for everyone. Here's when Nuance is genuinely the right tool:
You work in healthcare and need HIPAA compliance
Nuance Dragon Medical is the industry standard for clinical documentation. HIPAA compliance, EHR integration, and medical vocabulary are built in. Blurt isn't designed for regulated healthcare environments.
You need industry-specific vocabularies
If you dictate radiology reports, legal briefs, or clinical notes, Nuance's specialized vocabularies significantly improve accuracy. Blurt uses general-purpose transcription that works well for everyday language but lacks domain expertise.
Your organization requires enterprise features
User management, audit trails, compliance reporting, and multi-department deployment are Nuance strengths. If your IT department needs these controls, Nuance provides them. Blurt is designed for individuals, not enterprise administration.
You need Windows support
Nuance has deep Windows integration and enterprise web options. Blurt is macOS only. If you work on Windows or need cross-platform enterprise deployment, Nuance covers your needs.
Microsoft 365 integration matters to you
With Microsoft's backing, Nuance integrates into the Microsoft ecosystem. If your organization runs on Microsoft 365 and wants seamless voice typing across those tools, Nuance offers that integration.
Frequently Asked Questions
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