Pepys Dictate and Apple Dictation
An Apple Dictation alternative with spoken corrections and filler removal
Apple Dictation is already built into your Mac. Pepys Dictate is for when you want spoken corrections and filler removal, with recognition and formatting running on your machine.
Is Pepys Dictate a good Apple Dictation alternative?
Choose Apple Dictation if it already does what you need: it is built into macOS, with no separate app to install, and by our count its availability page lists 63 language and region entries. Choose Pepys Dictate if you want spoken corrections, formatted lists and numbers, filler removal and a personal dictionary. It is free up to 2,000 words a week, or $9.99 once.
Apple Dictation is already built into your Mac. Press the Microphone key or your own shortcut and text appears in any field. Apple says there is no length timeout, and auto-punctuation works in supported languages. For a lot of people that is enough.
People look for an alternative when they want more control over the result. Pepys Dictate is a Mac app that handles a spoken correction like "Friday, no wait, Monday", turns a spoken list into a list and drops the ums. Per-app styles come with the 7-day trial and Pro. It runs on your Mac, with no account.
Pepys Dictate and Apple Dictation, side by side
Apple Dictation facts come from its own pages, read on October 5, 2026. Where something is not publicly stated, the cell is a dash.
| Feature | Pepys Dictate | Apple Dictation |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan of 2,000 words a week. Pro is $9.99 once, plus tax where applicable, not a subscription. | Built into macOS; no separate price listed on the pages we read |
| Setup | Download the app and its models once (about 1.5 GB). No account. | Built into macOS, with no separate app to install; press the Microphone key or your shortcut. On-device languages need a speech-model download |
| Where speech recognition runs | On your Mac. By default audio and text are not uploaded; an optional AI-provider setting is off until you turn it on. | On the device for a published list of languages, otherwise on Apple servers; Keyboard settings show which |
| Audio and data policy | No cloud transcription. By default it goes online only to download models, activate a licence and check for updates. | Audio storage is opt-in; Apple's privacy page says it may keep request history, including transcripts, for up to two years to improve Siri, Dictation and related models |
| Mac requirements | Apple silicon Mac, macOS 13 or later | Part of macOS; open System Settings, then Keyboard, then Dictation |
| Languages | 25 languages (English and 24 other European languages) | 63 language and region entries listed for macOS 27, counted by us from Apple's availability page |
| Punctuation and commands | Formats as you speak, including new paragraph. Smart formatting covers English, German, French and Spanish. | Auto-punctuation (commas, periods, question marks) in supported languages; spoken commands for other punctuation, new lines and capitals |
| Spoken corrections, lists, numbers and fillers | "Friday, no wait, Monday" becomes Monday. Lists and spoken numbers are formatted. Um, uh and stutters are removed. | Not covered on the pages we read. Apple does list spoken commands for new line, new paragraph, math, currency and emoticons |
| Dictionary and per-app styles | Personal dictionary (10 words free, unlimited on Pro). Per-app styles, polished mode and tones come with the 7-day trial and Pro. | Changeable shortcut, microphone and languages; no custom dictionary found on the pages we read |
| Searchable history | Yes, plus usage stats | Not covered on the pages we read |
| Hands-free control of the Mac | Not offered. Dictate types text at your cursor. | Voice Control is a separate feature for speaking commands and editing text; standard Dictation is off while it is on |
Where Pepys Dictate is different
Corrections handled while you talk
Say "Friday, no wait, Monday" and you get Monday. Say "delete that" and the last thing you said goes. Dictate also drops fillers and stutters. The Apple pages we read do not mention spoken corrections or filler removal.
Lists and numbers come out formatted
A spoken list becomes a list. A spoken amount such as forty two thousand dollars becomes a formatted number. Smart formatting is in the free plan, in English, German, French and Spanish. The Apple pages we read cover spoken commands for math and currency, not this.
Your words, and a style per app
Dictate has a personal dictionary, and per-app styles in the trial and Pro so Slack and your editor can get different output. We found no custom dictionary on the Apple pages we read.
Recognition and formatting on your Mac
Apple's pages say Dictation runs on the device for a published list of languages and otherwise on Apple servers. Dictate does not upload audio or text by default; an optional advanced setting can send a transcript to an AI provider you configure.
Where Apple Dictation is the better choice
Built into macOS, no install step
Apple Dictation is part of macOS and starts from the Microphone key or a shortcut. Dictate is a download of about 1.5 GB of models. We read no separate price for Apple Dictation.
A longer list of language and region entries
By our count, Apple's macOS 27 availability page lists 63 language and region entries for Dictation, and 48 for on-device and modeless Dictation. Keyboard settings show which mode applies. Dictate covers 25 languages, English plus 24 other European ones.
Voice Control for hands-free use
Voice Control lets you speak commands to move around the Mac and to dictate and edit text. Dictate only types what you say, so it cannot replace Voice Control for hands-free work.
No timeout, with auto-punctuation
Apple says you can dictate text of any length without a timeout, and auto-punctuation works in supported languages, 33 entries by our count. Dictate's free plan stops at 2,000 words a week, then allows one dictation a day until Monday. Pro has no word limit.
Choose Pepys Dictate if
- You want spoken corrections, filler removal and formatted lists and numbers.
- You need a personal dictionary, or different styles in different apps (trial and Pro).
- You want recognition and formatting on your Mac by default, with no account.
- You would rather pay $9.99 once for corrections, a dictionary and per-app styles.
Choose Apple Dictation if
- You want dictation built into macOS.
- Your language is on Apple's list and not in Dictate's 25.
- You want Voice Control to operate the Mac hands-free.
- Plain dictation with auto-punctuation already gives you the text you need.
Common questions about Apple Dictation and Pepys Dictate
Is Pepys Dictate a good Apple Dictation alternative?
Choose Apple Dictation if it already does what you need: it is built into macOS, with no separate app to install, and by our count its availability page lists 63 language and region entries. Choose Pepys Dictate if you want spoken corrections, formatted lists and numbers, filler removal and a personal dictionary. It is free up to 2,000 words a week, or $9.99 once.
Is Apple Dictation free?
The Apple Dictation pages we read describe it as a Mac setting and list no separate price. You turn it on in System Settings under Keyboard. Pepys Dictate has a free plan of 2,000 words a week, and Pro is $9.99 once, plus tax where applicable.
Does Apple Dictation work offline?
Apple's privacy page says general Dictation runs on the device where supported and otherwise goes to Apple servers. The list of on-device languages is on Apple's feature-availability page, and Keyboard settings show which applies. Apple's Ventura 13 and Sonoma 14 pages say no internet connection is required on Apple silicon for supported languages. Its macOS 15, 26 and 27 pages do not say that and say you may need a connection. Dictate runs recognition on your Mac and by default goes online only to download models, activate a licence and check for updates.
Does Apple Dictation add punctuation automatically?
Yes, in supported languages. Apple says it inserts commas, periods and question marks as you dictate, and you can turn that off. Spoken commands cover other punctuation, new lines and capitals. By our count the availability page lists auto-punctuation for 33 language and region entries, fewer than the 63 for Dictation itself, so check your language.
Does Apple store my dictation audio?
Apple says audio is not stored unless you opt in to Improve Siri and Dictation. Its privacy page also says it may retain request history, including transcripts, for up to two years to improve Siri, Dictation and related models. You can change the audio choice later in Privacy and Security.
Does Apple Dictation have a custom dictionary?
We found no custom dictionary or snippets on the Apple pages we read. You can change the shortcut, the microphone and the languages. Dictate has a personal dictionary: 10 words on the free plan, unlimited on Pro.
Where these facts came from
- Apple: Use Dictation on Mac (read October 5, 2026)
- Apple: Use Dictation on Mac (Ventura 13) (read October 5, 2026)
- Apple: Use Dictation on Mac (Sonoma 14) (read October 5, 2026)
- Apple: Commands for dictating text on Mac (read October 5, 2026)
- Apple: Ask Siri, Dictation and privacy (read October 5, 2026)
- Apple: macOS feature availability (read October 5, 2026)
- Apple: Use Voice Control commands (read October 5, 2026)
Products change. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
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Try Pepys Dictate on your Mac
Free for 2,000 words a week, or $9.99 once, plus tax where applicable, for unlimited use on up to 3 Macs. Speech recognition and formatting run on your Mac.
Apple silicon, macOS 13 or later. More about Pepys Dictate