What is the best voice to text software for Windows 11/10 PC?

If you want to use the command line method to implement speech to text tool, it is recommended to try Microsoft's built-in PowerShell command (built-in Windows, no third-party tools are required):

Method 1: Windows built-in PowerShell SpeechRecognizer
Open PowerShell and enter:

powershell
Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Speech
$recognizer = New-Object System.Speech.Recognition.SpeechRecognitionEngine
$recognizer.SetInputToDefaultAudioDevice()
$grammar = [System.Speech.Recognition.DictationGrammar]::new()
$recognizer.LoadGrammar($grammar)

Write-Host "Start speech recognition, please speak..."
$result = $recognizer.Recognize()
Write-Host "Recognition result:" $result.Text

Advantages: Purely built-in, no need to connect to the Internet, safe and fast.
Disadvantages: Average recognition accuracy, average Chinese effect, relatively good English

Method 2: PowerShell + Azure Cloud Speech API (Internet connection required)
Use the online speech recognition API provided by Microsoft Azure:

powershell
Invoke-RestMethod `
-Uri "https://<region>.stt.speech.microsoft.com/speech/recognition/conversation/cognitiveservices/v1?language=zh-CN" `
-Headers @{ "Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key" = "<your API key>"; "Content-Type" = "audio/wav" } `
-Method POST `
-InFile "audio.wav"

Advantages: high recognition accuracy, support for multiple languages.
Disadvantages: Internet connection required, need to apply for Azure API key.

The above two solutions are simple and practical command line speech to text methods under Windows system, suitable for people who like to tinker or develop automated processes.

Then I will share two voice to text methods that are built into Windows and do not require third-party tools:

Windows built-in "Voice Typing" function

• Press the shortcut keys Win+H, and after the microphone icon appears on the screen, just speak directly to automatically convert to text.
• Advantages: Free, simple, ready to use, and can also be recognized offline.
• Disadvantages: Recognition accuracy is greatly affected by accents, and the experience of standard Mandarin will be better.

Windows "Speech Recognition" function

• Type "speech recognition" in the Windows search bar to turn it on.
• Advantages: No need to install anything, support more system control commands.
• Disadvantages: Chinese recognition effect is average, more suitable for English operation, and requires patience to train the model.

The above two speech to text / voice to text methods do not require any third-party software to be installed, and can be done directly in the built-in functions of Windows, which is very suitable for users who want to save trouble~

If you're on the hunt for voice to text software for your Windows computer, there are definitely a few downsides to keep in mind, especially if you're looking at options like Google Docs Voice Typing or even the built-in tools. Let me break it down for you, casually.

First off, Google Docs Voice Typing is super handy and all, but it can be a pain if you don't have a solid internet connection. I mean, if your Wi-Fi's acting up, forget about dictating notes or transcribing meetings smoothly. Plus, if you're in a noisy environment, it sometimes can get confused and misinterpret what you're saying. And let's be real—nothing feels worse than looking at a jumbled mess of text when you were just trying to get your thoughts down.

Then there's Otter.ai, which has some cool features about voice to text software, especially with its speaker recognition, but the free version has this annoying time limit. If you're in a long meeting or chat, it cuts you off, and you have to start a new session. Super frustrating when you’re in the zone!

Here are some free speech-to-text software that I personally think are good. For your reference:

Windows built-in voice input function (Win+H)

Microsoft built-in function, just press Win+H to open, convenient and fast.
Advantages: No need to install software, free, simple and easy to use.
Disadvantages: The accuracy of Chinese is OK, but it will be discounted when encountering dialect accents.

iFlytek Voice Recorder (PC version)

Produced by iFlytek in China, the voice recognition accuracy is very high and supports various Chinese dialects.
Advantages: Chinese recognition is accurate, and it can even automatically break sentences and punctuate.
Disadvantages: The free version has a certain time limit and requires an Internet connection.

Voice input for Google Docs

Open Google Docs in the browser and select "Tools" → "Voice Input" in the menu bar.
Advantages: Good recognition effects for both Chinese and English, cross-platform, and convenient for collaboration.

Disadvantages: Need to be online to use, completely dependent on the network environment.

The above voice to text tools are all used by me personally. I recommend you to try them all and pick the most convenient one for long-term use~

Windows Voice Typing is one of the best free voice to text software for Windows 11 and Windows 10, as it comes built into the operating system and is incredibly easy to access using the Win + H shortcut. It allows users to dictate text in any text field, making it a convenient tool for quick note-taking, drafting emails, or hands-free writing.

Advantages:

1. No installation required – Since it’s a built-in feature, there’s no need to download additional software.
2. Easy to use – Simply press Win + H and start speaking.
3. Works in any text field – Unlike some tools that only function in specific applications, Windows Voice Typing can be used system-wide.

Disadvantages:

1. Requires an internet connection – While it’s free, it relies on Microsoft’s cloud-based processing for the best accuracy.
2. Accuracy varies – Performance depends on your language and accent, and it may struggle with complex sentences or technical terms.
3. Lacks advanced features – It doesn’t support speaker differentiation, punctuation commands, or offline functionality like some paid alternatives.

Overall, if you're looking for a best free voice to text software for Windows 11 that's simple and integrated, Windows Voice Typing is a solid choice. However, for higher accuracy and offline use, you may need to explore other options.

I recommend Google Docs Voice Typing, one of the best free voice to text software for Windows 11. Visit Google Docs to use this highly accurate, multi-language tool for meetings and note-taking. Note that it requires a stable internet connection. For advanced features like speaker recognition, Otter.ai (available at Otter.ai) is a great option, though its free version has a time limit.

If privacy and offline use are your top concerns, Windows' built-in Speech Recognition is one of the best free voice to text software for Windows 11. It runs completely offline and doesn’t upload data to the cloud, making it great for privacy-conscious users. However, its accuracy isn't as high as other dedicated voice to text tools. If you're open to paid software, Dragon NaturallySpeaking is a fantastic choice that adapts to your speech patterns and provides extremely high accuracy.

For those who don't want their data sent to cloud servers, desktop voice to text software is a better option than online services.