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OliType vs. Apple Dictation
Both turn your voice into text on your Mac. Here's what each one does, so you can pick the one that fits how you work.
Last checked October 12, 2026, against Apple's Dictation guide.
The short answer
If you dictate a sentence now and then, Apple Dictation is free, already on your Mac, and good, once you turn it on in System Settings. If you dictate every day, with one hand, a mouse, or a foot pedal, or you want your words kept and searchable, OliType adds the tools for that. You can try OliType free for 30 days and keep using both.
Side by side
| Apple Dictation | OliType | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Turn it on yourself: System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation, then click Enable. The shortcut, language, and microphone are set in the same place | Open it and a short setup walks you through everything: two permissions and a one-time speech model download |
| Price | Free, built into macOS | $19 once for 1 Mac, $29 for up to 3, 30-day free trial |
| Where speech becomes text | On your Mac for supported languages; Apple's settings show whether yours is | Always on your Mac, after a one-time model download |
| How you start | The Microphone key, a keyboard shortcut you can change, or Edit > Start Dictation | Any key, key combination, middle or side mouse button, or foot pedal, used four ways: Double-tap, Tap, Hold, or Tap or hold |
| Languages | Many; not available in every language or region (Apple lists them on its macOS feature availability page) | 25 European languages, including English, Spanish, French, and German, detected automatically |
| Punctuation | Adds it automatically in supported languages, and follows spoken commands like "new paragraph" | Added by the speech model; the optional, free AI cleanup also follows spoken cues like "new paragraph" |
| History of what you said | Not part of Dictation | Every dictation kept as searchable text on your Mac, for as long as you choose |
| Changed your mind | Stop dictating and delete the text | Esc cancels before anything is typed; Restore brings it back for a day |
| Fixing words it gets wrong | Click a word underlined in blue to pick an alternative, or retype it | Exact fixes correct the same word every time ("Jon" to "John") |
| Mouse-only use | Edit > Start Dictation | A floating Dictate button that never takes focus from your app |
When Apple Dictation is enough
- You dictate a quick note or reply now and then.
- You're happy with a keyboard shortcut and don't need a history of what you said.
- You'd rather not install anything.
When OliType is the better fit
- You dictate every day and want a mouse button, a foot pedal, or a key of your choice to do it.
- You type with one hand, or want to rest your hands.
- You want every dictation kept as text you can search and copy again, and a way to undo a cancel.
- You keep saying names or terms it gets wrong, and want them fixed every time.
Try both free
OliType's trial is the full app for 30 days, with no account and no card. Use it alongside Apple Dictation and keep whichever fits. Download the free trial. Apple Dictation not starting or not hearing you? See how to fix Mac dictation. Comparing other apps? See OliType vs. Wispr Flow and OliType vs. MacWhisper.
See all comparisons: Compare OliType.