Last updated: March 2026
What Is the Speech to Text Tool?
This free speech to text tool converts spoken words into written text in real time using the Web Speech API built into your browser. Click Start Recording, speak into your microphone, and watch your words appear on screen as you talk. The tool supports continuous listening, so you can dictate for as long as you need without interruption.
Unlike cloud-based transcription services that require uploading audio files, this tool processes your speech directly in the browser. There are no file uploads, no account signups, and no usage limits. Your transcribed text stays in your browser tab and is never stored on any server.
Use it for drafting emails, taking meeting notes, writing essays, journaling, capturing ideas, or any task where speaking is faster than typing. The average person speaks at 130 words per minute but types at only 40 WPM, making dictation over 3x faster for getting words on the page.
How to Use Speech to Text
Step 1: Select your language from the dropdown. The tool supports 20+ languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi, and more.
Step 2: Click the Start Recording button. Your browser will ask for microphone permission the first time. Grant access and begin speaking naturally.
Step 3: Watch your words appear in real time. Words currently being processed appear in gray italic, and finalized text appears in normal formatting. The audio level meter shows that your microphone is picking up sound.
Step 4: Use voice commands for punctuation: say “period”, “comma”, “question mark”, “new line”, etc. When finished, click Stop Recording, then copy, download, or edit the text.
Key Features
Continuous dictation mode keeps the microphone active indefinitely. The browser’s speech engine may pause after periods of silence, but the tool automatically restarts recognition so you can keep talking without pressing any buttons.
Voice commands for punctuation let you add periods, commas, question marks, exclamation marks, colons, semicolons, new lines, and quotation marks by speaking the punctuation name. Sentences are auto-capitalized after periods, question marks, and exclamation points.
Real-time interim results show you what the speech engine is currently processing in gray italic text. This gives you immediate feedback that your microphone is working and the engine is hearing you, even before it finalizes the words.
Full editing support lets you stop recording, manually edit the transcribed text, then resume recording to continue adding text. You can also undo changes, copy the text to your clipboard, or download it as a .txt file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which browsers support speech to text?
Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge offer the best speech recognition experience, as they use Google's cloud-based speech engine for high accuracy. Safari has partial support on macOS and iOS but may be less accurate. Firefox does not currently support the Web Speech API's speech recognition feature. For the best results, use Chrome or Edge on desktop.
How do I add punctuation with my voice?
This tool supports voice commands for common punctuation. Say "period" or "full stop" for a period, "comma" for a comma, "question mark", "exclamation mark", "colon", "semicolon", "new line", "new paragraph", "open quote", or "close quote". The tool will replace these spoken words with the correct punctuation mark and auto-capitalize the next word after sentence-ending punctuation.
Is my voice data private?
Your voice is processed by your browser's built-in speech recognition engine. In Chrome and Edge, audio is sent to Google's servers for processing (this is how the Web Speech API works). However, this tool itself does not store, transmit, or log any of your audio or transcribed text. Everything stays in your browser tab and is lost when you close the page unless you copy or download it.
How many languages are supported?
The tool includes 20+ language options including English (US and UK), Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Arabic, Hindi, Thai, Vietnamese, Polish, Swedish, and Turkish. Select your language from the dropdown before starting recording for the best accuracy.
How accurate is the speech recognition?
Accuracy depends on your browser, microphone quality, background noise, and speaking clarity. Chrome and Edge typically achieve 90-95% accuracy for clear English speech in a quiet environment. Speaking at a moderate pace, using an external microphone, and minimizing background noise will improve results. You can always edit the transcribed text manually after recording.