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Blurt vs Apple Dictation, honestly.
Your Mac already has dictation, and it costs nothing. Here is what it does, what Blurt adds, and when the built-in one is enough.
The key difference: a feature vs a daily tool.
Apple Dictation is a feature of the Mac: turn it on, press the Microphone key, and it types what you say with automatic commas and periods. Blurt is built for people who talk instead of type all day. Hold a key, talk, release, and the text lands at your cursor. Add your own vocabulary, turn on AI cleanup when you want a polished draft, and use the same account on your PC and in Chrome.
Side by side
Blurt vs Apple Dictation
| Features | Blurt | Apple Dictation |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan; Premium $9.99/mo (beta rate) or an $89 12-month license | Included with macOS |
| Platforms | macOS 14+, Windows 10 & 11, and Chrome | Built into the Mac |
| How you start | Hold your trigger key (Fn by default), or double-tap for hands-free | The Microphone key, the Dictation shortcut, or Edit ▸ Start Dictation |
| When it stops | When you release the key; your words land at the cursor | When you press Escape or the Microphone key, or after 30 seconds with no speech |
| Where transcription happens | On your device | Can be on your device; Keyboard settings shows whether yours is |
| Punctuation and cleanup | AI cleanup with Premium: Email, Notes, Code & Journal modes | Automatic commas, periods, and question marks in supported languages |
| Your own words | Custom dictionary and find→replace rules, used in every app | Spoken commands for punctuation and formatting |
Pick Apple Dictation if...
- You dictate now and then and want something that is already on your Mac.
- You only work on a Mac.
- Automatic commas, periods, and question marks are all the formatting you need.
Pick Blurt if...
- You want push-to-talk: hold a key, talk, release, done.
- You want AI cleanup that turns rambling into a clean email or note.
- You use names, jargon, or medical terms and want a dictionary that learns them.
- You want the same tool on your Mac, your PC, and Chrome with one account.
FAQ
Common questions
Is Apple Dictation free?
Yes. Dictation is built into macOS and costs nothing extra. Blurt also starts free, with 2,500 words a week and no card. Premium is $9.99 a month at the beta rate, or $89 for a 12-month license.
Does Apple Dictation send my voice to Apple?
It depends on your Mac and settings. Apple says general text dictation can be processed on your device and not sent to Siri servers, and that Keyboard settings shows whether yours is. Blurt's Mac app transcribes on your device, and your audio is not uploaded.
Why use Blurt if my Mac already has Dictation?
If you dictate now and then, the built-in feature may be all you need. Blurt is for people who dictate all day: hold one key and talk, release and the text lands, with a custom dictionary for your names and jargon, an optional AI cleanup pass that turns rambling into a clean draft, and the same account on Windows and Chrome.
Can I keep Apple Dictation turned on alongside Blurt?
Yes. If you use Fn as your Blurt key, set System Settings ▸ Keyboard ▸ "Press 🌐 key to" to Do Nothing so macOS does not start its own Dictation under Blurt. Or pick a different trigger key in Blurt's Preferences ▸ Activation.
Apple Dictation details are from Apple's Mac User Guide on support.apple.com, checked September 2026, and may change. All trademarks belong to their owners; Blurt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Dictation. See our pricing for current Blurt plans.
Try the on-device way.
Download Blurt, sign in with your email, and dictate your first sentence in minutes. Free plan, no card required.
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