QuickDictate vs Talon Voice in 2026

QuickDictate vs Talon Voice: what each voice tool does, what is known about pricing, setup, and questions to ask before you choose.

By XP Daily · 2026-10-09

XP Daily is published by the makers of DaysAid, QuickDictate and YTSort, which are compared here alongside other tools.

QuickDictate types what you say into the window you are using on Windows ^[1]. Talon says it has versions for Windows, macOS and Linux (X11) ^[2].

Option	Built around	Platforms	Price
Talon Voice	Commands and dictation ^[3]; custom commands ^[4]; mouse by looking ^[5]	Windows, macOS, Linux (X11) ^[2]	Not published
QuickDictate	Types what you say into the window in focus ^[6]	64-bit Windows 10 and 11 ^[7]	Free for personal and other noncommercial use; cloud providers bill you separately ^[8]

The short answer

QuickDictate is a Windows program that types what you say into whichever window you are using ^[1]. Talon says you can download it for Windows, macOS and Linux (X11) ^[2].

If you use a Mac or Linux (X11), Talon says it is available there ^[2]. If you want dictation typed into any Windows window, QuickDictate says it does that ^[6]. It also says it is free for personal and other noncommercial use ^[8].

What Talon Voice is built for

Talon says it is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux (X11) ^[2].

The facts used here say nothing about Talon's price, how to set it up, or which speech engines it uses. Check its current pages if those matter to you.

What QuickDictate is built for

QuickDictate is made by the team that publishes this site. It is a Windows program that types what you say into whichever window you are using ^[1]. That can be an editor, chat box, terminal or web form ^[6]. You hold a key while you talk, or press it once to start and once to stop, and you can change both keys ^[9].

You can use ElevenLabs, Deepgram, OpenAI, AssemblyAI, DashScope or Google, and that provider bills you directly ^[10]. With five of the cloud providers, words appear while you are still talking ^[11]. After you install a speech model, dictation can run on your own computer without internet ^[12].

You can add words it should recognise, which are sent to the speech provider, and set fixes for spellings ^[13]. It can switch which speech service it uses, the language, your word list and how text is laid out, depending on which app you are in ^[14]. You can look back through your last 50 dictations ^[15]. Saying "scratch that" discards the text you just dictated, and it is the only voice command shipped ^[16].

Pricing and fees

The facts used here do not include any Talon Voice price, so a price is not published on this page. Check its pricing page for current amounts.

QuickDictate is free for personal and other noncommercial use, with no subscription or account ^[8]. Cloud providers bill you separately for their service ^[8]. From v0.9.0 on, the source-available licence is free for personal and other noncommercial use, and commercial use needs a separate licence ^[17]. The price of that licence is not published here.

If you use an online speech service with QuickDictate, that service bills you directly ^[10]. A speech model on your own computer needs no internet connection or API key, which is the private password a speech service gives you to use it ^[12].

Setting it up and daily use

QuickDictate is a program you download, and it updates itself quietly ^[18]. It runs only on 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 ^[7].

Day to day, you hold a key while you talk, or press it once to start and once to stop ^[9]. Your words are typed into the window in focus ^[6]. While you dictate, other apps' audio is muted or turned down, and it returns when you stop ^[19]. If you sign in, you can sync preferences such as hotkeys and language between PCs ^[20].

For Talon, the facts used here say it can be downloaded for Windows, macOS and Linux (X11) ^[2]. They do not describe the install steps or daily use.

Things to check before you choose

Which computer do you use? QuickDictate runs only on 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 ^[7].
Will you use it for paid work? QuickDictate needs a separate licence for commercial use ^[17]. Check Talon's terms.
What does it cost today? Check Talon's current pricing.
Do you need to work without internet? Check what each tool offers.
Which voice commands do you need? QuickDictate ships one voice command, "scratch that" ^[16]. Check which commands Talon offers.
Which speech services will you pay for, if any?
How much time will setup take you?

How to choose

You use a Mac or Linux (X11): Talon says it is available for those systems ^[2].
You want speech typed into any Windows window: QuickDictate does this ^[6].
You want dictation without internet: QuickDictate says this works with a local model ^[12].
You want free personal use with no account: QuickDictate says it is free for personal and other noncommercial use ^[8].

Frequently asked questions

Is QuickDictate free?

QuickDictate is free for personal and other noncommercial use, with no subscription or account ^[8]. Cloud providers bill you separately for their service ^[8]. Commercial use needs a separate licence from v0.9.0 on ^[17]. Check the current terms before paid work.

How much does Talon Voice cost?

The facts used for this page do not include a Talon Voice price, so none is published here. Its page offers downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux (X11) ^[2]. Check Talon's own pages for current pricing and terms before you decide.

Does Talon Voice work on Windows?

Talon says it is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux (X11) ^[2]. For setup steps and system requirements, check Talon's own pages, since the facts used here do not cover them.

Can QuickDictate work without internet?

Yes, with a speech model on your own computer. After you install one, dictation can run without internet ^[12]. Cloud providers are the other option, and they bill you directly ^[10].

Does Talon Voice support custom commands?

Check Talon's own pages for the commands it supports. QuickDictate ships one voice command, "scratch that" ^[16]. Check each tool for the commands you need.

QuickDictate is free for personal and other noncommercial use, with no subscription or account. Cloud providers bill you separately for their service. ^[8]

Try QuickDictate

Sources

QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Talon Voice, talonvoice.com, read 2026-10-07
Talon Voice, talonvoice.com, read 2026-10-07
Talon Voice, talonvoice.com, read 2026-10-07
Talon Voice, talonvoice.com, read 2026-10-07
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
QuickDictate's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)