Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) was Microsoft's built-in voice tool for well over a decade: you trained it on your voice, then dictated and gave commands. It's now deprecated, and on current Windows 11 it has been replaced. If you relied on it, you need a Windows Speech Recognition alternative, and the best starting point is free.
This guide covers the two free Windows tools first, then five apps for people who need more, with prices as of October 20, 2026. LumeVoice is our product and it's on this list, so weigh our view accordingly. We haven't used most of these tools ourselves; what we say comes from Microsoft's documentation and the vendors' own sites.
What happened to Windows Speech Recognition?#
Microsoft's deprecated features list says Windows Speech Recognition "is deprecated and is no longer being developed" and is being replaced with voice access. The deprecation was announced in December 2023. Microsoft's WSR support page adds that voice access replaced WSR for Windows 11, version 22H2 and later, in September 2024, and that WSR remains available in older versions of Windows (Windows Speech Recognition).
As of October 2026, WSR doesn't appear on Microsoft's removed features list. Deprecated means no new development, though, and Microsoft's support for Windows 10, where WSR is still found, ended on October 14, 2025 (Windows 10 end of support). It's a good time to move.
Why people are switching#
- It's no longer developed. No fixes, no new languages, no improvements.
- It's gone from current Windows 11. On version 22H2 and later, voice access takes its place.
- Its accuracy depended on training. WSR asked you to train a voice profile. Newer tools work out of the box.
- It didn't clean up your writing. You dictated punctuation and fixed everything else by hand.
Windows Speech Recognition alternatives at a glance#
| Tool | Windows versions | Controls the PC | Works offline | Cost (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voice access | Windows 11, 22H2 and later | Yes | Yes, after a speech pack download | Free |
| Voice typing (Win + H) | Windows 10 and 11 | Editing commands only | No | Free |
| Dragon Professional v16 | Windows 11 and 10 | Yes, deep commands | Not stated | About $699 once at US retailers |
| Talon | Windows 8 and later (also Mac, Linux on X11) | Yes, scriptable | Not stated | Free; Talon+ via Patreon, $25/month |
| LumeVoice | Windows 10 and 11 (also Mac, iPhone, Android) | No, writing only | No | 3,000 free words, no card required, then $14.99/mo, $79.99/yr, or $249 lifetime |
| Wispr Flow | Windows (also Mac, iPhone, Android) | No (edits selected text) | No | Free weekly allowance; $15/month or $144/year |
| Braina Pro | Windows 10 and 11 (Mac with Pro Plus) | Yes | Says yes | $99 a year |
Swipe to see all columns
Details as of October 2026; check each vendor's site for changes.
1. Voice access#
Voice access
Verdict: The Official Replacement, and Free
Voice access is the tool Microsoft built to replace WSR. It's included in Windows 11, version 22H2 and later, and lets you "control your PC and author text using only your voice and without an internet connection": open and switch apps, browse the web, click, scroll, and read and write email (get started with voice access). Its Languages menu lists languages that are ready to use and others you download as a speech pack. Microsoft's deprecation note listed only English locales when it was written, so check the menu for yours.
On Copilot+ PCs, Fluid dictation in voice access corrects grammar, punctuation and filler words as you speak, in English, using small language models that run on the PC.
- Pros: free, offline, full control plus dictation, its own vocabulary list for hard words
- Cons: Windows 11 only; less cleanup on PCs without Copilot+ hardware
If you used WSR for both commands and dictation, this is where to start.
2. Windows voice typing (Win + H)#
Windows voice typing
Verdict: Best for Quick Dictation
Press Windows key + H in any text box and start talking. Voice typing uses online speech recognition, so it needs an internet connection. Windows 11 supports 46 language and region versions, with settings for automatic punctuation; on Windows 10 it's called dictation and covers fewer languages (Microsoft's guide). Fluid dictation applies here too on Copilot+ PCs.
- Pros: free, instant, works on Windows 10
- Cons: needs internet, no PC control, no custom vocabulary documented
3. Dragon Professional v16#
Dragon Professional v16
Verdict: Best for Professional Commands and Vocabularies
Dragon, from Nuance (a Microsoft company), is the long-running professional choice on Windows. Dragon Professional v16 is optimized for Windows 11 and compatible with Windows 10, with Legal and Law Enforcement editions, custom vocabularies, and commands and macros that drive your applications (Dragon Professional). Nuance's site asks you to contact sales; US retailers list a single license at about $699, paid once.
- Pros: the deepest commands and customization here, plus specialist Legal and Law Enforcement editions
- Cons: Windows only, no public price, and the Dragon Anywhere mobile app stopped selling on July 1, 2026
For price, privacy and platform details, see LumeVoice vs Dragon and our Dragon pricing guide.
4. Talon#
Talon
Verdict: Best for Full Hands-Free Control and Voice Coding
Talon is a free download for Windows 8 and later, macOS 10.13 and later, and Linux on X11 (talonvoice.com). It comes with its own speech engine, works with eye trackers, and recognizes noises such as a pop to click. You define commands in small scripts, usually starting from a community command set. Talon+, through the developer's $25-a-month Patreon tier, adds newer speech engines and other features.
- Pros: extremely capable, can drive code editors by voice, free to start
- Cons: a real learning curve; you build your setup rather than install a finished app
See LumeVoice vs Talon for how the two fit together.
5. LumeVoice#
LumeVoice
Verdict: Best for Writing Clean Text in Any App
LumeVoice doesn't control your PC. It does one job: turn what you say into clean, punctuated text in whatever app has your cursor. Hold Ctrl + Win, speak and let go; tap Space while holding for hands-free, or double-press the shortcut. Esc cancels. You can change the shortcut in Settings to one key, such as an F-key, which helps if holding two keys is hard.
The cleanup is what WSR never had: filler words and stutters removed, self-corrections applied, punctuation and paragraph breaks added from context, spoken lists turned into lists, grammar fixed. Names and jargon in your custom dictionary are passed to speech recognition. It installs per user, with no admin rights needed, and runs on Windows 10 and 11.
- What it lacks: voice commands and an offline mode; it needs an internet connection
- Also on: Mac, iPhone and Android, with one plan for all four
- Privacy: audio isn't stored after processing, history stays on your device, and nothing you say is used to train models
- Pricing: 3,000 free words, no card required, then $14.99/mo, $79.99/yr, or $249 lifetime. Anyone who finds typing hard because of a disability, injury or health condition gets 50% off, no proof needed (accessibility discount); students get 50% off.
Many people pair it with voice access: voice access for clicking and navigating, LumeVoice for longer writing. Switch voice access to its commands mode while you dictate, so the two don't type the same words. More on the Windows app on LumeVoice for Windows.
6. Wispr Flow#
Wispr Flow
Verdict: Best Free Allowance for Writing
Wispr Flow is a cloud dictation app for Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, with a dictionary, snippets, more than 100 languages and a Command Mode for editing highlighted text by voice (Wispr Flow pricing). The free plan gives 2,000 words a week on Windows and Mac.
- Pricing: Free | Pro $15 per month, or $12 a month billed annually ($144 a year)
- Cons: no offline mode, no PC control beyond editing text
7. Braina Pro#
Braina Pro
Verdict: Best Budget Mix of Commands and Dictation
Braina is the closest in spirit to WSR among third-party apps: one program for voice commands (open programs, search, run custom commands and keyboard macros) and dictation into any software, plus AI chat and file transcription (Braina). Braina Lite is free for voice commands; dictation needs Braina Pro, which Brainasoft lists in 90 languages, online and offline (pricing).
- Pricing: Pro $99 for one year on one Windows PC; Pro Plus (two computers, Mac or Windows) $199 for two years as a limited-time offer
- Cons: a busy, many-featured app; the Windows install needs an admin account
Compared in depth in LumeVoice vs Braina.
Replace WSR's Dictation, Not Just Its Commands
LumeVoice writes clean text into Word, Outlook, Chrome and every other Windows app.
- Hold Ctrl + Win and talk, or pick a single key in Settings. Hands-free mode for long passages.
- No voice training: filler words removed and self-corrections applied from the first sentence.
- No admin rights: a per-user install on Windows 10 and 11.
Every new account starts with 3,000 free words, no card required.
When to keep using Windows Speech Recognition#
There are still a few cases for holding on:
- You're on an older Windows version and it works for you. WSR is still there; Microsoft just isn't developing it.
- Your workflow depends on a trained profile or on scripts built around WSR's engine, and you need time to rebuild them.
- You're offline on Windows 10. Voice access needs Windows 11, and Windows voice typing needs internet.
Even then, try voice access on a Windows 11 PC, or Dragon or Talon on Windows 10, before WSR stops working with something you rely on.
How to move off WSR#
- List what you used it for. Commands, dictation or both. Commands point to voice access, Dragon, Talon or Braina; dictation points to voice typing, LumeVoice or Wispr Flow.
- On Windows 11, set up voice access first. It's free and closest to WSR. Add your hard words to its vocabulary.
- Add a dictation app if you write a lot. Use its free allowance on real emails and documents for a few days.
- Ask about discounts. If you use voice because typing is hard, see our accessibility page for the 50% off LumeVoice discount.
Final verdict#
- The official replacement, free: voice access
- Best for quick dictation: Windows voice typing (Win + H)
- Best for professional commands: Dragon Professional v16
- Best for full hands-free control and coding: Talon
- Best for writing clean text in any app: LumeVoice
- Best free allowance for writing: Wispr Flow
- Best budget mix of commands and dictation: Braina Pro
