Speechify Voice Typing Review

What Is Speechify Voice Typing?

Speechify built its reputation as a text-to-speech app used by millions of students, dyslexic readers, and professionals who prefer listening to reading. Voice typing is the reverse feature: speak, and Speechify converts it to text. It's available for free across Chrome (as a browser extension), iOS, Android, and Mac, making it one of the most accessible no-cost dictation options available.

The voice typing feature ships as part of Speechify's broader productivity suite, which also includes AI-powered summarization, note-taking, and podcast creation. You don't install a separate dictation app. If you already have Speechify installed for reading, voice typing is just another tab or toggle away. That convenience is the main draw here, not class-leading dictation performance.

Setup & Availability

On Chrome, you install the Speechify extension and enable the voice typing feature. On mobile, voice typing is accessible within the Speechify iOS and Android apps. On Mac, the native desktop app includes the feature. There's no Windows desktop app for voice typing at this time, though the Chrome extension covers browser-based work on any OS.

The setup process takes under two minutes. No account creation is required for basic voice typing on Chrome. The mobile and Mac apps do require a Speechify account (free tier available). For users already logged into Speechify for text-to-speech, voice typing is immediately accessible with zero additional configuration.

Dictation Accuracy & Performance

Speechify's voice typing accuracy sits in the mid-range. For clean, clearly spoken English, expect around 88-92% accuracy, which is adequate for drafting notes, emails, and casual documents. It handles common punctuation commands ("period," "comma," "new line") but lacks the advanced voice command vocabulary of dedicated tools like Dragon or Wispr Flow.

Speed is reasonable for real-time dictation. There's a slight processing delay compared to native OS dictation (Apple Dictation, Windows Voice Typing), which is expected for a browser-based tool. Background noise tolerance is limited. A quiet room with a decent microphone produces usable results; a noisy coffee shop does not.

The TTS + STT Ecosystem Advantage

Speechify's unique angle is the bidirectional workflow. Dictate a document using voice typing, then proofread it using Speechify's text-to-speech playback at adjustable speeds. Hearing your own words read back catches errors that visual proofreading misses. No other dictation tool includes built-in TTS proofreading as part of the same app.

For students with dyslexia or learning differences, this combination is particularly valuable. Voice typing removes the keyboard barrier for input, and text-to-speech removes the reading barrier for review. The free tier covers both directions, making Speechify one of the most accessible productivity tools for users with learning disabilities.

Premium Features

Speechify Premium at $14.99/month (or $139/year) unlocks features that extend well beyond voice typing: AI-generated voices for text-to-speech, offline listening, AI summarization of long documents, and advanced note-taking with voice input. The premium tier is primarily valuable for the TTS and AI features, not for improved dictation accuracy.

If you only need voice typing, the free tier covers your needs. The premium upgrade makes sense for users who heavily use Speechify's reading features and want AI summaries, better voices, and offline access. For dedicated dictation, that $14.99/month is better spent on Wispr Flow or Voice In Plus, which offer deeper voice typing capabilities.

Cross-Platform Sync

Dictated notes sync across devices through your Speechify account. Start a voice note on your iPhone, and it appears on your Mac and in the Chrome extension. This is standard for cloud-based note apps but still a differentiator versus tools like Apple Dictation, which ties output to the specific app you're dictating into.

The sync works reliably for text notes. However, Speechify isn't a full document editor, so synced content is plain text without formatting. If you need formatted documents, you'll dictate in Speechify and then copy the text into your actual writing tool, which adds a step that dedicated dictation tools (which type directly into any app) avoid.

Integrations

Speechify connects with Google Drive, Slack, and Outlook for sharing dictated content and importing documents for TTS playback. These integrations are more useful for the text-to-speech side than for voice typing. You can't dictate directly into a Google Doc or Slack message the way Voice In or native dictation tools allow.

The Chrome extension does enable voice typing in web-based text fields, but the experience is less polished than dedicated extensions like Voice In. Input goes through Speechify's interface first, then you transfer the text. For users who need to dictate directly into web apps, a purpose-built Chrome dictation extension is a better fit.

Who Is Speechify Voice Typing Best For?

Existing Speechify users get the most value. If you already use Speechify for text-to-speech and discover you also want voice input, the built-in dictation saves you from installing another tool. Students, dyslexic readers, and accessibility-focused users benefit from the bidirectional TTS + STT workflow that no standalone dictation tool replicates.

Users specifically shopping for the best dictation tool should look elsewhere. Speechify's voice typing is a secondary feature, not the core product. Voice In (Chrome extension), Apple Dictation (free, built-in), and Speechnotes ($1.90/month) all deliver better dedicated dictation experiences.

Alternatives to Consider

Voice In is the leading Chrome voice typing extension with custom commands, 50+ languages, and direct input into any website. Speechnotes offers a minimalist voice notepad at $1.90/month with fewer distractions. Apple Dictation is free and built into every Mac and iPhone with on-device processing for privacy. For users who need a full TTS + STT suite, Speechify remains the only option that covers both in a single app.

Verdict

Speechify Voice Typing is a useful bonus feature within a broader productivity suite, not a standalone dictation contender. The free cross-platform availability and unique TTS + STT workflow make it worthwhile for existing Speechify users and accessibility-focused individuals. But if voice typing is your primary need, dedicated tools deliver better accuracy, more voice commands, and direct app integration.

Best for Speechify users who want to add voice input to their existing TTS workflow. Skip it if you need accurate, feature-rich dictation as your main productivity tool.