The Best Free Medical Dictation Apps

Medical dictation is a great way to streamline clinical documentation and save time. Fortunately, improvements in speech recognition technology have led to a proliferation of specialty software and free medical dictation apps.

However, it can be hard to know where to start. This article lists free dictation apps and discusses factors to consider when deciding whether to pay for medical dictation software. 

Free Medical Dictation Apps

While free medical dictation software is alluring, it comes with drawbacks. 

Free apps are not designed specifically for medical professionals. Therefore, generic dictation apps lack essential features like HIPAA compliance, medical vocabulary, and easy integration with your EMR. You will also find that free medical dictation apps have clunkier user interfaces and are limited in how and where you can use them. 

However, if you insist on using free dictation software, there are options. The best free dictation apps integrate directly with a word processing solution like Google Docs or Microsoft Word. Because voice recognition technology is highly accurate, free software will do a pretty good job turning your spoken words into text. 

Here are three good options for free dictation software:

1. Google Docs Voice Typing

Most professionals use Google services in some capacity. If you collaborate or write using Google Docs or Google Slides, Google’s Voice Typing tool is a nifty function. 

Voice typing is simple and does exactly what it says. Open a Google Doc, click the voice typing microphone tool, and speak the words you want to type. Your dictation appears in the document, and you can edit for errors using your regular keyboard and mouse. 

The downside of Google’s Voice Typing is that it’s only available in Google Docs and Slides. If you want to use it for medical dictation, you’ll need to dictate into a Google Doc and paste the transcribed text into their EMR.

2. Microsoft Dictate

Like Google’s voice typing, Microsoft Dictate is a free Microsoft Office feature that works well in Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. To use the feature in Microsoft Word, go to “Home” → “Dictate.”

Microsoft’s dictation function supports voice recognition and voice commands for most standard operations, such as typing or editing, moving the cursor to a new line, and adding punctuation. 

While voice commands make Microsoft Dictate a little fancier than Google Voice Typing, they have similar limitations. Doctors can only use Microsoft Dictate in Microsoft software, and it may not recognize medical vocabulary. But it is free if you already have the Microsoft Suite on your personal or work computers.

3. Speechnotes

A final option to consider for free medical dictation is Speechnotes. Speechnotes is a straightforward online voice recognition tool based on the Google speech recognition engine. 

A significant benefit of Speechnotes is that the app can be installed as a Chrome extension, allowing you to use it anywhere you navigate within Chrome. That means doctors using a web-based EMR could, theoretically, use Speechnotes to dictate patient notes directly into EMR fields.

Speechnotes is free with an option to donate and upgrade to premium. 

Is It Worth Paying For Medical Dictation Software?

Free medical dictation apps won’t offer the same functionality and quality as subscription apps. As far as we know, there are currently no dictation apps explicitly designed for medicine that offer an entirely free version. Most apps offer free trial periods, but you must subscribe or purchase the software to continue using it.

There are several good reasons to pay for medical dictation software:

• HIPAA Compliance—Apps that handle patient data are subject to HIPAA rules. Dictation apps designed for medicine should offer extra levels of security for PHI that you may not find in a free app. Always check with the software developer before bringing any app into your practice. 
• Portability—The most valuable feature of a medical dictation app is that it can easily be used in the EMR. Most doctors will want a medical dictation solution that is easy to use with any software and computer. 
• Functionality—Developers design medical dictation software with clinicians in mind, so most healthcare-specific apps include features that doctors will find helpful. Examples include built-in medical vocabulary, voice commands for text macros, and streamlined functionality with provider templates. 
• Support—If you have questions or want advice about getting the most out of your software, having good tutorials or support staff is helpful. 

Doctors who dictate clinical notes will find that the time they save on documentation far outweighs the cost of medical dictation software.

The Best Medical Dictation App in 2025

If you’re looking for a standout medical dictation solution that works on Mac or PC, consider Mobius Conveyor. Conveyor AI gives your iPhone or iPad the power to dictate into any EMR system from any location. For over a decade, Mobius has worked closely with doctors to innovate clinically tested documentation solutions for the digital era.

Conveyor AI’s unique advantage is flexibility. No matter how or where you dictate, Conveyor instantly transcribes your spoken words into any software on any computer. You can even record your dictation as a text memo and easily transfer it into a patient’s chart when you’re back at your computer.

Here are a few of the top reasons doctors choose Conveyor over other medical dictation apps:

• Works on your Mac
• Supports all EMRs
• No IT setup required
• Unlimited computers
• Secure memos

Learn more about how Mobius Conveyor compares with competitors, or download Conveyor from the App Store to start a free trial and see if this is the medical dictation solution you’ve been looking for.