Best Speech Recognition Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Superwhisper is ranked #1 of 28 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Notta and Speechmatics. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Notta. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Amazon Transcribe at $0.01/mo.
Speech recognition tools turn spoken audio into text, but the right fit can depend on where recognition runs and how you use it. Compared on real-time recognition, offline recognition, deployment, and supported languages, the options can be assessed for different workflows. API access and command control may be relevant to your setup, while speaker labeling, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing add further points to weigh. Superwhisper, Notta, and Speechmatics are among the named tools, along with Otter.ai and AssemblyAI. Compare the listed capabilities with your audio sources, language needs, and preferred way to access recognition.
28 speech recognition software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
28ranked
10free plans on this page
$0.01/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Speech Recognition Software 25 channels on this page · 70 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromReal-time recognitionSupported languagesOffline recognitionAPI accessSpeaker labelingCommand control Spec sheet Score
01 Superwhisper Free planYesPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessnot statedSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.8
02 Notta Free planYesPaid from8.17/user/moReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessnot statedSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.7
03 Speechmatics Free planYesPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.3
04 Otter.ai Free planYesPaid from8.33/user/moReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessnot statedSpeaker labelingnot statedCommand controlnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.2
05 AssemblyAI Free planNoPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.1
06 Google Cloud Speech-to-Text Free planNoPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.1
07 MacWhisper Free planYesPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessnot statedSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.1
08 Voice In Free planYesPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessnot statedSpeaker labelingnot statedCommand controlnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.9
09 Amazon Transcribe Free planNoPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.8
10 Rev AI Free planNoPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.8
11 sherpa Free planYesPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionYesSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionYesAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingnot statedCommand controlnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.6
12 Soniox Free planYesPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.5
13 Yandex SpeechKit Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingnot statedCommand controlnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.5
14 Dragon Professional Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessnot statedSpeaker labelingnot statedCommand controlnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 6.4
15 Kaldi Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionYesSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionYesAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingnot statedCommand controlnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.4
16 Talon Voice Free planYesPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessnot statedSpeaker labelingnot statedCommand controlnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.4
17 ESPnet Free planYesPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.3
18 Baidu OCR Free planNoPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionYesSupported languages4 languagesOffline recognitionNoAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.2
19 CMU Sphinx Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionYesSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionYesAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.1
20 SpeechRecognition Free planYesPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionYesAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingnot statedCommand controlnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.1
21 Gladia Free planNoPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.0
22 Alibaba Cloud Intelligent Speech Interaction Free planNoPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionYesSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionYesAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlYes 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
23 Deepgram Speech-to-Text Free planNoPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.7
24 Trint Free planNoPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessYesSpeaker labelingYesCommand controlnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.7
25 Whisper Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedReal-time recognitionnot statedSupported languagesnot statedOffline recognitionnot statedAPI accessnot statedSpeaker labelingnot statedCommand controlnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 5.7
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Real-time recognition | Supported languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Superwhisper | 7.8 | Free plan | $7.08/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | Notta | 7.7 | Free plan | $8.17/mo | Yes | 8.17 /user/mo | — | — |
| 3 | Speechmatics | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | Otter.ai | 7.2 | No | — | Yes | 8.33 /user/mo | — | — |
| 5 | AssemblyAI | 7.1 | Free plan | $0.15/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 6 | Google Cloud Speech-to-Text | 7.1 | Free plan | $0.02/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 7 | MacWhisper | 7.1 | Free plan | €64/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 8 | Voice In | 6.9 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | Amazon Transcribe | 6.8 | Free plan | $0.01/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 10 | Rev AI | 6.8 | Free plan | $0.01/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 11 | sherpa | 6.6 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 12 | Soniox | 6.5 | Free plan | $19.99/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 13 | Yandex SpeechKit | 6.5 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Dragon Professional | 6.4 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Kaldi | 6.4 | No | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| 16 | Talon Voice | 6.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 17 | ESPnet | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 18 | Baidu OCR | 6.2 | No | — | No | — | Yes | 4 languages |
| 19 | CMU Sphinx | 6.1 | No | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| 20 | SpeechRecognition | 6.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 21 | Gladia | 6.0 | No | $0.20/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 22 | Alibaba Cloud Intelligent Speech Interaction | 5.9 | No | — | No | — | Yes | — |
| 23 | Deepgram Speech-to-Text | 5.7 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 24 | Trint | 5.7 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 25 | Whisper | 5.7 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which speech recognition software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Superwhisper is ranked #1 of 28 with a score of 7.8. Notta is second and Speechmatics third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Amazon Transcribe has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.01/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.
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