1. Audext.com
The number one spot on the list is deservedly taken by Audext, a speech to text converter that comes with a lot more functionality than it might seem at first glance. This tool fully works from the comfort of your Web browser, which means that you can have your first transcription ready without any prior preparation. All you need is your speech recording in any of the 20+ supported formats (WAV, MP3, WMV, etc.) and a free account on the Audext website. The transcription algorithms are implemented on the company’s cloud, therefore the service is available 24/7. And with this app, you can transcribe one hour of audio really fast. There’s no need to strain your ears in an attempt to distinguish between different words – Audext does all the hard work for you. Benefits Accurate – The 99%+ accuracy is made possible through the use of machine learning and AI in the conversion process. For the best results, make sure that the speech is as unaccented as possible, and that the recording itself doesn’t have any severe background noise. Fast – Audext has analyzed thousands of different samples of data, which helped it develop into a 200 times more efficient transcriber than any other on the market. It’s 0.13:1 audio length to transcription time ratio is the best in the industry. Functional – Besides mainly acting as a transcriber, Audext also comes with an integrated text editor. You won’t have to download the result until you’re fully satisfied with it. The editor has a plethora of features such as active word highlighting, find & replace, playback speed and others.
2. e-Speaking
Unlike Audext, e-Speaking acts as a control hub for Windows through the exclusive use of voice recognition. e-Speaking has a minimalistic user interface that contains the list of supported commands, as well as a few other options for adding new or editing the existing ones. For example, you can open your email by simply saying “Open email”, minimize/maximize opened apps and even control your mouse. The app comes with 100 built-in commands and runs on almost all versions of Windows. In addition, it supports integration with Microsoft Office apps by the likes of PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and others. Pros
Supports XP through Windows 10
Cons
License to add/edit commands costs $14Free trial lasts for only 30 days
Accurate and quickCommands are short and sweet
Cons
Full version costs $9.99No support for Windows 10
Supports multiple languagesQuite accurate even without connecting to the internet
Cons
Exclusive to the Apple device usersFairly limited functionality
You can save the notes mid-session40+ different languagesNo hidden catches or fees
Cons
Impossible to modify or add new commands
