Whisper vsMicrosoft Dictate
Microsoft Dictate requires a Microsoft 365 subscription and sends your voice to the cloud. Whisper gives you private, offline transcription for a one-time fee.
The Microsoft 365 Lock-In
Microsoft Dictate isn't a standalone product—it's bundled with Microsoft 365, which costs $99.99/year for personal or $149.99/year for family plans.
If you just need speech-to-text and don't use other Microsoft 365 features, you're paying for a lot more than you need. Whisper gives you just transcription for $29 once—no subscription, no upsells.
Why Choose Whisper Over Microsoft Dictate?
Save Money
Microsoft 365 costs $99.99/year. Whisper costs $29 once. Over 3 years, that's $300 vs $29—you save $271.
True Privacy
Microsoft processes your voice in the cloud and may use it to improve their services. Whisper never sends anything anywhere.
No Internet Needed
Microsoft Dictate requires a constant internet connection. Whisper works anywhere—planes, remote areas, offline.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Whisper | Microsoft Dictate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29 once | $99.99/year |
| 3-Year Cost | $29 | $299.97 |
| Offline Mode | ||
| Privacy | ||
| App Compatibility | All Apps | M365 Only |
| Account Required | No | Yes |
| Languages | 99+ | 40+ |
| Office Integration |
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Whisper if you...
- Want to save money vs. a subscription
- Need to transcribe in apps beyond Microsoft Office
- Value privacy and don't want cloud processing
- Work offline or with unreliable internet
- Don't need the full Microsoft 365 suite
Keep Microsoft Dictate if you...
- •Already pay for Microsoft 365
- •Primarily work in Word, Outlook, or PowerPoint
- •Need deep Office integration features
- •Don't mind cloud-based processing
Skip the subscription
Get private, offline transcription without being locked into Microsoft 365. Pay once, use everywhere.
Get Whisper for $29One-time purchase · 1 year access · 14-day money-back guarantee