Best dictation app for Mac for students
Last updated 13 November 2026. Written by Geoff Bosley, founder of Kords.
The best dictation app for Mac for students is the one that types your own words, is free to try, and fits your course rules. Kords writes exactly what you said at the cursor in most apps, is free for 2,000 words a week, and offers Solo for £44 a year with a .ac.uk email.
The short version
For many students on a Mac, Kords is a strong choice: it is free for 2,000 words a week, it types your exact words in Pages, Word, Notion, Mail and most other apps, and a .ac.uk email unlocks Solo for £44 a year. The dictation included with macOS is also free, and it is a sensible first try.
What to look for
- Your words, not a rewrite. Essay rules often care about this. Kords dictation and Word for word do not reword what you said. Optional Voices can change tone, so leave them off if your course restricts AI help.
- It works where you already write. Text should land at the cursor, including in a browser.
- A free way to start. 2,000 words a week is enough to try Kords on real notes before you pay.
- A student price you can check. With a university email ending in .ac.uk, Solo is £44 a year. Or take 15% off monthly Solo. You pick one.
- Names from your subject. Add authors and technical terms to the dictionary once, and Kords keeps writing them your way.
- Privacy you can explain. Audio is turned into text on Kords' server in the EU (Ireland), then discarded. Kords never stores your audio or your words.
How to dictate an essay with Kords
- Download Kords for macOS 14 or later and sign in with your email.
- Allow Microphone, Speech Recognition and Accessibility when asked.
- Type the question and a heading for each section.
- Click under a heading, use your shortcut, and talk through that section. Double-tap to keep going hands-free, then press once to finish.
- Read it back, edit, and type quotes, equations and references yourself.
The longer workflow is in dictation for students, and the prices are on the student page and Kords for universities.
Questions people ask
What is the best dictation app for Mac for students?
It depends on your course. Kords suits students who want their exact words at the cursor, a free 2,000 words a week, and Solo for £44 a year with a .ac.uk email.
Is speech to text on Mac free for students?
Yes. The dictation included with macOS is free. Kords is free for 2,000 words of dictation a week, with no card.
How do I dictate on a Mac for an essay?
Plan the headings, talk through one section at a time, then edit. Kords puts the text at your cursor in the app you are already using.
Will Kords rewrite my essay?
No. Dictation and Word for word write what you said. Leave optional Voices off if your course restricts AI help with writing.