In short
Yes, you can dictate for free. After you sign in, you get 500 credits, then 100 every week, and you can use the Small offline model without credits. Basic adds more credits, larger offline models, longer audio files and chips you can rename and rewrite.
- Start
- 500 credits after sign-in, valid for 12 months
- Every week
- 100 credits; unused weekly credits expire
- Cloud dictation
- Credits per minute of audio
- Offline
- Small model free after sign-in, no credits
- Audio files
- Up to two minutes per file
How to start for free
- Download and install Zack Typing.
- Sign in with Google or with a link sent to your email. You get 500 credits, and no payment details are asked for.
- Place your cursor in any app, press Ctrl+Space and speak. Your balance is in the settings under “Account”.
- When your credits run out, choose “Set up local” to keep dictating with the free Small offline model.
How far do the free credits go?
Cloud recognition uses credits per minute of audio, so a 20-second message costs a fraction of a two-minute one. The exact rate depends on how the recording is processed, which is why Zack Typing shows the balance instead of a fixed price. When your balance runs low, the app shows roughly how many dictations are left.
Three things affect the cost. “Shorten long pauses” under “Recording” is on by default and removes long silences before upload, so thinking pauses cost less. Each chip such as “Improve” uses additional credits. For audio files of five minutes or more, Zack Typing shows an estimate before it starts.
What does Basic add?
| Free | From Basic | |
|---|---|---|
| Credits | 500 to start, 100 a week | Many more every week |
| Offline models | Small: German, English, Spanish, French | Also Medium (25 European languages) and Large (about 100) |
| Audio files | Up to 2 minutes per file | Up to 40 minutes and 64 MB |
| Chips | Turn the standard chips on and off | Rename chips and edit their prompts |
| Dictionary | You add terms yourself | Also learns words from your corrections |
| Recording | Normal speed, standard recording bar | Faster “Tempo”, which uses fewer credits; mini bar, size and position of the bar |
| Inserting | Pastes at your cursor | Also “Adapt to surrounding text” and other insertion methods |
Pro includes everything in Basic with more credits. Credit packs add credits on any plan, including Free, and stay valid for 12 months. Current prices are on the pricing page.
What happens when the credits run out?
Zack Typing does not switch on its own. It shows “Cloud credits used up” with two choices: “Set up local” to keep dictating with an offline model on your PC, or “See plans”. New weekly credits arrive the following week.
With your own API key, Zack credits play no role: your provider bills you directly. See dictating with your own API key.
Related questions
Do I need an account?
For the free credits and the offline model, yes. You can skip sign-in with “Sign in later”, but cloud dictation then needs your own API key.
Can I use the same credits in Zack KI?
Yes. Zack Typing and Zack KI share one account and one credit balance when you sign in to both with the same account.
Do unused weekly credits carry over?
No. Weekly credits expire at the end of the week. Start credits and credit packs stay valid for 12 months.
Does offline dictation use credits?
No. The Small model recognizes speech on your PC without credits. It steps in when you are offline, or after you choose to dictate locally once your credits are used up. More in offline dictation.