In short
Windows voice typing (Win+H) is built into Windows, costs nothing and has voice commands for editing. Zack Typing is a separate dictation app for Windows 10 and 11: press Ctrl+Space, speak, and the text appears at your cursor. It adds a personal dictionary for names and technical terms, chips that improve or shorten text, offline dictation with a model on your PC and audio file transcription.
- Start
- Ctrl+Space (can be changed), press or hold
- Without internet
- With an offline model on your PC
- System
- Windows 10 and Windows 11
Dictation
Can you ask Siobhan whether the Kubernetes update for Zack Typing is live yet?
3 terms misheardEverything spelled right
Your dictionary
Names
Companies and products
Jargon
Abbreviations
How to switch to Zack Typing
- Install Zack Typing and sign in.
- Place your cursor in an email, a document or a browser chat.
- Press Ctrl+Space, speak and press the shortcut again. Or hold it while you speak.
- The text appears at your cursor. Add names and technical terms that often come out wrong to the dictionary.
How does Zack Typing differ from Windows voice typing?
The details on Windows voice typing come from Microsoft’s help page. Where it says nothing, the table says so.
| Windows voice typing (Win+H) | Zack Typing | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Included in Windows | Free to start; cloud dictation uses credits |
| Without internet | Microsoft’s help says an internet connection is required | With an offline model on your PC |
| Voice commands | Yes, for example “delete that” or “select that” | No |
| Polishing text | Fluid dictation corrects grammar, punctuation and spelling where available | Chips such as “Improve”, “Shorten” and “Professional”, applied when you choose |
| Personal dictionary | Not described in Microsoft’s help | Yes, and it can learn from your corrections |
| Audio files to text | Not described in Microsoft’s help | Yes, for example MP3, M4A, WAV or OGG |
| History of past dictations | Not described in Microsoft’s help | Yes, searchable and stored on your PC |
Source for Windows voice typing: Microsoft Support, “Use voice typing to talk instead of type on your PC”
When is Windows voice typing enough?
If you dictate short texts now and then, have an internet connection and want voice commands such as “delete that”, Win+H is already there without installing anything.
Zack Typing fits better if you dictate a lot, use names and technical terms, need to dictate without internet or want to turn spoken sentences into clean text with one click.
Where are Zack Typing’s limits?
Zack Typing has no voice commands for editing or control. You make corrections with the keyboard or the chips.
Cloud dictation, chips and learning new dictionary words need internet and either credits or your own API key. Zack Typing runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Related questions
Can I use Zack Typing and Win+H side by side?
Yes. Zack Typing starts with Ctrl+Space and does not take over Win+H. Both stay available.
Is Zack Typing free?
You can start for free, and after sign-in the Small offline model works without credits. Details in Is Zack Typing free?
Does Zack Typing work in every app?
It inserts into text fields, for example in emails, documents or browser chats. If inserting does not work in an app, copy the text in Zack Typing and paste it yourself. More in dictating into any app.