Wispr Flow: Why I Dictate 80,000 Words a Month

I've been using Wispr Flow every single day for the past month. Not because I'm testing it—because it's now an everyday part of my workflow. The numbers tell the story: 80,000 words dictated, 122 words per minute, across 41 different apps.

Here's why voice dictation matters, and why Wispr Flow specifically has become essential.

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The Speed Gap: 40 vs 120 Words Per Minute

You can speak a lot faster than you can type. Most people type around 40 words per minute. I dictate at 120 words per minute—three times faster.

That's not just a nice-to-have. When you're prompting AI, writing emails, coding with Claude, or texting throughout the day, that speed difference compounds. Three times faster means getting through your communication backlog in a third of the time.

Why Apple's Built-In Dictation Isn't Enough

Wait, doesn't Apple already have voice-to-text? It does. And if Apple's dictation is 95% accurate, you might think that's good enough.

It's not. It's that last 5% that kills you.

Every time you have to stop, go back, and fix one word that the dictation got wrong, you've broken your flow. The editing overhead adds up fast. What was supposed to save time becomes its own kind of friction.

What Makes Wispr Flow Different

AI-Powered Processing

Wispr Flow doesn't just transcribe in real-time. It takes what you say, sends it off for AI processing, and returns cleaned-up text. This means:

• Smart formatting — It can turn your spoken words into lists, proper paragraphs, or structured content
• Filler word removal — If you stutter, pause, or rethink mid-sentence, it's smart enough to remove those retakes
• Context awareness — The text that appears doesn't make you look like you're rambling

When I actually get the words on the page, I don't look like an idiot—even when I was stumbling through my thoughts out loud.

Custom Dictionary

Here's where it gets useful for technical work. You can teach Wispr Flow specific words and terms.

If I'm talking about Descript or n8n or any technical tool with unusual spelling, I can add it to my dictionary. The AI then knows what I'm talking about and spells it correctly every time.

This matters for anyone who uses specialized terminology—developers, marketers, consultants, anyone in a technical field.

Works Everywhere

Wispr Flow isn't limited to one app. It works across your entire Mac—any text field, any application. I'm using it in:

• ChatGPT and Claude for AI prompting
• Texting and messaging apps
• Email
• Code editors (yes, vibe coding is real)
• Slack, Notion, whatever you're using

The app tracks usage automatically. I discovered I'm using it across 41 different apps without even thinking about it.

The Flow State Trade-off

One thing that took adjustment: you can't see the words appearing as you dictate. There's no real-time visual feedback—just a little wave icon showing it's listening.

This feels weird at first. You're used to seeing text appear as you type. But here's the thing: once you trust the system, you actually get into a better flow state. You're just talking, not watching and correcting.

The AI processes everything after you stop, and the final text is cleaner than if you'd been editing on the fly.

My Setup: Hands-Free Mode

Wispr Flow offers two modes:

1. Push-to-talk — Hold a button while speaking
2. Hands-free mode — Tap to start, tap to stop

I use hands-free with the Option key. Tap Option, talk, tap Option again when done. No holding required, and my hands stay on the keyboard for immediate editing if needed.

The Phone Situation

I'll be honest: I didn't love the phone implementation. The interface on mobile just didn't click for me the same way.

But on Mac—desktop or laptop—it's excellent. This is where I do most of my work anyway, so that's where the value is.

Pricing and Free Trial

Wispr Flow runs about $15/month. They offer a free trial, so you can test whether it fits your workflow before committing.

For context: I'm dictating 80,000 words a month. At 120 words per minute versus 40 typing, that's roughly 11 hours saved per month. The $15 pays for itself many times over.

Ready to stop typing? Start your free Wispr Flow trial →

Who This Is For

Wispr Flow makes sense if you:

• Write a lot — Emails, documents, AI prompts, messages
• Use technical terminology — The custom dictionary matters
• Work on a Mac — That's where the experience is best
• Value speed — 3x faster adds up
• Sometimes ramble — The AI cleanup is forgiving

It doesn't make sense if you're already a 100+ WPM typist who rarely needs to communicate in long-form, or if you work in shared spaces where talking out loud isn't practical.

My Verdict

I use Wispr Flow every single day. It's become invisible infrastructure—I just expect it to work, and it does.

The combination of speed (120 WPM), accuracy (way beyond Apple's native dictation), and smart cleanup (handling my stutters and retakes) makes it genuinely useful rather than just a novelty.

If you spend significant time typing, try the free trial. 2,000 words in and you'll know whether it's for you.

Get Started

• Try Wispr Flow — Free trial available

See Also

• OpenAI — AI that Wispr Flow pairs well with for prompting
• Descript — Another tool that uses AI for audio/video editing
• AI Tools — Other AI-powered productivity tools