Google Docs Voice Dictation

Get your first draft down before the idea fades.

Hold a key. Speak your thoughts. Keep your flow.

Write where you work

Aqua is a system-wide dictation layer for Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android. On a Mac or Windows PC, hold a key in a Google Doc and speak, and your words land on the page formatted, in any browser, without opening a tool menu first.

Google Docs

Start a useful first draft

The goal of this project is to make the first week easier for new customers. We’ll begin with account setup, then improve the handoff into their first real task.

Illustrative dictation. Review the text before you use it.

How to dictate in Google Docs with Aqua

Start in the place in the document where you want to write. Aqua puts your words into the field you have focused.

[01]
Download Aqua for Mac or Windows and grant microphone access, plus Accessibility access on macOS.
[02]
Pick your hold-to-talk key in Aqua's settings.
[03]
Open your Google Doc in any browser and place the cursor.
[04]
Hold your key, speak, and release. No tool menu, no mode to exit.
[05]
Add names, project terms, and anything your field uses that a general model would not know to your custom dictionary.

Tips for dictating in Google Docs

Use it for the first draft, where the gap between thinking speed and typing speed is widest.
Speak headings out loud as headings and then apply the style. Trying to dictate formatting is more effort than applying it.
It works in comments and suggestions too, which is where most collaborative writing time actually goes.
Because it is not a mode, you can dictate one sentence, type the next, and dictate again without toggling anything.

Does Google Docs have built-in voice dictation?

Yes. Google Docs has free Voice typing under the Tools menu in supported versions of Chrome, Edge, and Safari. It is a mode you enter: open the tool, click the microphone, and dictate until you stop. Aqua is a key you hold, in any browser, and the same key works in the Slack tab next door and the email client behind it. It also reads the context on your screen, so a formal report and a rough set of notes do not come out in the same register.

Built for the way you work

97.4% key-term accuracy on AISpeak-10, a SOC 2 Type II audit report, and 49 languages, on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android. Start free with 1,000 lifetime words. Pro is $8 a month billed annually.

Explore the Product Guides

Aqua refining dictated text in real time

Your words, perfected by AI

Aqua’s model trained on real workflows to understand natural speech, correct grammar, and preserve every word while refining your text in real time.

Dictionary

Custom dictionary

Teach Aqua the words you use most, like names, brands, or technical terms, and watch accuracy improve instantly.

Custom prompting

Writing style, your way

Set your tone and rules. From lowercase Slack messages to structured docs, Aqua adapts to your preferences automatically.

49 Languages

Aqua multilingual speech model globe graphic

Speaks your language

Understands 49 languages with clarity and precision, adapting naturally to how you speak.

Private History

Aqua private transcript history interface

Secure transcript history

Access your past transcripts any time. Turn on Privacy Mode and nothing is stored on our servers at all.

Better Accuracy

Avalon: 97.4%
Whisper Large v3: 65.1%

AISpeak-10 · English technical-term recognition. Method and Results

Our Model in your hands

Avalon scored 97.4% key-term accuracy on AISpeak-10, our English technical-speech benchmark. Learn How Avalon Works.

What Aqua Voice customers say

Used by people at

@0xferruccio

For coding prompting with voice nothing beats @aquavoice All the other transcription apps don't work well with code like tailwind class names

@chiggyAI

just tried out @aquavoice and by far the most accurate voice to text tool i've used!!

@TheNathanRuff

Been using @aquavoice for a few months. Unbelievably better than the other companies that do this

@jamesfong

3 products that have broken into my forever home. And that's not an easy feat for me: @circlebackai, @aquavoice, and @superset_sh

@tzmartin

tbh @aquavoice is a vibe coder's delight.. lowest latency, highest quality STT I've used so far

@juanbuis

this is why @aquavoice is better than all other AI transcription apps it actually writes like you talk

@heyvyner

Mapping @aquavoice to this button on my mouse is a whole different level of productivity.

@nozmen

Aqua Voice: I barely type long prompts now, just talk. Saved ~5 hrs typing in 2 weeks. Much more accurate than macOS dictation.

@gkossakowski

Aqua is a true power tool: quick, reliable and understands your context - they were early at appreciating the value of context engineering.

@jackson_felty

@aquavoice is a prime example of how much better a product can be when the team focuses on making one simple use case incredible

@ArtemR

Aqua Voice @aquavoice is the voice-based text editor I think all of us have always wanted, but no company has been able to deliver so far. The demo is extremely impressive

@jaymehoffman

@aquavoice has saved me over 2 days of typing

@thebuildguy

Unpaid shout out — @aquavoice is probably one of my most used tool that has saved me quite literally a day of time!

@Memetic_Theory

If you're not using @aquavoice you're moving 15% slower than you could

@rickmanelius

Impressed with @aquavoice accuracy in a noisy airport.

@utkusays

just subscribed to aqua voice and wow you guys are cooking, best dictation app i've tried so far

@turboblitzzz

Started using @aquavoice a few weeks ago and now I barely type anything. My housemates want to kick me out because i keep talking to my computer. Life is good.

@curious_vii

Claude Code agents (new CLI view) + Ghostty + @aquavoice is actual calm computing

Frequently asked questions

Does Google Docs have built-in voice typing?

Yes, under Tools then Voice typing, in supported versions of Chrome, Edge, and Safari. It is a mode you enter and exit rather than a key you hold.

Does Aqua work in Safari and Arc?

Yes. Aqua works at the operating-system level, so the browser makes no difference.

Can I dictate into comments?

Yes. Aqua types into whatever field has focus, including comments and suggestions.

Does it work on Windows?

Yes. Aqua runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android.

How much does it cost?

Free includes 1,000 words. With annual billing, Pro is $8 per month, Max is $24 per month, and Business is $19 per seat per month with a minimum of 2 seats.