VS Code Voice Dictation

Write code, comments, and commits without leaving the keyboard behind.

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 VS Code and speak, and your words land in whatever has focus: the editor, a comment, the Copilot chat box, a commit message, or the integrated terminal.

VS Code

Document the reasoning

This function groups events by account before calculating the daily total. Keep the original timestamp so that late events can be assigned to the correct day.

Illustrative dictation. Review the text before you use it.

How to dictate in VS Code with Aqua

Start in a comment or document in the editor. 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 VS Code and click into any field: the editor, a comment, Copilot chat, the commit message box, or the terminal.
[04]
Hold your key, speak, and release.
[05]
Add your repo, framework, and package names to your custom dictionary.

Tips for dictating in VS Code

Comments, docstrings, commit messages, and PR descriptions are the win. That is prose, and prose is what dictation is for.
For Copilot chat, describe the outcome and the constraints rather than reading code aloud.
Put library names in your custom dictionary. A general model has no reason to know how your internal package is spelled.
In the integrated terminal, read the command back before you press Enter.

Does VS Code have built-in voice dictation?

Yes, and it is good. Microsoft's VS Code Speech extension dictates into the editor on Alt+Cmd+V, adds speech to the chat panel, and runs entirely on your machine, so nothing is sent to a server. If offline processing is your hard requirement, use it. The trade-offs are scope and languages: it stops at the edge of VS Code, so the browser tab, the Slack thread, and the PR description you write next are back to typing, and it covers 26 languages with a separate extension per language against Aqua's 49. Aqua also takes a custom dictionary, which is what stops your repo and framework names coming out wrong.

Read the Full Guide to Voice Dictation in VS Code

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 VS Code have built-in voice dictation?

Yes, through Microsoft's VS Code Speech extension. It dictates into the editor and the chat panel, and it runs locally on your machine rather than sending audio to a server.

How is Aqua different from VS Code Speech?

Scope and vocabulary. Aqua works in every app rather than only VS Code, supports 49 languages against 26, and takes a custom dictionary for your own repo and framework names.

Does Aqua work in the integrated terminal?

Yes. Aqua types into whatever field has focus, including the integrated terminal and the commit message box.

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.