Willow
Dictate anywhere on your computer and have it typed for you
Overview
Willow lets you dictate text into almost any app on your computer or phone instead of typing, using its own speech-to-text models (a free "Frontier Mini" tier and a faster, more accurate "Frontier Pro" model on paid plans). Real-world testing shows it performing well for everyday English writing, with fast turnaround and a workflow that stays out of your way once it's set up.
The rough edges show up on specifics. Willow's own claim of "3x higher accuracy than Apple's built-in dictation" is a vendor claim without a published independent benchmark, and hands-on tests found accuracy drops noticeably on technical vocabulary and acronyms (SEO, KPI, ROI), plus occasional confusion between similar-sounding word pairs. The Mac app also needs a constant internet connection, the iOS keyboard flow is clunkier than a native keyboard, and it works reliably in only about 70-80% of tested apps, with some issues in Electron apps like Notion and Slack.
Key Features
Works System-Wide: Dictates into most text fields across your Mac, Windows, or mobile keyboard, not just one app.
Frontier Pro Model: Paid plans unlock Willow's smartest, most accurate speech-to-text model.
Scribe Mode: A structured dictation mode for longer writing sessions.
Writing Style Memory: Learns your phrasing and vocabulary over time on paid plans.
Team Admin Controls: Centralized billing and admin controls on the Team plan.
No Card Required To Start: Free plan available with no credit card.
Pricing
Starting price
$15/mo
Basic (Free): $0/month. Unlimited use of the Frontier Mini model, limited personalization, 20 Scribe uses/week, no credit card required.
Individual Pro: $15/month ($12/month billed annually). Unlimited Frontier Pro model, faster/more accurate transcription, smart memory of writing style, unlimited Scribe usage, increased dictation length.
Team Pro: $12/month per seat ($10/month per seat billed annually), 3-seat minimum. Everything in Individual Pro, plus centralized billing, admin controls, team-wide personalization, priority support.
Enterprise: Custom pricing. SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance, zero data retention, dedicated support, advanced admin privacy controls.
Disclaimer: pricing confirmed directly on willowvoice.com/pricing. Note the product is branded "Willow," with "Frontier Pro" and "Frontier Mini" referring to the underlying speech models used, not a separate product name. Confirm current pricing on Willow's own pricing page before buying.
Pros
Strong Everyday Accuracy: Real-world testing puts general English accuracy around 85-90%.
Works Across The System: Not locked to one app, works in most places you'd normally type.
Low Latency: Vendor-claimed 200ms transcription latency makes dictation feel responsive.
Usable Free Tier: Free plan with 20 Scribe uses a week and no card required to try it.
Cons
Weak On Technical Vocabulary: Accuracy drops to roughly 60-70% on jargon, acronyms, and anglicized tech terms.
Requires Constant Internet: The Mac desktop app has no real offline fallback.
Inconsistent App Compatibility: Works well in roughly 70-80% of tested apps, with bugs in Electron apps like Notion, Discord, and Slack.
Clunky iOS Flow: The iOS keyboard implementation adds friction compared to native dictation.
Unverified Accuracy Claims: The "3x more accurate than Apple dictation" claim comes from Willow itself, not an independent benchmark.
What Makes It Unique
Two-Tier Model Access: Gives free users a genuinely usable (if slower) model, Frontier Mini, rather than a crippled trial, while reserving the faster Frontier Pro model for paid plans.
Kay Score
7
/ 10
Tool Information
Pricing
$15/mo
Category
Voice & Video
Platform
Web / iOS / Android
Last Updated
