Voice typing on Ubuntu Linux
Jump to:
- Does Ubuntu have voice typing built in?
- Free ways to dictate on Ubuntu
- Typing into any app with VozSay
- Mac, other Linux versions, price
The short answer
As far as we can tell, the standard GNOME desktop on Ubuntu does not include a built-in voice typing feature that types into any app. We looked through GNOME's help pages and found no dictation tool listed there. So to dictate on Ubuntu, you add something. There are a few free ways to do it, and each has trade-offs.
Free options, by type
Command-line tools. Free and open source, and they can type into any window. The catch: you install packages, download a speech model, and set your own shortcut. Best if you're comfortable in a terminal.
Note apps from Flathub. Easy to install, no terminal. The catch: the words land inside the app, so you copy and paste them where you need them.
Online document editors. Nothing to install. The catch: it only works inside that editor, and your voice may be handled by an online service, so check its privacy terms.
If you want it to type into any app
The options above are good starting points. If you want dictation that types into the programs you already use, you can try VozSay.
On Ubuntu, you press a key, talk, and the words appear where your cursor is. VozSay types into other programs, including a browser, a terminal, and your editor. Your voice is never uploaded. VozSay does the work on your computer, and dictation works offline after setup.
Here is what to know about Linux before you download. VozSay is built and tested for Ubuntu 26.04 with the standard GNOME desktop, on 64-bit Intel or AMD computers. It has not been tested on other versions of Linux, so we do not say it works there. The Linux installer does not include the speech and voice models. The first time VozSay starts, it asks before downloading about 800 MB, once, and that first-start model download must be completed first. After that, the back side button on your mouse (or F7) starts dictation.
Update and license checks are on by default and can be turned off. See Privacy.
The trial runs for 14 days with the full program, and it does not ask for a card or an email address to start. After that, a license is $39.99 for the first 50 customers, then $99. It is a one-time payment, and one license covers two of your own computers. See pricing.
Questions
Does VozSay work on a Mac?
No. A Mac version is coming later. VozSay is for Windows 10 and 11, and Ubuntu 26.04.
Does it work on Linux versions other than Ubuntu 26.04?
We have not tested other versions of Linux, so we do not say it works there.
Do I need a card to try it?
No. The 14-day trial does not ask for a card or an email address.
Does it cost a monthly fee?
No. It is a one-time payment with no subscription, and your license does not expire.