Only to try. Aqua Voice's Free tier gives you 1,000 free words and its Avalon transcription model, with no credit card. Aqua describes those words as a trial allowance, not a weekly limit, and after them unlimited dictation needs Pro at $8 a month billed annually or $10 month-to-month, as of 3 October 2026. If you want a Mac dictation app you can use for free indefinitely, Aqua is not it.
Publisher note: SuprFlow publishes this guide and is one of the products discussed. Competitor details come from each company's own pages, checked on 3 October 2026. Prices and features change; confirm before you buy.
What does the free version of Aqua Voice include?
As of 3 October 2026, from the Aqua Voice pricing page.
| Item | Aqua Voice Free |
|---|---|
| Price | $0; "No credit card is required." |
| Words | 1,000 free words |
| Speech model | Avalon transcription model |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows and iOS; Android is waitlist-only |
| Where speech is processed | In Aqua's cloud |
Pro adds unlimited words, Custom Instructions and an expanded custom dictionary. Max adds Realtime Mode and a voice command for sending.
Where does the free allowance stop?
At 1,000 words. Aqua's Mac page calls the free Starter allowance "your test drive" and says 1,000 words is about 7 minutes of talking at a normal pace. It says that when you hit it, you upgrade to Pro to keep dictating without limits. Aqua's FAQ answers "Does Aqua have a free trial?" with "Yes. Starter includes 1,000 free words with no credit card required."
Neither page says the words renew each week or month, so plan on them being a one-time allowance. Seven minutes of talking is enough to check accuracy on your own names and jargon, and not enough for a working day.
Two other points apply on every plan:
- It needs the internet. The FAQ says "Cloud dictation needs an internet connection." The Mac page says Aqua processes audio in the cloud and that "there is no offline mode."
- The tier has two names. The pricing page says Free; the FAQ and Mac page say Starter. They describe the same 1,000 words.
Is Aqua Voice safe? covers what happens to your audio.
Is there a refund after you upgrade?
Aqua's pricing page says "Cancel anytime" but does not describe a refund window. Its terms of service say that, except as the terms otherwise specify, "payment obligations are non-cancelable and Fees paid are non-refundable". Cancelling stops the next charge; do not count on money back for time already paid. Start month-to-month if you are unsure. How to cancel Aqua Voice has the steps.
What do you pay next?
As of 3 October 2026, from the pricing page:
| Plan | Billed annually | Month-to-month |
|---|---|---|
| Pro | $8 a month ($96 a year) | $10 a month |
| Max | $24 a month ($288 a year) | $30 a month |
| Business (2+ seats) | $19 per seat a month ($228 a year) | $24 per seat a month |
Students who sign up with a school email get 70% off Pro and Max, which Aqua lists as $2.40 a month billed annually for Pro. Aqua Voice pricing has a three-year cost table.
What are the free alternatives?
If you want free with no allowance running out:
- Apple Dictation. Built into macOS: choose Apple menu → System Settings → Keyboard, go to Dictation and turn it on, per Apple's Dictation guide (macOS 27; on older versions look for Dictation in Keyboard settings). Apple says you can dictate any length without a timeout, and it stops after 30 seconds without speech. How to use voice to text on a Mac has the steps.
- Superwhisper Free, Spokenly's local models, Handy. Free push-to-talk apps with no word cap that run speech recognition on the Mac. See Best free dictation app for Mac.
Where does SuprFlow fit?
SuprFlow, which publishes this page, is not free either, and unlike Aqua it has no free allowance or trial. It costs $125 for lifetime access on up to five Macs you own, with no subscription and a 7-day refund on a first purchase. Speech recognition runs on the Mac with an on-device model, and Default formatting is local cleanup of punctuation, capitalization and numbers. It is the wrong choice if you want to try before paying, need Windows or iPhone, want Realtime Mode or Custom Instructions, or need Aqua's team features. SuprFlow vs Aqua Voice compares them.
Questions people ask
Does Aqua Voice reset the free words every month?
Aqua's pages describe 1,000 free words as a trial allowance and do not say they renew. Check your account if you see a different figure.
Do I need a credit card for Aqua Voice Free?
No. The pricing page says no credit card is required.
Is Aqua Voice free for students?
Not free, but discounted: 70% off Pro and Max with a school email address, according to the pricing page.
Can I use Aqua Voice for free offline?
No. Aqua says cloud dictation needs an internet connection, and its Mac page says there is no offline mode.
Related guides
- Aqua Voice pricing
- Is Aqua Voice worth it?
- Is Aqua Voice safe?
- What is Aqua Voice?
- Aqua Voice alternatives
- How to cancel Aqua Voice