Aqua Voice Pro is worth paying for if you dictate every day, are comfortable with cloud transcription, want Custom Instructions and a larger dictionary, and use a Mac, Windows PC or iPhone. Pro costs $8 a month billed annually or $10 month-to-month, as of 3 October 2026. It is probably not worth paying for if you only dictate occasionally, if you need to work offline, if a rule says audio must stay on your device, or if you would rather not subscribe. Aqua gives you 1,000 free words, which is enough for the 15-minute test below.
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.
This is not a review and there is no score. We make a competing Mac app, and we have not tested Aqua's accuracy or speed. What follows is what Aqua documents, who that suits, and how to judge it yourself.
What do you get, according to Aqua?
As of 3 October 2026. Sources: Aqua pricing, Mac page, FAQ and Aqua's llms.txt.
| Area | What Aqua documents |
|---|---|
| Price | Free: 1,000 words. Pro: $8 a month billed annually or $10 month-to-month. Max: $24 or $30. Business: $19 or $24 per seat, 2 seats minimum. |
| What Pro adds | Unlimited words, Custom Instructions, an expanded custom dictionary. |
| What Max adds | Realtime Mode (see words live), a "Send it" voice command, early access to new features. |
| Edit Mode | Select text, hold your Aqua key, say the change, and Aqua rewrites the selection. Listed for every desktop user. |
| Platforms | macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows 10 and 11, iOS; Android waitlist. |
| How it works on a Mac | Grant microphone and accessibility permissions, then hold the key, talk, release. |
| Security | SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001; GDPR and HIPAA compliant, with BAA terms discussed through Aqua before you use it with health information. Details in Is Aqua Voice safe?. |
The strengths are Intel Mac and Windows support, Edit Mode on every plan, and published security audits.
What limits does Aqua document?
- It is cloud only on the Mac. The Mac page says Aqua processes audio in the cloud and "there is no offline mode." The FAQ says "Cloud dictation needs an internet connection."
- Privacy Mode starts off. Aqua's llms.txt says that with Privacy Mode off, the default, transcripts may be stored on its servers to improve the product. Its privacy policy says the same. Turn it on before dictating anything sensitive.
- The free words run out. The Mac page calls 1,000 words a test drive, about 7 minutes of talking.
- Refunds are not promised. Aqua's terms say "Fees paid are non-refundable" except as the terms otherwise specify.
- Android is a waitlist.
Who is Aqua worth it for, and who should choose something else?
| If this is you | A sensible choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You dictate daily and accept cloud processing | Aqua Pro, annual | Unlimited words for $96 a year. |
| You want to see words appear as you speak | Aqua Max | Realtime Mode is a Max feature. |
| You need dictation for one short project | Aqua Pro, month-to-month | $10 a month, cancel when done; no refunds for time paid. |
| You use an Intel Mac or Windows as well | Aqua | It lists both. |
| Your team needs SSO, SCIM and zero data retention | Aqua Business | Listed on the pricing page. |
| You often work without internet | A local Mac app | Aqua says there is no offline mode on the Mac. |
| A rule says audio must stay on the device | A local Mac app | Aqua processes audio in the cloud. |
| You only dictate a few lines a day | Apple Dictation or a free local app | See Aqua Voice alternatives. |
Where SuprFlow fits, honestly: it is a Mac-only app for Apple Silicon where speech recognition runs on the Mac with an on-device model, and Default formatting is local cleanup of punctuation, capitalization and numbers. 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. It has no free words or trial, no Realtime or Edit Mode, no Intel, Windows or iPhone app, and no published audit reports. If you want any of those, Aqua is the better choice. SuprFlow vs Aqua Voice sets them side by side.
How can you test Aqua in 15 minutes before paying?
Use the free 1,000 words. The script is fictional, so nothing private is involved.
- Install and set up (3 minutes). Download from aquavoice.com, drag Aqua Voice to Applications, create an account if asked, and grant microphone and accessibility permissions.
- Turn on Privacy Mode (1 minute). Do this first if you plan to test with real work later.
- Dictate an email (2 minutes). In your mail app, hold the key and say: "Hi Dorothea, the freight quote is 8,250 dollars, not 8,520. We ordered, um, 30 sorry 36 boxes. Please confirm by Tuesday the 14th. Thanks, Kwame." Release.
- Check five things. The name, both figures, the box correction, the date and the punctuation.
- Dictate into your hardest app (3 minutes). A browser form, chat app or code editor.
- Try your vocabulary (3 minutes). Two sentences with a colleague's surname, a product name and an acronym. Add misses to the dictionary and retry.
- Try Edit Mode (3 minutes). Select a fictional paragraph and ask Aqua to shorten it.
Run the same script with Apple Dictation and one other app. How to run a fair Mac dictation comparison has a fuller method. If Aqua needed clearly fewer fixes, start Pro month-to-month before committing to a year.
Questions people ask
Is Aqua Voice good?
We have not benchmarked it, so we will not rate it. Aqua publishes its own accuracy figures; treat any vendor's benchmark as a claim to check with your own voice.
Is Aqua Max worth it over Pro?
Only if you want Realtime Mode or the "Send it" command. Unlimited words and Custom Instructions are already in Pro.
Can I get a refund if Aqua is not worth it for me?
Aqua's terms say fees paid are non-refundable except as the terms specify. Use the free words first and start month-to-month. How to cancel Aqua Voice has the steps.
Related guides
- Is Aqua Voice free?
- Aqua Voice pricing
- Is Aqua Voice safe?
- Aqua Voice alternatives
- SuprFlow vs Aqua Voice
- How to run a fair Mac dictation comparison