Aqua Voice is a Y Combinator-backed dictation app for Mac, Windows and iOS whose signature is speed: text streams to the cursor in under a second with its Avalon model, and it markets hard to developers and other people who dictate jargon. ahsk covers the same three platforms and competes on different ground: accuracy on accented English, translation as a gesture, an unlimited personal dictionary, and a free tier ten times the size.
Where Aqua Voice is ahead
Streaming latency: Aqua renders text in real time as you speak, which feels different from apps that paste after you release the key. Its Avalon model is tuned for technical vocabulary, and its annual price — $8 a month billed yearly — undercuts ahsk's €9.99. If you dictate code identifiers and API names all day and want the words on screen while you are still talking, Aqua is built for exactly you.
Where ahsk is ahead
The trial: ahsk gives 10,000 free words, Aqua gives 1,000 once — a serious day of dictation versus about twenty minutes. The dictionary: Aqua caps custom terms at 800; ahsk's dictionary is unlimited and also learns respellings you correct after pasting, on-device. Translation: fn+Shift or Ctrl+Win+T speaks one language and pastes another; Aqua does not do this. And reliability: ahsk keeps recording when you close the lid, swap to AirPods or plug in a USB mic, watching whether audio actually arrives rather than trusting the microphone's word.
On price
Aqua Pro is $8 a month billed annually ($96 a year); ahsk is €9.99 a month with no annual commitment required. Over a year, Aqua is cheaper if you pay up front. ahsk includes translation and AI rewriting in its price, which are not Aqua features at any tier — if you use either, ahsk replaces two subscriptions.
Who should pick which
Pick Aqua Voice if streaming-speed dictation of technical vocabulary is your whole use case and the annual price matters. Pick ahsk if you speak accented English, work across languages, need more than 800 dictionary terms, or want a real free trial before paying anything.
How this comparison was made
Prices, platforms and features for the other product are taken from its own website and pricing page in September 2026, and ahsk facts from the current builds (Mac 6.7, Windows 1.13, iOS 2.x). If something has changed or we got a detail wrong, email support@ahsk.app and we will fix it. We would rather be accurate than flattering.
Comparison
| Feature | ahsk | Aqua Voice | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, iPhone | Mac, Windows, iPhone | |
| Price | €9.99/mo | $8/mo billed annually ($96/yr) | |
| Free tier | 10,000 words, no card | 1,000 words once | |
| Text appears | On release, cleaned up | Streams as you speak | |
| Custom dictionary | Unlimited, plus learned corrections | Up to 800 terms | |
| Translate as you speak | Yes, one shortcut | No | |
| AI rewriting and answers | Included | No | |
| Keeps recording on mic/device change | Yes, automatic recovery | Not documented |
Try ahsk next to Aqua Voice
Free for 10,000 words — ten times Aqua's trial, no card. Dictate a real day of work and then decide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is ahsk a good Aqua Voice alternative?
If you hit Aqua's 800-term dictionary cap, need translation, or want to actually try before paying, yes. If sub-second streaming text is the one thing you care about, Aqua does that and ahsk does not stream — it pastes the cleaned-up result when you release the key.
Which is better for developers?
Aqua markets to developers and its Avalon model is tuned for technical terms. ahsk handles camelCase and snake_case, learns your identifiers in its dictionary, and its /ai-for/developers page shows the workflow. Honest answer: both work in editors and terminals; try each on your own codebase's vocabulary.
Is ahsk free?
Yes. Every account starts with 10,000 free words and no card. Pro is €9.99 a month for unlimited dictation, translation and AI rewriting, and one subscription covers Mac, Windows and iPhone.
Does ahsk work offline?
No. Transcription runs on Whisper large-v3 in the cloud, which is why accuracy on accented and non-native English is as good as it is. Your custom dictionary and learned words stay on your device. If you need fully offline dictation, ahsk is the wrong tool and we say so.
