Keep Win+H for the odd sentence: it is free, built into Windows 10 and 11, and adds punctuation. Pick ahsk if you dictate for work: it removes fillers, applies a dictionary for your names, translates into 50+ languages with Ctrl+Win+T, records meeting notes, and uses the same account on Mac and iPhone. ahsk for Windows is in beta; Pro is €9.99 a month.
Where Windows Voice Typing is ahead
It is free, already installed, and needs no account. It inserts punctuation automatically, supports more than 40 languages, and understands editing commands such as "delete that" and "select that". On Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft adds grammar and spelling correction (fluid dictation). Like ahsk, it needs an internet connection.
What ahsk does differently on Windows
Hold Ctrl+Win, speak, release, and your words land at the cursor in any program, cleaned up: fillers gone, punctuation and paragraphs added, your names spelled the way your dictionary says. Tap Ctrl+Win+Space for hands-free. Ctrl+Win+A asks a question by voice and shows a web-sourced answer. Ctrl+Win+T translates as you speak. Ctrl+Win+R records meeting notes. It re-registers its shortcuts when Windows drops them after sleep, and reconnects the microphone when you swap headsets.
What to know before installing
ahsk for Windows is a beta and we call it one. It needs Windows 10 version 1809 or Windows 11, 64-bit, and runs on Arm PCs under emulation. Programs running as administrator cannot be typed into by a normal app, so ahsk copies the text and asks you to paste. Bluetooth headsets sometimes need a second to wake before the first words. If anything else feels off, tell us; there is an Open logs folder item in the tray menu for exactly that.
Who should pick which
Keep Win+H for the odd sentence in a search box. Use ahsk when you write emails, documents, tickets or messages for a living, when you work in two languages, or when you also use a Mac or iPhone and want one dictionary everywhere.
How this comparison was made
Prices, platforms and features for the other product are taken from its own website, pricing page or app store listing, last reviewed 26 September 2026, and ahsk facts from the current builds (Mac 6.11.2, Windows 1.19.0, 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 for Windows | Windows Voice Typing (Win+H) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier, Pro €9.99/mo | Free |
| Shortcut | Hold Ctrl+Win to talk, tap Ctrl+Win+Space hands-free | Win+H opens a bar |
| Automatic punctuation | Yes, plus paragraphs | Yes |
| Removes fillers and self-corrections | Yes, on dictations of 7+ words | Grammar correction on Copilot+ PCs |
| Custom dictionary | Yes | Not in Microsoft's guide |
| Translate as you speak | Yes, Ctrl+Win+T | No |
| Ask a question by voice | Yes, Ctrl+Win+A | No |
| Meeting notes | Yes, Ctrl+Win+R, 10 hours/month | No |
| Same account on Mac and iPhone | Yes | No |
| Requirements | Windows 10 1809+ or 11, 64-bit, internet | Windows 10 or 11, internet |
Try a dictation app on your PC
Free for 10,000 words, no card. Install, hold Ctrl+Win, and say a sentence into whatever you have open.
Download for MacRelated guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does ahsk use Ctrl+Win instead of a single key?
Windows has no key like the Mac's fn that apps can safely take over. Ctrl+Win is free on every layout, pressed Ctrl first so the Start menu stays closed, and the T and A follow the letters printed on your keyboard, including AZERTY and QWERTZ.
Does the Windows version have everything the Mac version has?
Dictation, hands-free, Ask, Translate, meeting notes, the dictionary, the selection bubble and a launcher (Win+Space) are all there. Alan, the Mac's beta assistant for Calendar, Reminders and Messages, is Mac-only. The Windows app has its own version line (1.x); the Mac app is 6.x.
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, a model we chose for accented speech. Audio is not stored on our servers and is not used for training, and your dictionary and learned words stay on your device. If you need fully offline dictation, ahsk is the wrong tool and we say so.
