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Windows Speech Recognition

Free with Windows Vista and Windows 7

Reviewed October 2009

Voice recognition included with Windows

pros
  • Around 97 percent accuracy
  • Included in Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems
  • Excellent tutorials and user interface
cons
  • Steep learning curve
  • Slower and not as richly featured as Dragon NaturallySpeaking

Reviews say that Windows Speech Recognition is nearly as powerful as Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 (starting at *Est. $45 for the Standard version) and has similar accuracy. Its biggest advantage is that it is included free as part of the Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems that are standard on most new computers. The version in Windows 7 is largely unchanged, though some small improvements -- such as an expanded dictionary -- are noted in early reviews. Experts almost unanimously conclude that Windows Speech Recognition is a very good program and in some ways -- such as in the user interface and tutorial modules -- better than Dragon's NaturallySpeaking 10, though most say that power users are better off with NaturallySpeaking.

PCMag.com delivers the best comparative review of Windows Speech Recognition, in an article that documents a series of performance tests comparing the Windows program to Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10. Though it's not comparative, Glen Salzman has an outstanding review and startup guide on BrightHub.com. StevePavlina.com and TopTenReviews.com editors have useful but less comprehensive reports. GadgetUserBlog.com has one of the few early write-ups of the version of Windows Speech Recognition in Windows 7.

Our Sources

1. PCMag.com

Even though this review is dedicated to Dragon's NaturallySpeaking 10, Michael Muchmore delivers a strong, head-to-head assessment of how Windows Speech Recognition stacks up against it. Muchmore ultimately favors NaturallySpeaking, but finds Windows Speech Recognition to be a good choice for casual users.

Review: Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10, Michael Muchmore, Aug. 8, 2008

2. Bright Hub.com

BrightHub.com's Glen Salzman authors the most thorough, balanced and detailed assessment of Windows Speech Recognition we were able to find. In addition to delivering conclusions about the program's performance, Salzman also provides outstanding guidance for setting up and beginning use. Little comparison is provided to competing programs, except in oblique references.

Review: Microsoft Windows Vista - Speech Recognition Features Make the Upgrade, Glen Salzman, May 14, 2009

3. StevePavlina.com

Steve Pavlina is not a professional reviewer but a personal development blogger and, by his own account, a longtime fan of voice recognition technology. Representing the minority of users who don't like Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Pavlina decides to try Windows Speech Recognition and is generally happy with the results.

Review: Voice Recognition Software, Steve Pavlina, Feb. 7, 2008

4. TopTenReviews.com

In this review, Lecia Monsen favorably evaluates Windows Speech Recognition and finds it superior to "most" of those rated in the site's comparative listing. However, the review doesn't explain why Windows Speech Recognition was left out when other speech recognition programs were rated, and fails to specify where precisely Windows Speech Recognition would fall in the site's ranking system.

Review: Got Vista? Voice Recognition Is Built In, Lecia Monsen, Not Dated

5. GadgetUserBlog.com

Although short on detail, this blog post offers one of the few currently available comparisons of the speech recognition programs available on Windows Vista and Windows 7. The newer iteration is said to be an improvement, but there is little support given to explain this finding. Comparison is also made to Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10, with the author writing that Windows Speech Recognition is "on par" with NaturallySpeaking.

Review: Windows 7 and Speech Recognition, Editors of Gadget User Blog, May 17, 2009

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