# TextHear vs Dictation Speech to Text

The clearest difference is rating: Dictation Speech to Text at 4.3 against TextHear's 1.3. Dictation Speech to Text also leads on review sentiment (41% vs 0%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). TextHear's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (9.2 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TextHear sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Dictation Speech to Text sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Dictation Speech to Text holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dictation Speech to Text has 183 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of TextHear's written reviews are positive against 41% of Dictation Speech to Text's.

TextHear ships an update every 8 months, Dictation Speech to Text every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TextHear | Dictation Speech to Text |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.3 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/texthear/id1246677907/reviews) | **[4.3 (183 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictation-speech-to-text/id1658450301/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **183** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **40.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 26 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.2** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WellSource Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1033127659) | [Kostiantyn Liubevych](https://appshunter.io/developer/1734302743) |

## What reviewers say

### TextHear

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/texthear/id1246677907)

This app provides real-time speech-to-text transcription to assist individuals with hearing impairments. It can be used for non-stop dictation or to convert phone calls and conversations into text, making communication more accessible.

**Highlights:** Real-time transcription, Non-stop dictation, Phone call captioning, Face-to-face conversation aid, High-precision speech recognition

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Transcription credits pack: 30 minutes | $8.99 | one-time |


### Dictation Speech to Text

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictation-speech-to-text/id1658450301)

This app converts spoken words into written text in real-time, ensuring accurate capture of conversations in any environment. It's designed to aid individuals with hearing impairments, promote inclusive communication, and boost productivity by providing instant captions.

**Highlights:** Real-time audio transcription, High accuracy, Intuitive interface, Captioning for deaf/hard of hearing, Productivity enhancement, Inclusive communication

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited usage | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $19.99 | per year |
| Unlimited usage | $19.99 | per month |
| Unlimited usage | $49.99 | per year |
| Discounted lifetime usage | $39.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime usage | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 helpful for hard of hearing
- 💰 reasonable pricing
- 👍 simple and convenient interface
- 👍 lifetime subscription option
- 👍 makes life easier

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 app crashes
- 🐛 recording not saved
- 🐛 transcription errors
- 🐛 live transcription issues
- 🐛 keyboard issues (no line change)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during recordings
- Recordings are not saved when app crashes
- Transcription errors occur
- Live transcription provides only a few words
- Keyboard does not allow for line changes

**Requested features**

- Improve live transcription accuracy
- Fix keyboard line change functionality
- Ensure recordings are saved
- Make free lifetime access functional


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TextHear free?

TextHear is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Dictation Speech to Text free?

Dictation Speech to Text is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, TextHear or Dictation Speech to Text?

Dictation Speech to Text is rated higher. TextHear averages 1.3 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Dictation Speech to Text averages 4.3 from 183 ratings.

### Do TextHear or Dictation Speech to Text have ads?

Neither TextHear nor Dictation Speech to Text shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TextHear or Dictation Speech to Text?

TextHear ships an update every 8 months, and Dictation Speech to Text every 3 weeks. Most recently, TextHear was updated on October 8, 2026 and Dictation Speech to Text on October 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*