Last updated 07-28-2026
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Steno
Talk instead of type on your MacBook and Steno turns speech into clean written text in real time. The app listens in the background while you work in other programs, so you dictate without switching screens. Each sentence goes through ChatGPT after transcription, which is meant to cut down the rewriting most dictation tools leave behind.
Most voice typing apps optimize for raw capture speed and hand you a transcript to fix later. Steno bets on readable output from the first pass: it starts writing the moment it hears you, no hotkey required, and claims to keep pace even at conversational speed. That focus comes with a real constraint. It only runs on Apple Silicon MacBooks today, with Windows and Intel Mac support listed as on the way.
The Basic plan is free forever and includes 20 messages without a watermark. After that, a small dinosaur emoji tags your text until you upgrade. Premium costs $12.99 per month or $69.99 per year, roughly $5.83 monthly, and removes the watermark. You can try it without entering a credit card.
Mac users who draft a lot of email, chat, or daily writing will feel the biggest gain. Steno cites average keyboard speed at 50 words per minute and positions voice at about four times that because speaking is naturally faster.
ChatGPT rewrites each dictated sentence so output needs less manual editing
Transcription starts automatically when Steno hears you talk, with no hotkey
Real-time capture keeps pace even when you speak at conversational speed
Runs alongside other Mac apps so you dictate without switching screens
Free Basic tier includes 20 watermark-free messages, no credit card to start
Premium yearly plan costs $69.99 (about $5.83/mo), 55% less than monthly billing
ChatGPT cleanup on each sentence cuts post-dictation editing time.
Starts transcribing automatically when it hears you, no hotkey needed.
Runs alongside other Mac apps without forcing screen switches.
Free tier includes 20 watermark-free messages with no credit card required.
Only available on Apple Silicon MacBooks; Windows and Intel Mac are not released yet.
Free plan adds a dinosaur emoji watermark after 20 messages.
Premium starts at $12.99 per month to remove watermarks.
Is Steno free to use?
Steno offers a free Basic plan that lasts forever with no credit card required. You get 20 watermark-free dictated messages on the free tier. After that limit, a small dinosaur emoji appears in your text until you upgrade to Premium.
How much does Steno Premium cost?
Steno Premium is $12.99 per month when billed monthly. The yearly plan is $69.99, which works out to about $5.83 per month and saves 55% versus monthly billing. Premium removes all watermarks from dictated text.
What Macs can run Steno?
Steno runs on MacBooks with Apple Silicon M-series chips, including M1 and M2 models named on the site. Intel Mac support and a Windows version are listed as coming soon. The download page does not offer builds for non-Apple-Silicon machines yet.
How does Steno clean up dictation?
Steno transcribes your speech in real time, then sends each sentence through ChatGPT to improve accuracy and readability. The site says this reduces the re-editing step that raw dictation usually needs. That cleanup happens automatically as you speak.
Can students get a discount on Steno?
Steno does not list a formal student discount on its pricing page. The site asks anyone who cannot afford the tool or has special needs to email [email protected]. The team says they will try to accommodate those requests.
Does Steno work in other apps?
Steno runs at the same time as your other apps, so you dictate without switching between screens. It starts transcribing when it hears you talk while awake, with no separate activation step. That makes it suited to typing into whatever window you already have open.
What is Steno's refund policy?
Steno offers a 30-day money-back guarantee with no questions asked on paid plans. Yearly subscribers can also get pro-rated refunds after 30 days. These terms are stated on the meetsteno.com pricing section.