Compare / Windows Voice Typing

Claude Whisper vs Windows Voice Typing

Windows has voice typing built in: press Win+H and talk. Claude Whisper is a free, open-source tray app that adds hold-to-talk on Right Ctrl and hands your speech to Claude Code’s voice dictation. Its Windows version is a first version, so this page is upfront about what it lacks.

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Written by the developer of Claude Whisper. Facts about Windows Voice Typing come from its own pages, read in November 2026; every one is listed under Sources.

Quick verdict

Built in, or hold-to-talk on Claude Code

Windows Voice Typing is already on your PC, has voice commands for editing, and on Copilot+ PCs cleans up grammar and fillers in English on the device. Claude Whisper on Windows is simpler still: hold Right Ctrl, speak, let go. It has no Improve on Windows yet, so its main draws are push-to-talk, the hands-free lock, History and Auto-send into Claude.

Pick Claude Whisper if

You want push-to-talk: hold a key, speak, let go.
You already use Claude Code on Windows.
You want a history of recent dictations to copy again.
You want a dictation sent straight into the Claude app (Auto-send).

Pick Windows Voice Typing if

You want nothing to install and no extra account.
You want voice commands such as “delete that”.
You have a Copilot+ PC and want Fluid dictation’s cleanup.
You want full voice control of the PC (Voice access).

Side by side

Claude Whisper and Windows Voice Typing compared

	Claude Whisper	Windows Voice Typing
Price	Free app, MIT licensed. Runs on the Claude account you already use for Claude Code: no extra subscription, no API key	Included with Windows
Setup	Download a zip. The macOS app is signed and notarized by Apple; the Windows app is not signed yet, so SmartScreen asks once (“Run anyway”)	Built in
Platforms	Windows 10/11 (x64 and ARM64), first version; also macOS 14+	Windows 10 and 11. Voice access: Windows 11, version 22H2 and later
Where speech is processed	Claude Code’s built-in voice dictation, signed in as you; your speech goes to Anthropic through Claude Code. The app’s only connections of its own are to GitHub, to check for updates when you ask	Voice typing: Microsoft’s online speech recognition (Azure Speech services). Voice access: on device after a language download
Works offline	No: transcription is done by Claude Code’s voice dictation	Voice typing: no. Voice access: yes, after the one-time download
How you trigger it	Hold Right Ctrl, speak, let go; Right Alt or a double-tap locks hands-free; Esc cancels; changeable	Win+H starts listening (a toggle, not push-to-talk); say “Stop listening” or press the mic button. Only starts with the cursor in a text box
Cleanup	None on Windows yet: Improve is macOS only, so text is pasted as Claude Code transcribed it	Automatic punctuation, profanity filter. Fluid dictation on Copilot+ PCs (English) fixes grammar, punctuation and fillers on device
Voice commands	No	“Delete that”, “select that”, punctuation by name; Voice access adds full PC control
Languages	Those Claude Code’s voice dictation supports; pick one in Settings	46 language and region entries for voice typing; fewer for Voice access
Custom vocabulary	No	Voice access has “Add to vocabulary”
Open source	Yes, MIT	No, part of Windows

Prices as of November 2026, in the currency the vendor shows. Claude Whisper needs Claude Code installed and signed in to a Claude account.

Price

Both are free, with different strings

Claude Whisper

The app is free and MIT licensed. It runs on the Claude account you already use for Claude Code. You need Claude Code installed and signed in, with /voice working.

Windows Voice Typing

Included with Windows. Nothing to install.

Privacy

Microsoft, your PC, or Claude Code

Claude Whisper

Claude Code transcribes your speech under your Claude account, so the audio goes to Anthropic. Apart from update checks on GitHub when you ask, the app itself makes no network connections, and it keeps the last 30 dictations on your PC.

Windows Voice Typing

Voice typing sends voice data to Microsoft’s cloud “only to provide the service”; Microsoft says it does not store, sample or listen to recordings without your permission. Contributing voice clips is optional. Voice access runs on your PC after the language files download, and Fluid dictation uses an on-device model.

Platforms

Where each one runs

Voice typing is part of Windows 10 and 11. Voice access needs Windows 11 version 22H2 or later; Fluid dictation needs a Copilot+ PC and works in English.

Claude Whisper runs on Windows 10/11 on x64 and ARM64, as a single self-contained exe. It is not signed, so SmartScreen stops the first launch until you click “Run anyway”. The Windows app has no Improve, capsule position or Faster start yet. It also runs on macOS 14 or later.

Features

Toggle and talk, or hold and paste

Claude Whisper on Windows

Hold Right Ctrl, speak, let go: the text is pasted at your cursor. Right Alt or a double-tap locks hands-free.
History of the last 30 dictations in the tray menu.
Auto-send into the Claude app, and optionally consoles running Claude Code.

Windows Voice Typing

Win+H anywhere there is a text box; listens until you stop it.
Voice commands for editing and punctuation.
Fluid dictation on Copilot+ PCs; say “Undo that” to restore the original.
Voice access for controlling the whole PC by voice, offline.

Claude Whisper’s limits, plainly

It needs Claude Code installed and signed in to a Claude account, with /voice working. If you do not use Claude Code, it is not for you.
Your speech goes to Anthropic through Claude Code, under your account. It is not an offline or on-device tool.
Desktop only: macOS 14 or later and Windows 10/11. No iPhone or Android app.
The Windows app is a first version: no Improve, no capsule position and no Faster start yet.
The Windows build is not signed yet, so SmartScreen warns on the first launch.
It is unofficial: not made by, affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic.

Fair is fair

When Windows Voice Typing is the better choice

You want dictation with nothing to install, no unsigned app and no extra account.
You want to edit by voice (“delete that”, “select that”) or control the whole PC by voice with Voice access.
You have a Copilot+ PC: Fluid dictation cleans up grammar, punctuation and fillers in English on the device, which Claude Whisper cannot do on Windows yet.
You need offline dictation: Voice access works without internet after its download.
You don’t use Claude Code.

FAQ

Questions about Claude Whisper and Windows Voice Typing

Why use Claude Whisper if Windows already has voice typing?

For push-to-talk on one key, a hands-free lock, a history of recent dictations, and Auto-send into Claude. If you don’t need those, Win+H is simpler.

Does Claude Whisper clean up text on Windows?

Not yet. Improve is macOS only; on Windows the text is pasted as Claude Code transcribed it. On a Copilot+ PC, Windows’ Fluid dictation does clean up English text.

Does either work offline?

Voice typing needs internet; Voice access works on device after a one-time language download. Claude Whisper always needs internet.

Can I keep using Win+H alongside Claude Whisper?

Yes. Claude Whisper uses Right Ctrl by default, which does not clash with Win+H.

Is Claude Whisper made by Anthropic?

No. It is an unofficial, independent project that works with Claude Code. It is not made by, affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic.

Try Claude Whisper

Free and open source. If Claude Code already works on your computer, setup takes a couple of minutes.

Download for macOS Download for Windows

More comparisons

Sources

Competitor pages were read on 10 November 2026. Prices are as shown there that day.

Claude Whisper README: https://github.com/viachm/claude-whisper#readme
Claude Whisper guide: https://github.com/viachm/claude-whisper/blob/main/docs/GUIDE.md
Use voice typing: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows/use-voice-typing-to-talk-instead-of-type-on-your-pc
Speech, inking, typing and privacy: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/privacy/speech-voice-activation-inking-typing-and-privacy
How Microsoft protects privacy in speech recognition: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/security/how-does-microsoft-protect-my-privacy-while-improving-its-speech-recognition-technology
Voice access FAQ: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows/voice-access/voice-access-frequently-asked-questions-faqs
Get started with voice access: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows/voice-access/get-started-with-voice-access
Set up voice access: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows/voice-access/set-up-voice-access
Dictate text with voice access: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows/voice-access/dictate-text-with-voice