Compare dictation solutions
Find the right tool for your workflow. Dragon, Speech Recognition Cloud, Philips SpeechLive, hardware — or combine them all.
| Solution | Best for | Custom vocabulary | Cloud-based | AI document drafting | Macros / automation | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speech Recognition CloudMost popularFree tier · no credit card | Cloud-first users who want fast, accurate dictation in any Windows app — 57+ languages | AI-assisted | Yes | No | 20+ AI commands | Try free → |
| Dragon Professional 16 | Heavy daily dictation, complex documents | Yes | No | No | Yes | From $994 → |
| Dragon Medical One | Healthcare professionals, clinical documentation | Medical vocab | Yes | No | No | Enquire → |
| Dragon Professional Anywhere | Teams, hybrid work, any device | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Enquire → |
| Philips SpeechLive | Shared transcription workflows, author to typist | Yes | Yes | No | No | Enquire |
| SpeechLive Legal AINew · 2026 | Solicitors, barristers and legal executives drafting file notes, letters and case documents | Legal terminology | Yes | Drafts into your firm’s templates | Not applicable | Early access → |
| SpeechLive Professional AINew · 2026 | Finance, insurance, construction and real estate — templated reports and correspondence | Yes | Yes | Drafts into your own templates | Not applicable | Early access → |
| Dictation hardware | Philips and OM System recorders for secure, offline capture | Not applicable | No | No | Not applicable | Browse → |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Key decision factors
Cloud vs local
Cloud tools (Dragon Anywhere, SpeechLive, Speech Recognition Cloud) work anywhere. Local tools (Dragon Professional desktop) offer offline capability and tighter data control.
Custom vocabulary and macros
Dragon with custom macros can be 3x faster than typing. Philips excels at shared workflows. Speech Recognition Cloud offers 20+ AI commands without setup.
Budget
Dragon Professional is a one-time cost (perpetual licence). Speech Recognition Cloud offers a free tier to start. Cloud subscriptions suit teams needing flexibility.
Team workflows
Philips SpeechLive handles delegation between authors and transcriptionists. Dragon works best for individual power users who dictate heavily and automate repeatedly.
Governance
Healthcare and government users need clear data retention, training, and compliance. Dragon Medical One and enterprise Philips include HIPAA/BAA options.
Specialisation
Medical professionals benefit from Dragon Medical (built-in medical vocabulary). Legal teams now have SpeechLive Legal AI, which drafts dictation and attached files straight into your firm's templates rather than just transcribing.
Common combinations
Medical professionals
Dragon Medical One (primary) + Philips SpeechMike recorder (secure backup). For simpler needs, Speech Recognition Cloud with its free tier is a low-friction starting point.
Legal teams
SpeechLive Legal AI for drafting straight into your templates, plus Dragon Professional for personal power users. Speech Recognition Cloud suits fee earners who need fast, flexible dictation across devices.
Single-user heavy dictators
Dragon Professional 16 (local, perpetual) + custom macros for workflows. Or Speech Recognition Cloud for a cloud-first alternative with no upfront cost.
Flexible / hybrid teams
Dragon Professional Anywhere (cloud, all devices) + Philips SpeechMike hardware (for better audio in noisy environments).
Multilingual teams
Speech Recognition Cloud (57+ languages, free tier) is the natural choice where English-only Dragon is not sufficient. No training required, works instantly.
Government agencies
On-premises or containerised Dragon + Philips hardware for secure capture + auditable workflows with retention controls.
Not sure which solution is right for you?
Talk to our team. We have helped hundreds of Australian professionals, legal firms, and healthcare organisations choose the right combination. 25 years of deployment experience.
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