liminfoSpeech to Text
Free web tool: Speech to Text
Uses the browser's Web Speech API. Works best in Chrome.
About Speech to Text
The Speech to Text tool is a free, browser-based voice recognition application that converts spoken words into written text in real time using the Web Speech API (SpeechRecognition / webkitSpeechRecognition). It supports 8 languages including Korean (ko-KR), English US (en-US), English UK (en-GB), Japanese (ja-JP), Chinese Simplified (zh-CN), Spanish (es-ES), French (fr-FR), and German (de-DE), with continuous listening mode and interim result display for live transcription.
The tool runs entirely in your browser with zero data uploaded to any server. It uses the continuous recognition mode to keep listening until you manually stop, accumulating final transcripts while showing interim (in-progress) results in real time. The editable output textarea lets you correct transcription errors on the fly, and a one-click copy button transfers the full transcript to your clipboard instantly.
Built for content creators, journalists, students taking lecture notes, accessibility users, and anyone needing hands-free text input, this speech recognition tool requires no account, no software installation, and no file uploads. It works best in Google Chrome, which provides the most reliable Web Speech API implementation.
Key Features
- Real-time speech-to-text conversion using the browser Web Speech API with interim and final result differentiation
- Multi-language support: Korean, English (US/UK), Japanese, Chinese Simplified, Spanish, French, and German
- Continuous listening mode that keeps recording until manually stopped, ideal for long-form dictation and lecture notes
- Interim result display showing in-progress transcription before final recognition is confirmed
- Editable output textarea allowing manual correction of recognition errors during or after recording
- One-click clipboard copy for instant transfer of transcribed text to any application
- Zero server processing — all voice recognition happens locally through the browser speech engine
- Visual recording indicator with animated pulse to clearly show when microphone is active
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Speech to Text tool work?
The tool uses the Web Speech API (SpeechRecognition or webkitSpeechRecognition) built into modern browsers. When you click "Start Recording," it requests microphone access and begins streaming audio to the browser speech recognition engine. The API processes speech in real time, returning interim (tentative) results as you speak and final (confirmed) results when it detects a natural pause. The continuous mode keeps listening until you click "Stop Recording."
Which languages are supported for voice recognition?
The tool supports 8 languages: Korean (ko-KR), English US (en-US), English UK (en-GB), Japanese (ja-JP), Chinese Simplified (zh-CN), Spanish (es-ES), French (fr-FR), and German (de-DE). Select your language from the dropdown before starting recording. The recognition accuracy depends on the browser speech engine quality for each language.
Which browser works best for speech recognition?
Google Chrome provides the most reliable and accurate Web Speech API implementation. Chromium-based browsers like Microsoft Edge also work well. Safari has partial support. Firefox does not currently support the Web Speech API for speech recognition. For best results, use the latest version of Google Chrome on desktop or Android.
Is my voice data sent to a server?
The Web Speech API implementation varies by browser. In Chrome, audio may be processed through Google servers for recognition, but the transcribed text stays in your browser and is never stored or shared by this tool. No audio files are uploaded, no transcripts are saved to any database, and all text remains local to your device. You can verify this by using the tool without an internet connection (though recognition quality may be reduced).
What is the difference between interim and final results?
Interim results are tentative transcriptions displayed in real time as you speak. They may change as the speech engine receives more audio context. Final results are confirmed transcriptions that the engine has committed to after detecting a pause or sentence boundary. The tool displays both together, with final text accumulating and interim text updating at the end, giving you a seamless live transcription experience.
Can I edit the transcribed text while recording?
Yes, the output textarea is fully editable at all times. You can click into the text area to correct errors, add punctuation, or make formatting changes while recording continues in the background. New recognized text will be appended after your cursor position. You can also edit freely after stopping the recording.
How do I copy the transcribed text?
Click the "Copy" button above the text area to copy the entire transcript to your clipboard using the navigator.clipboard API. A "Copied" confirmation appears briefly. You can then paste the text into any application such as a word processor, email client, or note-taking app. Alternatively, you can select specific portions of text in the textarea and use Ctrl+C / Cmd+C.
Why does the recording stop automatically?
The Web Speech API may stop automatically due to prolonged silence, network issues (in Chrome where speech is processed via Google servers), or browser-imposed time limits. If this happens, simply click "Start Recording" again to resume. The previously transcribed text is preserved in the textarea, and new recognition will append to the existing transcript.