How to dictate into any application
A short, practical walkthrough — no account needed to try it.
Step by step
- Put your cursor where the text should goAny text field, in any app.
- Press Option+W (Alt+W)A small recording window appears.
- TalkNormal speed, normal punctuation habits.
- StopThe transcript is typed at the cursor. Nothing to copy.
Try it on the text in front of you
Free to start, 10 aiCatCoins included, no card. Mac, Windows and Linux.
The default hotkeys (all editable)
| Keys | What happens |
|---|---|
| Option / Alt | aiCat guesses: rewrite if you are writing, translate if you are reading something foreign, proof-check otherwise |
| Option + R | Refine / rewrite |
| Option + T | Translate |
| Option + P | Proof check |
| Option + D | Detect AI |
| Option + E | Explain |
| Option + C | Start a chat with the selection attached |
| Option + S | Chat with web search |
| Option + L | Read aloud — or record you, if nothing is selected |
| Option + W | Dictate: speak, and the text appears at your cursor |
| Option + I / V | Generate an image / a video |
| Option + H | History of everything you selected and what came back |
Why this is faster than the alternative
The usual route is: copy, switch app, paste, prompt, wait, copy, switch back, paste. Eight actions and a broken train of thought.
Selecting and pressing one key is two actions, and you never leave what you were doing. Over a working day that difference compounds into real time.
aiCat pricing at a glance
| Plan | Price | aiCatCoins / month | Max selection | What it unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10 | 500 chars | All text tasks + free voice-to-text |
| Premium | $6/mo (was $10) | 3 000 | 5 000 chars | Voice, image, video, premium models |
| Team + Offline | $18/member | 12 000 | 50 000 chars | Local models, no-internet mode, team sync |
| Enterprise | $90/member | 150 000 | Unlimited | SSO, audit, best coin rate |
Frequently asked
Is dictation free?
Yes — voice recording and transcription work on the Free plan.
Which engine is used?
Whichever you choose: Deepgram, OpenAI, Gemini, AssemblyAI or ElevenLabs. The default is the best accuracy-per-cost option.
What is aiCat?
aiCat is a desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux. You select text anywhere on your computer, press one hotkey, and an AI does what you need with it — rewrite, translate, proof-check, detect AI, explain, read aloud, dictate, or start a chat.
How much does aiCat cost?
Free to start, with 10 aiCatCoins a month and every text task included. Premium is $6 a month (40% off the $10 list price) and adds voice, image and video generation, 5000-character selections and 3000 coins a month. Team + Offline is $18 per member and adds local models that work without internet.
Which operating systems does aiCat support?
macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows 10/11, and Linux as AppImage, .deb or .rpm.