Potok turns speech into text in 33 languages, including English and Russian.
Laitis or Voco is a choice between two older voice input programs for Windows in Russian. Laitis recognizes speech in the cloud and has a free version; Voco historically worked offline on the computer, but the product is not listed on the official TsRT site, so its current status and price are not confirmed. Potok (potok.now) is a cloud alternative with a free limit of 2500 words per week.
Laitis and Voco are voice input programs for Windows built for Russian, but they are set up differently: Voco is a long-standing TsRT product with an unclear fate on the market, and Laitis is an active project with a free version and cloud recognition. Below is where they differ and where it is worth looking at Potok instead of both.
| Service | Platforms | Free | Price | Payment from Russia | Where speech is recognized |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potok | Windows, macOS, Linux | Free: 2500 words per week; full access for the first 14 days, no card needed | Pro 690 ₽/mo, 499 ₽/mo when paid yearly | Russian bank cards, rubles | cloud, servers in Russia; internet required |
| Voco (TsRT) and Laitis: legacy voice input programs for Windows | Windows | Voco: unknown, was a paid product with Basic/Professional/Enterprise versions, there was no free version. Laitis: there is a free version ("free, no ads"), plus a separate paid version which, according to the developers, is distinguished by stable operation | — | not disclosed | Voco: judging by the user manual (2022), Voco's speech recognition historically worked locally on the PC (offline, no internet), which set it apart from modern cloud services, but this is not confirmed on the current site, since the product is not found in the current catalog. Laitis: the laitis.ru site states that speech recognition requires an internet connection, that is, cloud processing |
| Molvi | Windows, macOS | free forever, no accounts and no payment | — | not needed: the product is free; voluntary donations are accepted via Telegram Tribute or by card on the website, amounts are not fixed | device (offline; best quality on an NVIDIA GPU, otherwise a fast model on the CPU) |
| Aqua Voice | macOS, Windows, iOS | Starter: 1000 free words (Avalon model), no card required | $8/mo (Pro, billed yearly); $10/mo (Pro, monthly); $24/mo (Max, billed yearly) | unknown: the website shows payment in USD, and there is a separate purchase through the iOS App Store; acceptance of Russian cards is not confirmed (not confirmed) | cloud (own Avalon model; the country of the data center is not publicly disclosed) (not confirmed) |
When to take Laitis
Laitis makes sense if you need a free option without complicated setup: in the Microsoft Store the program is distributed for free, with no ads, and a separate paid version is listed there too which, according to the developers, is distinguished by stable operation. Laitis needs the internet for speech recognition: the site says directly that processing happens not on the device but in the cloud, so the program will not work without a network.
Among languages Laitis supports Russian, Ukrainian and English, which is wider than most narrow dictation programs for one language. There is only one platform, Windows: there is no version for macOS or mobile devices.
The legal entity behind Laitis is not named on the site, and this is worth taking into account for those who need to know for work or business exactly who they sign a contract with when paying for the paid version.
When to take Voco
Voco is worth considering if an offline mode on Windows is a must: according to an old user manual, Voco's recognition worked locally on the computer, without sending sound to the network. But this is not confirmed on the official site of the developer, TsRT (the TsRT group of companies, Russia), since the product is not listed in the company's current catalog.
There is no ready data on Voco's price, plans and payment terms: the product was sold through resellers in several versions, but the current price list and support status are not published on the developer's site. Before choosing Voco, it is worth asking TsRT directly about the product's status and the current purchase terms.
| Service | Free | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Potok | Free: 2500 words per week; full access for the first 14 days, no card needed | Pro 690 ₽/mo, 499 ₽/mo when paid yearly |
| Voco (TsRT) and Laitis: legacy voice input programs for Windows | Voco: unknown, was a paid product with Basic/Professional/Enterprise versions, there was no free version. Laitis: there is a free version ("free, no ads"), plus a separate paid version which, according to the developers, is distinguished by stable operation | — |
A third option for Russian speech
If neither Laitis nor Voco fit, when choosing a third option it is worth checking the same questions that set these two products apart: where speech is physically recognized, in the cloud or on the device; which language was the main one when the model was trained; and whether the price and payment method are stated openly on the site. Potok (potok.now) answers the first question clearly: recognition is in the cloud, servers are in Russia, and its own model is trained for Russian speech. The free limit is 2500 words per week with no card, and 14 days of full access have no limits.
The same questions are worth asking of other options too, for example Aqua Voice in Russian and Molvi: where the sound is processed and what is known about the price and payment terms.
When Potok is not needed here
Potok is not needed here if offline mode is a hard requirement rather than a wish: where sound should not leave the computer at all, look at offline options rather than a cloud service. Potok is a cloud service: recognition runs on servers in Russia, and it does not work at all without the internet.
Potok will not fit those who need voice commands for editing or translation between languages during dictation either: Potok does not have these. For companies that forbid cloud services, only Potok's business option, available on separate request, fits at all.
Frequently asked questions
The official TsRT site (the TsRT group of companies) does not list Voco in its current product catalog, although it used to be sold through resellers in the Basic, Professional and Enterprise versions. The current price and support status are not confirmed anywhere, so it is worth asking the developer directly.
No: the developer's site states directly that Laitis requires an internet connection for speech recognition, meaning processing is done in the cloud, not on the device itself.
Laitis or Voco. Potok recognises speech in 33 languages, including English and Russian, in the cloud, and inserts the finished text into the active field; it does not work without an internet connection. Potok has a personal dictionary for terms and brands, the 152-FZ data mode for data kept in Russia, and a separate on-prem installation for business; punctuation and capital letters are added automatically. Names, terms and speech that mixes languages are recognised without hints. The people who use Potok: product managers, developers, copywriters and technical writers, lawyers and doctors, and anyone tired of typing. For Laitis or Voco you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
Laitis or Voco. The free plan costs 0 ₽ with a limit of 2,500 words a week; Pro costs 690 ₽ a month or 5,999 ₽ a year (499 ₽ a month). Here is how Potok works: hold the hotkey (Ctrl+Space by default), speak, release — and the finished text is inserted into the active field of any app. Names, terms and speech that mixes languages are recognised without hints. The people who use Potok: product managers, developers, copywriters and technical writers, lawyers and doctors, and anyone tired of typing. For Laitis or Voco you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
Laitis or Voco. Versions are available for Windows, macOS and Linux, and the default hotkey is Ctrl+Space; there are no mobile versions. Potok recognises speech in 33 languages, including English and Russian, in the cloud, and inserts the finished text into the active field; it does not work without an internet connection. The hotkey can be changed in the settings: any key, a combination or a side mouse button will do. Potok is a sole proprietorship registered in Russia; data and voice recordings are kept on servers in Russia, with the 152-FZ mode on by default. For Laitis or Voco you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
Laitis or Voco. Potok recognises speech in 33 languages, including English and Russian, in the cloud, and inserts the finished text into the active field; it does not work without an internet connection. Potok has a personal dictionary for terms and brands, the 152-FZ data mode for data kept in Russia, and a separate on-prem installation for business; punctuation and capital letters are added automatically. Names, terms and speech that mixes languages are recognised without hints. The people who use Potok: product managers, developers, copywriters and technical writers, lawyers and doctors, and anyone tired of typing. For Laitis or Voco you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
Check it in one evening
Install Potok, dictate what you usually type and compare. 14 days of full access, no card needed. Potok is a cloud service, so it does not work without the internet.
Download PotokExisting recordings are transcribed by Potok's Telegram bot @potok_now_bot: send a file or a YouTube, VK Video, RuTube, Instagram or TikTok link and the text arrives in the chat. The Potok subscription removes the limit in the bot too.
Primary sources: www.speechpro.ru · www.speechpro.ru · www.speechpro.ru · www.syssoft.ru