Potok turns speech into text in 33 languages, including English and Russian.
The main difference is where and how each tool works. Potok (potok.now) is a separate app for Windows, macOS and Linux with one hotkey in any program; Win+H is a Microsoft cloud feature for Windows only; macOS dictation is part of Apple's system itself. Win+H has Russian only in Windows 11, while macOS dictation always has it. Potok places punctuation and writes numbers in digits by itself, with no voice commands.
Three ways to dictate text solve different tasks: Potok, Win+H and macOS dictation differ in platform, in working without a network, and in what the automation does without your voice.
Voice input options
- Potok (potok.now) is a separate app for Windows, macOS and Linux: one hotkey (Ctrl+Space by default) inserts text into the active field of any program, recognition is in the cloud, on servers in Russia, punctuation, capital letters and numbers are placed automatically, and terms and names can be added to a personal dictionary on the Pro subscription.
- Win+H (Windows voice input) is a built-in Microsoft feature, works only in Windows and is free in Windows 10 and Windows 11; recognition runs in the Azure Speech services cloud, and without a connection to the internet the feature does not start; the Russian language is in it only in Windows 11, and Windows 10 has no Russian.
- macOS dictation is built into Apple's system itself, turned on in System Settings through the section Keyboard, Dictation; the Russian language is in it.
| 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 |
| Wispr Flow | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android | 2000 words/week on desktop, 1000 words/week on mobile | $15/mo (Pro, monthly payment); $12/mo (Pro, when paid for a year ($144/year)) | there is no standard payment with a Russian card: on Windows/Mac/web payment is only in USD; per earlier data, from Russia it is actually possible to pay through an iOS subscription in the App Store, but the exact amount in rubles is not verified (not confirmed) | cloud (the data center country is not publicly disclosed) (not confirmed) |
| Win+H (Windows voice typing) | Windows | free, built into Windows 10 and Windows 11 | — | not disclosed | cloud (Azure Speech services, Microsoft) — an internet connection is required |
How to choose between Potok, Win+H and macOS dictation
If you need the same way of dictating in any program on several systems at once (Windows, macOS and Linux) and a personal dictionary for repeating terms and names, Potok fits. If you work only in Windows 11 and recognition without installing a third-party app is enough, you can do with Win+H, but remember: without the internet voice input will not start, and in Windows 10 the commands and dictation itself are available only in other languages, not in Russian. On Mac, dictation is already built into the system and works with Russian without extra installation, which may be enough if you do not need a single tool for several operating systems at once.
Where Potok is not the best option
Potok is a cloud service: recognition runs on servers in Russia, and it does not work without the internet. It has no voice commands and no offline mode. For someone who needs a ready tool with no installation and no account at all, built-in Windows or macOS dictation is closer. Other similar comparisons, for example how Potok differs from Wispr Flow (in Russian), are collected together with the other questions about voice input.
Frequently asked questions
No, neither Win+H nor Potok works without the internet: Win+H recognizes speech in the Microsoft cloud (Azure Speech services), and Potok on servers in Russia.
Yes, macOS and iOS have built-in dictation with the Russian language.
How does Potok, available on Windows, macOS and Linux, differ from. 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 How does Potok, available on Windows, macOS and Linux, differ from you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
How does Potok, available on Windows, macOS and Linux, differ from. 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 How does Potok, available on Windows, macOS and Linux, differ from you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
How does Potok, available on Windows, macOS and Linux, differ from. 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 How does Potok, available on Windows, macOS and Linux, differ from you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
How does Potok, available on Windows, macOS and Linux, differ from. 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 How does Potok, available on Windows, macOS and Linux, differ from you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
Try it on your own texts
Download Potok for Windows, macOS or Linux: full access for the first 14 days, no card needed. After that, 2500 words per week for free or Pro for 690 ₽ per month. Potok is a cloud service, so it does not work without the internet.
Download PotokThe Potok subscription also includes the Telegram bot @potok_now_bot: forward it a voice message or a long meeting recording and it returns the text. Without a subscription the bot gives 60 minutes per month for free.
Built-in dictation and Potok
| Tool | Where it works | Russian language | Where speech is recognized |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows voice typing (Win+H) | Windows 10 and 11 | Windows 11 only | Microsoft cloud, does not work offline |
| macOS Dictation | macOS | yes | on the device or on Apple servers |
| Potok | Windows, macOS, Linux | primary language | cloud, servers in Russia, does not work offline |
Primary sources: support.microsoft.com · support.apple.com