How much does Dragon dictation cost?
Quick answer: Nuance's own Dragon pages do not show a price. As of November 14, 2026, the Dragon Professional page (Windows) has no price and sends buyers to a "Contact us" licensing link. The Dragon Anywhere Mobile page describes a subscription with no price, and Dragon Medical One has no price on Microsoft's Dragon Copilot page, only "Contact us" buttons. Prices you see elsewhere come from resellers and vary. Dragon for Mac was discontinued in 2018. On a Mac, Apple Dictation is free, and Dictop costs US $6.99 once, with a 30-day free trial.
Dragon is a family of products from Nuance, which Microsoft now owns. Each one has its own buyers and its own way to get a price. This page lists what Nuance and Microsoft say themselves, and nothing else.
What does each Dragon product cost?
| Product | Who it is for | What Nuance or Microsoft show (November 14, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon Professional (v16) | Individuals and professionals on Windows | No price on the product page. It says the software is optimized for Windows 11 and backwards-compatible to Windows 10, and links to "Contact us" for licensing. |
| Dragon Anywhere Mobile | Dictation on iPhone and Android | Described as a subscription, with no price shown. The page lists the US and Canada, and offers "Contact us for volume licensing". |
| Dragon Medical One | Clinicians in healthcare organizations | Microsoft's Dragon Copilot page has no price. It offers "Contact us" buttons and a section about migrating from Dragon Medical One to Dragon Copilot. |
| Dragon for Mac | Mac users | Discontinued. See below. |
Reseller sites list their own prices for these products, and the figures differ from site to site. They are not official, so this page does not quote them. For a firm price, use the contact links on Nuance's pages or ask an authorized reseller for a quote. Ask what the price includes, such as the license term, support and updates.
Availability changes. Check the product page, or ask Nuance, before you plan a purchase.
Is Dragon for Mac still sold?
No. Nuance said it had made the difficult decision to discontinue the Dragon Professional Individual for Mac line-up in October 2018. According to The Register, the software keeps working but gets no future updates or support. TidBITS reported phone support for 90 days from activation in North America and 180 days elsewhere.
If you are on a Mac, the Windows version of Dragon is not an option unless you run Windows separately. For the full story, read What is a good Dragon alternative for Mac?
Is Dragon worth the cost?
It depends on the work you do. Dragon is built for people who need dictation tied to professional workflows, such as healthcare organizations buying Dragon Medical One, or Windows users who want Dragon Professional. If that is you, ask Nuance or a reseller about your exact use. We have not tested Dragon, so we do not compare it with other tools on accuracy or speed.
For plain writing on a Mac, the question changes. Dragon for Mac is gone, so your real choices are the tools that run on macOS.
What can I use on a Mac instead?
| Option | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Dictation | Free, built into macOS | Basic dictation into any text field. See Dictop or Apple Dictation. |
| Dictop | US $6.99 once for lifetime on-device use, 30-day free trial | Dictation into any Mac app, replacement rules for your own vocabulary, and the same purchase on iPhone and iPad |
Dictop prices are from the US App Store as of November 14, 2026. Regional prices vary and are shown in the app. Cloud models are optional, and you buy them separately as prepaid hours that do not expire. See dictation without a subscription.
If you need voice commands, such as opening apps or running workflows by voice, Dictop is not the tool for that. Use DopDock, our Mac automation app, for commands, and Dictop for writing.
What are the limits of Dictop?
- Dictop does not control your Mac by voice. For that, use DopDock.
- Dictop has no medical or legal specialist vocabularies. You can add your own terms as replacement rules.
- Dictop has no Windows or Android app.
- Local speech models work best on Apple Silicon Macs. On Intel Macs, use cloud transcription.
- Accuracy depends on the model, your voice, your microphone and your language. We have not run a benchmark.
- When you pick a cloud model, your audio goes to that service for transcription. Check the privacy policy for details.
Which should I try first?
If you are on a Mac, start with Apple Dictation, since it is free. If you want custom word rules, a choice of speech models and one purchase across Mac, iPhone and iPad, try Dictop. It is a one-time purchase with no subscription, and the 30-day trial is free.
By Dictop · Reviewed