Potok transcribes Russian speech; this site has been translated into English for convenience.
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 |
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.
Potok states about 900 characters per minute by voice versus about 200 when typing, roughly 4 times faster. This is the product's own estimate, not an independent measurement.
By a model estimate, the average dictation speed with Potok is about 900 characters per minute versus about 200 characters per minute with ordinary typing, so speech is noticeably faster than the keyboard.
Any microphone the system sees as a recording device will do. In Potok you choose it in the app settings or in the tray icon menu; system access to the microphone is required.
Voice input is the conversion of speech to text on the fly: the user speaks, and the program transcribes the sound with speech recognition technology (ASR) and inserts the resulting text into the active field, such as email, a messenger or a document. In Potok this works through a hotkey: hold it, speak, release, and the text is inserted.
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: speech is recognized on servers in Russia, and 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 or RuTube 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