What SpeakFlow is and how it works

Potok transcribes Russian speech; this site has been translated into English for convenience.

SpeakFlow is cloud voice input for Windows and the browser with a free plan of 30 minutes of dictation per month, forever. Russian is stated as the main language, and a separate feature inserts an English translation right during dictation. Payment is in rubles directly. Potok (potok.now) works differently: a cloud model tuned for Russian speech and 2500 words per week for free, with no limit on recording time.

SpeakFlow is voice text input with an unusual extra feature: besides ordinary dictation in Russian, the service can immediately insert an English translation of what you said. It works in the browser and as a separate app for Windows, without installing anything complicated. Russian is stated as the service's main language rather than one of many in a general list, and this shows in how the features are built around Russian speech in particular.

SpeakFlow: how voice input with translation works

The basic scenario is similar to most cloud programs: the sound goes to a server, is recognized there and comes back as text in the field you are dictating into. It is available in the browser and in a separate app for Windows; SpeakFlow has no version for macOS or Linux.

What sets SpeakFlow apart is on-the-fly translation: you dictate in Russian, and next to or instead of the original you can get a ready English translation, without switching to a separate translator and copying the text again. For those who regularly write emails or messages in English but find it more comfortable to put their thoughts into Russian, this saves a step.

The free plan gives 30 minutes of dictation per month with no time limit, not once on sign-up but anew every month. For larger volumes there is a paid plan with unlimited dictation; the exact terms and price are collected in the fact card below, not in this description.

The website does not state where the speech recognition servers are physically located: for most tasks this is not critical, but those who care about the jurisdiction of voice processing should ask the developer directly.

Sources: speakflow.ru · speakflow.ru · speakflow.ru · blog.speakflow.ru

Who SpeakFlow suits

SpeakFlow is closest to a few scenarios.

• those who regularly translate dictated text from Russian into English and want to do it in one step, without a separate translator;
• users for whom the browser or a simple Windows app is enough, with no need for a Mac version;
• those who dictate rarely and stay within 30 minutes per month, so the free plan may last a long time;
• those for whom paying in rubles directly matters, without cards from foreign banks or intermediaries.

Those who need a program for macOS or daily dictation for several hours should look at the general catalog of voice input software and compare SpeakFlow with alternatives on these two points separately: platform and the amount of free access. A personal dictionary for terms and names is not separately stated in SpeakFlow's feature description, so check specialized vocabulary on your own text before moving to the paid plan.

Limitations for a user in Russia

For a Russian user SpeakFlow holds few surprises: payment in rubles directly, the developer is a sole proprietor registered in Russia, and the company details are shown openly. This is a rare case where the legal side is simpler than with most competitors registered abroad.

The situation with the recognition servers themselves is less transparent: the data center country is not disclosed on the website. For personal correspondence this usually does not matter, but for working with sensitive client or patient data, clarify this with the developer before you start using the service in work processes. Those who need to know exactly where the sound is processed are better served by a program that recognizes on the device itself; see the comparison with GigaType.

In terms of platforms, SpeakFlow is limited to the browser and Windows: Mac and mobile users will have to look for another option. For those who work on several computers with different systems at once, this means keeping another program at hand for devices other than Windows.

When Potok does not replace SpeakFlow

Potok will not replace SpeakFlow where you need on-the-fly translation of dictated text: Potok has no such feature at all, it inserts exactly what you said, in the same language.

Also keep in mind the architecture of Potok itself: it is a cloud service, recognition runs on servers in Russia, and it does not work without the internet, just like SpeakFlow, which is also cloud-based. Users for whom the Windows platform and a browser without installation are essential may also find SpeakFlow simpler: Potok requires installing a desktop app on Windows or macOS.

Frequently asked questions

Primary sources: speakflow.ru · speakflow.ru · speakflow.ru · blog.speakflow.ru