System requirements
Will CaringDictate work on your computer?
Almost certainly yes. If your computer can run modern Chrome or Edge comfortably, it can run CaringDictate. Below is the honest detail.
A quick decision tree
Three questions and you'll know.
-
Question 1
Do you have a Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer?
- Yes — Windows 10 or 11. Move on to Question 2.
- No — I have a Mac, Chromebook, iPad, or older Windows. CaringDictate doesn't run on your computer yet. Sign up for the Mac waitlist below.
-
Question 2
Is your computer from roughly the last 10 years?
- Yes — 2015 or newer. CaringDictate will run — a weak or low-end machine simply gets the lightest model. Go to Question 3.
- Not sure / older than 2015. CaringDictate may still work, but accuracy and speed may suffer. The 30-day refund exists for exactly this — try it and we'll refund if it doesn't perform well.
-
Question 3
Do you have at least 3 GB of free disk space and a working microphone?
- Yes. You're good. CaringDictate will install and run.
- I'm not sure. Almost every Windows laptop has a built-in microphone. Free up a few GB of disk space by emptying your Downloads folder or Recycle Bin — that's usually enough.
The full table
Honest minimum and recommended specs.
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system Older Windows 10 versions before 1903 are not supported because the speech engine needs the modern Windows audio stack. | Windows 10 (64-bit), version 1903 or newer | Windows 11 |
| CPU CaringDictate runs the voice model on your GPU when it can and falls back to the CPU otherwise. Modern PCs produce text in real time; very old or low-end machines use the lightest model — faster, but less accurate — and words can still lag behind your speech. | Any 64-bit Intel or AMD CPU from 2015 or later | A CPU from the last 5 years for best transcription latency |
| RAM CaringDictate typically uses 1-2 GB of RAM while actively dictating, less when idle. | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Disk space The voice model is downloaded during setup — between about 190 MB and 3.1 GB, matched to your computer; only machines that can use the largest model download it. Updates may temporarily need more space. | 3 GB free | 6 GB free |
| GPU CaringDictate uses your GPU when one is available — NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics all work — which speeds up recognition, and falls back to the CPU automatically when there is no usable GPU. A GPU is never required. | Not required | Any modern GPU makes it faster |
| Microphone Bluetooth headphones also work, but typically with slightly higher latency than wired. Your computer's built-in mic is fine for most people. | Any built-in laptop mic, USB headset, or USB desktop mic | A headset mic for the best accuracy on quiet voices |
| Internet After install + first run, CaringDictate works completely offline. No data is sent to any server during dictation. | Required for the setup model download (190 MB - 3.1 GB) and license activation | Required only for the first run |
Mac and Linux
CaringDictate is Windows software.
There is no Mac or Linux version you can buy or download today, and we would rather say that plainly than let you find out after paying. If you are on a Mac, macOS has dictation built in — it is free and already installed, and for a lot of people it is enough.
If you want to hear from us if that ever changes, email hello@caringdictate.com and we will keep your address for that one message and nothing else.
System requirements FAQ
Common questions about hardware and compatibility.
Will it work on Windows 8 or Windows 7?
No, sorry. CaringDictate uses parts of the Windows speech and audio APIs that only exist in Windows 10 (build 1903+) and Windows 11. If you're still on Windows 7 or 8, the underlying OS has been past end-of-support since January 2020, which means it isn't getting security patches either — please consider a free upgrade to Windows 10 or 11 if your hardware allows.
Will this work on my Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android phone?
No — CaringDictate runs on Windows 10 and 11 only, and that is the honest whole of it. We are not going to promise other platforms or dates we cannot stand behind. If you would like a Mac version, add your email at the bottom of this page and we will let you know if one ever ships. In the meantime Apple Dictation is built into every Mac at no cost, Apple's Voice Control adds custom vocabulary and commands, and SuperWhisper and VoiceInk are both good on-device options on macOS.
Will it work on a 10-year-old computer?
Often yes, but it depends on the machine. CaringDictate measures your computer during setup and picks a voice model it can run. A very old or low-end PC gets the lightest model — faster, but less accurate — and words may still lag behind your speech. The 30-day refund covers exactly this: try it and see how it performs on your computer.
Will it work alongside my screen reader (NVDA / JAWS / Narrator)?
Yes. CaringDictate types into focused text fields the same way the keyboard does — your screen reader sees the new text and reads it back, just like if you had typed it. We test against NVDA on every release.
Will it work with my hearing-aid microphone?
Sometimes. Many modern hearing aids include a microphone that pipes back to your computer over Bluetooth. CaringDictate will use whatever input device Windows is currently routed to. Quality varies — some hearing-aid mics produce noisy input that drops accuracy. If you try it and accuracy is poor, the 30-day refund applies.
Does it use my GPU? Does it need an NVIDIA card?
It uses your GPU when you have one — NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics all work — which makes recognition faster. If there is no usable GPU, it runs on the CPU instead. Either way it works, and a dedicated NVIDIA card is never required.
Does it need an internet connection?
The internet is needed to install, to download a speech model, to activate your licence and for update checks. Dictation itself does not need a connection, because recognition runs on your own machine — plenty of people use it on travel laptops in airplane mode.
Will it slow down my computer?
CaringDictate is idle when you are not dictating — it sits in the background waiting for your hotkey. While dictating, it uses about one CPU core. You can use it alongside Word, Outlook, Chrome, Zoom, Photoshop, anything — same as any other Windows app.
Ready to try it?
The free trial answers compatibility doubt.
Download it, install it, and see how it runs on your computer — free for seven days, no card needed. And if you buy and anything is off, we refund the full $49 inside 30 days — no friction.
Free 7-day trial. $49 once to keep it. 30-day money-back guarantee.