Medical Dictation Without
the 12-Month Contract
Medical mode recognizes drug names, anatomy, and procedures from your first note, with no voice training. Press a key and dictate into Epic, Cerner, athenahealth, or any other EHR, on Mac or Windows.
The best medical dictation software in 2026 is Dictation Daddy: AI-powered voice-to-text with a built-in medical mode, 98 to 99 percent accuracy powered by Whisper and Soniox, and native apps for Mac, Windows, Android, and Chrome. Dragon Medical One costs about 1,713 dollars per user in the first year and only runs on Windows. Dictation Daddy costs 99 dollars per year, works immediately, and types directly into Epic EHR, Cerner, athenahealth, and any other clinical application.
Dragon Medical costs more
than it saves.
Dragon Medical One is the default for clinical dictation, and it works. But it is sold on 12-month contracts through Microsoft and its resellers. Microsoft lists it at 1,476 dollars per user a year; reseller quotes run about 99 dollars a month plus a 525 dollar implementation fee, roughly 1,713 dollars in the first year, the same for a hospital or a single clinician. It runs only on Windows, which leaves out the many clinicians who work on a Mac.
There is no one-time license anymore. Dragon Medical Practice Edition, the last version you could buy outright, stopped selling in 2021, and Dragon Medical One terms are non-cancellable 12-month contracts that renew automatically.
Meanwhile, general speech models have become accurate enough to handle medical terms without a specialty add-on or an enterprise contract.
Dictation Daddy is built on those models, for 99 dollars a year.
What medical professionals need
Clinical terminology recognized immediately
Medical mode handles drug names, anatomy, procedures, and diagnostic terms without training. Add your specialty's terms to the custom word list and they are recognized from then on.
Where your dictation goes
Dictation Daddy transcribes in the cloud, so it needs an internet connection. The privacy policy covers how audio is handled, and HIPAA compliance is available for Enterprise customers on request.
Types directly into Epic, Cerner, or any app
Press one key and dictate into whatever application has your cursor: Epic EHR, Cerner, athenahealth, your practice management software, or any other tool. No copying and pasting between windows.
Works with Philips SpeechMike and more
Supports Philips SpeechMike and other professional dictation devices. If you already have clinical-grade hardware, you can keep using it.
Recognized out of the box
A sample of medical terms that work immediately, no training required.
Reading imaging studies? See the page for radiologists
Works in every EHR
If you can type in it, you can dictate in it.
Dictation Daddy vs Dragon Medical One
You are reading this on the Dictation Daddy website, so we are a little biased. Here is an honest side-by-side.
| Feature | Dragon Medical One | Dictation Daddy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About 1,713 dollars in year one through resellers (99 a month plus a 525 dollar setup fee); Microsoft lists 1,476 dollars a year | 99 dollars per year |
| Mac support | Windows only | Mac and Windows apps, plus Android and Chrome |
| Contract | Non-cancellable 12-month terms that renew automatically | Monthly or yearly, cancel anytime |
| Paying ahead | No perpetual license since Dragon Medical Practice Edition stopped selling in 2021 | 5-year plan for 399 dollars, billed every 5 years |
| Buying it | Sold through Microsoft and resellers, after an eligibility check | Price on the website, free for the first 100 dictations |
Dragon Medical One pricing from reseller quotes and Microsoft Marketplace ("Dragon Medical One per user - US"), October 2026. Dragon Medical Practice Edition reached end of sale on March 31, 2021. Dictation Daddy accuracy reflects benchmark performance of the underlying transcription models (Whisper, Soniox).
Ready in under 5 minutes
Download and install
Install the Mac or Windows app. No training wizards, no voice profiling, no IT department required.
Switch on medical mode
Pick medical mode in the app. Clinical terminology is available immediately. Add specialty terms through the custom vocabulary list.
Dictate into your EHR
Press your shortcut key, click into any EHR text field, and start dictating. Notes appear where your cursor is.
Common questions from medical professionals
Does Dictation Daddy support medical terminology out of the box?+
Yes. Medical mode recognizes clinical terms, drug names, anatomy, and procedures without training. Words like acetaminophen, amoxicillin, tachycardia, and myocardial infarction are recognized the first time you say them.
Does it work inside Epic EHR, Cerner, and athenahealth?+
Yes. Dictation Daddy types into whatever application has your cursor, including Epic EHR, Cerner, athenahealth, and any other EHR or practice management software. Press one key and dictate into any text field.
Is Dictation Daddy HIPAA compliant?+
HIPAA compliance is available for Enterprise customers on request. Dictation Daddy transcribes in the cloud, and our privacy policy describes how audio is handled.
How does it compare to Dragon Medical?+
Through resellers, Dragon Medical One costs about 99 dollars per user per month on a 1-year contract plus a 525 dollar implementation fee, roughly 1,713 dollars in the first year (reseller quotes, October 2026); Microsoft's own listing is 1,476 dollars a year. It runs on Windows. Dictation Daddy costs 99 dollars a year and works on Mac, Windows, Android, and Chrome.
Does it require voice training for medical terminology?+
No. Medical terms are recognized without a training step. You can add terms specific to your specialty or practice through the custom vocabulary feature.
Can I use a professional medical microphone with it?+
Yes. Dictation Daddy supports Philips SpeechMike and other professional dictation devices out of the box. Plug in and start dictating without extra configuration.
Is there a free trial?+
Yes. Your first 100 dictations are free with no credit card required. Test it with your own clinical vocabulary before you pay.
Clinical accuracy.
Not a clinical price.
99 dollars a year instead of about 1,713 in the first year. Medical mode included. Works on Mac and Windows. Free for your first 100 dictations, no credit card required.