Typing Speed Test
Measure your typing speed with a clean WPM test, then compare it with a realistic voice dictation workflow. The useful question is not only how fast you type, but where typing slows down your actual writing day.
Run the test
Type the sample text below. The timer starts when you type the first character.
What this test tells you
A typing test is useful, but it is not the whole writing workflow. Most people lose time before and after the words appear: starting the draft, fixing tone, remembering context, and moving between apps.
If your typing score is fine but emails, notes, PR summaries, or recaps still pile up, the bottleneck may be capture friction rather than finger speed. That is the job where private Mac dictation can help.
Compare typing with dictation
Use your result in the dictation speed calculator. A classic Stanford HCI study found speech input could be roughly three times faster than typing for English and Mandarin text entry on mobile devices. Daily Mac writing is different, so the practical test is your own writing: one email, one note, one follow-up.
FAQ
How is typing WPM calculated?
This test uses the common five-character word standard: typed characters divided by five, then divided by elapsed minutes. Accuracy adjusts the final net WPM.
What is a good typing speed?
Many knowledge workers type around 40 to 60 WPM in normal work, but useful writing speed depends on editing, thinking, and context switching.
Is voice dictation always faster than typing?
No. Dictation is fastest for rough drafts, recaps, notes, and emails. The keyboard is still better for exact code, links, names, and final edits.
Where does Unspoken fit?
Unspoken fits Mac users who want local-first voice-to-text when typing speed is not the real bottleneck: starting drafts, capturing context, and reducing keyboard time.
Try private dictation on Mac
Unspoken is built for local-first voice-to-text when you want to speak the rough draft, keep private writing close, and edit in the apps you already use.
Download Unspoken