CorviTired of typing? Speak instead, in every Mac app
Last updated: 2026-10-31
If you're tired of typing, move part of your writing to your voice. With Corvi on a Mac, hold the Fn key, say what you want to write, and release: the text appears where your cursor is, with punctuation, in Mail, Slack, Notion, Word, a browser or any other app. For long dictation, press Fn with Command and speak hands-free.
How much of your day is typing
Typing is slower than it feels. In a study of 136 million keystrokes from 168,000 volunteers, the average typing speed was about 52 words per minute (Dhakal et al., CHI 2018). Speaking is much faster: in a Stanford study, speech input on a phone was about three times faster than typing on its keyboard in English, with fewer errors (Stanford, 2016).
For someone who writes 30 e-mails and 100 chat messages a day, the difference adds up to hours a week. The typing time calculator works out your own number.
Speed isn't the only cost. Long typing sessions are tiring for hands and attention, and the effort makes people write shorter, vaguer messages than they mean to.
Ways to type less on a Mac
| Option | How | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| macOS Dictation | Press the dictation key, speak | Built in and free; punctuation and names often need fixing |
| Text replacements | System Settings › Keyboard › Text Replacements | Good for short fixed phrases only |
| A voice typing app | Hold a key, speak, release | Clean text in any app; an extra app |
| Corvi | Hold Fn, speak, release | Voice typing plus spoken summaries of your screen, with the same key |
How to do it with Corvi
- Click where you want to write: an e-mail, a Slack message, a document, a form, a prompt box.
- Hold Fn and speak naturally. You don't need to say "comma" or "period".
- Release. Corvi turns your speech into text, adds punctuation and capitals, and types it in.
Three features make it fit your day:
- Hands-free: press Fn with Command to start; tap Fn to finish. Useful for long replies and drafts.
- Voice snippets: say "my address" or "meeting follow-up" and a whole saved text is typed.
- Personal dictionary: add names, product terms and abbreviations once; they're spelled right every time.
Corvi also adapts the style to the app: more formal in Mail, more casual in chat.
Stop typing. Stop reading. Talk and listen.
Free to download, no card needed. Setup takes a minute; if you don't like it, drag it to the Trash.
Download free for MacWhen your hands need a break
If typing is uncomfortable for you, using your voice for part of the day means fewer keystrokes. Corvi is a productivity tool, not a medical device, and makes no health claims; pain is worth discussing with a doctor or physiotherapist. More in Corvi for accessibility.
Start small
Pick one kind of writing for the first week: chat replies, or e-mail answers, or prompts for your AI tools. Once speaking feels natural there, add the next. Most people are surprised how quickly the hold-speak-release rhythm becomes automatic.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to speak English?
No. Corvi types in 35 languages, including Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi and Turkish.
Does it work in every app?
It types into any field with a cursor: native Mac apps, browsers, and apps built on Electron such as Slack, Notion and Discord.
Is my voice recorded?
The microphone is on only while you hold the key. In most languages your speech is turned into text on your Mac; silent recordings are never sent anywhere.
Is it free?
Corvi is free to download and use on the free plan, with no card needed.