Voice dictation for Claude Code on Windows
Claude Code has a built-in /voice mode. It works inside Claude Code. Holdkey gives you one hold-to-talk gesture across Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, Slack and everything else, with Smart or Local recognition.
Last checked September 2026. Facts about other products come from their public pages and reviews; tell us if something changed.
| Holdkey | Claude Code /voice | |
|---|---|---|
| Works in | Every app, including the Claude Code terminal | Only inside a Claude Code session |
| Trigger | Hold Right Ctrl (configurable), from any window | Hold spacebar while Claude Code is focused |
| Latency | Local usually under half a second; Smart uses the network | About 1–2 seconds (cloud transcription) |
| Runs | Smart managed recognition or Local on this PC | Anthropic's cloud |
| Cleanup | Clean mode removes ums and slips; verbatim on Shift | Raw transcription with project names as hints |
| Vocabulary | Your dictionary biases recognition | Project and branch names as hints |
Use both
There is nothing wrong with /voice when you are already in Claude Code. Holdkey is for the other 70% of the day: the Cursor chat, the GitHub issue, the Slack thread explaining what you shipped.
Terminal paste, done right
Most dictation tools paste with Ctrl+V, which Windows Terminal does not accept. Holdkey uses the right chord per app and has been tested against Windows Terminal, PowerShell and Claude Code specifically.
Local is free with no account. Hold a key, talk, release. Upgrade to Smart when accuracy matters most.
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