After removing the grime of an MBA and a ten-year long marketing career, Saikat dabbled in web development, networking, and SAP. He was an editor of several MakeUseOf sections from 2008 to 2024, having special interests in AI, productivity methods, and iOS. He has formerly contributed to top web publications like Lifewire, Lifehacker, OnlineTechTips, GuidingTech, and GoSkills.
You will find his complete portfolio on Authory.
As a writer, I've always trusted my keyboard more than my voice when it comes to a blank page. But when I'm stuck, talking through an idea feels natural in a way typing never does. The problem is what happens next. Voice notes on my iPhone pile up. Transcripts sit unread. And the gap between "thinking out loud" and actually structuring it neatly just grows.
Most voice-to-text tools promise speed, but they usually hand you a raw transcript that still needs edits. What surprised me about AudioPen is that it's more than a simple transcription software. It's a cure for my laziness as it takes my rambling thoughts and hands them back in a form I can actually continue building from.
AudioPen turns rambling voice notes into readable prose Less like transcription and more like someone doing the editing for you
At a basic level, AudioPen takes a voice note and turns it into text. The difference is in how that text looks when it comes back. Instead of a word-for-word transcript filled with air gaps, false starts, and filler phrases, you get laid out paragraphs in several writing styles you can set up. So, instead of cleaning up, you have the momentum to write more.
This matters to procrastinators like me. I've lost count of how many ideas died because rewriting a transcript felt like a separate task entirely. Seeing a readable paragraph appear instantly lowered the psychological barrier to continuing. I have tried a similar exercise of Voice Mode notetaking with ChatGPT with good results.
Think of recording a two-minute voice note while walking, fully expecting it to be unusable later. Yes, the results won't always be perfect, but they usually are more coherent than a standard transcript. You can edit the result and keep going. A rough, structured draft is better than a forgotten voice memo gobbling space.
The rewriting styles are an interesting experiment You can speak naturally and decide how polished you want to sound later
On the surface, AudioPen's Favorite Writing Styles sound like a cosmetic feature. Put some thought into this customization as they're one of AudioPen's most useful tools. If you are on the free plan, set this up before your speech. The ability to rewrite a note after you record one is limited to Prime members. Here, you can take the same voice note and ask for a clearer, tighter, or more polished rewrite without changing how you speak in the first place. The key benefit is that you just talk first, then decide how refined the output should be.
You no longer need to "sound professional" in the moment. Ramble, repeat ideas, and circle back. You can later choose a rewrite style and see how it looks different in each.
As I am experimenting with the free account on AudioPen, I often run the same ideas through two different rewrites just to see how the idea holds up. The Clear & Simple version shows me whether there's a real point underneath the words. A more expanded Descriptive version helps me spot where I need examples or sharper framing. This way, I can test the strength of the thought itself. It's a workaround, as AudioPen Prime members have the flexibility to change this after the recording.
Where AudioPen still falls short for serious writing Excellent for drafts, but it won't finish the thinking for you
For all its strengths, AudioPen isn't a magic writing machine. It smoothens language, but it doesn't build arguments. If your idea requires careful structure, layered reasoning, or nuanced positioning, you'll still need to do that work yourself. The practical takeaway is knowing that AudioPen is about writing neater drafts, not the final article (though I think it can be a wonderful email assistant or boost social media messaging).
I've noticed that some rewrites can feel a bit too neat, almost overly balanced. When everything is smoothed out, edges disappear. Sometimes those edges are where voice conveys emotion. I often have to re-edit specificity, nuance, or personal perspective after the rewrite.
As the AudioPen free version is limited to three minutes of voice, I haven't tried this on longer, complex topics. Though I have felt it struggle when the writing depends on deliberate pacing or argument flow. That's not a flaw but just a limitation that any AI tool suffers from.
Who is AudioPen actually for? It works best when you stop trying to sound "perfect"
AudioPen works best for people who think by talking. Writers, creators, and researchers who like to take notes on the go with AI will get immediate value. If you struggle with starting but enjoy refining, this tool fits naturally into your workflow.
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I am a frustrated perfectionist. I expect my first drafts to feel finished. For me, it's not for precision-first writing, but for brainstorming on the move. The moment I stopped expecting "publishable" text and started treating AudioPen as a thinking partner, my output increased. Rough clarity turned into outlines became far more useful than a brain dump.
A simple experiment before deciding if AudioPen is for you
Record one unfiltered voice note tomorrow, rewrite it twice using different styles, and see which version makes you want to keep writing. With the three minutes of recording allowed in the free plan, you won't be able to write entire blog posts. But it's enough to write emails, create journal entries, quick book notes, and even descriptive social media posts. Also, AudioPen's mobile apps won't let you move ahead without subscribing to the Prime plan. So, try out the voice transcription on your browser as I am doing before deciding on a purchase.
