OpenFlow
Speaking speed test
Talk for 30 seconds, get your real words per minute. Live word count while you speak, then a verdict on your pace.
Describe your morning so far, from the moment you woke up.
Click the mic to start a 30 second test. Speak in English at your natural pace.
Reading mode: your browser does not support live speech recognition (Firefox, for example), so this test uses a timed reading instead. Read the passage below out loud at your natural pace, and your words per minute is calculated from the passage length and your time.
The early morning sun climbed slowly over the ridge and spilled light across the green valley floor. A narrow river wound between the fields, catching the glow and carrying it toward the sea. In the small town beside the water, shopkeepers rolled up their shutters and set out crates of fruit, fresh bread, and bundles of flowers. A baker waved to the postman, who was already halfway through his route. Children hurried along the sidewalk with backpacks bouncing, calling out to friends across the street. By eight the square was busy with bicycles, delivery vans, and the smell of coffee drifting from open doors. It was an ordinary morning, and that was exactly what made it good: everything in its place, everyone in motion, and the whole day still ahead.
Click Start reading, read the whole passage out loud, then click I finished.
Accuracy note: browser speech recognition can miss or miscount a few words, so treat the result as a solid estimate rather than a lab measurement. Depending on your browser, the audio may be sent to Google or Apple servers for processing. On-device dictation like OpenFlow keeps audio on your Mac.
What your number means
Speaking speed is situational. The same voice that races through a story should slow way down on stage.
| Pace | How it sounds | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Under 110 wpm | Measured, deliberate | Presentations, teaching, important announcements |
| 110 to 150 wpm | Relaxed, conversational | Everyday conversation, meetings, podcasts |
| 150 to 190 wpm | Energetic, quick | Excited storytelling, casual chats with friends |
| Over 190 wpm | Rapid fire | Auctioneers, ad disclaimers, very patient listeners |
Fair questions
What is the average speaking speed?
Most people speak conversational English at about 140 to 160 words per minute. Presenters slow down, sports commentators speed up, and audiobook narrators hold a steady 150 to 160 wpm so listeners never have to rewind.
What speed should I present at?
Aim for about 110 to 130 words per minute with deliberate pauses. It feels slow when you are the one speaking, but it gives an audience time to absorb each point, and the pauses read as confidence rather than hesitation.
Is speaking really faster than typing?
Yes, by a wide margin. The average typing speed is about 40 words per minute, so most people speak 3 to 4 times faster than they type. That gap is exactly why dictation works: you get thoughts out at talking speed instead of typing speed.
How can I change my pace?
Practice with a timer, pause at punctuation instead of rushing through it, and record yourself. Hearing your own recording is the fastest way to notice pacing habits, and rerunning this test gives you a number to track over time.
Your voice is faster than your keyboard.
OpenFlow turns that speed into text: hold a key, speak, release, and your words appear at your cursor, transcribed 100% on device. Free forever, open source, and your voice never leaves your Mac.
Apple Silicon, macOS 14 or later. About two minutes from download to first dictation.