No free tool fully replaces CATalyst Pro yet. Best free option: Plover (Situational).
$4,299 USDone-time
≈$6,129.08 CAD (converted from USD)
Every pick below has a free version.
No free tool ranks Strong for CATalyst Pro yet, so the tools below each cover only part of the job. What a free alternative to CATalyst Pro would need
1 alternative
Right for specific needs, or not yet mature enough to recommend widely.
Best for writing steno on a computer without CAT software
Free GPL steno engine for Windows, Linux and Mac that types into any application. It is an input method, not transcript preparation software.
Sponsor this page: $149 for 30 days. Sponsors appear above the ranking, labeled; the ranking itself is not for sale.
How each alternative covers what people use CATalyst Pro for. Numbers link to editor notes.
| Feature | Plover |
|---|---|
| Input | |
| Steno machine and keyboard input | YesNote 1Supports many steno machines and ordinary keyboards |
| Translation | |
| Personal and job dictionaries | PartialNote 2Dictionary files and stacking; no job dictionary merge workflow |
| Output | |
| Realtime output to attorneys | No |
| Transcript formatting and certification pages | No |
| Exchange | |
| RTF/CRE and ASCII exchange | No |
| Parity score | 30% |
Last verified . Ranking: tier first, then the published score.
Something wrong or out of date? Report outdated info.
CATalyst Pro is a product of Stenograph, named here for comparison only. Platforms listed for CATalyst Pro: Windows.