---
title: "Best dictation apps for iPhone in 2026: voice keyboards compared"
description: "The best dictation and voice keyboard apps for iPhone, compared on price, privacy, offline use and whether they also run on your Mac. Prices checked October 2026."
url: "https://speechbee.app/compare/best-dictation-app-iphone"
---

# The best dictation apps for iPhone

Your iPhone already has good dictation built in. A dedicated app earns its place when it learns your words, cleans up your speech, or carries the same dictionary and plan over to your Mac.

By the SpeechBee team. Prices checked on 12 October 2026.

> ### Best for each kind of person
>
> - **Best for private dictation on iPhone and Mac, plus Read Aloud:** [SpeechBee](#1-speechbee)
> - **Best cloud polish on every phone and computer:** [Wispr Flow](#2-wispr-flow)
> - **Best for AI modes across devices:** [superwhisper](#3-superwhisper)
> - **Best free cloud plan:** [Willow](#4-willow)
> - **Best free, built in:** [Apple Dictation](#8-apple-dictation)
>
> We make SpeechBee, and we put it first. Everything about the other apps comes from their own sites, linked at the bottom.

## What to look for

**Keyboard or app.** Most dictation apps on iPhone work as a keyboard you switch to, so you can dictate into Messages, Mail or Slack. Some also have an app for longer notes.

**Where your voice goes.** Apple says its own dictation is processed on the iPhone in many languages. Third-party apps vary from fully on-device to fully cloud.

**Whether it follows you to the Mac.** If you dictate on both, an app with one plan and one dictionary across iPhone and Mac saves you setting things up twice.

## At a glance

| App | iPhone price | Processing | Also on Mac | Other platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SpeechBee | $9/mo, $79/yr, or $99 once, same plan as Mac | On device | Yes | iPad |
| Wispr Flow | Free 1,000 words a week on mobile, Pro $15/mo or $144/yr | Cloud | Yes | Windows, Android |
| superwhisper | Free tier, Pro $8.49/mo, $84.99/yr, or $249.99 once | Local or cloud | Yes | Windows, Android |
| Willow | Free Basic, Pro $15/mo or $144/yr | Cloud, offline mode listed | Yes | Windows |
| Typeless | Free with weekly limit, Pro $30/mo or $144/yr | Cloud | Yes | Windows, Linux, Android |
| Spokenly | Free local, Pro $99.99/yr | Local, cloud optional | Yes | Windows, Linux |
| VoiceInk | See App Store; Mac license $25 once | Local | Yes, Apple silicon | None |
| Apple Dictation | Included with iOS | On device in many languages | Yes | iPad |

## 1. SpeechBee

SpeechBee is ours. On iPhone and iPad it is a keyboard you switch to, plus an app. Talk, and SpeechBee transcribes on your device, removes filler words, and applies your dictionary of names and your snippets before the text lands. Audio is never uploaded or recorded. The keyboard asks for Full Access only to pass voice requests and results to the SpeechBee app on your device; it makes no network requests and does not send what you type.

The app also reads text aloud. Paste text into the Read tab and a natural voice reads it. The same plan covers SpeechBee on your Mac, where you hold a key to dictate into any app or press another to hear selected text. Optional private iCloud sync keeps your dictionary and snippets the same on both. 7 days free, then $9 a month, $79 a year, or $99 once.

> **Best if** you dictate on iPhone and Mac and want your voice to stay on your devices.
>
> **Not for you if** you use Android or Windows.

## 2. Wispr Flow

Wispr Flow's iPhone app brings its cloud cleanup to your phone, and the same account works on Mac, Windows and Android. The free plan allows 1,000 words a week on mobile and 2,000 on desktop. Pro is $15 a month or $144 a year, and students get three months free. See our [Wispr Flow review](https://speechbee.app/compare/wispr-flow-review).

> **Best if** you want the same polished cloud dictation on every device.
>
> **Not for you if** you want on-device processing.

## 3. superwhisper

superwhisper is on iOS and Android as well as Mac and Windows, and its site says the mobile apps keep your tone, punctuation and formatting consistent with your desktop modes. One Pro license works on all your devices. Pro is $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 for life.

> **Best if** you already use superwhisper modes on your computer.
>
> **Not for you if** you want something simple.

## 4. Willow

Willow for iPhone is a voice keyboard for work and chat. The free Basic plan includes unlimited dictation on its smaller model. Pro is $15 a month or $12 a month billed yearly for its best model and style memory. Willow processes on its cloud by default and lists an offline mode.

> **Best if** you want a capable free cloud plan.
>
> **Not for you if** you need Android.

## 5. Typeless

Typeless runs on iPhone and Android as well as Mac, Windows and Linux. It rewrites speech into polished text, adjusts tone per app, translates as you speak and edits selected text by voice, all in the cloud. Free plan with a weekly limit, Pro $12 a month billed yearly or $30 monthly.

> **Best if** you want heavy AI rewriting on your phone.
>
> **Not for you if** you want your exact words.

## 6. Spokenly

Spokenly has an iPhone app alongside Mac, Windows and Linux. Local models are free, and Pro at $99.99 a year adds managed cloud models and sync across devices.

> **Best if** you want free local dictation and use Linux or Windows too.
>
> **Not for you if** you want cleanup without setup.

## 7. VoiceInk

VoiceInk is best known as a $25 one-time Mac app with local models, and it now has an iPhone app. Check the App Store for iPhone pricing.

> **Best if** you already own VoiceInk on your Mac.
>
> **Not for you if** you want one plan that clearly covers both.

## 8. Apple Dictation

Free and built into the keyboard. Tap the microphone and talk. Apple says it is processed on your iPhone in many languages with no internet connection required, and it supports voice commands to spell, correct and select words. It stops after 30 seconds of silence and has no custom dictionary. Our guide on [how to dictate on iPhone](https://speechbee.app/guides/how-to-dictate-on-iphone) covers it.

> **Best if** you dictate short messages.
>
> **Not for you if** you keep correcting the same names.

## Questions

### What is the best free dictation app for iPhone?

Apple's built-in dictation is free and processed on the iPhone in many languages. Willow's free plan has unlimited dictation on its smaller model, and Spokenly's local models are free.

### Which iPhone dictation app also works on Mac?

All of the apps on this list have Mac versions. SpeechBee covers iPhone, iPad and Mac with one plan and can sync your dictionary and snippets through your private iCloud.

### Does iPhone dictation work offline?

Apple says its dictation is processed on the iPhone in many languages with no internet connection required. SpeechBee also transcribes on the device. Wispr Flow and Typeless need a connection.

### Is a dictation keyboard safe to give Full Access?

Full Access lets a keyboard extension do more than type, such as share data with its own app. Check each app's privacy policy for what it does with that access. SpeechBee's keyboard uses Full Access only to pass voice requests to the SpeechBee app on your device and makes no network requests.

## Keep comparing

- [The best dictation apps for Mac](https://speechbee.app/compare/best-dictation-app-mac)
- [How to dictate on iPhone](https://speechbee.app/guides/how-to-dictate-on-iphone)
- [The best Wispr Flow alternatives](https://speechbee.app/compare/wispr-flow-alternatives)

## Sources

All checked on 12 October 2026.

- [Wispr Flow pricing](https://wisprflow.ai/pricing) and [Wispr Flow for Students](https://wisprflow.ai/students)
- [superwhisper](https://superwhisper.com/)
- [Willow pricing](https://willowvoice.com/pricing) and [Willow](https://willowvoice.com/)
- [Typeless pricing](https://www.typeless.com/pricing)
- [Spokenly pricing](https://spokenly.app/pricing)
- [VoiceInk](https://tryvoiceink.com/)
- [Apple: Dictate text on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/dictate-text-iph2c0651d2/ios)
- SpeechBee facts from our [homepage](https://speechbee.app/) and [privacy policy](https://speechbee.app/privacy)