SpeechBee

Guide

Voice typing on iPhone keyboards

Every iPhone keyboard can take dictation, but they don't all work the same way. Apple's microphone key is free and built in. Gboard has its own voice typing. Dedicated dictation keyboards add dictionaries, snippets and the same setup as your Mac. Here is how each works and how to pick.

By the SpeechBee team, who make SpeechBee. Updated 12 October 2026

On this page
  1. Voice typing keyboards at a glance
  2. Apple's built-in voice typing
  3. Gboard voice typing
  4. Dictation keyboards
  5. About Full Access
  6. SpeechBee on iPhone and iPad
  7. Questions
  8. Keep reading
  9. Sources

Voice typing keyboards at a glance

KeyboardCostWhat it addsGood to know
Apple keyboardFreeBuilt in, voice commands for punctuation and editingStops after 30 seconds of silence, no custom dictionary
GboardFreeGoogle's keyboard with voice typingTalk-to-text doesn't work in every language
SpeechBee$79/yr or $99 once, 7 days freeDictionary, snippets, filler removal, same rules as your MacTranscribes on your iPhone
Wispr FlowFree 1,000 words a week, Pro $144/yrAI-polished text, same account on Mac, Windows and AndroidTranscribes in the cloud
WillowFree Basic, Pro from $12/mo yearlyVoice keyboard for work and chatCloud by default, lists an offline mode

Apple's built-in voice typing

Turn on dictation in Settings, General, Keyboard, then tap the microphone on the keyboard in any app and speak. Tap the keyboard key or stop talking to finish. Apple says dictation is processed on your iPhone in many languages without an internet connection. You can say punctuation and use voice commands to spell, correct and select words. It stops after 30 seconds of silence and has no custom dictionary. Full guide: how to dictate on iPhone.

Gboard voice typing

Gboard is Google's keyboard for iPhone and iPad. After installing it and switching to it, tap an area where you can type, tap the Microphone, and speak when you see "Speak now". You can say "period", "comma", "exclamation point", "question mark", "new line" and "new paragraph". To replace a word, touch and hold it, tap the microphone, and say the new word. Google notes that talk-to-text doesn't work in every language.

Dictation keyboards

A dictation keyboard is an app's keyboard you switch to with the globe key. They exist for people who dictate a lot and want more than the built-in microphone:

  • A dictionary for names and terms, fixed once.
  • Snippets that expand a phrase into longer text.
  • Filler removal, so "um" doesn't land in your message.
  • The same setup on your Mac, so your dictionary works on both.

About Full Access

Third-party keyboards often ask for Full Access, which lets a keyboard do more than type, such as share data with its own app. Read each app's privacy policy before you allow it. SpeechBee's keyboard uses Full Access only to pass voice requests and results to the SpeechBee app on your iPhone. It makes no network requests and does not send what you type.

SpeechBee on iPhone and iPad

SpeechBee is our app. On iPhone and iPad it is a keyboard you switch to, plus an app. Talk, and it transcribes on your device, removes filler words, and applies your dictionary and snippets before the text lands. Your audio is never uploaded or recorded. Turn on its optional private iCloud sync and your dictionary and snippets match your Mac, where SpeechBee works with one key in any app. The Read tab reads pasted text aloud.

One plan covers iPhone, iPad and Mac: $9 a month, $79 a year, or $99 once, after 7 days free.

Dictate on iPhone, iPad and Mac with one setup. Free for 7 days.

Voice to text and Read Aloud on your Mac, iPhone and iPad. After the week, $9 a month, $79 a year, or $99 once. Every plan has every feature.

Download for MacGet it for iPhone & iPad

Questions

How do I use voice typing on the iPhone keyboard?

Turn on dictation in Settings, General, Keyboard. Then tap the microphone on the keyboard in any app and speak.

Does Gboard have voice typing on iPhone?

Yes. Tap the microphone in Gboard and speak when you see "Speak now". It doesn't work in every language.

Which iPhone voice keyboard works offline?

Apple's dictation works offline in many languages, according to Apple. SpeechBee transcribes on your iPhone after a one-time model download, so it works offline too.

Is it safe to give a keyboard Full Access?

It depends on the app. Full Access lets a keyboard share data with its own app. Check the privacy policy. SpeechBee's keyboard uses it only to talk to the SpeechBee app on your device and makes no network requests.

Can my iPhone voice keyboard use the same dictionary as my Mac?

With SpeechBee, yes, if you turn on its optional private iCloud sync for dictionary corrections and snippets. Apple's dictation has no custom dictionary.

Keep reading

Sources

All checked on 12 October 2026.