A superwhisper alternative with an iPhone keyboard
Parlo is a superwhisper alternative built around an iPhone keyboard, not only a Mac app. Both transcribe on-device with a hold-Option hotkey on Mac. Parlo is free during the beta with no account, while superwhisper's Pro plan is a paid subscription or lifetime purchase. Parlo supports English only.
People search for a superwhisper alternative for one of three reasons:
- They want an iPhone keyboard rather than a separate recording app.
- They want a free option instead of a paid plan.
- They want one on-device path with no model to configure.
Parlo answers the first two directly. It ships an iPhone keyboard and costs nothing during the beta.
Both apps share a hold-Option hotkey pattern on Mac. superwhisper's home page describes Option plus space. Parlo for Mac uses a hold-Option hotkey by default, with a custom shortcut available in Settings. superwhisper also lets you add your own API key for a cloud model. Parlo transcribes and cleans up only on-device, with nothing to configure.
| Parlo | superwhisper | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone, Mac | Mac, Windows, iOS, iPad |
| Where processing happens | On-device only | On-device by default; cloud optional with your own API key |
| Price | Free during the beta | Free tier; Pro $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year, or $249.99 once |
| iPhone keyboard | Yes, its own keyboard extension | not stated |
| Mac hotkey | Yes, hold Option | Yes, Option plus space |
superwhisper still covers more platforms, including Windows and iPad, and its language list runs past 100 with translation to English. If you need those platforms, Parlo will not replace superwhisper yet. The same is true if you want your own API key for a cloud model on a given dictation. Parlo has no cloud option at all.
If you dictate mainly on iPhone and Mac, Parlo covers that case directly with one keyboard extension that works the same way in every app. That comes with a Mac hotkey, a free beta with no account, and nothing to configure. Founders and operators who dictate from an iPhone keyboard for Slack messages, email, and notes get that surface built in. superwhisper's site describes iOS support but does not detail an iOS keyboard. Writers who want a Markdown export on Mac also get that from Parlo, since superwhisper's site does not name an export feature.
Try both if you already use superwhisper on Mac. Install Parlo for iPhone from TestFlight to see how its keyboard feels day to day. You do not have to give up superwhisper's Mac workflow.
Read the full comparison at Parlo vs superwhisper for the complete feature table. Or go straight to the beta page to install.
Frequently asked questions
Why look for an alternative to superwhisper?
Common reasons are wanting an iPhone keyboard instead of a separate app, a free option instead of a paid plan, or one on-device path with nothing to configure.
Does Parlo have a keyboard extension like superwhisper?
Parlo's iPhone app ships its own keyboard extension. superwhisper's site describes Mac, Windows, iOS, and iPad support but does not name an iOS keyboard.
Is Parlo free like superwhisper's free tier?
Parlo is free for the whole beta with no account. superwhisper's free tier includes basic transcription with limited cloud model access; its Pro plan is a paid subscription or a $249.99 lifetime purchase.
Does Parlo let me bring my own API key like superwhisper?
No. Parlo only transcribes and cleans up on-device with Apple's speech engine, with no cloud model or API key option.