Who this is for
Typing hurts, tires your hands, or is not how you want to work today. You want dictation that stays out of the way once it starts, with large text and clear labels if you use accessibility features.
How it works
- On iPhone, tap the mic key in the keyboard to start recording, then speak.
- On Mac, double-tap Option to lock hands-free recording, so you never hold a key down.
- Speak, and swipe back on iPhone or double-tap Option again on Mac to stop and insert the cleaned text.
Both apps install free from the beta page.
What makes it different
- A hands-free lock on Mac. Double-tap Option once to start and once to stop, instead of holding a key for the whole dictation.
- Accessibility from build 54. Dark mode reaches the app, the keyboard, and the Live Activity. Larger tap targets, clearer VoiceOver labels, clearer permission screens, and large Dynamic Type round out the app support.
- Fewer taps overall. Spoken formatting commands replace reaching for punctuation keys, and a searchable history means you rarely retype something you already said.
- Processing is on-device, using Apple's speech engine for transcription and an on-device language model for cleanup. If you deny the microphone permission, Parlo shows an Open Settings button instead of a dead end.
Common objections, answered
Is it accurate enough compared with cloud dictation?
Parlo transcribes with Apple's on-device speech engine, the same engine behind the newest system dictation, then cleans the text with an on-device language model. It removes filler sounds and false starts and applies spoken commands like new paragraph, so you rarely need to touch the keyboard to fix punctuation. It is English-first and a beta, so expect rough edges.
Why not just use Apple's built-in dictation?
Apple dictation types what you say. Parlo also cleans it up and keeps a searchable history, so you do not have to retype something you already said. On Mac, it can lock hands-free with a double-tap of Option instead of holding a key. History syncs through your private iCloud, end-to-end encrypted, and you can turn that off.
The keyboard asks for Full Access. What does that grant?
Full Access lets a keyboard extension share data with its companion app. Parlo uses it to pass your dictated text from the app back to the keyboard through a shared container. The keyboard itself cannot record audio, since iOS does not allow it. The keyboard never links the sync stack and never talks to iCloud.
Where does my audio go?
Nowhere. Audio is captured, transcribed on your device, and discarded. Parlo never stores a recording. The first run may download Apple's on-device speech model, and beta builds fetch prompt text once a day, carrying no user data. Your transcripts stay on the device, encrypted at rest. If history sync is on, they sync through your private iCloud, end-to-end encrypted, so Apple and Parlo cannot read them.
Is a beta safe to rely on?
It is a beta. Dictation, cleanup, the feed, and the Mac hands-free lock work every day for our testers. Rough spots are listed on the beta page. Your notes are encrypted on the device and, if sync is on, in your private iCloud, so a bad build does not expose them. Parlo for Mac tells you when a new build is out. Download it again from the beta page; automatic updates need beta enrollment through /mac. Send feedback by replying to beta@parlokey.com.
What does it cost?
Nothing during the beta. There is no account to create and no subscription. Install on iPhone from the public TestFlight link and on Mac from the download on the beta page. Sync uses your own iCloud.
Frequently asked questions
Can I dictate hands-free on Mac?
Yes. Double-tap Option to lock hands-free recording, then double-tap again to stop. You do not need to hold the key down the whole time.
Does Parlo support VoiceOver and large text?
Yes. Build 54 added larger tap targets, clearer VoiceOver labels, clearer permission screens, and support for larger Dynamic Type sizes across the app.
Can I use the iPhone keyboard without much tapping?
Yes. Tap the mic key to start, then dictate. You still swipe back to the app once to insert, which is a single gesture, not repeated typing.
Is Parlo free during the beta?
Yes. Both apps are free during the public beta, with no Parlo account required to install either one.
Can the keyboard insert text without me swiping back?
No. iOS requires a manual swipe back before a keyboard can insert text. Parlo cannot skip that step, even in a hands-free flow.