Learn dictation: guides from Parlo
Parlo's learn hub collects guides on dictation for iPhone and Mac: how on-device speech recognition works, how to set up the keyboard, and how to compare it with other voice apps. Each guide answers one question in plain language, with links to the beta and to related guides.
New guides land here as the beta grows, each one written to answer a single question. Start with the one closest to what you are trying to do below.
Best private dictation app for Mac in 2026
How Parlo, superwhisper, Spokenly, Wispr Flow, and Monologue compare for on-device dictation on Mac. Hotkeys, processing location, and price, fact checked.
Best voice keyboard for iPhone in 2026
How Parlo, Wispr Flow, superwhisper, Spokenly, and Apple's dictation compare on iPhone. Platforms, processing, price, and keyboard support, fact checked.
How to add a custom dictionary to dictation
Add names and terms to Parlo's custom dictionary on iPhone. Entries feed the keyboard's autocorrect only, so it stops changing a word you meant to type.
Dictate into Obsidian and Markdown notes on Mac
Dictate directly into Obsidian on Mac with the Option hotkey, or export your Parlo notes as Markdown into a vault with Export All or auto-export.
Dictate into Slack, WhatsApp, and Messages
Use the Parlo keyboard to dictate messages in Slack, WhatsApp, and Messages. Cleanup and spoken formatting commands apply the same way in every app.
Dictation accuracy: what affects it, how to improve
What changes on-device dictation accuracy and steps to improve it, from background noise to how you speak, and what a custom dictionary actually does.
Dictation for email: spoken draft to clean message
Dictate an email out loud and turn it into a greeting, body, and closing with Parlo's Email transform. How it works and what stays as you said it.
Dictation for RSI and hands-free typing
Cut typing with Parlo. Tap the mic on iPhone, or hold Option on Mac and double-tap to lock hands-free. Build 54 added bigger tap targets and clear labels.
Dictation history: why a searchable record wins
How Parlo's on-device history search works on iPhone and Mac, what the keyboard's history panel can and cannot do, and how deletion and sync work.
Does Apple dictation send your audio to Apple?
Apple's dictation can process audio on-device or send it to Apple's servers, depending on your device and settings. What Apple's own pages say.
How end-to-end encrypted iCloud sync works
How Parlo encrypts your dictation history on your device, syncs it through your private iCloud, and why Apple and Parlo cannot read the plaintext.
How to dictate on iPhone in any app
Set up the Parlo keyboard on iPhone, dictate in any app, and swipe back to insert clean text. Setup steps and what Full Access means.
How to dictate on Mac with a hotkey
Hold Option, speak, and release to dictate on Mac with Parlo. How the hotkey works, permissions it needs, and what to do if pasting fails.
iPhone dictation not working: fixes that help
Fixes for Parlo dictation on iPhone. Check the mic and speech permissions, Full Access, an empty transcript, and the swipe back before you report a bug.
Keyboard extensions and Full Access explained
What Full Access grants a custom iOS keyboard, what it never grants, and why Parlo's keyboard asks for it.
An MCP server over your dictation history
Parlo for Mac runs a local MCP server so Claude Desktop or Claude Code can search your dictation history. What it exposes, setup, and what it is not.
What on-device speech recognition means
On-device speech recognition converts speech to text on your phone or computer, not on a server. How it works and how Parlo uses it.
Private dictation for clinicians
Parlo dictates and cleans up clinical notes on-device. Encrypted history, end-to-end encrypted iCloud sync on by default, and no HIPAA certification.
Private dictation for lawyers and client privilege
Parlo transcribes and cleans up client notes and letters on-device, with encrypted history and end-to-end encrypted iCloud sync. Not legal advice.
Spoken formatting commands: new line, new paragraph
The exact spoken commands Parlo understands for line breaks, paragraphs, parentheses, and quotes, and why there is no bullet command yet.
Turn voice notes into clean text with punctuation
How Parlo turns a spoken voice note into clean, punctuated text on iPhone or Mac, what cleanup removes, and how to keep your own words when you want them.
Voice to text without an account or subscription
Parlo turns speech into text on iPhone and Mac with no Parlo account and no subscription. Install free during the beta and use your own iCloud for sync.
Whisper vs Apple speech: what runs locally on Mac
What OpenAI's Whisper model is, how it differs from Apple's on-device speech engine, and which one powers Parlo for Mac.
Why a voice keyboard cannot record audio on iOS
iOS blocks microphone access for keyboard extensions. Here is why, how Parlo's handoff works around it, and what Full Access grants instead.
Frequently asked questions
What will I find in the Learn section?
Short guides on dictation for iPhone and Mac, how to set up the keyboard, how on-device speech recognition works, and how Parlo compares with other dictation apps. New guides are added as the beta grows.
Is Parlo free to try?
Yes. Parlo is free during the public beta on iPhone and Mac. Install from the beta page and start dictating.
How do I get started with Parlo?
Install Parlo for iPhone through TestFlight or for Mac from the notarized download on the beta page. Both installs are free during the beta and set up in a few minutes.
Where can I send feedback on a guide?
Reply to beta@parlokey.com with the guide title and what was unclear or wrong. Feedback shapes what the team writes and builds next.
Try Parlo in the public beta
iPhone through TestFlight, Mac as a direct download. Processing is on-device. Free during the beta, no account.
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