What is the best voice to text app for iPhone?

Quick answer: It depends on the job. Start with Apple's built-in dictation, which is free and works in any text field. If you want it in every app with your own words and model choice, or want searchable voice notes, Dictop is a one-time purchase (US $6.99) with a 30-day free trial that covers iPhone, iPad and Mac. Wispr Flow, Superwhisper and Aqua Voice are subscription-first dictation apps with free tiers. Otter is built for meeting notes. Prices below are as of November 14, 2026.

"Voice to text app for iPhone" can mean three jobs: type by voice into any app, record a voice note and get the text, or transcribe a meeting. Most apps do one of these well. This page sorts them by job. The facts about other apps come from their own sites, read on November 14, 2026. We have not benchmarked any of them, so we do not rank them for accuracy or speed.

Which app for which need?

• Free and already on your phone: Apple's keyboard dictation.
• Voice notes you can search later: Dictop.
• One payment, no subscription, also on Mac: Dictop.
• Fast writing with AI cleanup, and you accept a subscription: Wispr Flow, Superwhisper or Aqua Voice.
• Meetings and calls: Otter.

Start with the built-in option

Your iPhone can already turn speech into text. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard, turn on Enable Dictation, then tap the microphone on the keyboard in any text field. Apple says dictation is processed on the iPhone in many languages, so it can work without a connection. It stops after 30 seconds of silence. The full steps, punctuation commands and language notes are in how to use dictation on iPhone.

If a quick message or note is all you need, stop here. People usually look for another app when they want to correct the same names every time, choose the speech model, or keep voice notes as a searchable history.

How to choose

1. Keyboard or record-then-copy. A keyboard puts text straight into the app you are in. A recorder app makes you record first, then copy the text. Some apps do both.
2. On-device or cloud. On-device transcription keeps audio on the phone. Cloud transcription sends audio to a service, which can suit long or hard recordings but needs a connection. See on-device vs cloud dictation.
3. Price model. Subscriptions, free tiers with word limits, and one-time purchases are all common. Check what the free tier really allows.
4. Mac too. If you also dictate on a Mac, check whether one purchase or plan covers both.

The apps

Dictop

Dictop is a dictation app for iPhone, iPad and Mac. On iPhone, you start a keyboard session in the app, then use the Dictop keyboard in supported text fields in other apps. The keyboard needs Full Access, Dictop needs microphone permission and Live Activities, and a session lasts up to one hour. Some apps and secure fields do not allow custom keyboards. See Can I use a dictation keyboard in other iPhone apps?.

Dictop also records voice notes in the app and keeps them in a searchable local history, where you can edit the text. The history stores text, not audio. See the iPhone dictaphone guide. You can pick an on-device speech model (Whisper or Parakeet) or an optional cloud model, add replacement rules for recurring words, and use optional AI cleanup with your own prompt.

Dictop has a 30-day free trial. After that it is US $6.99 once for lifetime on-device use, with no subscription. One purchase covers iPhone, iPad and Mac (US App Store, as of November 14, 2026). Cloud credits are optional and separate. Dictop needs iOS 17 or later.

Apple Dictation

Built into iOS, free, and works in any text field. It has no model choice and no history of its own. Voice Memos, also free, adds a transcript on iPhone 12 or later in supported languages. See the dictaphone guide above for details.

Wispr Flow

Wispr Flow lists iPhone among its platforms (Mac, Windows, iOS and Android). Its iPhone app uses a system keyboard that needs Full Access, and requires iOS 18.3 or later; iPad is not supported. Wispr Flow says transcription always runs in the cloud. Pricing: a free plan with weekly word limits; Pro is $15 per month, or $12 per month billed annually. See the Wispr Flow pricing page and Wispr Flow alternatives.

Superwhisper

Superwhisper runs on iPhone as a custom keyboard that inserts text at your cursor. It needs Full Access, and it is iPhone only (no iPad). Its cloud models need an internet connection. The free plan includes unlimited dictation with local Whisper models, plus 3,000 words of free Pro. Pro is $8.49 per month, $84.99 per year or $249.99 lifetime on its website. Buying inside the iPhone app costs more. One Pro license covers Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. See Superwhisper vs Dictop.

Aqua Voice

Aqua Voice lists an iPhone app next to Mac, Windows and Android. Its site does not say how the iPhone app works, for example whether it is a keyboard, so check the App Store listing before buying. Pricing, billed annually: Free (2,000 words), Pro $10 per month, Max $19 per month. Monthly billing costs $12 and $24.

Otter

Otter is an AI notetaker for meetings. It transcribes live with speaker recognition and writes summaries and action items. It has iOS and Android apps. The Basic plan is free with 300 transcription minutes per month and a 30-minute limit per conversation. Pro is $16.99 per month, or $8.33 per month billed annually. Choose Otter for meetings, not for dictating into other apps.

Summary table

App	iPhone keyboard	Other devices	Price (Nov 14, 2026)
Apple Dictation	Yes, built in	iPad, Mac	Free
Dictop	Yes, after a session started in the app	iPad, Mac	US $6.99 once, 30-day free trial
Wispr Flow	Yes, needs Full Access	Mac, Windows, Android	Free (weekly limit), Pro $15/month or $12/month annual
Superwhisper	Yes, needs Full Access	Mac, Windows, Android	Free, Pro $8.49/month, $84.99/year or $249.99 lifetime (website)
Aqua Voice	Not stated on its site	Mac, Windows, Android	Free (2,000 words), Pro $10/month annual
Otter	Not a dictation keyboard; meeting notes	Mac, Windows, Android	Free (300 min/month), Pro $16.99/month

What are the free options?

• Apple Dictation and Voice Memos: free, no limits we know of beyond language and device support.
• Superwhisper Free: local Whisper models with unlimited dictation.
• Wispr Flow Free, Aqua Voice Free and Otter Basic: free, with word, weekly or minute limits.
• Dictop: a 30-day free trial, then a one-time purchase.

Which should you try first?

Try Apple's dictation first. If you want one payment for iPhone, iPad and Mac, searchable notes and your own vocabulary rules, try Dictop. For voice commands on a Mac, use our Mac automation app, DopDock. Dictop is for writing.

Download Dictop for iPhone and iPad, or see the Mac app. One purchase, no subscription, 30 days free.