ParrotParrot is a free, local-first voice dictation app for Apple Silicon Macs. Unlike Wispr Flow ($15/mo Pro) and Superwhisper ($8.49/mo Pro), Parrot is Free for life, runs transcription fully on-device, and pastes into any Mac app via a global hotkey. Custom vocabulary, AI cleanup, full history.
Hiteam,let'smovethestanduptoThursdayat3pm.Mondaydoesn'tworkforSarah,andJohnisoutuntilWednesday.I'llsendupdatedcalendarinvites.
Deploypipelineisgreen.Mergedthehotfixfortheauthredirectbug.Cansomeonefromfrontendverifyonstagingbeforewepushtoprod?
ThisfunctionvalidatesthesessiontokenagainsttheRedisstore.Ifexpired,ittriggersasilentrefreshflowandreturnsthenewtokenpair.
PatientpresentswithelevatedBParound150over95andrecurringmorningheadaches.Nopriorcardiachistory.Recommendfullmetabolicpanelandstressecho.
Compose...
Cleanup
The optional cleanup pass removes filler words, fixes grammar, and applies your writing style. Here's what that looks like.
"so um basically I think we should uh move the meeting to like Thursday because uh monday doesnt work for sarah and also john said he cant make it either so yeah thursday works better I think"
"hey can you um send me the report for Q3 the one with the revenue numbers and also the customer churn data I need it for the board deck thanks"
"the patient presents with um elevated BP around 150 over 95 and uh complaints of recurring headaches especially in the morning hours I think we should do a full metabolic panel"
"Let's move the meeting to Thursday - Monday doesn't work for Sarah, and John can't make it either."
"Can you send me the Q3 report with revenue numbers and customer churn data? I need it for the board deck. Thanks."
"Patient presents with elevated BP (~150/95) and recurring morning headaches. Recommend full metabolic panel."
Context
Parrot works wherever your cursor is. Watch it transcribe for different workflows.
Hiteam,justaquickupdateontheQ3launch.We'retrackingaheadofscheduleandshouldhavethebetareadybynextWednesday.I'llsendcalendarinvitesforthereviewsession.
On your Mac
Transcription and cleanup run entirely on-device. Nothing leaves your Mac — and you never pay a subscription to keep dictating.
Snappy
time to paste
0 bytes
data sent
Free
for life
Features
Faster dictation, sharper accuracy, and the polish you actually use every day.
Add names, acronyms, brand terms, and jargon. Parrot learns the words that matter so 'Kubernetes' doesn't become 'Cooper Netties' and your coworker's name isn't butchered every time.
Your vocabulary
Set your writing context and style. The cleanup matches your tone - whether that's terse Slack messages, formal legal prose, or casual blog posts. You write it once, Parrot applies it every time.
Writing style
Context
I'm a senior engineer writing technical docs and Slack messages to my team.
Tone
Every dictation is saved with full text, timestamp, and audio duration. Search past transcriptions, copy them again, or review what you said last Tuesday. You can turn it off if you want to keep it private.
Move the meeting to Thursday - Monday doesn't work for Sarah.
Patient presents with elevated BP (~150/95). Recommend full metabolic panel.
Can you send me the Q3 report with revenue numbers?
Parrot pastes into any app on your Mac. No plugins, no integrations.
Who it's for
Whether you're drafting emails, writing patient notes, or coding documentation - Parrot adapts to how you work.
You say
"so um I think the main point of the article is that like AI is changing how we write and uh we need to adapt our workflows"
"patient is a 54 year old male presenting with uh chest tightness and shortness of breath on exertion no prior cardiac history"
"the defendants counsel filed a motion to dismiss arguing that the plaintiff lacks standing under uh article three"
"this function validates the user session token and if its expired it triggers a refresh flow uh and returns the new token"
"hey can you schedule a follow up with the client for next tuesday and also send the deck to marketing before the all hands"
"for anyone who finds typing difficult parrot provides a reliable fast alternative that works across every app"
Parrot writes
"The core argument: AI is fundamentally changing how we write, and our workflows need to adapt accordingly."
"Patient is a 54-year-old male presenting with chest tightness and dyspnea on exertion. No prior cardiac history."
"Defendant's counsel filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the plaintiff lacks standing under Article III."
"This function validates the user session token. If expired, it triggers a refresh flow and returns the new token."
"Please schedule a follow-up with the client for next Tuesday. Also, send the deck to Marketing before the all-hands."
"For anyone who finds typing difficult, Parrot provides a reliable, fast alternative that works across every app."
Press fn from anywhere. Customizable in settings.
Text lands at your cursor the moment you're done speaking.
Snappy time-to-text with strong first-pass accuracy on names and jargon.
Watch your words form in the HUD while you hold the hotkey.
No subscription, no word caps, no trial that expires.
After one download, dictate without internet — or an account.
How we compare
Free for life, fully local, and built for the daily dictation loop — not a metered cloud trial.
| Feature | Parrot | Wispr Flow | macOS Dictation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mode | |||
| Fast on-device dictation | |||
| Custom vocabulary | |||
| AI cleanup | |||
| Privacy (no data sent) | |||
| Offline support | |||
| Free, for life |
From the blog
Best Wispr Flow alternatives (2026)
Free local options vs Wispr’s subscription and word cap.
AlternativesBest Superwhisper alternatives
Local Mac dictation with cleanup — without a Pro plan.
GuideFree voice dictation apps in 2026
What “free” really means: caps, trials, and free forever.
TutorialSet up local voice dictation on Mac
On-device transcription and cleanup in under five minutes.
ComparisonBest voice dictation apps for Mac
Parrot, macOS Dictation, Otter, Dragon, and more.
CompareParrot vs the rest
Side-by-side feature and pricing tables for each competitor.
Free for life. Fully on-device on Apple Silicon. Download for Mac and start dictating in minutes.
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