Hold a configurable shortcut to dictate into any app.
Mac dictation app
Parrot
Hold a key, speak, and type anywhere on your Mac. Free and offline.
Overview
What Parrot is and why it exists.
Parrot turns your voice into text wherever your cursor is. Hold Right Option, speak, and release to type into your current app. Speech recognition runs on your Mac with whisper.cpp, with built-in speech models so you can dictate offline. Review recent dictations, teach Parrot names and technical terms, and create your own text replacements. Free, with no account or subscription.
Highlights
Why people love Parrot.
Offline speech recognition powered by whisper.cpp.
Built-in speech models, ready for the first dictation.
Custom vocabulary for names and technical terms.
Text replacements and spoken punctuation commands.
Dictation history with configurable retention.
Free, with no account or subscription.
The story
From problem to product.
The problem
Typing every message and document takes time, and cloud dictation sends your speech to a server.
The approach
Push-to-talk dictation that runs locally and types directly into the app you are using.
Under the hood
How it came together.
Technology
How it is built and kept running.
- Flutter for macOS.
- whisper.cpp with Apple Silicon acceleration.
- Sparkle automatic updates.
Need a hand?
Questions about Parrot?
Send a support request and you will hear back by email. Privacy and terms are always one click away.