Android has had voice input for years, but in 2026 the options have become significantly more capable. Whether you want the built-in Google experience or something that automatically cleans up your speech, here's what's available.
Method 1: Gboard voice input (free, built-in)
Gboard is Google's default keyboard on most Android phones. It has a built-in microphone icon that activates Google's speech recognition engine.
- Open any app where you'd type (WhatsApp, Gmail, Chrome, etc.)
- Tap a text field to bring up Gboard
- Tap the microphone icon at the top-right of the keyboard
- Speak — Gboard transcribes in real time with minimal latency
- Tap the keyboard icon to switch back to typing
Good for: Quick short messages. Free. Works offline in many languages. Downside: Verbatim transcription — filler words, no punctuation cleanup.
Method 2: Google Docs voice typing
For longer documents, Google Docs has a dedicated voice typing mode. Open a Google Doc, go to Tools → Voice Typing, and click the microphone icon. This supports punctuation commands ("period," "new paragraph") and is useful for drafting longer content. It only works in Docs, not other apps.
Method 3: AiType keyboard for Android
AiType is a full keyboard replacement for Android that adds AI-powered dictation to every app. Unlike Gboard's microphone, AiType runs an AI cleanup pass after transcription — removing filler words, fixing punctuation, and polishing your phrasing before pasting.
- Download AiType from Google Play at Google Play
- Enable as input method: Settings → General Management → Keyboard List → Add AiType → Enable
- Set as default: Tap the keyboard icon in the navigation bar and select AiType
- Sign in with your AiType account to activate your subscription
- Use the mic button on the AiType keyboard — hold to speak, release to paste clean text
AiType on Android also supports swipe/glide typing, a saved clipboard with pinned clips, voice history, one-tap Reply suggestions, and GIF search.
Comparison
| Feature | Gboard mic | AiType |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free trial, then $9.99/mo |
| AI cleanup | ✗ | ✓ |
| Swipe typing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Saved clipboard | ✗ | ✓ |
| Also on Mac/Windows/iOS | ✗ | ✓ |
Tips for better Android dictation
- Reduce background noise. Android's mics are good but noisy environments kill accuracy.
- Hold the phone near your mouth for short clips, or use earbuds with a mic for hands-free.
- Speak in complete thoughts. Don't pause mid-sentence to check results — finish the sentence first.
- Use AiType in messaging apps. The AI cleanup is most valuable in WhatsApp, Telegram, and email where you want polished output.
Which to use
Gboard's mic is great for short messages when you want free and simple. AiType is worth it if you dictate frequently and want clean output without a proofread — especially if you also use a Mac or iPhone and want one tool across all devices.
Also read: Best Android swipe keyboard comparison · How to dictate on Mac · Best voice-to-text for dyslexia