A new app called Flow dramatically improves Android voice typing. The tool from startup Wispr lets users speak naturally into any app on their phones. It edits out filler words and formats text right away. This launch comes after success on iOS, Mac, and Windows. Android users get it today without swapping their keyboard like Gboard.
Key Takeaways
- Flow uses AI to turn messy speech into clean text 4 times faster than typing.
- It floats as a button over apps, no keyboard replacement needed.
- Supports over 100 languages, including mixes like Hinglish.
- Free now during early access, with paid plans later at $12 a month.
Background
Voice typing on Android has limits. Built-in tools on Pixel phones work well. But on other devices, they miss words or add errors. People stick to typing because fixing voice output takes time. Filler words like 'um' and 'uh' fill the text. Pauses don't always turn into commas or periods.
Wispr started with Flow on other platforms. First came Mac and Windows. Then iOS in June 2025. On iPhones, it acted as a special keyboard. Users switched to it for dictation. The app gained fans for cleaning speech fast. It removed junk words. It added punctuation from how you talk. And it fixed grammar on the fly.
Now Android joins in. Google's system lets apps float over others. Wispr used that freedom. No need for a full keyboard takeover. Just a small button you tap or hold. This fits Android's open style. Phone makers add their own keyboards. Users pick favorites. Flow slides in beside them.
The company rewrote its backend too. Dictation runs 30% faster now. Speech turns to text quicker across all platforms. Early tests show it handles real talk well. Rambling thoughts become neat paragraphs. No more rough drafts from your voice.
But why now? Phones handle more work. People email on the go. They note ideas in meetings. Typing slows them down. Speaking matches thought speed. At 150 words a minute, it's way past fingers at 40. Flow makes that gap useful.
Key Details
Flow shows as a floating bubble on your Android screen. Tap it once to start talking. Or hold it for quick bursts. A close button stops when done. It grabs permissions to overlay apps and use the clipboard. Then it pastes clean text where you need it.
Speak like normal. Say a long email. Include stumbles. The AI listens. It cuts 'ums.' It spots lists from numbers. If you backtrack, like 'two… no, three,' it fixes that. Context matters. In a notes app, it bulleted points. In email, full sentences with caps.
Languages cover over 100. English, Spanish, French. Mixes too, like Hinglish. Hindi words blend with English. Popular in India, where Android rules phones. No switching modes. It detects and handles on the fly.
How It Fits With Your Setup
Don't ditch Gboard or SwiftKey. Flow works next to them. Your keyboard stays for taps. Voice for longer stuff. Trigger it in WhatsApp. Or Google Docs. Or any text box. Output lands perfect. Early users report less editing. One tester spoke a full report. No fixes needed.
Free for now. No word limits in early access. iOS caps at 1,000 words weekly for free. Unlimited costs $12 monthly there. Android likely follows soon. Advanced bits come later. Like personal dictionaries for names. Snippets for repeated phrases. Styles to match your writing voice.
We've seen Samsung push AI on Galaxy phones, like adding Perplexity to Galaxy AI. Flow takes a similar path. But for all Androids, not just one brand.
"Android finally gave us the freedom to build the voice experience we always wanted. Only when the platform gets out of the way can we truly expect voice to replace typing on mobile." – Tanay Kothari, co-founder and CEO of Wispr
What This Means
Daily tasks speed up. Commutes turn productive. Walk between meetings? Dictate updates. Fresh from a call? Note details before they fade. Mobile writing shifts from quick texts to real work.
Android's huge user base gets this boost. Billions of devices. Many in places with fast talk, mixed tongues. Hinglish users gain big. No more slow thumbs for bilingual notes.
It challenges defaults. Google's voice typing improves. But Flow's edits stand out. No raw transcripts. Polished from start. Apps like this push phone makers. Expect rivals to copy. Faster AI voices everywhere.
Privacy stays key. Speech goes to Wispr servers for AI magic. They say it's secure. No long storage. But users watch data flows. Like with other AI tools.
Work changes too. Pros who type reports. Reporters on deadline. All gain time. That extra hour? For thinking, not pecking keys.
Broader shift underway. Voice isn't just Siri chats. It's input that rivals hands. Flow proves it on the go. Android leads now. iOS caught up before. Full circle.
Teams adapt quick. Early access draws crowds. Waitlists fill. Feedback shapes adds. Like quantum funds betting big on new tech, Quantonation Closes €220M Fund, Wispr eyes voice as next wave.
Limits exist. Noisy spots challenge any voice tool. Accents vary. AI learns, but not perfect yet. Battery drain? Minimal so far. Short sessions rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flow free forever on Android?
No. It's free during early access. Paid plans kick in later, around $12 a month for unlimited use, like on iOS.
Does it work offline?
Not fully. Core AI needs internet for edits. Basic transcription might work without, but best online.
Can I use it on any Android phone?
Yes. Needs Android 10 or later. Floating windows require recent versions. Works over most apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flow free forever on Android?
No. It’s free during early access. Paid plans kick in later, around $12 a month for unlimited use, like on iOS.
Does it work offline?
Not fully. Core AI needs internet for edits. Basic transcription might work without, but best online.
Can I use it on any Android phone?
Yes. Needs Android 10 or later. Floating windows require recent versions. Works over most apps.
