Comparison
Gboard voice typing and OSSFlow
Gboard voice typing is a microphone on the Google keyboard. OSSFlow is a floating bubble that pastes into the focused field and can use Grok or any OpenAI-compatible API. As of October 2026 they are different tools, and neither page here claims a higher accuracy score.
Talk to write in Gboard
Google's Gboard help says you can talk to write in most places where you can type. You install Gboard, open a field, tap the microphone, and speak when you see "Speak now". Some of those steps are for Android 7.0 and up. Talk-to-text does not cover every language.
Punctuation is something you say, with phrases such as period, comma, question mark, new line, and new paragraph. Google notes that punctuation is not available in every language. You can switch language from the keyboard when more than one language is enabled.
Pixel features that are not every Android phone
Advanced voice typing needs a Pixel 6 or newer, including Fold and Tablet. Google says the colourful microphone marks it, that punctuation is added as you speak, and that you can insert emoji and use spoken edits such as delete or clear. The same page says the text stays on the device and is not sent to Google except when you use "Fix it" or detailed edits. A double-tap keeps the mic on. "Stop" ends it.
Rambler is a separate Gboard mode, powered by Gemini, and Google's page limits it to Pixel 11 series phones with a current Gboard set as the default. It removes fillers and formats grammar and punctuation, and you can ask it to rewrite. Full features need the internet. Offline, Google says basic cleanup, punctuation, and capitals still run. Do not read Rambler as "Gboard on every Android phone".
What OSSFlow adds, and what it does not
OSSFlow does not replace Gboard. The keyboard stays. The bubble sits over it. You bring a key for Grok, the default, or any OpenAI-compatible transcription API over HTTPS. Optional cleanup uses an OpenAI-compatible chat API. There is no OSSFlow account. The app is free, bring your own key.
OSSFlow is not on-device. Audio goes to the provider you set. There is no offline mode. It needs Android 14 or newer, which is newer than the Android 7.0 note on Google's basic voice-typing steps. If an app will not take the paste, the text is on the clipboard and in History.
Which one to use
- Use Gboard if you want the mic on the keyboard you already use, and you are happy with Google's voice typing.
- Use advanced voice typing or Rambler only on the Pixel phones Google lists. Those modes are not a reason to expect the same behaviour on a Samsung or another brand.
- Use OSSFlow if you want a bubble, your own transcription host, and no account, and you can reach the internet.
Questions
- Can I keep Gboard and use OSSFlow?
- Yes. OSSFlow is not a keyboard. You focus a field so your keyboard is up, then tap the bubble. Gboard can stay the default keyboard.
- Does OSSFlow type offline the way Pixel voice typing can?
- No. OSSFlow has no on-device speech model. Advanced voice typing on Pixel 6 and newer is the on-device Gboard mode. Rambler on Pixel 11 keeps only a limited cleanup when the network is down.
- Does OSSFlow send audio to Google?
- Only if you point OSSFlow at a Google endpoint yourself. By default it uses the Grok key you add. OSSFlow has no server of its own. What Gboard sends is described on Google's pages, not on this one.
- Which Android version does OSSFlow need?
- Android 14 or newer. The setup guide covers the APK, restricted settings, and the API key.