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The Best Transcription Services

Matthew Guay

By Matthew Guay

Transcription is now a commodity—a default feature in the work-centered apps so many of us use on a daily basis. Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams transcribe meetings. Slack adds transcripts to audio shared in chat. Even YouTube auto-captions videos.

And the transcriptions are good. Surprisingly so. In 2018, Wirecutter found the best AI transcription tools to be 73% accurate. Today, even the least accurate AI transcription is 94% accurate—and, surprisingly, the best AI transcription services, including OpenAI’s free Whisper transcription engine, are somewhat more accurate than the least-precise human-powered transcriptions.

After spending 35 hours testing 15 transcription tools, including human and AI-powered options, we found that GoTranscript is the best service for those who need the most accurate transcripts. If you’re willing to work with slightly less accurate but far faster AI transcription, Vook.ai is the best affordable transcription service.

Everything we recommend

transcription websites review

GoTranscript

The best transcription service.

This service delivers highly accurate transcripts from human transcribers or AI, affordably and quickly.

Buying Options

transcription websites review

Basic but fast and accurate AI transcripts

At a quarter of the cost of our top pick, this service offers marginally less accurate AI transcripts that arrive in less than half the time. But it has fewer features and can struggle with crosstalk.

How we picked

The most crucial factor in transcription is accuracy; expect 95% accuracy or higher for a paid transcription service.

Automated transcription services can transcribe in nearly real time. Human transcription services should take no more than one business day—and ideally less.

Transcripts need to be easy to read, with punctuation and speaker tracking as accurate as possible.

Paid transcription services should offer transcripts in a variety of formats, including Word and standard caption formats.

GoTranscript provides transcripts with over 99% accuracy from human transcribers in less than a day, at more affordable rates than many human-powered alternatives. Its custom AI transcription is also the most accurate automated transcription service we tested, as well.

The service gives you a preview transcription of the first couple of minutes of your recording for free, to check its quality before paying for a full transcription. And it can import nearly any audio or video format, as well as export transcripts in a wide range of formats, to slot easily into your existing production workflows.

GoTranscript uses AI to enhance its human transcription, and that shows in the year-over-year improvement in its transcription quality. The web app is fairly basic, with simple sharing functions, plus a text editor with audio playback that highlights words as they’re spoken.

For turnarounds faster than one day, GoTranscript is more expensive than our previous top pick, Rev. At $2.75 per minute versus Rev’s $1.99 per minute for the same promised turnaround time, you will pay extra for frequent timestamps or less-clear audio. But GoTranscript’s accuracy makes it the service to choose when you need the cleanest transcriptions—and actual turnaround times were faster than promised, as well.

Cost: From $1.43 per minute for one-day turnaround

Vook.ai is a sparse transcription service, built using custom transcription models based on OpenAI’s Whisper. But it delivers highly accurate transcriptions in minutes.

In our tests, we were able to get two minutes of audio transcribed in a minute or less, with greater than 98% accuracy. The cost? Around 5¢ per minute.

Vook.ai includes fewer editor features than GoTranscript, and it doesn’t offer any human-powered transcription or editing options. It’s also less competent at transcribing crosstalk than GoTranscript, which is important for recordings with multiple speakers.

Cost: From around 5¢ per minute for near-instant turnaround (sold in 2, 5, 10, or custom hour blocks.)

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, what you should know about ai versus human transcription, how we picked and tested, top pick: gotranscript, best for fast ai transcriptions: vook.ai, other transcription services worth considering, what to look forward to, the competition.

I’ve been testing and writing about software professionally since 2010, and I have used both human and AI-powered transcription services for interviews and meetings throughout my career. I extensively use dictation for mobile typing, across multiple languages, and regularly use transcripts to build note summaries after meetings.

For this guide:

  • I spent 35 hours researching 38 transcription services, then tested 15 transcription services, including separately testing human and AI transcription on three services and testing multiple transcription models on OpenAI Whisper.
  • I dug deep on articles, blogs, and forums related to transcription services, including recommendations from NYU Libraries , Harvard University , and the University of Michigan Library .
  • Wirecutter senior staff writer Kaitlyn Wells researched and wrote the original version of this guide, first published in 2018 then updated in 2020. Some of her original testing remains in this version.
  • Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards .

Anyone who records large amounts of spoken audio and video—for interviews, podcasts, videos, meetings, dictated notes, and more—can benefit from a transcription service.

Transcripts make searching through recordings as easy as searching any other document, simplifying finding specific quotes and action items from a meeting or jumping to the correct timestamp in audio. They help journalists, legal and medical professionals, and others who rely on interviews and spoken conversations, speeding up their work and increasing note accuracy. And they make podcasts and videos accessible to a wider audience. As a side benefit, they help listeners search through shows and even aid search engines in indexing your content.

The need for a standalone transcription service, though, has become less critical. Automatic transcripts for meetings in apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams may be enough to get general notes. Automated YouTube transcripts could suffice when starting a new channel. If transcripts are only nice-to-have for your work, a free automated solution is best.

But when accurate transcripts are crucial enough to your work that you would otherwise spend hours painstakingly transcribing or editing automated transcripts, paying for human transcription or higher-quality automated transcripts is the best choice. Paid transcription tools also include features to share transcripts, edit them manually, and export the text in caption and subtitle formats. All of these are worth paying for when transcripts are a core part of your work.

It takes, on average, four minutes to transcribe one minute of audio by hand, according to Rev , other transcription services, and anecdotes shared by transcription professionals. That time commitment paired with the training and experience needed to transcribe accurately makes human-transcribed audio typically cost $1 to $3 per minute of audio. Human transcription gives you the highest-quality results, with experience-honed accuracy and the human intuition required to guess the correct homonym or a less clearly pronounced name.

On the other hand, AI transcription tools today rely on neural network transformer models that recognize words in spoken audio then infer the correct words and punctuation. Similar to the way predictive text on your keyboard recommends the next word, or ChatGPT gives answers, today’s transcription tools are, at a high level, guessing what you’re going to say next.

That has improved their accuracy but can lead to surprising mistakes. For example, in our testing “as large as” was transcribed by multiple AI services as “F/f.” Even more strangely, the decimal “1.82%” was transcribed as “1.8199999999999998%” by one service. Yet overall, today’s AI transcriptions are 96% accurate on average. Close, but still noticeably incorrect at times.

AI has raised the bar for transcription—a notion borne out by the fact that even human transcription is, on average, more accurate today than it was a half-decade ago. Steve Jobs liked to call computers “a bicycle for our minds,” a metaphor I couldn’t shake while testing these services. Today’s human transcription services often use AI for a first-pass before humans clean up the copy, showing one way that humans and AI can work best together.

Indeed, the most accurate transcripts in our testing came from these tag-team efforts.

For this guide, we considered how the field has changed since we wrote Wirecutter’s original transcription services guides in 2018. Then we read through personal recommendations from New York Times reporters, along with roundups from The Verge and PC Mag . We also took into account recommendations from NYU Libraries , the University of Michigan Library , and Harvard University , among others, as well as forums and social media.

That research helped hone in on the features that are crucial to a transcription service, including:

  • Transcription accuracy : Nothing matters more to transcripts than accuracy. With free automated transcription increasingly built into software used at work, accuracy is the key differentiating factor for the best transcription service today.
  • Speed : AI transcription should take no more than a few minutes to transcribe one minute of audio. Human transcription will always take longer, but the faster, the better when today’s AI models are already highly accurate.
  • Speaker labeling : Transcriptions should split text by speaker, with consistent labeling of each speaker and options to easily edit names.
  • Availability : Modern transcription services should work on any phone or computer. Most transcription services today are web applications, accessible from any web browser, while some additionally include iOS and Android apps.
  • Supported file formats : It should be easy to record audio in any application then upload it to a transcription service, which means transcription services should, at a minimum, support popular audio formats including .mp3, m4a, and .wav. They should also let you export transcripts in text, Word document, and PDF formats, and ideally in subtitle and captioning formats like .srt.
  • Editing features : At a minimum, transcription services should make it easy to copy and export your completed transcript. Ideally, they should also include tools to listen to your audio and compare it with the transcript, with editing tools to tweak the text as needed. Additional Google Docs–style collaboration tools are a bonus.
  • Privacy focused : Audio recordings often include personal details from meetings, client interactions, and more. Transcription services need to be designed around security, with policies in place to control who has access to audio and when audio is deleted, ideally paired with HIPAA compliance and options for signed NDAs.

With more than a dozen services on our must-test list, we then put four audio clips through each of them:

  • a 443-word clip of 3 minutes 7 seconds, from an audio version of a New York Times article about the United States Olympics shooting team , with studio-quality audio from a single speaker
  • a 745-word clip of 4 minutes 19 seconds, from a New York Times The Interview podcast about the Olympics , with clear audio of two speakers with different accents, including location names, and crosstalk
  • a 235-word clip of 2 minutes 21 seconds, with video about speech issues and teaching in casual English with call-level audio quality from two speakers, including crosstalk and speech impediments
  • a 333-word clip of 2 minutes 41 seconds, recorded for testing, captured in a noisy environment with a script including a pangram, names, scientific and technical terms, percentages, and numbers with decimals, with multiple speakers and accents

We submitted these clips to each service, testing both AI and human transcription options where possible. With human transcription services, we added technical terms from the fourth script to the services’ custom dictionaries and paid for one-day turnaround time.

We compared each service’s interface and listed core features, including supported audio formats and collaboration options. And we timed how long each service took to provide transcripts and respond to support queries, and noted the total cost per minute.

With the transcripts in hand, we then compared each transcript against our original, hand-transcribed copy to compare for readability and accuracy. Our primary criteria is accuracy in transcribing spoken words; that’s the sole feature worth paying for.

We noted where transcription services cleaned up text, removing filler words—such as “like” or “you know”—and did not count that, or when they broke up less-common compound words like “globetrotting” into “globe trotting,” or transcribing “the” as “a” against accuracy. And when the wrong word was used, we counted that against an app’s accuracy score, using that along with pricing, features, and speed to choose the best transcription service.

A person using a laptop to access the GoTranscript program, our pick for best transcription service overall.

GoTranscript is the best transcription service for highly accurate human transcription, and it also delivers better-than-average AI-powered transcripts. It’s worth paying for when transcription accuracy is crucial.

GoTranscript’s editor is basic, but the service includes a number of features that can speed up your work. You can get a free AI transcript preview of the first two minutes of your audio, which allows you to decide if the quality is sufficient before paying—and if it’s not, you can upgrade to a human transcription. You’ll get your transcript emailed as a Word document, so you can use it without having to re-open the site. And it’s HIPAA compliant, so it’s ready for health care use.

Although its mobile app is only usable to record conversations to then be submitted to GoTranscript, and its web editor includes fewer features than some competitors, its accuracy and speed are the best we’ve found.

Its human transcriptions were over 99% accurate . The words the human transcribers missed were more likely to be filler words—for example, writing “while” instead of “and while”—rather than entirely incorrect words. Names that were frequently misspelled by other transcription services (including “Sagen Maddalena,” “Will Shaner,” and “Joel Embiid”) were transcribed accurately. Transcripts were close enough to perfect that we had to look closely for differences.

GoTranscript cleans up transcriptions for readability, which generally is good, though in our experience this also sometimes affected quality. Filler words including “you know,” “like,” and “kind of” were removed, and a misspoken “there’s a qualified” was turned into the more accurate “there’s a qualifier.” And you’ll have to watch out for fillers that are also modifiers, such as an instance where “kind of” was removed, which mildly altered the meaning of a sentence.

Of other inaccuracies, “vlog” was mistaken as “blog,” “C#” was written as “CShark,” and “AI” as “AGI.” A single word—“Caucasus”—was marked as “[unintelligible]” rather than being guessed, which is what many other services would do.

GoTranscript’s site mentions that it “uses AI as a tool to enhance the efficiency of human transcriptionists,” which may be part of the reason its human transcripts are so accurate and delivered so fast. To improve accuracy, you can email the GoTranscript team to add industry-specific flags to your account for medical, technical, and legal terms, or custom words to add to your account’s dictionary. It would be nice to have an in-app dictionary feature to add custom words on your own, which is something offered by many competing services, including Scribie and Rev.

AI transcripts were worse at names but still 98.9% accurate. That’s better than all but one of the human-powered transcription services we tested, at a fraction of the time and price.

It missed one name (“Sagen” was transcribed as “Sajan”) and used British spelling for “catalogue,” with no option to choose between US and British spelling. It also had a few issues with our final test clip: The pangram was written without spaces, “AI” was written as “AVI,” and “streaming” had become “steaming.” Perhaps most surprisingly, one clip had a phantom “Thank you” added to the end.

Beyond that, the transcripts were clean and readable, and the AI handled crosstalk, repeated words, and other verbal issues well. The results are close enough to perfect that, for clear audio without uncommon words, you might be able to use them without any edits.

It’s designed to upload audio and get it transcribed as quickly as possible. You can order transcription in around five clicks, and downloading a completed transcript takes a single click from the notification email. When ordering, you can choose AI or human transcription, then upload an audio file in nearly any popular format (including .mp3 and Apple Voice Recorder’s .m4a format, along with .webm, .ovg, and video files including .mp4 and .wmv)—or paste a link to a Dropbox or Google Drive file, or YouTube or Vimeo video.

A printscreen from the transcript preview and order summary menu in the GoTranscript program.

For human transcription, you can then choose between clean verbatim (without filler words such as “um” and “you know”) or full verbatim for an additional 25¢ per minute. Additional paid add-ons include timestamps, support for three or more speakers, and support for low-quality audio.

You can also choose your timeframe: Six- to 12-hour transcription turnaround starts at $2.75 per minute, with one-day ($1.43 per minute), three-day ($1.21 per minute), and five-day (99¢ per minute) options also available. In our testing, we used one-day turnaround with default options, plus timestamps for two of the clips. This worked well, even with accented, noisy audio.

For AI transcripts, GoTranscript doesn’t prompt you to add any additional services, as AI transcriptions list speakers by default but don’t offer timestamps. As a nice bonus, you can click a “Check AI Accuracy” button when ordering an AI transcript to get a quick preview of the first two minutes of your audio’s text. If the results aren’t accurate enough, you can upgrade to human transcription.

It’s fast . In our tests, GoTranscript AI took 6 minutes to transcribe our entire batch of recordings —less than one minute per minute of audio, which was faster than Reduct and Rev AI, though slower than Vook.ai, OpenAI Whisper, and Descript. But GoTranscript’s human transcripts came back between 58 minutes and 2.5 hours after we placed our order—significantly faster than the anticipated one-day turnaround, similar to Rev’s human transcription, and faster than Transcription Panda (which took 6 hours 30 minutes for similar transcripts with their one-day turnaround service).

A printscreen from the dashboard of the GoTranscript program.

It’s easy to access transcriptions, but editing and collaboration features are basic. Once transcription is completed, you’ll get an email with a link to a Word Document. Since you don’t need to be logged in to access the doc, you can forward a transcript to a colleague without needing to share account access.

GoTranscript includes a basic online editor where you can download the transcript in plain text, PDF, or subtitle formats, customize speaker names, and edit the text. You can listen to your audio synced with the text, though you may need to re-upload your audio if it’s been days since ordering your transcript.

Collaboration is similarly basic: You can copy a sharing link to the transcription editor, where colleagues can edit the text but not actually save the edits. Or, you can add transcripts to a shared workspace for team access with the same basic editor features. You can filter through transcripts by date and order but cannot search through all recordings together.

GoTranscript is safe to use with sensitive personal information. The service uses in-house–developed transcription software, promises limited access to personally identifiable information to employees and transcribers who need access to data to perform specific tasks, is HIPAA-compliant, and encrypts data while stored and in transit. Audio is stored for seven days after transcription is complete, while text transcripts are stored in your account until you delete them. If needed, you can also request the GoTranscript team to sign an NDA for an additional layer of privacy around your audio and transcripts.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • The mobile app can’t place orders or display completed transcripts. While GoTranscript offers an iOS app, it can only upload audio to GoTranscript. You’ll then need to go to the website to place your order, then read your completed transcript in the web app or download the transcript from your notification email. For most users, it won’t be worth installing the app; you could just as easily upload audio from Safari on your iPhone.
  • GoTranscript’s online editor is barebones. There are no formatting options or keyboard shortcuts. If you do pay for timestamps in your transcripts, you can’t turn them off in the interface—the only way to remove them from the text is to edit them out manually, unlike some competitors where you can choose to turn off timestamps. GoTranscript also offers an API to order human or AI transcripts automatically, but it doesn’t include integrations with Dropbox, Zapier, or other popular automation tools.
  • The cheapest rates require large orders and long turnaround times. Human transcription starts at an advertised 84¢ per minute—but you can get that rate only by ordering over 10,000 minutes of transcription with a five-day turnaround. Three-day turnaround is listed as the most popular, but that might feel prohibitively long for most use cases today when AI can offer a good-enough transcription in minutes.

A person using a laptop to access the Vook.ai program, our pick for best transcription service that is ai-based and offers a low price point.

Vook.ai is a highly accurate, AI-powered transcription service with one of the lowest prices we could find. On average, you’ll pay 5¢ per minute of audio transcribed—and will receive completed transcripts in less time than the duration of the audio recording, with speaker labels and timestamps.

The results are only slightly less accurate than what you’d get from our top pick, but enough that you’ll need to more closely edit transcriptions before publishing them. It also offers no collaboration features, requiring workarounds to handle transcripts as a team.

It uses OpenAI’s Whisper to generate fast, accurate transcriptions. What makes Vook.ai one of the best affordable transcription services is that, at its core, it’s an easy-to-use take on OpenAI Whisper . (According to the development team, it’s powered by “added layers upon OpenAI’s Whisper algorithm, that we run on serverless GPUs.”) The results were slightly more accurate than default Whisper models in our tests.

Vook.ai is also far easier to use than OpenAI Whisper, which requires running Python code in Terminal on Macs and Linux or Command Prompt on Windows, or using a third-party wrapper for either Mac or PC—something less technically inclined users may struggle to set up.

Getting transcripts is easy and quick. Vook.ai transcribes audio three times as fast as GoTranscript’s AI service. You simply upload recordings from your computer, choose to optionally identify speakers (free) or translate the transcript with DeepL (for double the cost).

Your first 30 minutes of transcription are free, then you can purchase credit in two-, five-, or 10-hour increments, or customized blocks of time. Another option is to purchase a subscription starting at around $11 per month for five hours of transcription, with transcription billed per minute and charged in euros. Leftover credit can be used later.

Buying hours of transcription credit at a time requires slightly more upfront investment than GoTranscript, which bills directly per minute of audio transcribed, and the subscription options add to the complexity. On average, though, Vook.ai works out to around 5¢ per minute of audio transcribed, one fourth of GoTranscript AI’s 20¢ per minute cost.

Vook.ai supports files up to three hours long (or 2 GB), versus GoTranscript’s larger 4 GB upload limit. Longer recordings will need to be split into shorter clips for transcription, or require an Ultra plan, which costs roughly $55 per month.

Transcripts show up in your account moments after they’re ordered. The service includes a basic editor, with rich text editing features including bold and italic font options. You can toggle timestamps and speaker names, copy text, or export transcripts in Word, PDF, Markdown, or .st subtitle format.

Unlike our top pick, there are no sharing or collaboration features, though Vook.ai does have an email export option to send a transcript directly to a colleague. Similar to GoTranscript, though, Vook.ai doesn’t offer universal search across all of your transcripts (something offered by Alice, Rev, and Descript). The only way to organize transcripts is by their read or unread status, or with tags.

Its transcripts are 98.7% accurate on average. In our tests, Vook.ai was second only to GoTranscript in AI transcription accuracy. The results were good enough to use with only light edits.

A couple of names were misspelled—slightly more than with GoTranscript; “Roe” came back as “Rowe,” “Bhupinder” as “Bupinda.” It didn’t handle crosstalk as well as our top pick and missed a few smaller words including “did,” “they,” and “yeah.” Percent was written out as a word, instead of a percent symbol.

Interestingly, the opening pangram in the final audio clip was merged together as a single word, just as in GoTranscript’s AI copy, leading us to wonder if the same core models underlie GoTranscripts’ AI transcription.

It keeps transcripts in-house. User data is stored on EU-based servers and RSA encrypted, and transcriptions run on an OpenAI Whisper model run on Vook.ai’s infrastructure. “Audio files or transcripts are not shared to any third party,” the Vook.ai team told us, unless users request DeepL translation or GPT-powered transcript summaries. Automated transcriptions don’t require a human to listen to audio or read the transcript, keeping transcription private by design. It’s not HIPAA certified, though, which makes GoTranscript a better choice for medical and legal use-cases if compliance is required.

A person using a laptop to access one of the transcription services we tested for this guide.

If you need to work on transcriptions as a team: Descript (free for 1 hour of transcripts per month; from $19/month for 10 hours of transcripts) was designed as a tool for editing podcasts and videos, but it’s also a great AI-powered transcription service with a modern, collaborative editor reminiscent of collaborative notes and the to-do list app Notion .

It was 98.4% accurate in our tests, but it didn’t handle speech impediments or crosstalk well—especially compared with our top pick. It also didn’t clean up filler speech or identify speakers by default, though it does include AI features to add those after the core transcription has been completed.

Descript is worth considering for its interface alone if you’re working with a team. And if you’re building transcripts for a podcast, it could be an all-in-one tool to record, edit, and transcribe podcasts as a team.

If you want free, locally processed AI transcripts: OpenAI Whisper —the engine behind Vook.ai and likely other commercial transcription tools—is an open-source, MIT-licensed, Python-powered transcription model that you can run for free on any computer. Its Large model was 98.7% accurate in our tests, while its faster Small model was 97.7% accurate.

It’s geeky: You can run it in Terminal on Macs and Linux PCs, or Command Prompt on Windows. It’ll run slowly on traditional Intel and AMD processors, but it can deliver transcripts as fast as 1 minute per minute of audio on modern ARM CPUs, including Apple’s M1 and newer, or on CUDA-compatible Nvidia GPUs. Whisper’s Large v2 model was the most accurate in our tests; Small was faster, making it more usable on Intel machines, but it was less accurate, while Large v3 seemed to try too hard and overcorrected at times.

Alternatively, you can use it in third-party wrappers, including MacWhisper for Mac, Aiko for iOS, and Speech Transcribe for Windows PCs with CUDA-compatible Nvidia GPUs. Or, you could use hosted versions of Whisper via automation tools like Zapier or Make , or build it into in-house apps with OpenAI’s Whisper API .

It doesn’t include speaker tracking or timestamps, which may also make it less attractive for some use cases. But it’s the transcription model to beat today, and we’d be remiss not to mention it.

If you want free, good enough transcripts: Check your favorite work applications to see if they include transcription features. Microsoft Word includes automated transcription with Office 365, Slack adds a transcript to any audio shared in chat, and most video call apps including Google Meet and Zoom offer automated transcripts.

None offer the accuracy of our top picks, but all offer passable transcripts that would be good enough for a quick search through meeting notes or to save time in looking up a quote.

Nearly every new tech hardware and software update today promises new AI features. With OpenAI Whisper’s open-source model already providing more-accurate transcriptions than most human transcription services offered a few years ago, expect to see future models offer even greater accuracy.

Today’s smartphones already offer basic transcription features, typically for voicemail or as accessibility features. Google Recorder provides high-quality real-time dictation, and Google’s Gemini can create a text summary of recorded audio on Pixel 8 and 9 series phones.

Similarly, Apple Intelligence —available starting September 16 in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 and newer, and iPad or Macs with M1 CPUs or newer—generates real-time transcripts from audio recordings in Notes with AI summaries. We wouldn’t be surprised to see direct audio file transcription for both platforms in a future update.

In the same way, OpenAI’s Whisper transcription model is available in code today, or via an API call on OpenAI’s servers. While ChatGPT today only includes dictation used to ask a question, it would seem to be a natural progression to offer audio file transcription directly in ChatGPT’s interface—or to see similar offerings from other LLM chats such as Claude in the near future.

This is not a comprehensive list of all transcription services we have tested. We have removed any services that are no longer available or do not meet our current requirements.

Transcription Panda is a human-powered transcription service with the most accurate transcription we tested—but it costs $1 more per minute than GoTranscript with one-day turnaround and takes nearly six times as long to transcribe the same audio. It’s also very basic: You just upload audio and get a Word document emailed back to you. There’s no sharing, editing, or playback features. The few errors the service did make were more likely to change the meaning of a sentence than those from GoTranscript’s human transcripts, too; “instance” was transcribed as “insurance,” for example.

Happy Scribe offers both human and AI transcription, and the accuracy of its human transcription came in just under GoTranscript’s AI accuracy. It handled crosstalk well, and text was highly readable, but it was often altered from the spoken record. “Did they set a timeline?” was changed to “What was the timeline that they set?” That’s close, but the meaning was changed. Its transcript editor app looks more modern than our top pick’s and includes collaboration features it doesn’t (including comments). However, multiple people cannot edit a transcript at the same time (as you could in Google Docs, say).

Scribie is the most affordable human-powered transcription service we tested, at just 80¢ per minute. It first uses AI to transcribe your audio, then human editors clean up the copy. Scribie was as accurate as Happy Scribe, though with a few more spelling differences than other transcription apps. (These included things like using “okay” instead of “ok” or “all together” instead of “altogether.”) It also produced near misses like “study” instead of “steady.” It offers fewer export options, with only Word, PDF, and text formats supported, with no subtitle or caption formats included. It was very good at handling crosstalk and repetitive or filler words, though.

Rev offers both human and AI-powered transcription (the latter also powers Temi, a pick in an earlier version of this guide). It has the most modern, professional editor of the services we tested, with version control for edits and collaboration features to share transcripts (though collaborators cannot edit simultaneously). Unfortunately, it wasn’t as accurate as our current picks, with 98% accurate human transcription and only 98.6% accuracy with AI. Names were especially troublesome. Rev AI transcribed “Joel Embiid” as “Joelle and Bead,” wrote “friends” instead of “France,” and had odd issues with decimal numbers. Human transcriptions were better, but included some AI-like artifacts such as “as large as” being written as “f / f,” and meaning-changing mistakes including “caused” instead of “crossed.”

Reduct is an online video editing app that transcribes audio, too—a video take on what Descript does for podcast editing. Transcripts show up in real time as the AI completes them, with a quick first-pass (taking one minute per minute of audio) followed minutes later by a more accurate final transcription (around three minutes per minute of audio in our tests, which is slow for AI transcription). It missed an entire phrase on the end of one clip and added extraneous phrases to the end of two other clips. Reduct’s nicer editor and collaboration features could make it worth considering if you’re primarily transcribing videos then publishing the copy as captions, as long as you edit transcriptions before publication.

Alice is a basic AI transcription service built around automation. Finished transcripts are emailed to you and any colleagues you add. Alternatively, the service can save transcripts to Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive; share them on Slack; add them to Trello tasks; or kick off Zapier automations from completed transcripts. It whiffed on a number of names, transcribing “Cameroon” as “Kenmore,” “bobcats” as “bug cats,” and “bag” as “Baghdad,” among other mistakes that we didn’t see in other transcripts. But its built-in search was better than that of competitors, surfacing results across every transcript in your account.

Otter is built around transcribing meetings, with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet integrations. Its best use case is to surface data from calls, with automated AI summaries of transcripts, a chat bot that you can ask questions about a call, and graphs tracking who talked the most. It’s less useful for working with transcripts, though, with a limited editor that only lets you copy a single paragraph at a time. It offers few export options and is also somewhat less accurate than the competition.

Trint is designed around transcribing large volumes of audio every month. It offers unlimited transcription starting at $100 per month, in a collaborative editor complete with full-text search, sharing, and comments. That is helpful for transcribing large volumes of audio for subtitles, with quick AI transcription that you can clean up manually in the app. It includes a full-featured mobile app so that you can get text transcribed on the go, and it supports exports in a wide variety of subtitles. Unfortunately, it was just 95% accurate in our tests, far off our picks. It also made errors that changed the meaning, like transcribing “steady” as “study,” “nebulously” as “nebulous Lee,” “That’s always gonna” as “I was always going to,” “right now” as “if I know,” and more—not close enough to publish without a second check.

This article was edited by Ben Keough and Erica Ogg.

Meet your guide

transcription websites review

Matthew Guay

Matthew Guay is a writer focused on software and productivity. Previously he was a writer for the automation platform Zapier and a founding editor of the software community Capiche. With more than 1,500 logins in his password manager, he has lost track of how much software he has tested.

Further reading

A person in front of a MacBook computer and a microphone using dictation software.

The Best Dictation Software

by Kaitlyn Wells

Apple Voice Control and Nuance Dragon Home 15 are the best dictation tools we’ve tested, though both struggle with some accents and speech impediments.

Our four picks for the best Alexa speakers situated in a group next to a flower in a glass vase.

The Best Alexa Smart Speakers

by Rachel Cericola and Grant Clauser

Amazon’s line of Echo smart speakers are the best option for bringing Alexa into your home. We’ve got picks for nearly any setup and situation.

A photo book shown open to a picture collage.

The Best Photo Book Service

by Erin Roberts

If you want to make a photo book to commemorate an event or experience, Mixbook is the best service to use.

A person using an Apple iPhone with iOS 18.

AI Is Coming to Your iPhone. Here Are All the New Features Apple Just Announced.

by Max Eddy

iOS 18, which rolls out to iPhones this fall, is jam-packed with AI-powered features like generative emoji, photo cleanup tools, and ChatGPT integration.

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The Best Transcription Services

The 10 best transcription services.

  • Transcribe Me
  • Transcription Hub
  • Go Transcript
  • We Scribe It

Where Can You Find the Best Transcription Service?

Imagine you've just wrapped up a lively brainstorming session with your marketing team. Ideas were flowing freely - but no one remembered to take detailed notes. Here's where transcription services come to the rescue. They can turn all those spoken words into a clear, written format, so no winning idea gets lost.

Simply put, transcription services take what's said in audio or video and turn it into text. And this isn't only useful for missing meeting notes. It also spans across various fields like legal, medical, and business, making sure important spoken information is accurately captured and easily revisited in text form.

Saturday, November 2nd

2024 Transcription Service Reviews

Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award

  • Starts at $0.79 per minute
  • Hybrid human-and-AI transcription service
  • Provides legal, medical, enterprise, and general transcription with dedicated process for handling HIPAA compliant files
  • Focus on data privacy
  • More than a decade in business
  • "A+" from the Better Business Bureau
  • Offers different accuracy options with corresponding discounts
  • Additional services available (translation, machine transcription, custom AI training datasets, data annotation)
  • Positive customer feedback and responsive support team

TranscribeMe is a hybrid human-and-AI transcription service that provides legal, medical, enterprise, and general transcription for audio and video files. They focus on your data's privacy and offer great rates. TranscribeMe has been in business for more than a decade and enjoys an "A+” grade from the Better Business Bureau.

Save by opting for 98% accuracy

Several of the services in our review boast 4-step accuracy processes. But what if you're happy with less than 99% accuracy and would prefer the cash value? That's exactly what TranscribeMe offers. For $0.79 per minute, you can get a 98% accurate First Draft transcription a day after you submit your audio file. (Speaker IDs and Timestamps are available, but not included. They don't specify how much extra you'll have to pay for these.)

Standard for $1.25

If you really do need that extra 1% accuracy, you can opt for Standard transcription for $1.25 per minute. You'll receive files transcribed this way between 1 and 3 business days after submission - a little slower than comparable plans from rival services, but still good. Speaker IDs and Timestamps are not included with this plan. 99% accuracy is guaranteed with this plan, whereas for the First Draft plan, the 98% figure is just an estimation.

Verbatim for $2

If you need absolutely everything written down, including false starts and "um”s and "ah”s, the Verbatim plan is for you. This plan starts at $2 per minute and does include Speaker IDs and Timestamps.

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Automatic transcription for less than a cent per minute

TranscribeMe offers other services, including:

  • Translation: $0.11 per word
  • Machine transcription: $0.07 per minute ( wow! )
  • ?Custom AI training datasets: $2 per minute
  • Data annotation: $0.10 per task

Separate registration process for HIPAA compliant files

Need medical transcription handled with extra care for HIPAA files? TranscribeMe has your back. With a dedicated process that delivers top-notch access and security, they'll guide you through the setup personally after you submit your request. They prioritize privacy and confidentiality, using Verbatim transcription and customizing the handling of all your private info according to your needs - ensuring your files are transcribed accurately and securely with your peace of mind intact.

Your unique requirements are taken into consideration

The same goes for Legal transcription - the site recommends you get in contact with their sales team so they can talk about your needs and connect you with the most knowledgeable transcriptionists on their staff who will best be able to complete your project. This includes depositions, legal annotations, notices, hearings, and more. This is one of the things we like best about TranscribeMe - instead of simply claiming that they can handle every type of transcription you could possibly need, they take steps to demonstrate that they'll handle your project with the consideration it deserves.

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Robust privacy policy

TranscribeMe safeguards your privacy by strictly managing and protecting the information you provide. Your data, used only for processing and enhancing services, is neither sold nor rented to third parties, and all team members adhere to confidentiality through Non-Disclosure Agreements. Your sensitive details, like payment info, are encrypted to ensure security. You maintain control, with options to view or delete your data whenever you wish.

Great customer support

Customers have offered positive feedback about TranscribeMe's transcription services. One customer mentioned how TranscribeMe successfully managed a multi-phase transcription project in multiple languages, providing hassle-free coordination, timely updates, and the delivery of accurate transcriptions. Another customer highlighted the user-friendly interface and the ability to transcribe content in any language, with the support team readily available to assist with challenges. Overall, customers wholeheartedly recommend TranscribeMe for its exceptional user experience, efficient process, and responsive support team.

The top choice for transcription

TranscribeMe is the #1 option for transcription services due to their combination of human and AI transcription, competitive pricing, and commitment to data privacy. Whether you're looking for legal, medical, enterprise, or general transcription, TranscribeMe has you covered. Their dedicated support team, positive customer feedback, and Better Business Bureau backing make them the top choice in the industry.

Transcription Hub Review

  • Cost-effective; starts at $0.75/minute
  • Specializes in legal and medical transcription
  • HIPAA-compliant for handling sensitive medical details
  • Guarantees 99% accuracy and supports multiple audio and video formats
  • Serving over 8,000 customers in the US, Canada, and the UK
  • Skilled transcriptionists who are knowledgeable in jargon
  • Student discounts available for Education Transcription
  • Supports more than 35 languages for translation services

Transcription Hub is a transcription services company designed for enterprise needs. They offer cost-effective, secure, and accurate audio/video transcription, serving over 8,000 customers in the US, Canada, and the UK. They particularly shine with legal and medical transcription, employing only the most skilled transcriptionists who won't just guess at jargon, and placing great importance on the security of your files.

Won't burn a hole in your wallet

Transcription Hub offers three pricing tiers for General Transcription based on delivery time. Each plan includes a guarantee of 99% accuracy, multiple speaker accommodation, specialized terminology, verbatim (meaning filler words aren't left out unless you specify otherwise), and support for multiple audio and video formats. A 5-day turnaround time starts at $0.75 per minute. For 2-day express transcription the price is $1.25 per minute. 1-day delivery is $1.75. The addition of timestamps is only an extra $0.15 per minute - about half the cost of leading transcription services.

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Student discounts available

For more specialized transcription, pricing varies slightly:

  • Education Transcription: $0.71 to $1.66
  • Medical Transcription: $0.95 to $2.15
  • Legal/Insurance Transcription: $0.75 to $1.75 (the same as General Transcription)

If you're a student or educator with a valid educational institution email address, you'll qualify for discounts between 5% and 73% for Education Transcription. If you're in need of translation services, Transcription Hub supports more than 35 languages and charges less than a cent per word.

Transcriptionists are of a higher caliber

You can certainly find a couple of other services in our review that offer transcription with faster turnaround times for lower prices, but those services don't operate the same way as Transcription Hub. For one thing, competitors' transcriptionists are not necessarily equipped to deal with medical or legal jargon. Rival services also often have high turnover rates - a quick search on their names reveals a plethora of guides on how to use these services to make "beer money”, as well as angry reviews from transcriptionists who found the work or company was not to their liking for one reason or another. We found very little like this when we searched for more information on Transcription Hub.

Trusted by insurance, healthcare, and law enforcement sectors

Encouragingly, Transcription Hub has an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited since 2015. And if you're still not sold, check out the "Case Studies" tab on Transcription Hub's website: there you'll find case studies that provide insights into how the company has managed transcription challenges across various industries, such as universities, insurance claims management companies, healthcare companies, and law enforcement departments. These case studies delve into the unique challenges faced by organizations in these sectors and demonstrate how Transcription Hub met their needs.

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HIPAA-compliant

Transcription Hub seriously values your privacy, especially when it comes to sensitive medical details. They proudly offer HIPAA-compliant medical transcription services, ensuring that your data is handled with the utmost care and in line with all relevant regulations. Their specialized team isn't just well-acquainted with medical jargon but is also keenly aware of all the ins and outs of HIPAA and other crucial medical transcription standards.

Employees are NDA-bound

To top that off, they're not only guarding your data against external threats but internally as well. Every single member of the Transcription Hub team is bound by a strict confidentiality agreement to protect your data. They're also more than willing to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement with you, providing an extra layer of assurance that your information is in safe hands. With Transcription Hub, you're getting more than just outstanding transcription services; you're gaining a trusted ally that prioritizes and protects your privacy at every turn.

Can't go wrong with Transcription Hub

To sum up, Transcription Hub is the service for you if you need a service you can depend on to keep your data (or that of your patients or clients) as secure as possible. They're also going to be able to handle legal and medical terminology, which can't always be said for some better-known transcription services. Factor in their low prices, 100% human transcription, and 99% accuracy guarantee, and they make the top of our list for transcription services.

Rev Review

  • $1.50/minute for human transcription
  • Delivery within hours at no extra cost
  • In-platform transcript editor
  • Translation available in 17 languages
  • 72,000 native English-speaking transcriptionists

Rev is a leading speech-to-text service that claims to be the "#1 provider in the world”. Founded in 2010, Rev offers fast and affordable services by connecting skilled freelancers with customers in need of accurate transcriptions, captions, and subtitles. With a network of over 72,000 native English-speaking freelancers and advanced speech recognition AI, Rev delivers high-quality results at a large scale. Businesses and individuals rely on Rev for reliable and speedy speech-to-text solutions.

One rate for human transcription

Rev's pricing is pretty straightforward: $1.50 per minute of audio with the option to add timestamps for an additional $0.30/minute. While this is a little higher than some competitors, they don't charge extra for multiple speakers, and you don't pay more for fast delivery times.

Integrates with other apps

Something we really like about Rev is its ease of incorporation with your workflow. You have the convenience of placing audio transcription orders directly from your YouTube, Dropbox, Vimeo, or Google Drive account.

Get your files within 12 hours

How fast is Rev's delivery? Pretty darn speedy. All projects under 30 minutes in length can be expected to be delivered within 12 hours, but often much sooner. Other services with plans that look cheaper on the surface often have longer wait times for delivery, and in order to get them sooner, you're looking at paying as much or more than Rev's single plan $1.50 fee.

Rush orders available for an extra $1.25/minute

However, if you do need those files even sooner than 12 hours from submission, you have the option to pay an additional $1.25/minute for priority completion ($2.75/minute total, plus 30 cents if you need timestamps). Priority projects are given to Rev's top transcriptionists to make sure you're not sacrificing quality for speed. We do think Rev's final review process could be improved: long rush files are split into multiple parts to be simultaneously worked on by multiple transcriptionists, and then they're stitched back together into one file. Rev says this means that there might be inconsistencies in speaker names for files over 30 minutes - for example, one transcriptionist might spell a speaker's name as "Katy”, and the other might opt for "Katie”.

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Transcript Editor gives you control over the final product

Many transcription services deliver your transcriptions in Word or Plain Text formats. Rev, however, gives you access to your files via their free Transcript Editor. They have a demo of this nifty tool on their site, so you can get a feel for its capabilities. A few things it can do: find and replace words, highlight, remove filler words, and alter timestamps. If you're happy with your transcription and don't feel it needs any editing, you can go ahead and download it in multiple file formats directly from the Transcript Editor.

AI and translation services offered

Apart from human transcription, Rev also offers:

  • Live captioning for Zoom. This AI speech-to-text service is installed as software, after which it will automatically caption every Zoom meeting connected with your account. Rev is not transparent about the cost for this service.
  • AI auto audio transcription. This service costs $0.25 per minute of audio and is recommended for personal projects with quick turnaround times.
  • Subtitle translation for global reach of videos. This costs $5 to $12 per minute, depending on which of the 17 supported languages you choose.

No refunds promised

If you're unhappy with the quality of your transcription, all you need to do is leave a 3-star or lower rating on it from the transcript Workspace page and include a comment explaining why you're unsatisfied. After that, Rev's Quality Control team will review it, but they make no promises for refunds or reworking the file. This renders Rev's 99% satisfaction guarantee somewhat toothless.

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Thousands of happy customers, despite BBB rating

Rev has not been accredited by the Better Business Bureau, but they currently have a "C-” grade. On a more positive note, Rev does have a 4.2-star rating on Trustpilot across 6,000+ reviews. Happy customers report quality transcriptions that include correct spellings of difficult speaker names and fast turnaround times.

Customer service is lacking

However, we found the occasional report that when there were quality issues, customer support was unhelpful and refunds were impossible to attain - even in one case where a customer paid 82 euros for a transcript which was blank except for a couple of quotation marks when it was delivered. It seems fair to say that most of the time Rev delivers on their promises, but they don't do well with making things right when they do mess up - which may be the reason for the "C-” from the BBB. Rev's customer support is available via phone Mon-Fri from 9am-4pm CT and 24/7 via live chat or email.

One of our top picks

We really like Rev's simple pricing structure, their range of services, and most of all, their lightning-fast delivery. While we think they have room for improvement when it comes to making good on their promises for customer satisfaction, they're still a very good choice for your transcription needs.

Trint Review

  • AI-driven transcription of audio and video files
  • 7-day free trial
  • Starts at $60/month
  • Transcripts can be translated into over 50 languages
  • Real-time collaboration in a single workflow
  • Unlimited transcription in the Advanced plan
  • Mobile app for easy file uploading
  • Custom dictionary for enhanced accuracy
  • Integration with apps like Zapier
  • Prompt and proactive customer support
  • Strong data encryption and privacy measures

Trint, created by journalist Jeff Kofman, is a tool that changes audio and video into text using AI technology, making life easier for people in journalism and media. After spending over 30 years in the field and dealing with slow, manual transcription, Kofman developed Trint to help tell stories faster and with less hassle.

More than just transcription

This platform doesn't just transcribe but also helps users translate, edit, and work together in one easy workflow. It's not only used by big news organizations like the BBC and Washington Post but also supports podcasters and other content creators in speeding up their work process. Trint aims to solve a common problem in journalism: slowing down stories with slow transcription work.

Not pay-as-you-go

Trint is a little different from most other services in our review. Instead of charging you by the minute, Trint offers three plans billed monthly or annually. The Starter plan includes only 7 audio files per month (no specified runtime limit), subtitle and closed caption creation, automatic speaker identification, and up to two other users. If you pay monthly, it'll cost you $60. If you subscribe for the year, you'll pay $48 per month, saving $144 over that 12-month period.

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Limits on transcription make Starter plan a poor fit for most

One obvious drawback: if you don't use transcription services often, you might end up paying for more than you need. And if you use transcription services very often, but your files tend to be shorter (like if you run a YouTube channel with regular uploads under 10 minutes), you might hit your cap before getting much value for your money. We have trouble picturing the kind of user the Starter plan would be ideal for. In fact, many freelancers who used Trint before (when they had a pay-as-you-go model) have left negative reviews, saying this new monthly payment model has made the service impractical for their needs.

Advanced plan includes unlimited transcription and mobile app

The Advanced plan costs $75 monthly or $60 if you pay for the year. This plan is the one we would recommend, because it includes unlimited transcription. You can also use their mobile app to upload your files, the shared Workspace feature for team collaboration, the custom dictionary, and you'll be able to translate your transcripts into over 50 languages. Users of this plan are very satisfied, saying they love the unlimited transcription. The mobile app has also been praised, with users calling it "slick” and "responsive”. By all accounts, Trint's in-site editor and interface are also intuitive and highly functional.

Enterprise plan comes with integrations and analytics

The Enterprise plan offers live, shareable transcription allowing multiple users to collaborate on projects in real-time. It also provides integration with apps like Zapier, advanced analytics, and 24/7 access to a Dedicated Customer Success Manager. The cost isn't provided upfront; interested parties should contact Trint directly for pricing. This plan is well-suited for larger businesses, media houses, podcasting teams, multinational corporations, and research-heavy academic institutions. Those prioritizing continuous support and in-depth data insights about their transcription activities would find the plan especially beneficial.

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Data is encrypted

Because Trint is AI-driven, it turns your recordings into text without humans ever listening in, and your audio files are kept under digital lock and key. They're stored securely in places like Amazon Web Services, and Trint uses tough encryption to keep your data safe. Trint's team can see the names of your files but can't peek into the content unless you give the go-ahead. So, your recordings stay private.

Not HIPAA certified

However, there's a heads-up for those in the healthcare field: Trint isn't HIPAA certified. This means if you're handling sensitive health info, this platform might not check all the regulatory boxes for you. But, Trint does take data safety seriously and follows robust global standards (like ISO 27001). If you ever want to say goodbye to Trint and take your data with you, they'll wave farewell, deleting your data within a 30-day window.

Same problems with accents found across all AI solutions

There aren't many complaints about Trint, but it's worth mentioning the few that are out there. For one, it doesn't do much better than its AI-utilizing competitors when it comes to transcribing international accents. Some users say there are hiccups involving editing speaker names (where changing one name alters all subsequent speaker names too) and that large files can be slow to upload. None of these complaints have been dealbreakers for anyone, but if you're not sure if they will be for you, you can take advantage of Trint's 7-day free trial to test it out for yourself.

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Email support available

Customers only have good things to say about Trint's customer support. They say it's prompt, proactive, and that bugs are consistently fixed. If you need help, you can use their live chat or reach out via email. You should receive a response within a day.

Our top pick for users in media

Trint stands out in the transcription world with its AI-driven approach, designed especially for journalism and media. While it faces common AI challenges like handling diverse accents, its features, especially in real-time collaboration, set it apart. The pricing models might not be for everyone, with the Starter plan's limitations being a potential drawback. However, larger teams and businesses will find value in the Advanced and Enterprise plans. Trint keeps user data safe, though those in healthcare should note the lack of HIPAA certification. Overall, Trint offers a comprehensive transcription solution, combining security with functionality, backed by reliable customer support

Sonix Review

  • Affordable pricing starting at $0.16/minute for AI transcription
  • Get finished transcripts in minutes
  • Built-in transcript editor with timestamps and speaker labels
  • Supports transcription in nearly 40 languages and translation in 40+
  • Special discounts for students, educators, and non-profits
  • First 30 minutes of transcription are free
  • Responsive to feature requests and implements user ideas

Sonix, an AI-powered transcription platform, focuses on simplifying and enhancing how users handle audio and video content, offering services that span from transcription to extensive video production in multiple languages. Used by millions across 100+ countries, Sonix is designed to be intuitive yet potent, aiming to alleviate tedious manual work and streamline content-related workflows.

Pricing starts at $0.16/minute for AI transcription

Sonix has 3 plans which are charged on an hourly basis. For the Standard plan, you'll pay $10 an hour, which is "dirt cheap” compared to paid services, as one user put it. The rate works out to $0.16/minute compared to the $1.50 charged by other services, but keep in mind Sonix is all AI - no humans here. The Standard plan operates on a pay-as-you-go model. Transcription hours are purchased upfront and utilized according to the user's pace and need, but don't worry about not having exactly an hour of audio to be transcribed - Sonix will prorate your hours, so if you only upload 47 minutes of audio, that's all you'll be charged for.

Languages other than English supported

The Standard plan includes a built-in transcript editor, timestamps down to the word, speaker labels, a custom dictionary (to indicate your preference for particular spellings), and customer support via email. Sonix also supports transcription in nearly 40 languages and translation in over 40, although these cost extra.

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Premium and Enterprise plans have more capabilities

You might consider a Premium subscription if you regularly have a high volume of audio to transcribe, or if you're in need of advanced collaboration capabilities for your team or more robust features, like multiple custom dictionaries and customizable subtitle font on videos. This plan has a base rate of only $5 a month, but an additional fee of $22 per user per month, so it's really more like at least $27 a month. However, you can save 25% if you subscribe for the year. The Enterprise plan has features like topic detection, personal information redaction, team activity tracking, and phone support. You'll have to reach out to get the pricing for this plan.

Discounts for students, educators, and non-profits

Sonix knows that students often have a lot on their plates. Think about all those lectures, group chats, and extracurricular meetings they have. It can be hard to keep track. That's why Sonix offers special discounted pricing for students, but also educators, faculty members, and non-profit organization employees, too. Additionally, Sonix provides an interesting opportunity for users to get a free subscription to their Premium Plan by writing an online article of over 300 words about Sonix.

First 30 minutes are free

If you're not sure about Sonix, you can try them out with 30 minutes of transcription on them. All you need to do is create an account - no credit card required. Already signed up for a plan? You still get 30 free minutes on the house.

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No human touch

AI speech-to-text services have some drawbacks. One of them is that the quality of the final transcript really depends on the quality of the audio, even more so than with human transcription. Unlike humans, you can't prompt an AI model to focus harder or advise it that one of your speakers has a lisp. It can't train its ear past the data it has been trained on to adapt to a heavy accent. So, if you have audio that was recorded in an echoey classroom without great sound treatment and lots of crosstalk, Sonix may not be the service for you.

Responsive to feature requests

Sonix values your feedback and actively encourages users to share their ideas for future updates. They have a dedicated feature request board where you can contribute your own suggestions and upvote ideas from other users. Sonix does take this feedback seriously - several customers have mentioned in their positive reviews that their ideas have been implemented in Sonix updates.

Customer service available

Got questions? You can visit Sonix's help center, or reach out via email, or, if you're subscribed to the Premium or Enterprise plans, you can get in touch via phone. Users have found customer service to be responsive and helpful.

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Get your transcript lightning fast

One customer raved about the speed with which they received their finished transcripts - several hours of audio in about five minutes. How's that for a fast turnaround time?

Your data is protected

For those wary of new AI services like Sonix, especially with concerns about how these speech-to-text tools use audio data to improve, understanding their data handling is crucial. Sonix promises an automated system where humans don't access your files unless you give clear permission, and any deleted file is gone for good. While they highlight strong security measures, including adherence to SOC 2 Type 2 standards and using Drata's platform for constant internal checks, it's always wise for users to study such policies closely. With the rise of AI tools, being cautious and informed about where and how your data is used is more important than ever.

Straightforward and affordable

Sonix impresses with its affordable, straightforward service, delivering as promised without posing significant risk, thanks to its free trial and low prices. While it might struggle with some audio files and lacks human review, its low price makes these manageable caveats. If a budget-friendly transcription tool is what you're after and you don't mind that it's AI-powered, Sonix warrants consideration.

Scribie Review

  • $1.25/minute (+$0.30 for time coding)
  • Complimentary re-reviews until the file reaches 99% accuracy
  • 24-hour turnaround time
  • 4-step human transcription process for accuracy
  • Cost calculator and demo available on their website
  • Positive customer support experiences

Scribie offers a transcription service that turns spoken words into written text, employing both artificial intelligence and human review. Their mission emphasizes a strong focus on the accuracy of transcripts, adopting a method that involves collective effort from multiple transcribers to minimize errors.

$1.25/minute doesn't include time coding

We followed a prominently featured link on Scribie's website to a comparison between Scribie and a leading competitor. Initially, we were quite convinced that Scribie was the better service. That was until we checked the date of that blog post and compared the pricing they promised in it to the current pricing listed on their site. In the blog post, they boast that time coding is included in their flat rate of $0.80 per audio minute where their competitor charged an extra $0.30 on top of a flat fee of $1.50/minute. Well, Scribie is now not much better than the competitor they disparaged for these "hidden fees”: as of this review, Scribie's per-minute fee is $1.25, and time coding is - you guessed it - an additional $0.30. We'd recommend Scribie update this blog post or take it down altogether to avoid future embarrassment.

24 hours until delivery

So what do you get for that $1.25? The typical promise of 99% accuracy and a 24-hour turnaround time. If your audio is unclear, though, be prepared for delays and lower accuracy. If you need your files sooner than next-day, you can pay an additional $1.25/minute for Rush Order prioritization.

4-step accuracy process

How does Scribie reach that promise of 99% accuracy? After you submit your audio files and payment has gone through, Scribie begins their 4-step human transcription process. First, your files are split up into smaller portions and typed up by one or more transcriptionists. Next, Scribie's reviewers check their work and add time codes, if you've paid for those, and speaker tracking. Third, those smaller portions are stitched back together and double-checked for any mistakes or inconsistencies (like in speaker names or alternate spellings of words). The final step is an assessment of the overall accuracy of the file to make sure it's at least 99%. If not, it goes back to step three. Your file will be delivered in the format of your choice.

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Use the cost calculator and schedule a demo

The landing page of their website features a handy cost calculator with toggles for Rush Order and Time-coding that will adjust the price when turned on or off. If you want a custom quote on their letterhead, you can submit a request by clicking the link below the calculator. You can also request a demo of their services, which might be a good idea if you're working with audio with heavy accents or poor quality and you aren't sure if Scribie can handle it. Note that poor audio might be subject to additional charges.

Sign up for their newsletter to save

Scribie offers seasonal promotions that you'll only be privy to if you sign up for their newsletter. Otherwise, they don't offer any discounts, which they justify with the claim that their prices are "already the lowest in the industry.”

Free re-reviews until your file is near-perfect

We found another discrepancy in Scribie's return policy. In their Customer Guide, they say that you can cancel your order as long as it hasn't reached 60% completion, but on the landing page, they say it's 40%. We're guessing it's the latter number in actuality, but Scribie should fix this. If you do choose to cancel, you'll be refunded for the amount of work that wasn't finished. If you've already received your transcript, though, the only thing Scribie will do is offer complimentary re-reviews until your file has reached 99% accuracy.

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Not many reviews, but customer support is good

It's hard to find reviews for Scribie online, but the ones we did find consistently mention positive experiences with customer support, fast turnaround times, and value for money. One complaint was that Scribie no longer offers automated transcripts at all, which used to be free, and later cost 10 cents per minute. Another user complained that Scribie's formatting requirements are too strict and that they had to reach out to customer support to convince them to accept the order.

Scribie supplements human transcription with AI

We suspect Scribie has quietly made some sneaky changes to their business model to make more money. They stopped offering their free and later paid auto-transcription service, requiring you to pay for the "human” transcription service. They've described themselves as "combining the best of both worlds - AI and Human transcription.” While not explicitly stated, this suggests a shift in their transcription process since our last evaluation. Now, their transcribers appear to act more as proofreaders for AI-generated transcriptions rather than actual transcriptionists. Previously, Scribie offered an AI option for free, leaving the editing work up to you.

Not a standout anymore

Wrapping up, we're feeling a bit let down by Scribie compared to our last look at them. They used to stand out with cool options like free automated transcripts, but those days are gone. Now, with sneaky price changes and some unclear info on their site, we're left raising an eyebrow. They're not messing up big time, but they're not wowing us either. They still do a solid job turning speech into text and their customer service is decent, but they've lost some of the unique perks that used to give them an edge. So, Scribie's okay, but they've lost a bit of their original charm, landing them squarely in the middle of the transcription service pack.

Go Transcript Review

  • Starts at $0.84/minute
  • 6 hr turnaround available
  • 99% accuracy guaranteed
  • Customer loyalty program

GoTranscript began as an Edinburgh-based startup in 2005. With a team mostly made up of native English speakers in the UK and the US, they offer human-powered transcription services that don't rely on inaccurate speech-to-text software. If you're looking for translation services, they do that too.

Cost structure of plans is based on turnaround time

The 5-day service is the cheapest, priced at $0.84 per minute. The 3-day service costs $1.03 per minute, the 1-day service costs $1.22 per minute, and the 6-12 hour service costs $2.34 per minute. All plans offer discounts for bulk audio uploads, which means that the more audio you need to be transcribed, the lower the cost will be. If this seems confusing, don't worry - you can use their cost calculator to get an accurate estimate.

Upload your files directly to site or via shared link

Starting a project with GoTranscript involves a couple of straightforward steps. Users first upload their audio or video files, easily done either directly via their web platform or through a shared link. GoTranscript requests audio submissions with a minimum quality of 44.1 kHz and clear, loud volume for accurate transcription. Users are encouraged to reduce background noise and contact Customer Support if they have any doubts about the audio's suitability. The next step is payment, which can be done with all the major credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal.

Best Transcription Services

4-step transcription process

Once the financial part is squared away, the files go through a careful 4-step transcription process. This begins with basic transcription, followed by a general review, detailed proofreading, and finally, multiple quality checks and edits, which collectively aim for a 99% accuracy rate. The finalized product typically lands in the user's email inbox in Microsoft Word format, but GoTranscript offers an option for other formats if you request it in the upload process comments.

Full Verbatim available upon request

Transcriptions come in Clean Verbatim format usually, but you can ask for Full Verbatim instead. Clean Verbatim means they remove any unnecessary words or sounds like "um" for an easy read, while Full Verbatim writes down everything exactly as heard. GoTranscript lets clients pick between adding timestamps either every two minutes or when the speaker changes.

Loyal customers are rewarded with discounts

If you frequently use transcription services, GoTranscript's loyalty program can save you a few bucks. By visiting the Customer Loyalty Program page while signed in, you can see how many hours of audio you've uploaded. If you've uploaded 2,500 minutes of audio, all future projects are eligible for a 5% discount. 5,250+ minutes earns you 10% off, and 10,000+ minutes is worth 15% off. If you're a college student, you're immediately eligible for 10% off.

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Partial refunds for late projects

GoTranscript promises to deliver transcriptions on time but acknowledges that issues like poor audio quality might cause delays. If they don't meet the promised delivery date, they say they'll provide a partial refund.

24/7 customer support

Clients who face issues with the transcriptions or translations can contact GoTranscript's Customer Support within seven days of receiving their materials. Support is supposedly available 24/7 via email and live chat.

Fake reviews?

When we looked at GoTranscript's customer reviews on a couple of third-party websites, we were initially pleased to see that they had earned a 4.3 rating and had reviews from actual customers. In the past, many of their reviews came from the freelance transcriptionists they hired. However, we quickly noticed that there were several identically-worded 5-star reviews from different users that had clearly been copied and pasted. This suggests that Go Transcript is paying for fake reviews. Unfortunately, because of this, we don't think we can reasonably trust the content of any other 5-star reviews.

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Quality of transcriptions is often poor

Taking a closer look at GoTranscript's lower-rated customer reviews reveals some concerning issues. One user from Singapore pointed out that despite its affordable price, the transcription service was lacking with the Singaporean accent and specific medical terms, requiring a lot of extra editing work. Another customer expressed frustration with not only receiving a transcription instead of a requested translation but also experiencing a delay in delivery and a refusal of a refund when the mistake was pointed out - so much for that satisfaction-or-your-money-back guarantee. Another customer even said that their transcriber seemed to have been guessing at unclear words. These negative reviews seem more believable compared to the identical 5-star ones we found earlier.

Look elsewhere

GoTranscript looks okay on the surface, but unfortunately, we just can't trust a company that appears to be purchasing positive reviews. We also spotted a few grammatical errors on their website that lent to the impression that GoTranscript's sleek website and promises of 99% accuracy are something of a facade. We recommend you look elsewhere for your transcription needs.

We Scribe It Review

  • Founded in 2008
  • U.S.-based transcription service
  • 98% accuracy guarantee
  • Utilizes native English-speaking transcribers without voice recognition software
  • Offers different transcription types (General, Legal, Medical)

WeScribeIt, founded in 2008, is a U.S.-based transcription service with a 98% accuracy guarantee, achieved by utilizing native English-speaking transcribers without voice recognition software. Offering 24/7 services across various domains like legal, medical, and event transcriptions, the company emphasizes affordability, transparent billing, and prides itself on timeliness and professionalism among its global clientele.

General transcription starts at $1.50/minute

WeScribeIt offers General, Legal, and Medical transcription with extra charges for speakers and priority completion. Here's a breakdown of their costs for Regular 10-16 hour delivery:

  • General: $1.50/minute
  • Legal: $2.00/minute
  • Medical: $3.15/minute

Prices are not competitive

For 6-hour Express delivery, General transcription jumps to $2.25/minute. There's no indication of whether any of these rates include speaker labels or time coding, but even if they do, these are not competitive prices. When you add in extra charges for multiple speakers ($0.50/minute for 2 speakers, $0.75 for 3 or more), you're looking at a large bill.

Potential discount for slow turnaround

In WeScribeIt's FAQ, they mention that you can receive a discount if you choose a significantly slower turnaround time of 1-2 weeks. However, there's no further information provided regarding the amount of the discount or how to indicate your preference for this option.

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Very little online presence

We can't find anything about WeScribeIt in the realm of third-party consumer reviews. They're not listed with the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, or even G2. We checked out the social media profiles they included on their website, but all were dead ends. WeScribeIt's website does have a testimonials tab, but the reviews are not dated, and obviously, WeScribeIt is only going to include quotes that reflect positively on their company there.

Seems like no one is home

We were curious to find out if anything had changed about WeScribeIt since the time of our last review. It would look like the answer is no: even an embarrassing typo in the FAQ promising the "exprience" of their typists had not been corrected.

Better choices available

Wrapping things up, we find ourselves hesitant to put our stamp of approval on WeScribeIt. There's a surprising lack of an online footprint, especially concerning when there are no customer reviews to be found outside of those on their own website. This makes it pretty tough to double-check their claims and really know what we're getting into - or what could justify their steep prices. Add to that a website which, typos and all, hasn't seen a noticeable update since our last visit, and our confidence wavers. They don't come across as terrible, per se, but without a clear picture of their reliability, endorsing them is a bit out of our reach.

Transcribe Review

  • $20 per year +$6 per hour for automatic transcription
  • Self-serve transcription software
  • Yearly subscription model
  • Focus on privacy
  • Supports transcription of speech in more than 80 languages
  • Geared towards freelance transcriptionists
  • Self Transcription plan with keyboard shortcuts, unlimited dictation, integrated editor and media player, and playback loops
  • Automatic Transcription plan with machine transcription, turnaround in less than an hour, timecodes, speaker identification, and video subtitle creation

Can be used offline

Transcribe by Wreally is a self-serve transcription software with two plans based on a yearly subscription model. They say their focus is on privacy and that they support transcription of speech in more than 80 languages.

Primarily a tool for freelance transcriptionists

It seems like Transcribe by Wreally is more geared towards freelance transcriptionists, helping them streamline their workflow. It may not be the ideal solution for people in other industries who are in need of a comprehensive transcription service. For $20 a year, you can take advantage of their Self Transcription plan, which includes keyboard shortcuts, unlimited dictation, their integrated editor and media player, and playback loops.

Yearly subscription plus $6 per hour

Transcribe also offers an Automatic Transcription plan. For $20 per year plus $6 per audio hour, you get all the same Self Transcription features plus machine transcription, turnaround in less than an hour (although most automatic services provide this in minutes), timecodes, speaker identification, and video subtitle creation. How affordable this plan is in comparison to other services depends on how often you need transcription services.

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Mixed customer reviews

What do Transcribe's users have to say? There's a page full of glowing testimonials on their website, but we did some digging into less biased reviews and came back with a different picture. Some users find it affordable and handy for taking notes and doing interviews. But many point out significant issues that decrease Transcribe's value as a time-saving tool.

Editing Transcribe's mistakes is time-consuming

Customers mention problems like random capital letters, added words, and misspelled words, such as "acreditacion" instead of "accreditation." Common words like "been" are often wrongly changed to "being," and saying "comma" can give unexpected words like "karma" or "comedy." Some users feel cheated, as they had to spend extra time fixing many errors and dealing with poor punctuation. While it helps a bit with making timecodes and subtitles, many users are frustrated and wish it saved them more time and effort.

If Transcribe has benefits, it's that it can be used with no internet connection - your work will be saved in your browser's local storage. However, this is another benefit that will probably be most valued by freelance transcriptionists.

Best Transcription Services

Your files never leave your computer

When using the self-transcribe feature, Transcribe by Wreally prioritizes privacy. Your audio and video files are played directly from your computer and are not stored elsewhere. Similarly, any text you type into the editor is only saved in your browser and doesn't leave your computer. This ensures that both your media files and text remain private. However, for the auto-transcribe feature, your audio and video files are uploaded to their servers for machine transcription since speech recognition requires significant computing resources. Rest assured, the uploaded files are deleted shortly after processing. You have full control over your data and can choose to delete the transcript from the servers once you export it.

Doesn't shine

Honestly, there isn't much more we need to say about Transcribe. There are cheaper and higher quality services out there in both human transcription and AI transcription models. Transcribe by Wreally doesn't seem to edge out the competition in any area, and in fact may cause you to lose more time than you save with extensive editing made necessary by poor speech recognition. We recommend you check out one of our better-ranked AI speech-to-text services, if that's what you're in the market for, or one of our human transcription services if you don't want to leave all the editing to a professional.

Temi Review

  • AI text-to-speech software for audio and video files.
  • $0.25/minute
  • Turnaround time is just minutes.
  • Pay as you go with no monthly subscriptions, minimums, or additional charges.
  • Free trial available for 45 minutes of audio with no credit card necessary.

Temi is an AI-powered speech-to-text service that can support MP3 and MP4 files. Other than that, they don't have much of substance to say about themselves on their "About” page.

Temi's algorithm is used by other services in our review

When you visit Temi's website, strangely, a pop-up ad for a different service will appear first - one of the top-ranking rivals in our review. You'll need to close the ad to see more about Temi. This other service is Temi's parent company and uses Temi to convert speech to text, even though they primarily do human transcription. Temi is powered by this other service, but using the other service gives you more editing tools than you'll find with Temi.

More expensive than other AI services

Temi offers AI text-to-speech software for audio and video files at $0.25 per minute with a turnaround time of just minutes. You pay as you go - no monthly subscriptions, minimums, or additional charges. However, as far as AI transcription software goes, these are not the lowest prices you'll find. One of the services in our review charges less than a cent per minute of audio, and their editing tool seems to be more robust, too.

Not as accurate as competitors

But what about accuracy? Do you get better transcriptions for the higher price with Temi? Unfortunately, that's not what their customer reviews bear out. Temi has recently been facing some challenges with accuracy, causing a stir among its users. Even long-time customers, who were once happy with the service, are now dealing with major mistakes and missing parts in the transcriptions, even when the spoken words are clear and easy to understand. Users are finding that they have to spend a lot of extra time fixing errors and double-checking the original recordings to make sure everything is correct.

Best Transcription Services

Other missing features

Temi doesn't seem to support a personalized dictionary - which seems like an oversight when you're the one who will need to do the editing to pick up the AI's slack. It also only supports English and has a hard time with non-American accents. If you're transcribing audio from a video, it might not support MP4 files with multiple audio tracks.

Free trial available

If for some reason you're still interested in trying Temi out, you can sign up for a free trial of 45 minutes of audio - no credit card necessary.

Too expensive for its basic features

Temi is much cheaper than human transcription services, but what you save in pennies you'll pay for in time spent cleaning up your transcriptions. With much better AI-powered transcription services available at a fraction of the cost, we don't see much reason to recommend Temi.

Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above... Continued from above... -->

You'll find two main types of transcription: manual and automated. Manual involves a person listening to the audio and typing it out, capturing nuances and context but potentially taking more time and being a bit pricier. Automated uses technology to transcribe quickly and usually at a lower cost, but may miss the mark on accuracy, especially with tricky audios or specific jargon.

Some services offer both manual and automated types of transcription services, while others offer just one. Some transcription services even give customers complete control over the transcription process by providing them with tools to dictate and edit within the platform themselves.

What you may not know is that transcription services can do more than just turn spoken words into text. Some services offer extras like identifying different speakers, adding time stamps, and keeping track of specialized terms. Also, given that some recordings can contain sensitive information, top-tier services prioritize robust data protection to keep your information safe.

In terms of user experience, high-quality transcription services focus on making things easy for clients from start to finish. This includes an easy-to-navigate website, straightforward file uploading, clear pricing, and timely delivery of transcriptions.

Trying to find a trustworthy online transcription service can be tough. Most have thousands of transcriptionists, which means the quality can vary a lot from project to project, and reading customer reviews might not give you a clear picture of what to expect.

Before you pick a transcription service, think about these points to make sure you know what you're looking for:

  • Pricing. Understand what you're paying for. Good services will tell you upfront about extra costs for things like poor audio quality, strong accents, adding timestamps, or handling multiple speakers.
  • Quality control. A quality control team should review your final transcription before it makes it to your inbox to make sure it's good quality, meeting both the service's and your standards.
  • Customer service. If your transcription isn't satisfactory, the transcription service should offer to fix it or refund you some of your money.

Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best transcription services available online today. We hope our evaluation will help you find the right service, where every spoken word will be accurately - and affordably - captured in text!

The Best Transcription Services

Transcription Service FAQ

What are transcription services who uses them, why should i use a transcription service why can't i do it all by myself, how much does transcription cost, what is the difference between automated and manual transcription, what if i am dissatisfied with the transcript i receive, how long will it take to have my file transcribed, can i have audio files in foreign languages transcribed, what about files with specialized medical, academic, and legal terms, compare transcription services.

Select any 2 Transcription Services to compare them head to head

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Trending Transcription News

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transcription websites review

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Starting September 12, 2024, Zapier customers will no longer be able to access Zapier services from a sanctioned country. We understand this may be inconvenient and appreciate your understanding as we navigate these regulatory requirements.

transcription websites review

  • Website Planet

6 Best Freelance Transcription Websites & Experts To Hire [2024]

Oliwia Owsianowska

Short on Time? These Are the Best Freelance Websites for Transcription in 2024

  • Fiverr 1 – Wide talent pool access with unbeatable pricing for any budget.
  • Upwork 1 – Precision matching that guarantees your project’s excellence.
  • Bark 1 – Personalized outreach that connects you directly with top professionals.

See 3 More Great Options | Comparison Table

  • What We Look For in the Best Transcription Freelance Websites
  • Transparent pricing. It’s crucial you know upfront how much a project will cost. All platforms on my list provide clear pricing structures with no hidden fees to surprise you after hiring.
  • Advanced search filters. Finding the right freelancer requires precision. Each platform offers robust search capabilities, letting you filter by language, expertise, and price to quickly find your ideal match.
  • Integrated communication. Direct and efficient communication with your freelancer is key to a successful project. All selected platforms include built-in messaging systems, facilitating seamless exchanges about your transcription needs.
  • Data security. Protecting your sensitive information is non-negotiable. Each platform I selected implements strong security measures to safeguard your project details and personal data.

1. Fiverr: Best Freelance Website To Hire Affordable Transcription Talent 1

Fiverr package comparison

  • Seller levels. Fiverr categorizes freelancers into different levels based on their performance and customer reviews. This system makes it easier to identify top performers in transcription services.
  • Freelancer profiles. Detailed profiles give you insights into a freelancer’s experience and past projects. This transparency helps in making informed decisions.
  • Fiverr’s app. The mobile app (iOS and Android) provides the convenience of browsing, hiring, and communicating with freelancers on the go. It allows you to stay connected as you manage projects efficiently wherever you are.
  • Basic skills tests. Freelancers can take these tests to prove their capabilities. When hiring a transcription freelancer, looking for those who’ve passed relevant tests can add an extra layer of confidence in their skills.

2. Upwork: Best Freelance Website for Long-Term Transcription Projects 1

Upwork's transcriptionist search results page

  • Large talent pool. Upwork offers a wide range of transcription experts, making it easier to find someone with the exact skills you need.
  • Rating system. Upwork’s Job Success Score and Talent Badges allow you to gauge the reliability and quality of freelancers before hiring. This ensures you make an informed decision based on previous client feedback.
  • Project management tools. Upwork provides robust tools for tracking the progress of your transcription project. You can manage workflows and communicate effectively, so you can meet deadlines with ease.
  • Intuitive user interface. Thanks to its user-friendly interface, Navigating Upwork to find, hire, and manage transcription freelancers is straightforward. This saves you time and makes the hiring process smoother.

img

3. Bark: Streamlined Access to Expert Transcription Freelancers 1

Bark's transcriptionist search form

  • Clear ratings system. Bark employs a 5-star rating system, allowing you to dive into comprehensive client reviews on each freelancer’s profile. You can filter reviews by star rating to see what’s most relevant to your decision-making process.
  • Freelancer profiles. Bark freelancers enhance their profiles with photos, social media and website links, lists of additional services, FAQs, and more. This gives you a fuller picture of who they are and what they offer, and you can easily request a callback or send them a message.
  • Free quotes. Since prices aren’t listed upfront, you’ll need to contact freelancers for a free quote. Don’t worry if you don’t hear back immediately. If there’s no response within 48 hours, Bark might connect you with other freelancers in the same field, so you’re never left hanging.
  • 24/7 support. Bark provides round-the-clock support through email and phone, along with an extensive FAQ section divided by topics. Many FAQs include video guides, making it easier for you to navigate the platform and resolve any issues swiftly.

4. OnlineJobs.ph: Your Gateway to Filipino Transcription Expertise 1

Overview of OnlineJobs.ph profile summary

  • ID Proof Score and Verified Badges. OnlineJobs.ph combats fake profiles with an “ID Proof” score and verified badges, providing an extra layer of security. 
  • No middleman fees. You pay a subscription to access the talent pool with no additional hiring fees. This direct management and payment system makes it straightforward and cost-effective to hire transcription freelancers.
  • Recruitment services. If you need help finding the right transcription expert, OnlineJobs.ph’s recruitment service can be a lifesaver. You get the platform’s team to find the perfect match by paying a fee, saving you time and effort.
  • EasyPay and TimeProof tools. The platform offers EasyPay for straightforward payments and TimeProof for tracking work hours. This combination enhances trust and transparency, making it easier for you to manage your transcription projects.

5. Guru: Secure and Flexible Transcription Solutions 1

top-6-freelance-transcription-websites-compared-find-the-best-in-currentyear--5.png

  • Discovery Call. Start with a discussion on your priorities and issues with freelancing to see how Guru can tailor its Enterprise Solutions to your specific needs. It’s a great first step to personalize your experience.
  • Automated invoice generation process. The platform automates invoice generation and payment, saving you time and effort. This is especially handy when paying for tasks on a rolling basis.
  • Unlimited job posts. You can post as many jobs as you need, which is ideal for finding the right transcript freelancer without worrying about hitting a limit.
  • Transparency profiles. Guru’s transparency lets you see a freelancer’s work history, including the number of employers, years in the market, transactions, portfolio, and testimonials. This depth of information can help you make an informed hiring decision.

6. PeoplePerHour: Fast and Efficient Transcription Services 1

PeoplePerHour filters bar

  • AI matching. The platform streamlines your search for transcription freelancers by using AI to match your project with the best candidates, saving you time in the selection process.
  • Multiple hiring options. PeoplePerHour offers three ways to find freelancers: purchasing service packages directly, filtering sellers by skills or rates, and posting projects to receive proposals. 
  • Freelancer scoring algorithm. Without traditional vetting like skill tests, PeoplePerHour uses the Content, Engagement, Repeat Usage, and Trust (CERT) algorithm to score freelancers. This comprehensive approach provides a well-rounded view of a freelancer’s reliability and quality.
  • On-site availability. While most projects on PeoplePerHour are for remote work, the platform also accommodates those rare instances where in-person collaboration is preferred, giving you more versatility in how you work with freelancers.
  • 3 Best Transcription Freelancers To Hire in 2024

1. Roger – Fast, Accurate, and Affordable Transcripts

Roger_pro infographic on Fiverr

2. Lara A. Cantos – Bringing Words to Life in Four Languages

Lara A. Cantos infographic on Fiverr

3. Adaiah Cole – Mastering the Art of Accurate Transcripts

Adaiahcole's Portfolio on Fiverr

  • Are You a Transcription Freelancer Looking To Sell Your Services?
  • Easy to use: Navigating Fiverr is a breeze, so you can focus on showcasing your services and chatting with clients without any hassle.
  • Reach clients worldwide: Fiverr opens the door to a massive pool of clients worldwide who are searching for a variety of transcription services.
  • Choose your price: You get to call the shots on what you charge for your transcription work, making it easier to find clients that value your skills and offer you what you’re worth.
  • Get paid on time: With Fiverr’s dependable payment system, you won’t have to worry about chasing down payments for your hard work.
  • Handy mobile app: With the Fiverr app, you can keep tabs on your projects and communicate with clients easily, no matter where you are.

Fiverr's "Become a Seller" button

  • Pick the Best Freelance Website for Your Transcription Project

How much do freelance transcribers charge?

Where can i find freelance transcribers, what should i look for when choosing a transcription freelancer, why is hiring a freelancer for transcription services often considered better than using ai-based solutions.

transcription websites review

  • 1. Fiverr: Best Freelance Website To Hire Affordable Transcription Talent
  • 2. Upwork: Best Freelance Website for Long-Term Transcription Projects
  • 3. Bark: Streamlined Access to Expert Transcription Freelancers
  • 4. OnlineJobs.ph: Your Gateway to Filipino Transcription Expertise
  • 5. Guru: Secure and Flexible Transcription Solutions
  • 6. PeoplePerHour: Fast and Efficient Transcription Services

transcription websites review

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COMMENTS

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  5. The Best Transcription Services in 2024: Ranked and Reviewed

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  6. 6 Best Freelance Transcription Websites & Experts To …

    These Are the Best Freelance Websites for Transcription in 2024. Fiverr 1 – Wide talent pool access with unbeatable pricing for any budget. Upwork 1 – Precision matching that guarantees your project’s excellence. Bark …