A woman reading a book to a microphone.

14 Best Transcription Software in 2024 [Speech to Text]

Imagine sitting for hours trying to transcribe a huge video or video file manually; that must be a daunting task and extremely time-consuming!

Thankfully, technology is changing things, and AI-powered transcription software has come to the rescue, which converts any video or audio recording into text without human labor. In fact, speech-to-text tools have become a must-have for businesses and professionals who want to get the most out of their audio and video content. 

Whether you want your audio/video converted to text for education, journalism, podcast, or other purposes, I’ve put together the 14 best transcribing software to get the job done efficiently. Read on!

Automatic vs. Manual Transcription: What’s the Difference?

Basically, transcription services can be divided into two types:

  • Automatic transcription

  • Manual (human) transcription

Automatic transcription adopts AI-based technology called natural language processing (NLP) that converts audio and video files to text automatically. The text can be further edited and shared. The major benefits of using automatic transcription software are fast and cheap. 

Moreover, it usually includes extra features like speaker recognition and time stamps that enable you to review the transcript easily.

Human transcription, however, is completed by trained transcriptionists who listen to the audio recording and then transcribe it manually. Due to this, it takes a longer turnaround time with a higher accuracy rate than automated transcription, though the cost is higher.

The benefits of using automatic transcription software are as follows:

  • Saves you a lot of time and money.

  • Improves accessibility.

  • Eliminates miscommunication.

  • Quickly review and search content.

What Makes Great Transcription Software?

Before jumping to the list, I’d like to clarify the specific criteria for why each audio transcription software lands in its role as one of the best options available. 

I didn't choose our top picks without serious consideration and below are the standards.

  • Accuracy

First, the app must have an AI-based transcription system that delivers accurate results. Although errors are common with using transcription software, they should be within a limit.

The lower the accuracy, the more you will need to edit the transcripts, which takes extra time.

  • Affordability

The price of transcription software services can range from a few to hundreds of dollars per month. I looked at both extremes to find the best middle ground for businesses with different budgets. 

  • Versatility

The transcription software should be able to convert multiple types of video and audio files into text, including the most common ones like MP3, MP4, MOV, WMV, etc.

Versatility also lies in that the software is available on the Web, Android, and iOS devices, so you can access it anywhere you like.

  • Security

If your information isn't safe, it doesn't matter how accurate the transcription is. So I choose transcription tools that have a good reputation and offer security measures.

  • Ease of use

Lastly, ease of use is a must since no one wants to waste time trying to figure out how to use a new app. The best transcription software will have an intuitive interface that even first-time users can get the hang of it.

14 Best Transcription Software to Convert Audio to Text

Now that I've explained our criteria for choosing the best transcription software, let's move on and reveal our top 14 picks after multiple hours of researching

1) Notta

Best for real-time transcription and versatility.

Notta Transcription Software - HomepageNotta is AI-powered transcript software that automatically transcribes live recordings from a microphone, audio/video files, webpage audio, and online meetings. It has a well-designed interface that you can navigate through easily when using it for the first time.

Once the transcription is complete, this tool allows you to search for keywords, edit the text, insert images, and share the transcripts.

What makes Notta unique is that it links the transcript to the original audio and adds timestamps that make getting to any information much more straightforward.

What's better, Notta supports 58 languages, making it one of the most versatile transcription tools on the market.

Pros:

  • Automated video and audio transcription.

  • Up to 97% transcription accuracy.

  • Accessible on desktop, mobile (Android and iOS), and Chrome extension.

  • Export a transcript to various formats like DOCX, TXT, PDF, and SRT.

  • Powerful search, editing, and sharing capabilities.

  • Sync your transcripts across all your devices.

  • SOC 2 and GDPR compliance for data safety.

  • Generate automated summaries powered by AI.

Cons:

  • The free version has a time limit per transcription.

Pricing:

  • Basic: $0 for 120 transcription minutes (it limits the transcription duration per recording to 3 or 5 minutes).

  • Pro: $8.25 per month for 1,800 transcription minutes.

  • Team: Varied by transcription minutes.

  • Enterprise: custom pricing.

With Notta, you get a solid option for transcribing video and audio and keeping them organized across all your devices. Try Notta to see how much it frees your hand while more positively engaging in online classes, presentations, and meetings.

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2) Descript

Best for platform integrations.

Descript - the best transcription software - homepageDescript is essentially a video and audio editing software that comes with transcription features.

It offers automatic audio transcription in 23 languages and has up to 80% accuracy. But if you demand perfection, go for its professional transcriptionists who assure 99% accuracy.

With Descript, you can transcribe audio files and then edit the transcriptions right in the software. The software works well for podcasters and YouTubers because it allows you to easily edit and format your transcriptions to place on blog posts. You can also use Descript to create subtitles for your videos or caption files for your audio. 

Pros:

  • Automatic transcription.

  • Remove filler words from transcripts.

  • Sync the files across platforms.

  • Integrate with YouTube, Vimeo, and other video hosting platforms.

Cons:

  • Its accuracy went down significantly when transcribing speakers with accents or speech impediments.

  • Transcription in languages other than English is not very good.

Pricing:

  • Free plan with 1 transcription hour per month.

  • Creator: $12/use/month for 10 transcription hours.

  • Pro: $24/user/month for unlimited features.

  • Enterprise: Contact for custom pricing.

If you are a content creator who records videos or podcasts, Descript is an excellent tool to transcribe your audio files and then easily edit the transcriptions. The software also offers screen recording and webcam recording options. 

3) Rev

Best for fast turnaround with per-minute rates.

Rev - auto audio transcription homepageBeing one of the most renowned transcription services in the market, Rev provides accurate video/audio transcripts, on-screen captions, and translated subtitles powered by AI.

This service is pretty straightforward to use. With Rev, you can upload lectures, interviews, podcast episodes, or meeting recordings and receive a written transcript quickly. The transcriptions are ~90% accurate.

You'll need clear, high-quality audio with no background noise for a quality transcript. If the audio quality is shoddy, you may do better off hiring one of their human transcriptionists.

Pros:

  • Human and automated transcription.

  • Fast turnaround time.

  • Supports up to 31 transcription languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, and more.

  • The interactive editor makes it easy to make corrections.

Cons:

  • Sometimes it misses brand or technical terms.

  • Slow customer support.

Pricing:

Rev offers a subscription plan with 20 automated transcriptions and captioning per month at a flat rate of $29.99, which is best for professionals who use a transcription service regularly.

If you only need to transcribe a file occasionally, a non-subscription charge based on time is more suitable: 

  • Audio & video human transcription: $1.50 per minute

  • Automated transcription: $0.25 per minute

Rev is a versatile tool when you need transcripts of your audio and video files. Trusted by Turner Classic Movies, CBS, Viacom, PBS, Spotify, and Stanford, it's well worth it to give Rev a try when you want to test human transcriptions aided by artificial technology.

4) Happy Scribe

Best for fast and relatively accurate transcription.

Happyscribe - Transcription & subtitles homepageHappy Scribe is one of the best transcription software in the market that offers fast and accurate transcription and subtitle services via artificial intelligence technology. 

By the time of writing this article, this tool offers automatic transcription in 60+ languages (up to 85% accuracy) and human-made transcription in 10 languages (99% accuracy).

Happy Scribe is pretty easy to use. Simply upload the files, select your language, and it will start processing. You'll have a full transcript at half-time of the audio length, e.g., it takes 5 minutes to transcribe a 10-minute file.

Happy Scribe also has an interactive editor that allows you to edit and manage the text freely. Students, professionals, and busy people who need to transcribe audio files for work or school will enjoy using the tool.

Pros:

  • Automatic and human transcription.

  • Add captions to videos.

  • Support audio files of any size and length.

  • Export your file to TXT, PDF, SRT, Word, STL, VTT, and more.

  • Sync audio and video with timestamps.

Pricing:

  • For automated transcription: starting from $10 per month (billed annually) for 120 minutes.

  • For human transcription: starting from $1.75 per minute.

You can choose to use its automated software to get your transcription work completed or hire Happy Scribe's human transcribers to create more accurate transcripts. 

5) Otter.ai

Best for collaborating on transcriptions with team members.

Otter.ai - transcription software homepageFounded in 2016, Otter is a reputable transcription software that can transcribe pre-recorded video and audio files to text, including interviews, lectures, and podcasts.

It has a web app, a mobile app for iOS and Android, and a Chrome extension so that you can access it almost anywhere.

Otter also has an assistant that will join virtual meetings and record and transcribe the voice conversations in real-time. With this tool, you can review, edit, and manage the transcriptions directly in the app.

Pros:

  • Intuitive interface.

  • Automatically transcribe online meetings and recorded files.

  • Rich editing features.

Cons: 

  • Only supports English (U.S. and U.K.).

  • Not able to handle background noise and accents well.

Pricing:

  • Basic: offers 300 monthly transcription minutes for free.

  • Pro: $16.99 per month with 1,200 monthly transcription minutes.

  • Business: $30/user/month with 6,000 monthly transcription minutes.

  • Enterprise: custom pricing.

If you're a faculty member at a school, a student, or a staff member inside a nonprofit, you can receive discounts from Otter on its plans. 

Check the comprehensive Otter review

6) Scribie 

Best for users who need simple, affordable human transcription services.

Scribie transcription toolScribie is a nice option for those who need to transcribe audio files regularly. While it doesn't have as many features as the ones we introduced above, Scribie does offer accurate transcription with a simple 4-step process (transcribe, review, proofread, and quality check) and its price might be the lowest in the current market.

Scribie claims to transcribe files quickly and efficiently with 80%-95% accuracy for its automatic transcription service, and the rate can be up to 99% in manual.

Pros:

  • Automatic and manual transcription.

  • Online transcript editor.

  • Fast turnaround time.

  • All transcribers are under NDA.

  • Affordable price.

Cons: 

  • Only supports English.

  • Doesn’t have a mobile app.

  • < 60% accuracy for noisy/poor audio.

Pricing: 

  • Automated: $0.10 per minute.

  • Manual: $0.80 per minute.

  • Pro Subscription: $9 per month.

Due to its flexible pricing plans, Scribie is an excellent choice for either individuals or businesses who need a large volume of transcription and don’t care for advanced editing and sharing features.

7) Trint

Best for users who need to turn multiple audio files into a single script.

Trint transcription tool

Trint is an AI-powered tool that offers automated transcriptions of your audio and video files. You can either capture the content with live transcription or upload the existing files and get it transcribed. 

After getting the transcript file, you can search, edit, and collaborate with others, maximizing the value of your video or audio content. Besides, Trint can generate closed captions for your video that are accessible to everyone.

Pros:

  • Automated transcription powered by artificial intelligence.

  • Transcribe content in 30+ languages and translate the transcripts in 50+ languages.

  • Powerful editing and collaboration.

  • ISO-certified security.

Cons:

  • The transcription is not accurate enough with complex files.

  • Expensive.

Pricing:

Trint offers subscription plans monthly or manually.

  • Starter: $48/user/month for 7 transcriptions.

  • Advanced: $60/user/month for unlimited transcription.

  • Enterprise: Contact for pricing.

8) Amberscript

Best for creating blogs and other content from your videos.

Amberscript transcription software

Amberscript, being one of the best video transcription software, provides audio and video transcription with fast turnaround time by combining artificial and human intelligence. 

This tool supports machine-made transcription in 39 languages and manual transcription (with a claim of up to 100% accuracy) in 15 languages.

What’s more, you can try Amberscript for free to ensure that you like either its automatic software solution or its manual transcription services before committing to one of its paid plans.

Pros:

  • A hybrid of automatic and manual transcription services.

  • Edit, search through, and export transcription files.

  • GDPR-compliant for data security.

Cons: 

  • Its accuracy for automatic transcription is not high.

  • Takes time to do the final editing.

Pricing: 

  • Pre-paid: $8 per hour of uploaded audio or video.

  • Subscription model: $32 per month for 5 automatic transcription hours.

  • Manual transcription: $1.25 per minute.

9) Sonix

Best for business users who aren't concerned about the high cost of use.

Sonix transcription software homepageSonix is another AI-powered platform that makes it easy to convert audio and video files in over 35 languages.

With Sonix, you can transcribe meetings, lectures, interviews, and any kind of audio or video. You can focus on reading the content later instead of scrolling through hours of audio. Plus, you are able to search through, edit, organize, and share the transcript with teams afterward.

Sonix’s integrations with popular productivity tools like YouTube, Zoom, and Zapier will make your workflow easier.

Pros:

  • Automated transcription, translation, and subtitles.

  • In-app media player.

  • Collaboration with teams.

  • Enterprise-grade security.

Cons: 

  • Doesn't offer a mobile app.

Pricing: 

  • Standard: $10 per hour.

  • Premium: $22/user/month + $5 per hour.

  • Enterprise: Contact for pricing.

Sonix isn't the best transcription software for you if you're a student or casual user. The per-hour rates can add up quickly. You also might not be able to get the most accurate transcriptions unless you're willing to pay a bit more. However, it may be worth considering if you are a professional who needs to transcribe in bulk.

10) Audext

Best for transcribing pre-recorded media files of multiple formats.

Audext audio to text converter online homepageAudext is an online transcription tool that converts audio files to text using both professional and automatic transcriptions. 

Timestamping and speaker identification are included in the transcript to help you go through the text quickly. Audext supports the most common audio and video formats like MP3, M4A, WAV, and others.

It also features a text editor that you can use to correct any errors that the AI may have made. You can highlight the word during playback, making it easier to follow along and understand what you said.

Pros:

  • Works for over 60 languages in automatic transcription.

  • Identify speakers in your recordings.

  • Built-in editor.

  • Ensures data privacy.

Cons: 

  • The software will sometimes freeze and need to be reset.

  • Takes a longer transcription time.

Pricing: 

  • Automatic transcription at $5/hour while manual one costs $1.2 per minute.

  • Subscription: $30 per month for 2 transcription hours.

  • Enterprise: Contact for pricing.

11) Transcribe

Best for transcribing media content for busy professionals.

Transcribe.com software

Transcribe gives you valuable speech-to-text service using AI-powered automatic transcription in more than 120 languages. 

You can record the conversations in real-time or simply upload the recorded files to get a transcript. This tool will convert videos, interviews, audio notes, phone calls, speeches, lectures, and podcasts into text quickly and accurately. 

The Transcribe software is a nice option for podcasters, journalists, and businesses who need to get the most out of media content and save time.

Pros:

  • Works offline without an Internet connection.

  • Supports various formats like mp3, m4a, wav, m4v, mp4, mov and avi.

  • Export transcribed text with timestamps.

  • Integration with Zoom.

Cons: 

  • Out-dated interface.

Pricing: 

  • Free for a 15-minute trial.

  • Pro: $99.9 to enjoy all features.

Trusted by the World Bank, Time, Lyft, Adobe, Groupon, PayPal, Pepsi, and VISA, Transcribe gives you a transcription solution that doesn’t break the bank. Use it for unlimited voice typing to transcribe your next podcast interview or Zoom team meeting. 

12) Temi

Best for cheap pay-per-minute rates.

Temi speech to text transcription in 5 minutes homepageIf you're looking for speech-to-text software that transcribes audio and video files efficiently using AI technology, Temi is the way to go. It claims a 90% - 95% accuracy rate on condition that the audios are with little background noise and minimal accents.

The software is easy to use: import the files from your desktop and it will start transcribing immediately.

Temi offers accurate speaker recognition so that you know who says what clearly. Moreover, it has a free transcript editor that allows you to edit the final transcript online if you find any errors.

Pros:

  • Support all file types.

  • Download transcripts in PDF, Word, VTT, and SRT format.

  • Add timestamps.

  • The editor adjusts playback speed and allows for skipping through transcripts.

Cons: 

  • Only supports English.

  • The software isn't always accurate and can be a bit slow.

Pricing: 

  • Base rate of $0.25 per minute.

Be careful about sending files to the software where the first 10 minutes consist of greetings and general chit-chat. Otherwise, you’ll waste money paying for the per-minute charge. Overall, Temi is a nice option for anyone needing a less expensive transcription service.

13) oTranscribe

Best for occasionally transcribing audio or video files.

oTranscribe homepageIf you occasionally transcribe files and don’t need advanced features such as collaboration and sharing, oTranscribe is the free online transcription tool that meets your needs. It’s an open-source, web-based platform where you upload audio or video and start transcription manually.

But one thing that should be noted is that this tool doesn’t offer automatic transcription but is designed to make manual transcription less painful.

Pros:

  • Pause, fast-forward, and rewind files from a simple dashboard.

  • Interactive timestamps.

  • Integrated video player.

  • Export transcripts via text, Markdown, and Google Docs.

Cons: 

  • No available customer support.

  • No automatic transcription.

  • No security promise. We suggest using it to transcribe public or semi-public information.

Pricing: 

  • Free

oTranscribe provides a limited transcription experience. It’s the one solution on our list that offers the least amount of bells and whistles. It’s a good option for anyone who is not ready to invest in paid software and needs to transcribe files every once in a while.

14) SpeedScriber

Best for converting speech to text on macOS devices.

SpeedScriber transcription tool

Closing our list of the best transcription software is SpeedScriber, and it’s the best for Mac users because it can import files from Finder or clips from Apple Final Cut Pro X. It will transcribe a one-hour file in less than 10 minutes.

The interface is user-friendly, and you can easily find and review sections of the audio immediately upon the software completing its task. With its built-in editing, you can also make changes to words wherever you want.

Pros:

  • Automatically create timestamps as you transcribe.

  • Export transcripts to TXT, PDF, Avid DS, SRT, and other formats.

  • Supports languages like French, Spanish, English, German, and Dutch.

  • Integration with Apple Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Avid Media Composer.

Cons: 

  • Only available for macOS devices.

  • Can't log in from the web (download required).

Pricing: 

  • 15 free minutes after creating an account.

  • Up to 120 minutes: $0.50 per minute.

  • 300 minutes: $0.47 per minute.

  • 600 minutes: $0.45 per minute.

  • 1500 minutes: $0.42 per minute.

With limited features and platforms, SpeedScriber offers a relatively lower price. If you are a Mac user, be sure to give it a try.

Top Transcription Software: At a Glance

Now that we have covered the top transcription software to help you convert speech to text in detail, we compare and contrast them to help you decide the best one. 

Software Price Range Best For
Notta One free plan and paid plans from $13.99 per user per month to $59 per 2 users per month. Real-time transcription and versatility.
Descript One free plan and paid plans from $12 per user per month to $24 per user per month. Platform integrations.
Rev $29.99/mo for Rev Max subscription and $1.50/min of audio. Fast turnaround with per-minute rates.
Happy Scribe Automated transcription: $10 per month (billed annually) for 120 minutes; human transcription: starting from $1.75 per minute. Fast and relatively accurate transcription.
Otter.ai One free plan and paid plans from $16.99 to $40 per month. Collaborating on transcriptions with team members.
Scribie Automated: $0.10 per minute; manual: $0.80 per minute. Users who need simple, affordable human transcription services.
Trint Paid plans from $48 to $60 per month. Users who need to turn multiple audio files into a single script.
Amberscript $32 per month for subscription or $1.25 per minute for manual transcription. Creating blogs and other content from your videos.
Sonix $10 per hour or $22/user/month + $5 per hour. Business users who aren't concerned about the high cost of use.
Audext Automatic transcription at $5/hour while manual one costs $1.2 per minute. Transcribing pre-recorded media files of multiple formats.
Transcribe One free trial for 15 minutes and $99.9 for all features. Transcribing media content for busy professionals.
Temi $0.25 per minute. Cheap pay-per-minute rates
oTranscribe Free. Occasionally transcribing audio or video files..
SpeedScriber One free trial for 15 minutes and rates for different transcription durations. Converting speech to text on macOS devices.

FAQs about Transcription Software

1. What is the easiest way to transcribe audio to text?

The easiest way is to use AI-powered software that can transcribe with high accuracy. One of the best transcription apps is Notta, which offers both real-time and file-import transcription.

2. How long does it take to transcribe an hour-long audio manually?

It takes about four hours to transcribe one hour of audio manually. It can vary depending on the quality of the recording, the number of speakers, and how fast you type. Suppose you're transcribing a speech with clear audio, for example. You might be able to get through it more quickly than if you were transcribing a court hearing with multiple speakers.

We all know how frustrating it can be to try and transcribe something from a recording. You might think you have everything down, but when you listen to the recording, you realize you missed a lot. The best thing you can do is practice your skills by listening to the same material repeatedly. It takes time, patience, dedication, discipline, and diligence.

Buying Guide: The Best Transcription Software of 2024

AI transcription is one of the most valuable technology in this century, which saves us a lot of time and maximize the value of content by making it easier to transcribe audio and video files. 

I have researched and reviewed over 20 transcription software and chosen 14 top ones. Below is a conclusion of the best transcription software, and you can choose the one that suits your needs:

  • Best for automatic transcription: Trint, Sonix, Notta

  • Best for accuracy with human transcription: Rev, Descript, Amberscript, Happy Scribe

  • Best for price: Scribie

  • Best for self-transcription: oTranscribe

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