The 10 Best Transcription Services for 2025 | Free Buyers Guide

The Best Transcription Services

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.

Tuesday, June 24th

2025 Transcription Service Reviews

Transcribe Me

• 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.

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.

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.

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

• 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.

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.

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

• Mobile app
• $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”.

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.

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

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

• 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.

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.

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.

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

• $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.

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.

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.

The best transcription services we tested

I tested the best transcription software options that can translate audio and video conversations for you. These are my favorites.

Written by Emily Long, Contributing writer
Reviewed by Alison DeNisco Rayome

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‘ZDNET Recommends’: What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET’s recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET’s editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

ZDNET’s reviewers spend weeks to months testing each product or service on this list, using them for both everyday tasks to more performance-intensive work. We aim to give you a view into how each option could fit into your life and workflow, and the pros and cons of their various features.

GoTranscript
Best transcription service overall
View now View at GoTranscript
Best free transcription software
View now View at Otter AI
Happy Scribe
Best transcription service for teams (and best language options)
View now View at Happy Scribe
Best transcription service for privacy
View now View at Alice

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If you’re a medical or legal professional needing transcripts of dictations, a journalist looking to transcribe interviews with sources, or part of a team making use of real-time meeting notes, a transcription service can translate audio and video conversations onto paper for you. The best transcription services do this with a high degree of accuracy, whether you’re relying on human transcriptionists or AI-powered features.

What is the best transcription software right now?

I tested different transcription software options to determine which ones produce accurate transcripts of live and recorded audio for a variety of user needs. Based on my testing, GoTranscript is the best service for highly accurate, human-generated transcripts, with access to professionals trained in 40 languages as well as in industries like medicine, law, and education. Otter.ai is a solid pick for automated and real-time transcription, such as live meetings, with a generous free plan that resets every month.

These are the best transcription software options in 2025.

The best transcription services of 2025

GoTranscript is my top pick for human transcription, especially if you need a high degree of accuracy from transcriptionists trained in specialty industries like medicine, law, or education.

The service is also affordable compared to others, especially if you’re not in a rush: human-generated transcripts cost $1.20 per minute — for audio under 2,500 minutes — with a 5-day turnaround. There are options for 3-day service ($1.40 per minute), 1-day service ($1.60 per minute), and turnaround in 6–12 hours ($2.75 per minute) as well as bulk pricing discounts, so the more minutes you order, the lower the cost per minute. GoTranscript also does automated transcription, with a pay-as-you-go option at $0.20 per minute or a $35-per-month subscription plus $0.02 per minute.

GoTranscript promises 99.4% accuracy for its human-generated transcripts, which can be done in nearly 40 languages, with timestamps and speaker labels, and either full verbatim or cleaned of filler words. Customers can also edit and annotate transcripts on the web. GoTranscript is HIPAA compliant, and transcriptionists sign non-disclosure agreements.

A few downsides: transcripts are sent as Microsoft Word documents unless otherwise requested, and the mobile app has very little functionality, as you have to check out and finalize orders via GoTranscript’s website. Of course, with human transcription, there’s also no live transcribing or captioning.

Features

• Human and automated transcription
• Subscription and pay-as-you-go pricing options
• 40 languages
• Specialty fields (legal, medical, academic)
• Options for clean or full verbatim
• HIPAA compliance
• Interactive editor
• Speaker labels and timestamps

• Human and automated transcription
• High level of accuracy
• Industry-specific transcriptionists

• The mobile app is essentially useless
• The most affordable plan has a slow turnaround time

GoTranscript

Best transcription service overall

GoTranscript is my top pick for human transcription, especially if you need a high degree of accuracy from transcriptionists trained in specialty industries like medicine, law, or education.

The service is also affordable compared to others, especially if you’re not in a rush: human-generated transcripts cost $1.20 per minute — for audio under 2,500 minutes — with a 5-day turnaround. There are options for 3-day service ($1.40 per minute), 1-day service ($1.60 per minute), and turnaround in 6–12 hours ($2.75 per minute) as well as bulk pricing discounts, so the more minutes you order, the lower the cost per minute. GoTranscript also does automated transcription, with a pay-as-you-go option at $0.20 per minute or a $35-per-month subscription plus $0.02 per minute.

GoTranscript promises 99.4% accuracy for its human-generated transcripts, which can be done in nearly 40 languages, with timestamps and speaker labels, and either full verbatim or cleaned of filler words. Customers can also edit and annotate transcripts on the web. GoTranscript is HIPAA compliant, and transcriptionists sign non-disclosure agreements.

A few downsides: transcripts are sent as Microsoft Word documents unless otherwise requested, and the mobile app has very little functionality, as you have to check out and finalize orders via GoTranscript’s website. Of course, with human transcription, there’s also no live transcribing or captioning.

Features

• Human and automated transcription
• Subscription and pay-as-you-go pricing options
• 40 languages
• Specialty fields (legal, medical, academic)
• Options for clean or full verbatim
• HIPAA compliance
• Interactive editor
• Speaker labels and timestamps

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Otter.ai is a capable AI assistant for transcribing your virtual meetings in real time as well as generating full transcripts, summaries, and outlines that can be viewed, edited, and annotated by team members and integrated with apps like Slack and Dropbox. Otter works with live meetings on Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams and connects to Google and Outlook calendars to record scheduled meetings. The platform also does live transcription of audio recorded via its mobile or web app as well as uploaded files (limited depending on your subscription).

Otter.ai is also the best option for no-cost transcription — its free plan comes with 300 minutes of transcription per month (up to 30 minutes at a time) for audio captured by the Otter app. Otter’s paid plans are also cheaper than competitors: the Pro tier, which costs $8 per month, gets you 1,200 minutes with a 90-minute per-conversation limit plus 10 file uploads, while the $20-per-month Business tier comes with 6,000 minutes per month, a 4-hour per-conversation limit, and unlimited uploads, plus the ability to record three meetings at the same time. The editing and collaboration tools are more robust than with some other platforms, making it a good option for teams.

In my testing, the Otter app was easy to use, though the transcript wasn’t as accurate as some other services at capturing punctuation and transitioning from one speaker to the next. It also supports only English, Spanish, and French, so it won’t be the best choice for live or recorded audio in other languages.

Features

• Automated transcription
• Live transcripts for audio and video calls and meetings
• Generates summaries and outlines
• Subscription pricing
• Interactive editor
• Integrations with meeting and productivity apps
• Speaker labels and timestamps

• Free live transcription up to 300 minutes per month
• Integrates with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams
• Can transcribe 3 concurrent meetings with the Business plan

• No uploads of recordings on the free plan (limited on Pro tier)
• Limited languages

Otter.ai

Best free transcription software

Otter.ai is a capable AI assistant for transcribing your virtual meetings in real time as well as generating full transcripts, summaries, and outlines that can be viewed, edited, and annotated by team members and integrated with apps like Slack and Dropbox. Otter works with live meetings on Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams and connects to Google and Outlook calendars to record scheduled meetings. The platform also does live transcription of audio recorded via its mobile or web app as well as uploaded files (limited depending on your subscription).

Otter.ai is also the best option for no-cost transcription — its free plan comes with 300 minutes of transcription per month (up to 30 minutes at a time) for audio captured by the Otter app. Otter’s paid plans are also cheaper than competitors: the Pro tier, which costs $8 per month, gets you 1,200 minutes with a 90-minute per-conversation limit plus 10 file uploads, while the $20-per-month Business tier comes with 6,000 minutes per month, a 4-hour per-conversation limit, and unlimited uploads, plus the ability to record three meetings at the same time. The editing and collaboration tools are more robust than with some other platforms, making it a good option for teams.

In my testing, the Otter app was easy to use, though the transcript wasn’t as accurate as some other services at capturing punctuation and transitioning from one speaker to the next. It also supports only English, Spanish, and French, so it won’t be the best choice for live or recorded audio in other languages.

Features

• Automated transcription
• Live transcripts for audio and video calls and meetings
• Generates summaries and outlines
• Subscription pricing
• Interactive editor
• Integrations with meeting and productivity apps
• Speaker labels and timestamps

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Happy Scribe is a solid choice for teams needing transcription, captioning, and translation services with the ability to collaborate on a single platform. Happy Scribe offers automated transcription in 120 languages with the option to have human proofreaders (in 70 languages) review AI-generated text — a service known as “human made” — if you want verbatim transcripts or extras like speaker names and grammar clean-up. Professional transcriptionists specialize in legal, medical, and academic fields.

Happy Scribe’s pay-as-you-go starter plan costs $12 per hour with unlimited meeting recordings, or you can buy a subscription for a set number of annual minutes and more features, like additional user seats and access to human proofreading. Lite ($6 per month) comes with 720 minutes per year, while Pro ($19 per month) allows 7,200 minutes and Business ($49 per month) 60,000 minutes. That comes out to $0.10, $0.03, and $0.01 per minute, respectively.

The workspace-style platform allows you to invite members to view or edit files and integrates with uploads from apps like Google Drive and YouTube. You can also record and transcribe meetings with connections to Google and Outlook calendars. Other useful features of Happy Scribe include AI summaries, quotes, and narrative posts and the ability to create individual style guides to apply to transcripts. It’s also easy to edit and annotate transcripts once created. In testing, Happy Scribe’s automated transcription fully captured the punctuation and cadence of our script as well as speaker transitions without any spelling or style errors.

Happy Scribe is a desktop-first service, so it’s not a great choice for those needing to record and transcribe on the go.

Features

• Automated transcription and human proofreading
• Subscription and pay-as-you-go pricing options
• Unlimited meeting recordings
• 120+ languages (automated)
• 40+ export formats
• Specialty fields (legal, medical, academic)
• Verbatim transcription
• Custom style guides
• Interactive editor
• Speaker labels and timestamps
• Integrations with calendar and productivity apps

• Workspace and features built for teams
• Robust AI editing and style tools
• Human proofreading add-on (24-hour turnaround)
• More than 120 languages for automated transcripts

• No mobile app, limited functionality on mobile site

Happy Scribe

Best transcription service for teams (and best language options)

Happy Scribe is a solid choice for teams needing transcription, captioning, and translation services with the ability to collaborate on a single platform. Happy Scribe offers automated transcription in 120 languages with the option to have human proofreaders (in 70 languages) review AI-generated text — a service known as “human made” — if you want verbatim transcripts or extras like speaker names and grammar clean-up. Professional transcriptionists specialize in legal, medical, and academic fields.

Happy Scribe’s pay-as-you-go starter plan costs $12 per hour with unlimited meeting recordings, or you can buy a subscription for a set number of annual minutes and more features, like additional user seats and access to human proofreading. Lite ($6 per month) comes with 720 minutes per year, while Pro ($19 per month) allows 7,200 minutes and Business ($49 per month) 60,000 minutes. That comes out to $0.10, $0.03, and $0.01 per minute, respectively.

The workspace-style platform allows you to invite members to view or edit files and integrates with uploads from apps like Google Drive and YouTube. You can also record and transcribe meetings with connections to Google and Outlook calendars. Other useful features of Happy Scribe include AI summaries, quotes, and narrative posts and the ability to create individual style guides to apply to transcripts. It’s also easy to edit and annotate transcripts once created. In testing, Happy Scribe’s automated transcription fully captured the punctuation and cadence of our script as well as speaker transitions without any spelling or style errors.

Happy Scribe is a desktop-first service, so it’s not a great choice for those needing to record and transcribe on the go.

Features

• Automated transcription and human proofreading
• Subscription and pay-as-you-go pricing options
• Unlimited meeting recordings
• 120+ languages (automated)
• 40+ export formats
• Specialty fields (legal, medical, academic)
• Verbatim transcription
• Custom style guides
• Interactive editor
• Speaker labels and timestamps
• Integrations with calendar and productivity apps

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Alice is a solid option for pay-as-you-go automated transcription, especially if you don’t need a lot of bells and whistles. The service’s bulk pricing starts at $10 per hour (after a 60-minute free trial) with options to purchase 20 hours for $100 or 100 hours for $300, and your time never expires. You can use the web or iOS app to record or upload files for transcription.

Alice is an especially good choice for users who prioritize privacy, such as journalists working with confidential sources. While most transcription software offers some level of encryption and non-disclosure, Alice takes extra steps to minimize how much user data is collected and stored in the first place. You simply need to provide an email address, which can be temporary to allow for anonymity, and your files are hard deleted after a time period set by you. Data is encrypted end-to-end, and Alice takes a strict stance on limiting cooperation with law enforcement.

In testing, Alice had difficulty correctly identifying individuals from an uploaded recording, transcribing one person’s track as two speakers, but the transcription from audio recorded in the app had minimal errors and even accurately captured styles like “FaceTime.” The mobile app has several details to minimize disruption when conducting interviews, like swipe gestures in place of buttons and the ability to tap to bookmark important moments. There’s no live captioning, summarizing, or transcribing, but turnaround time is relatively quick, and you can make basic edits in the web app and export transcripts in a handful of formats.

Features

• Automated transcription
• Per-hour pricing with no expiration
• Free trial
• Audio recorder
• Hard deletion of data
• Minimal user information collected
• Integration with productivity and messaging apps
• Speaker labels and timestamps

• Strong privacy features
• Buy-in-bulk pricing
• Hours purchased never expire

• Basic editing functions
• Mobile app for iOS only

Alice

Best transcription service for privacy

Alice is a solid option for pay-as-you-go automated transcription, especially if you don’t need a lot of bells and whistles. The service’s bulk pricing starts at $10 per hour (after a 60-minute free trial) with options to purchase 20 hours for $100 or 100 hours for $300, and your time never expires. You can use the web or iOS app to record or upload files for transcription.

Alice is an especially good choice for users who prioritize privacy, such as journalists working with confidential sources. While most transcription software offers some level of encryption and non-disclosure, Alice takes extra steps to minimize how much user data is collected and stored in the first place. You simply need to provide an email address, which can be temporary to allow for anonymity, and your files are hard deleted after a time period set by you. Data is encrypted end-to-end, and Alice takes a strict stance on limiting cooperation with law enforcement.

In testing, Alice had difficulty correctly identifying individuals from an uploaded recording, transcribing one person’s track as two speakers, but the transcription from audio recorded in the app had minimal errors and even accurately captured styles like “FaceTime.” The mobile app has several details to minimize disruption when conducting interviews, like swipe gestures in place of buttons and the ability to tap to bookmark important moments. There’s no live captioning, summarizing, or transcribing, but turnaround time is relatively quick, and you can make basic edits in the web app and export transcripts in a handful of formats.

Features

• Automated transcription
• Per-hour pricing with no expiration
• Free trial
• Audio recorder
• Hard deletion of data
• Minimal user information collected
• Integration with productivity and messaging apps
• Speaker labels and timestamps

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What is the best transcription service?

GoTranscript is my pick for the best human transcription service, with its flexible pricing plans and transcriptionists specializing in industries like medicine, law, and academia. Otter.ai is a good alternative for transcribing live meetings with a generous free plan.

Best transcription software

Human transcription available?

Free plan?

Turnaround time (human)

Cost

Notable features

Human: $1.20–$2.75 per minute

Automated: $0.20 per minute automated ($0.02 per minute with $35-per-month subscription)

Pricing based on turnaround time, speciality industries

Automated: $8–$20 per month (no pay-as-you-go)

Live transcription, meeting integrations

Automated: $6–50 per month or $0.20 per minute pay as you go

Human: $1.90–$2 per minute depending on plan

Extensive language catalog, team setup

$3–$10 per hour ($0.05–$0.16 per minute) depending on plan

Privacy controls, bulk pricing

Which is the right transcription service for you?

Choose this transcription software…

If you want…

Highly accurate, human-generated transcripts for specialized fields.

Live automated transcription of meetings with a generous free plan.

A platform built for teams with automated transcription and human proofreaders.

A privacy-focused automated transcription service that does the basics well.

Factors to consider when choosing the best transcription service

The first decision to make when selecting a transcription service is whether you need human-generated transcripts created by professional transcriptionists, who have a higher degree of accuracy and are trained in specific industries like medicine, law, and education. Note that human-generated transcripts will cost more and take longer to produce than automated ones, and not all services have this option. Be sure to compare pricing and turnaround time as well as available languages for human transcription before deciding.

If you go with automated transcription software, you’ll want to weigh factors like cost, accuracy, and additional features. The cost per minute of AI-generated transcription varies, with options to buy in bulk and use as needed, pay as you go, or lock in with a subscription. Automated transcription isn’t as accurate as human and is likely to require some editing, but some services are better at identifying speakers and capturing style and grammar than others. You should also compare features, such as the ability to transcribe meetings in real time, generate summaries and related content, collaborate with team members, or record on the go with a mobile app.

How we test transcription services

To identify the best transcription software available now, I compared services that offer human or automated transcription (or both) using the factors listed above as well as existing reviews. Where possible, I tested automated transcription for accuracy using both live and recorded audio to assess user experience.

https://www.topconsumerreviews.com/best-transcription-services/detailed-reviews.php

https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-transcription-services/