10 Best Free Transcription Software & Tools for Quick Transcripts
10 Best Free Transcription Software & Tools for Quick Transcripts
Discover the 10 best free transcription software for easy & accurate transcripts. We review each one to help you choose the best free tool for transcription.
Last Updated: March 5, 2024
You don’t have to break the bank with transcription, and you don’t have to spend hours writing everything out yourself!
Free transcription software makes it possible to transcribe video and audio accurately within minutes. The trick is finding a reliable tool you trust and know can produce quality results. Whether you need transcripts for quick video captions or just want to use them for your own reference, it's essential to be efficient.
So where do you start on the right free transcription tools?
This is your Riverside guide to the best free transcription software. We’ll show you what to consider and which options are best to try!
Is there free transcription software?
The good news is that there are many high-quality transcription software programs to choose from, servicing a range of devices and operating systems.
While some more advanced transcription tools may require a purchase or subscription, others are available for free. The good news is that you don’t have to sacrifice quality. Many free transcription software has user-friendly features that help you automatically produce great transcripts, saving time, stress, and money.
You should also keep an eye out for paid software as many of these come with a free plan or bonus tool. For example, while Riverside’s built-in transcription downloads are available on paid plans, we have a free transcription generator tool.
10 best free transcription software & tools for all PCs
Choosing the right software tools is the key to generating effective transcripts. Here are 10 of our top free software recommendations to get you started.
1. Riverside
Price: Free tool, with paid built-in transcriptions
Compatibility: Mac and Window
Riverside offers robust transcriptions in over 100 languages, automatically generating transcripts straight after recording. Users can download transcripts as SRT or TXT files easily. If not recording on Riverside, users can still utilize free AI transcription tool.
Key features:
- Transcribe video straight after recording without any third-party apps
- Built-in transcriptions use speaker differentiation
- High accuracy in over 100 languages
- Free transcript generator
- Easy-to-use transcription tools
Best for: Robust recording and fast, accurate transcription in one platform
2. Happyscribe
Price: Free
Compatibility: Mac or Windows
Happyscribe provides a free interactive transcription editor and an automatic transcription tool, free for the first 10 minutes of recordings.
Key features:
- Direct imports from video sites
- AI transcription with optional human proofreading
Best for: Novice transcribers looking for an easy place to get started with producing transcripts.
3. Otter AI
Price: Free to $20/month
Compatibility: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android
Otter AI specializes in live transcription tools that convert audio to text while speaking, integrating smoothly with various platforms.
Key features:
- Highlights and assignments in live transcription
- Automatic post-meeting summaries
Best for: Professionals seeking a transcription solution for workplace note-taking.
4. oTranscribe
Price: Free
Compatibility: Mac and Windows
oTranscribe is designed for simplicity, featuring interactive timestamps and playback tools.
Key features:
- Automatic file saves
- Export options including Google Docs and plaintext
Best for: Beginner transcribers looking for a reliable solution.
5. Deepgram
Price: Free for up to 12,000 minutes
Compatibility: Mac and Windows
Deepgram utilizes AI for fast and accurate transcription, linking transcripts to business communications.
Key features:
- High-speed transcription capabilities
- Real-time automatic live transcription
Best for: Call center transcribers needing advanced tools.
6. Vowel
Price: Free to $16.49/month
Compatibility: Mac and Windows
Vowel combines AI features with accurate transcript delivery, allowing for bookmarking of audio sections.
Key features:
- AI-powered summaries alongside transcripts
Best for: Professionals looking for efficient software.
7. Transcribear
Price: Starting from free
Compatibility: Mac and Windows
Transcribear offers both manual and automatic transcription features in a user-friendly format.
Key features:
- Live transcription available
- All-in-one tools including spell check and multimedia player
Best for: Novice users looking for an easy-to-use tool.
8. Enthu.ai
Price: From free to $49/agent/month
Compatibility: Mac and Windows
Enthu.ai excels in capturing transcripts from various communication channels, utilizing AI for insights.
Key features:
- Auto seek audio tools
Best for: Companies focusing on scaling with analytics.
9. Fireflies.ai
Price: From free to $19/month
Compatibility: Mac and Windows
Fireflies.ai integrates automated transcription with recording features, ensuring quick turnaround times.
Key features:
- Collaboration and analysis tools included
Best for: Those integrating text with project management tools.
10. Tactiq
Price: From free to $16/month
Compatibility: Mac and Windows
Tactiq works as a browser extension for accurate real-time transcription, especially suitable for various conferencing platforms.
Key features:
- AI meeting summaries integrated
Best for: Users needing high accuracy in a user-friendly interface.
Choosing the right transcription tool for you
Before selecting a transcription tool, consider what kind of content you need to transcribe and your process:
- Do you need live transcription to produce text in real time?
- Or can you wait to produce transcripts after you finalize your audio?
Once you have assessed your requirements, you can effectively compare software options and make an informed decision.
Best free transcription software for Mac
We recommend trying Riverside, Vowel or Fireflies.ai for good features and ease of use.
Best free transcription software for Windows
We recommend trying Riverside, Happyscribe or oTranscribe for a user-friendly start.
FAQs on tools for transcription
Is there a tool to transcribe audio?
Many tools can transcribe audio content, both manually and automatically.
What are the 4 types of transcription?
- Edited transcriptions: These edit and refine a completed transcript for clarity.
- Verbatim transcriptions: Include all audio information without edits.
- Intelligent transcriptions: Omit unnecessary words without altering main content.
- Phonetic transcript: Uses phonetic spelling for specific pronunciation representations.
How do beginners do transcription?
Select guided and user-friendly transcription software with automation features.
Does Google have free transcription software?
Google offers its transcription tools based on automatic speech recognition for post-recording transcription.