_002%20(1).webp){kind=spacer}
Table of contents:
Key takeaways:
- Automated transcription services can be used to transcribe meetings, automate making lecture notes, or create video captions.
- For an all-in-one recording, editing, and transcription workflow, Riverside is the tool you’re looking for.
- If you’re just looking for a quick, free transcript, you can try Fathom, Otter’s free plan, or Riverside’s free transcription tool.
- Some automated transcription software like Scribie or Rev also include human services for even better accuracy.
Automated transcription software turns your audio files into text in minutes. Whether you’re a student, businessperson, or podcast host, there’s a service out there for you.
We’ve compiled a list of the best automated transcription software available today so you can find the perfect services for your needs.
Why should you use automated transcriptions?
Automated transcription software uses AI to convert audio to text without a person typing out text by hand.
The best transcription software is quick and easy to use, with cutting-edge speech recognition technology for high accuracy.
Using software to transcribe audio to text has several benefits:
- Save hours of time and effort: Automated transcriptions are much faster than manual transcriptions. Just upload your audio to have it automatically transcribed in minutes.
- Save money and resources: Automated transcription services are much cheaper than using expensive manual transcribers.
- Boost your video’s discoverability: Transcripts help search engines index your videos, so they can appear for relevant terms.
- Captions make your content more accessible: Those hard of hearing or non-native speakers can also benefit from reading a video transcription.
7 Best Automated Transcription Software and Services
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for transcription software. Each one has its benefits, so we recommend reading through the options before deciding.
1. Riverside
Price: Free transcription tool available, or built-in transcriptions on paid plans from $24/mo.
Riverside is an end-to-end video creation platform with built-in transcriptions. This means you can record a video and have it transcribed in just a few clicks, in one workflow.
With up to 99% accuracy, you’ll have clean transcripts ready to go. Download them as text files or speaker-labeled subtitle files for captions. You can transcribe in up to 100 languages and translate videos in select languages, too.
If you’re creating videos with Riverside, you can access transcripts in your dashboard immediately after recording. Here, you'll see a preview and you can choose what format to download your transcript in. You can also use these transcriptions for editing with our text-based video editor. Or, repurpose them into social posts, blogs, and newsletter emails by prompting the chat-based editor, Co-Creator.
If you aren’t creating content with Riverside, try our free transcript generator.
Pros
- AI Transcriptions in over 100 different languages.
- Receive accurate transcriptions straight after recording without uploading anything extra.
- Edit your recordings by editing your transcript with text-based video editing.
- Speaker detection to easily see who's talking when.
- SRT files with automatic timestamps for subtitles, and TXT files for easily turning your transcripts into written material.
- Turn your transcripts into video captions, summaries, and show notes.
- Boost the accuracy of your transcripts by recording clear audio in 48kHz WAV quality with automatic background noise removal.
- Repurpose your transcripts by chatting with Co-creator, Riverside’s AI agent.
- Automatically translate your videos in up to 30 languages and re-dub them with your own voice and perfect lip syncing.
Cons
- No translation services are available
Best for: Video and Podcast transcriptions
2. Otter.ai
Price: Free; paid plans from $8.33/mo
Otter is available on iOS, Android, and the web for your transcription needs. It’s an efficient service that connects to your Google or Microsoft calendar. This way when you join meetings, Otter is ready to transcribe them for you. Ideal for students to transcribe lectures, Otter is a time-saver with handy features for easing your workload.
Pros
- Can learn custom vocabulary
- Identifies speaker names
- Otter Assistant for Zoom and Microsoft Teams
- Export audio, text, and captions
- Connect Otter to calendars
Cons
- Cannot import audio or video files with the free version
- Only supports English (US and UK)
Best for: Transcribing lectures and meetings
3. Sonix
Price: $10/hr pay-as-you-go; $22/mo Premium subscription
While a little pricier than other automated video transcription software, Sonix is a robust option. Sonix offers many useful features for your money, such as links to your transcript and impressive translation capabilities. You can easily embed your Sonix automated transcript on your website to improve SEO.
Pros
- Generate transcriptions in 38+ languages
- Translate transcripts into 39+ languages
- Automated subtitles feature
- Access for collaborators to edit/upload files
- Transcript embedding options to improve SEO
Cons
- More expensive than other services
- Billing can be confusing with a membership plus hourly fee
Best for: Video transcriptions
4. Rev
Price: $29.99/mo
Rev is a powerful and highly accurate automated transcription tool. Capable of rapidly converting even large audio files into text, it’s guaranteed to save you time. Rev is available both in-browser and as a mobile app for ease of use. Rev’s sharing tools simplify sending transcripts via email, Dropbox, and Evernote.
Pros
- 5-minute turnaround time
- High transcription accuracy
- Zoom integration
- Custom glossary feature to input specific names/terms
- Interactive editor tool
Cons
- Only 20 hours of automated transcription per month with Rev Max
- Users have complained about Rev’s slow customer service
Best for: Accuracy
5. Scribie
Price: $0.10/minute of audio
Scribie is a popular automated transcription service used by the likes of Netflix and Airbnb. This platform offers both automated and manual transcriptions so you can take your pick. The process for automated transcriptions has only three simple steps: upload your audio file, pay the fee, and download the transcript.
Pros
- You can request an NDA for privacy
- Very simple and easy to use
- Pick up tips and info with the Scribie blog
- High accuracy
Cons
- The costs easily add up when transcribing large audio files
- No mobile app
Best for: User confidentiality
6. Fathom
Price: Free
Fathom is a free helpful note-taking app that automatically transcribes your Zoom calls. You can stay immersed in the conversation without worrying about taking meeting minutes. Fathom includes helpful features like syncing your call notes to your Salesforce & Hubspot CRM.
Pros
- Free to use
- Highlights key moments of your Zoom call
- Can turn highlights into shareable video clips
- Fast transcriptions
- Frequently updated
Cons
- Only compatible for Zoom calls
- Some bugs still need to be fixed
Best for: Transcribing Zoom calls
7. Trint
Price: Starter Plan $60/mo
Trint is up there with the more expensive transcription services available but has a lot to offer. Trint is ideal for transcribing audio in different languages. It supports teamwork with highlight and comment features. Transcribing with Trint is pretty simple, with a drag-and-drop function to add your audio files. Trint also offers editing tools to modify your transcript.
Pros
- 7 day free trial
- Supports 31 languages
- Accepts many audio file formats including MP3, MP4, AVI and WAV.
- Speaker identification
- Mobile app
Cons
- Expensive (minimum $48/mo for the annual Starter Plan)
- Starter Plan users are limited to transcribing 7 files per month
Best for: Multi-language transcription
What to consider to pick the ideal automated transcription software
With so many options available, picking the right transcription software for your specific needs might feel confusing.
Here are the key factors you should evaluate before deciding:
- Accuracy: Look for software that uses advanced speech recognition to minimize the time you spend correcting typos. This is especially important if you have speakers with accents or technical vocabulary.
- Language support: If you work with global audiences or multilingual content, verify that the platform supports translation and transcription in multiple languages.
- Speed: Check what the turnaround time is for your transcriptions. If you need instant results for a live meeting, fast or real-time tools like Otter.ai or Fathom are non-negotiable.
- Editing features: Since AI makes mistakes, a user-friendly editor is essential. Tools that differentiate speakers or let you edit the video by cutting the text can save significant editing time.
- Pricing structure: Models vary from pay-as-you-go per minute rates to monthly subscriptions. Consider how often you’ll transcribe, typical audio length, and whether you need human-verified transcription for extra accuracy.
FAQs on Automated Transcriptions
How do I get automatic transcription?
You can create automatic transcriptions of podcasts, lectures, videos and more using transcription services or software. Plenty of automated transcription platforms exist to turn your audio into text. We’ve listed some great options for software in this article.
All you need to do is upload your audio file to the platform of your choice. It takes a short while to generate the transcriptions. Once the process is complete, you can download the text file.
Is there an automatic transcription software?
Yes, automatic transcription software absolutely exists. This type of software uses advanced audio recognition technology to generate text automatically. With Riverside, you can create transcripts of your videos and podcasts in just a few clicks.
What are the 3 types of transcription?
The three types of transcription are: verbatim, edited and intelligent transcription.
What do these mean? Well, verbatim transcription refers to text files where every part of the audio has been transcribed, including background noise.
Edited transcription means a script that has had some alterations done to it. The text has been made clearer by tidying up audio like incomplete sentences or mutterings.
Intelligent transcriptions stay true to the original audio while removing repetitions, pauses and ramblings.
How long does automatic transcription take?
Automated transcriptions are much faster than manual transcriptions. But just how long will you have to wait to generate a transcription? It depends on the size of your audio file and the software you use. Some software like Riverside can transcribe 30 minutes of audio in less than 5 minutes, making it super quick.
.webp){kind=spacer}
.webp){kind=spacer}
