Are you looking for the best free tool to transcribe the audio in your video content without wasting hours or breaking the bank? Well, you’re in luck!
We test and review free audio transcription tools weekly, trying to help you transcribe more accurately and efficiently. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the leading free audio transcription software solutions in 2024.
Some tools focus on AI-powered transcription, others on manual, and some support both. By the end of this article, you’ll have reliable information on the best free tools to transform audio into editable text.
After spending 30 hours testing eight audio transcription tools, including AI-powered and manual options, we found that Wondershare Filmora is the best, most reliable audio transcription service for the most accurate auto-generated text-based scripts.
In this article
Should You Use Free Audio Transcription Tools?
Before we outline the fine qualities that make a reliable and trustworthy audio transcription tool, we’d like to point one thing out. Many solutions offer audio transcription services today. You might have one via the apps you already use.
For example, simple video editing apps like VEED and Clideo offer auto-transcription services, allowing you to transform video content to text quickly. Screen recording solutions like Vidyard and Loom can transcribe and caption videos without requiring external installation or a third-party tool. Additionally, video conferencing software such as MS Teams, Google Meet, and Zoom can transcribe audio. However, these tools often lack certain features that could be beneficial, such as the ability to share specific meeting videos, take notes, or summarize insights.
Free audio transcription tools can help address these limitations, but it’s crucial to choose your software carefully. Most free tools come with specific restrictions, such as limited transcription time or audio length. Thus, it’s important to consider the range of features offered by free tools to ensure they meet your needs.
So, here are the most notable factors to consider before using a free audio transcription tool:
- Audio transcription accuracy – Paid services guarantee 95% accuracy or higher. So, look for a free tool offering at least 90% accuracy to get top-notch transcription results and save time, effort, and resources on proofreading and editing.
- Speed – Automated audio transcription services should be as swift as possible, regardless of whether they are free or paid. Most leading audio transcription service providers offer real-time transcription.
- Clarity – The auto-generated text scripts should be easy to scan and read with accurate speaker tracking and punctuation.
- Export options – You should be able to export and save the generated text in a preferred format, including the popular SRT.
- User experience – Both free and paid audio transcription tools should be user-friendly, with transparent features, an automated interface, and streamlined navigation to empower you to accomplish your transcription goals quickly. The goal is to find a tool that can help you save time, effort, and resources on audio and video editing.
- Compatibility – Consider the range of compatible devices when searching for ideal freemium audio transcription apps. Some apps are only available on computers, while others work better on mobile devices. If you use multiple devices, look for a software solution compatible with your working environments and apps.
- Collaboration – If you’re a part of a team looking for simultaneous transcript creation and editing, a tool with a decent amount of collaboration options might be in order. Look for a free audio transcription service that can host multiple users and offer additional features like automated note-taking, AI summarization, etc.
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How We Picked the Best Free Audio Transcription Tools
Before making this guide, we’ve considered the most recent, rapid changes in the audio transcription sector. We’ve also reviewed trusted software review resources like PC Mag and The Verge to get some personal recommendations on the best free audio transcription tools in 2024.
We’ve thoroughly tested the solutions listed below using four audio clips:
- A 333-word clip we previously recorded with background noise (including numbers with decimals, percentages, technical and scientific terms, pangrams, etc.)
- A two-minute and 21-second audio clip containing 235 words, speech impediments, and cross-talk
- A 745-word clip from the New York Times (with different accents, multiple speakers, cross-talk, locations, etc.)
- A 443-word clip with a single speaker and top-notch audio quality
Here are the criteria for our testing summary: :
- Transcription accuracy
- Processing speed
- Supported file formats
- Availability across platforms and devices
- Editing features
- Speaker labeling
- Privacy
All tools on our list came out as privacy-focused, feature-packed solutions with accurate and ultra-fast transcriptions that you can export in multiple formats.
- Transcript audio with high accuracy and clarity.
- Vast video/audio effects and creative assets.
- Powerful AI for effortless content creation.
- Intuitive, professional yet beginner-friendly.
- Works on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android.
Best Free Audio Transcription Tools
Below is our comprehensive list of the top eight free audio transcription tools you should keep on your radar in 2024. Learn more about their transcription capabilities, top features, strengths, and weaknesses.
Wondershare Filmora
Best for using AI for automated audio transcription and streamlined audio and video editing
Filmora's AI text-based editing feature offers a robust solution for free audio transcription, seamlessly converting spoken words from videos into text. This allows for easy customization and synchronization of text elements like subtitles and captions with the video content. You can adjust text attributes such as position, color, size, font, and content to enhance your video's accessibility and appeal.
The feature supports over 27 languages, enabling the free transcription of multilingual audio into subtitles directly. This multilingual speech-to-text capability ensures that Filmora can handle audio in various languages, automatically generating and synchronizing subtitles with the video frames for accurate placement and timing.
Additionally, Filmora allows for the conversion of transcribed text into an editable and exportable SRT file, increasing the flexibility and utility of your video editing projects. This makes it easier to manage and repurpose your video content across different platforms and formats.
Key features
- Audio Transcription: Convert spoken words into editable text.
- Text Customization: Options for content, font, size, color, position, and timing.
- Multilingual Support: Multilingual subtitles and language models for diverse audiences.
- Captions and Effects: Enhanced captions with various text effects.
- Speech-to-Text & Text-to-Speech: Transcription with multilingual options and subtitles.
- Playback Synchronization: Audio/video playback synced with transcripts.
- Format Support: Wide range of audio, video, and text formats.
- Filmora AI Suite: Tools like video enhancer, stabilization, tracking, and auto synchronization.
- AI Translation: Real-time translation capabilities.
- Customization Options: Extensive audio/video effects, transitions, filters, animations, and templates.
- AI Thumbnail Creator: Generate engaging thumbnails automatically.
Pros & Cons
Descript
Best for audio and video editing using auto-generated transcripts
Descript is an industry-standard free audio transcription service with handy collaboration and text correction features. The tool offers unprecedented transcription accuracy and many AI-enabled options, including filler word removal, audio enhancement, social media post drafting, caption translation, speech recognition, text-to-speech, etc.
In addition, Descript offers AI Underlord that you can use as your personal AI assistant and content scheduler to organize content repurposing and transform the audio into shareable social media reels, stories, clips, etc.
Key features
- AI Underlord with many features (audio repurposing, social media text templates, audio enhancement, green screen, etc.)
- Text-based video and podcast editing
- Studio sound with audio improvements
- Background audio noise removal
- Overdubbing and voice cloning
- Video clip maker based on generated transcripts
- Automatic multicam audio editing with speaker detection
Pros & Cons
Otter
Best for real-time audio transcription and AI note-taking
Otter is one of the most reliable AI-powered meeting assistants in the industry. The platform packs excellent audio transcription services with advanced AI-enabled note-taking, meeting summarization, action items, chatting, and idea brainstorming.
Otter provides an all-in-one platform for sales meetings with automated summaries, meeting notes, content generation, async updates, and live conversations across your preferred communication channels.
With Otter, you can do more than simply transcribe audio. You can automatically capture and assign action items from any audio recording. More importantly, Otter will use AI to capture the context of every conversation perfectly, ensuring everyone on your team stays in the loop.
Key features
- Real-time AI audio transcription with notes, insights, and action items
- AI audio transcript summarization
- Industry-specific transcription use cases (sales, business, marketing, recruiting, education, and social media)
- Automated workflows with automatic note-sharing and item assignment
- Workflow integration options for MS SharePoint, Snowflake, Amazon S3, Egnyte, HubSpot, Salesforce, etc.
- Direct sharing via email and Slack
- Otter AI chat with content generation (status updates, emails, etc.)
- AI meeting assistant with async updates and live conversations
Pros & Cons
Rev
Best for automated and human audio transcription
Rev may not offer free audio transcription, but it has other qualities you should consider. For example, Rev can transcribe audio with over 95% accuracy at a mere $0.25 per minute. The tool also guarantees ultra-fast transcription and offers interactive editing, automatic Dropbox integration, on-demand human transcription, audio recording, etc.
With Rev, you can quickly review written transcripts, identify critical information, extract keynotes, share summaries with your team, automate social posts, and tap into custom-tailored AI-powered transcripts to expedite everyday tasks.
Key features
- AI-generated captions, subtitles, and transcriptions
- Extraction of summaries, action items, and quotes from transcripts
- Multilingual captions
- An option to create copies for headlines, social posts, and promotions
- Options to edit text, modify speaker names, and adjust timing
- Insight highlights
Pros & Cons
TranscribeMe
Best for affordable transcription and translation
TranscribeMe is a fantastic professional platform with automated and accurate AI and human audio transcriptions. The platform also offers specialized services, including data annotation for auto-generated transcripts.
Additionally, you can get multilingual transcript translations, including transcription according to the latest HIPAA, medical, and legal standards. If your content depends on legal, medical, or HIPAA compliance frameworks, TranscribeMe is an ideal audio transcription solution for your needs.
Key features
- Advanced computer-generated speech recognition algorithms
- Audio transcription for market research, interviews, podcasts, enterprise projects, and video conferences
- Legal, medical, and HIPAA compliance
- Industry-specific transcripts for insurance, call centers, and phone calls
- Speaker identification
Pros & Cons
Alice
Best for pay-as-you-go audio transcription at scale
Alice offers basic AI transcription based on automation. Once the tool completes audio transcription, it will send the transcript to you via email. You can introduce as many correspondents as you wish or save your texts to cloud-based storage services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
In addition, Alice lets you choose what you want to do with your transcripts. You can automate them in Zapier, add them to your Trello tasks, share them on Slack, etc. It’s the perfect solution if you don’t use audio transcriptions often. The free trial gives you one hour of transcription.
Key features
- Synchronized media and text players for highlighting quotes
- Speaker ID
- Audio/video playback with the transcript
- Automatic synchronization of transcripts and audio recordings to your apps, drives, and email
- Support for many audio, video, and text formats, including SRT
- 99% transcription accuracy
- Built-in search
Pros & Cons
Notta
Best for ensuring the highest levels of audio transcription accuracy
Notta is one of the most reliable free audio transcription services on the web. The tool can automatically transform any video or audio file into text. More importantly, it provides real-time transcription with almost 99% accuracy.
Notta’s free version gives you 120 monthly audio transcription minutes and includes additional options like audio recording for desktop and mobile devices. You can auto-generate text as you speak on the go using your smartphone or tablet or on your computer using your microphone.
The platform is compatible with many file types and formats, including AVI, MP4, MP3, WAV, SRT, PDF, etc.
Key features
- Real-time audio and video transcription and translation
- AI summarization
- Extraction of action items from transcripts
- Over 57 multilingual transcription options
- Notta bot for automatically joining and transcribing Google Calendar meetings
- Chrome extension and web app
- Multiple import options
- Speaker ID
Pros & Cons
Happy Scribe
Best for combining AI and human transcription for increased accuracy
HappyScribe offers AI and human transcription, making it ideal for users who often need transcription services. Aside from all-encompassing transcription, HappyScribe has a dedicated and interactive transcription editor to help you modify your transcripts according to your requirements.
Furthermore, HappyScribe offers many multilingual subtitle and transcription options and collaboration features. It also supports multiple export formats. It’s your go-to free audio transcription service if your primary concern is accurate transcription.
Key features
- Audio-to-text conversion
- AI-powered subtitling
- Multilingual transcription options
- Interactive editing for subtitles and transcripts
- Direct transcript sharing for improved collaboration
- Multiple export formats
- Subtitle customization (timing, speaker ID, grammar correction, formatting, timing, etc.)
Pros & Cons
Conclusion
This guide has helped you understand the subtle nuances of modern-day audio transcription. Each solution on our list fits specific industries, applications, and personal audio transcription scenarios. However, Wondershare Filmora is the best, most reliable, and most accurate audio transcription software.
Filmora’s AI text-based editing feature allows you to transcribe audio in a video, convert speech audio into editable text, synchronize AI-generated text with your video, transform the generated text into subtitles, enhance texts and subtitles with various effects, and export the text in SRT and other popular text formats.
The software platform provides an all-encompassing AI-powered audio/video suite of tools, creative assets, and effects, giving you everything you need to transform your average video footage into professional-grade, shareable, and downloadable content.
