Top 10 Free Automatic Transcription Software Platforms

When you’re doing Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) research, the benefits of using automatic transcription software can be nothing short of incredible. Not only does it save you time, but it also helps ensure accuracy so you can be more confident in your results. Not to mention, with automatic transcription software, you can seamlessly transcribe large amounts of audio or video files into text, making it easier to analyze the content within your research.

Additionally, automated transcription tools can help clean up audio issues, such as background noise, that could interfere with your analysis. But as for finding the BEST automatic transcribing software? That’s what we’ll talk about today!

We will explore the top 10 best free automatic transcribing software tools, including their benefits, drawbacks, features, and other important considerations to help you land the best option for your needs.

1. LiGRE

Here at LiGRE, we’re proud of the reputation we’ve earned through offering high-quality and easy-to-use automatic transcription software. Our highly intuitive web-based QDA software platform allows you to quickly analyze your qualitative data, giving you more time to focus on other aspects of your research.

So, whether you’re transcribing interviews, lectures, or any other audio or video files, LiGRE makes it easy to create text transcripts without all the hassle and expense.

With our speech recognition system, you can automatically transcribe content in over 90 languages and multiple file formats. Plus, voice familiarization is not required—this means LiGRE does not have to learn to recognize speakers’ voices to transcribe their speech accurately. For researchers, there’s simply no better option for automatic transcription software.

Ready to give LiGRE a try? Sign up for your free LiGRE account here and get one hour of free transcription.

There are so many benefits to transcribing audio to text! We talk more about them here.

2. Trint

Another option you might consider if you need to transcribe audio and video files is Trint. This web-based software is designed to help you quickly create transcripts from audio and video recordings that are both accurate and easy to understand. Some users note this platform isn’t the best for long or more complex audio recordings. Still, it’s an option worth considering for shorter content or advanced text editing tools.

With Trint, you can easily convert your recordings into text in 31 languages and add captions and subtitles to videos. It’s also compatible with most popular web browsers. That way, you don’t have to download anything extra. Pricing options start at $44 per month. This puts it at a higher price point than some other automatic transcription software options, but it offers a seven-day free trial to find out if it’s the right fit.

3. Happy Scribe

Happy Scribe is another web-based option to transcribe audio or video files. It supports over 120 languages and 45 formats. It also offers speaker identification, creating new paragraphs for each speaker—a convenient feature for some researchers. Happy Scribe also has advanced punctuation capabilities to ensure the correct usage of commas, question marks, and full stops.

Happy Scribe also provides an extensive text editor with proofreading help and the ability to highlight, comment on, or set reminders about text within your transcriptions. This makes it easy to make corrections or add notes as you go. If you need a quick turnaround time for the transcription of audio or video files, Happy Scribe will get you a transcript within 24 hours of uploading your file.

Regarding pricing, the Basic plan, meant for “individuals with basic transcription, subtitling, or translation needs,” starts at $10 monthly for up to 120 minutes of transcription.

4. Sonix

Offering 30 minutes of free transcription to start, Sonix is another option, with pricing options beginning at $10 per hour. It can transcribe audio and video files in 40+ languages and add subtitles in 38 languages. Another feature users like are the automated summaries it creates with the option to choose between paragraphs or bullet points.

If you’re working with a team, Sonix has collaborative features that let multiple users upload, comment, edit, and restrict access to files or folders. It also works with conferencing systems (including Zoom) and video editing platforms like Adobe Premiere.

5. Vocalmatic

Vocalmatic also offers the first 30 minutes of transcription free, with pricing that starts at $15 per hour beyond that. Users can upload MP3, WAV, MP4, WEBM, or MOV files, and AI-powered transcription software creates a transcription link that users will receive by email. Transcripts have timecodes; users can export them via raw text or Word document.

This automatic transcription software works with over 110 languages. One thing worth noting, however, is that it doesn’t have speaker recognition capabilities. Unfortunately, that means users won’t be able to break up the transcript according to who is speaking.

6. Otter

In terms of free automatic transcription software, Otter is an AI platform that gives users a lot of bang for their buck. It offers 600 minutes of free transcription, and if you need more than that, pricing starts at $8.33 per month. You can also download the mobile app if you want to make mobile recordings from your Android or iPhone.

One of the most appealing features Otter offers is its real-time transcription. This means it can transcribe audio as you speak into your microphone or, for example, in a Zoom meeting. That way, you don’t have to worry about remembering what was said during the call and have an accurate record to refer to.

The platform also uses speaker recognition technology so it can easily differentiate between speakers, and it will break up the transcript accordingly. It even remembers voices! So, if the same person speaks again, it recognizes them and continues to note who is talking throughout the conversation.

Beyond that, users can also use Otter’s text editing tools to make corrections or add notes as they work through a transcript. They also have the option to share files with others on their team or export transcripts in various formats for easy sharing.

We also cover the best citation tools for creating references here.

7. Temi

With Temi, users get 45 minutes of free transcription before upgrading to one of their paid plans. Paid plans start at $0.25 per minute. Its web-based software is compatible with iOS and Android and has speaker identification capabilities and custom timestamps.

For users who want to transcribe audio and video files captured on an iPhone or Android, Temi lets you do just that with its convenient mobile app. In addition, you can transcribe mobile recordings. This comes in particularly handy for students who want to record lectures. However, Temi is limited to English, so you won’t be able to transcribe the audio in any other language.

Transcription accuracy depends on the quality of your recording. So, if you want to get the most accurate results, keep that in mind. With Temi, you’ll also get basic text editing tools for adding notes or making corrections as you work through a transcript. All in all, it’s an affordable and easy-to-use platform for automatic transcription.

8. Fathom

Fathom is another free automatic transcription software to include in your list of considerations. However, it’s limited to working with Zoom calls. It supports seven languages and can auto-generate call notes and sync them to Salesforce and Hubspot CRM. If your team uses Slack, it can send real-time clips via your Slack channel.

If you have a call you want to document, Fathom will automatically record and transcribe it. The transcription is accurate; users can also create shareable video clips from the calls. It’s an ideal solution for teams looking for ways to focus on conversations instead of note-taking during Zoom meetings.

Beyond making capturing content from Zoom calls easier, Fathom facilitates information sharing and collaboration both during and after the meeting. That way, everyone can easily access critical points from the meeting without going back through notes or transcripts.

9. Descript

Known for its audio and video editing capabilities, Descript is another platform offering free automatic transcription with the option to upgrade to plans starting at $12 per month.

It’s designed to be a collaborative workspace for audio and video editing, with features such as:

An AI-powered transcription tool
Text-based editor
Multi-track timeline editor
Noise removal tools
Sound effects

Another appealing feature is how it lets you cut out filler words or pauses with one click.

Descript also provides integrated transcription capabilities, making it easy to transcribe audio files without copying and pasting the transcript into the software. Plus, it provides a unique “Overdub” feature that lets users create realistic voiceovers by simply typing in text!

Want to collaborate with other editors on projects or share your completed work with colleagues or clients? Descript enables seamless integration with Zoom you can set up in as little as two minutes. You can also export your creations as high-quality media files or share them with a link, so it’s perfect for teams who need to publish content quickly and easily.

10. Riverside

Particularly suited for video and podcast transcriptions, Riverside is a recording platform with easy-to-use automatic transcription capabilities. It’s designed to be user-friendly, and the free plan provides users unlimited single-track recording and editing and a one-off two hours of separate audio and video tracks. The free Riverside version has a watermark on exported files and features unlimited video calls with up to 720p video quality and 44.1 kHz audio quality.

Another convenient feature Riverside offers is its mobile app. This allows you to record, transcribe and share podcast episodes remotely with automatic transcription just by clicking a few buttons. The AI-powered audio transcriptions are available in over 100 languages and dialects, making it an ideal tool for teams doing international work or working with content requiring translation.

There you have it! You know much more about the ten best free automatic transcription software options, so you’ll know where to turn for transcribing audio and video files. If you’re eager to learn more about the best automatic transcription software, we’ll now review some frequently asked questions about automated transcription.

Best Automatic Transcription Software: Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions about automated transcription software, here are some of the most commonly asked queries and their answers.

Is there automatic transcription software?

Yes! If you don’t want to use manual transcription services or human transcription, there are all kinds of automatic transcription software platforms to choose from. Depending on your particular needs and budget, you can find a vendor that offers the right features and pricing for your project.

How do I automatically transcribe text?

The best way to automatically transcribe text is to use an automated transcription software platform. These platforms use AI-powered technology to quickly and accurately convert audio or video files into transcripts incredibly quickly, and sometimes for free. So whether you’re doing a one-off transcription or a long-term project, there’s an automated transcription platform to suit your needs.

What app automatically transcribes audio to text?

Many automatic transcription software platforms also offer mobile apps so users can transcribe audio files from their phones or tablets. Some of the best platforms that offer automatic transcription app capabilities include Riverside, Temi, and Otter.

What is the cheapest automated transcription software?

The price of automatic transcription software usually depends on how many audio minutes you need to transcribe monthly. It also depends on what kind of features you need (e.g., noise removal tools, text editor).

Generally speaking, though, most free plans offer up to a few hours of free transcription per month. Alternatively, most paid plans start at about $0.25 per minute. However, investing in a paid plan with more horsepower will be well worth the extra cost if you need more advanced features or capabilities.

Choose the Best Automatic Transcription Software for Your Research

Now you know more about the best automatic transcription software! Next, you can narrow down your selection and start transcribing your audio and video files fast.

Remember: no matter what kind of project you’re working on, there’s sure to be an automated transcription software platform that fits your needs – from free options to specialized, powerful tools.

If you’re ready to try LiGRE for free, we encourage you to do so today.

Try LiGRE today

Start transcribing your audio and video files today with LiGRE – the best automated transcription software for researchers! With its easy-to-use interface, powerful features, and a free trial, you’ll soon see why so many researchers are turning to LiGRE for all their QDA needs. Sign up now to get started.

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