17 Best Transcription Software for Converting Audio to Text in 2025

Transcription software has become an essential tool for businesses, content creators, students, and professionals who need to convert spoken words into text. Whether you’re transcribing meetings, podcasts, interviews, or lectures, the right software can save you time and effort while improving accessibility.

With the transcription market expected to hit $41.93 billion by 2030, AI-driven tools are revolutionizing the industry, offering faster and more affordable solutions than ever before. But with so many options available, how do you choose the best one?

We’ve analyzed 50 transcription tools and shortlisted the 17 best options based on accuracy, features, pricing, and ease of use. Let’s explore the top transcription software of 2025.

Best Transcription Software at a Glance

Here’s a quick comparison of the best audio-to-text converters:

Software	Best For	Human Transcription	Accuracy	Pricing	Free Plan
Otter.ai	Real-time notes	❌ No	90%	$8.33/mo	✅ Yes
GoTranscript	Human accuracy	✅ Yes	99.2%+	$0.20/min	❌ No
Descript	Editing + transcription	❌ No	95%	$12/mo	✅ Yes
MeetGeek	Auto meeting transcripts	❌ No	Not disclosed	$15/mo	✅ Yes
Rev	Fast human transcription	✅ Yes	90%+	$9.99/mo	✅ Yes
Sonix	Fast, customizable ASR	❌ No	99%	$10/hour	✅ Yes
Amberscript	Accurate speaker ID	✅ Yes	100%	$10/hour	❌ No
Notta AI	AI transcription & translation	❌ No	98.86%	$9/mo	✅ Yes
Express Scribe	Professional transcriptionists	✅ Yes	Not disclosed	$8.83/mo	✅ Yes
Trint	Collaborative transcription	❌ No	99%	$52/mo	✅ Yes
Audext	ASR with editing tool	✅ Yes	99%	$12/hour	✅ Yes
oTranscribe	Free in-browser tool	✅ Yes	Not disclosed	FREE	✅ Yes
Temi	Budget automatic ASR	❌ No	90-95%	$0.25/min	✅ Yes
Nuance Dragon	Specialized dictation	❌ No	99%	$15/mo	✅ Yes
Transcribe	Foot pedal support	✅ Yes	90%	$20/year	❌ No
GoSpeech	Small business transcription	❌ No	Not disclosed	€49/mo	❌ No
Happy Scribe	ASR + subtitles	✅ Yes	99%	$10/mo	✅ Yes

Now, let’s dive into detailed reviews of each tool.

Best Transcription Software Reviews

1. Otter.ai – Best for Real-Time Notes

Otter.ai is perfect for students and professionals who need live transcription for meetings, lectures, or interviews. It supports speaker identification and integrates with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.

✅ Pros:

• Automatic live transcription
• Searchable transcripts with timestamps
• Supports team collaboration

❌ Cons:

• Struggles with heavy accents
• Free plan has limited minutes

💰 Pricing: Starts at $8.33/month

2. GoTranscript – Best for Human Accuracy

If you need 100% accurate transcriptions, GoTranscript is the best human-powered option. It’s great for legal, academic, and business transcripts.

✅ Pros:

• 99.2%+ accuracy
• 24/7 human transcription service
• Multiple language support

❌ Cons:

• Slower turnaround time
• More expensive than AI options

💰 Pricing: $0.20 per minute

3. Descript – Best for Editing + Transcription

Descript is more than just a transcription tool—it’s an all-in-one audio & video editing platform. You can cut, edit, and refine transcripts like a Word document.

✅ Pros:

• AI-powered voice cloning
• Podcast editing tools
• Screen recording feature

❌ Cons:

• Learning curve for beginners
• Limited free plan

💰 Pricing: Starts at $12/month

4. MeetGeek – Best for Automated Meeting Transcripts

Need AI-powered meeting transcriptions? MeetGeek records and transcribes business meetings automatically, making it great for teams.

✅ Pros:

• Auto-transcribes meetings
• Integrates with Zoom, Google Meet
• AI-generated summaries

❌ Cons:

• No human transcription
• No support for poor-quality audio

💰 Pricing: $15/user/month

5. Rev – Best for Fast Human Transcription

Rev offers both AI and human transcription services, balancing speed and accuracy. It’s ideal for journalists, legal professionals, and content creators.

✅ Pros:

• Fast turnaround
• Affordable automated transcription
• High accuracy with human service

❌ Cons:

• Costly for long audio files

💰 Pricing: Starts at $9.99/month

6. Sonix – Best for Fast, Customizable ASR

Sonix is a top choice for AI-powered transcription, offering super-fast processing and customization options for professionals.

✅ Pros:

• Multiple language support
• Speaker identification
• In-browser audio editing

❌ Cons:

• No human transcription option

💰 Pricing: $10/hour

7. Amberscript – Best for Speaker Identification

If your transcription involves multiple speakers, Amberscript is a fantastic option. It provides highly accurate speaker labeling with human or AI transcription.

✅ Pros:

• 100% accuracy with human service
• Supports subtitles & captions

❌ Cons:

• More expensive than competitors

💰 Pricing: $10/hour

8. Trint – Best for Collaborative Transcription

If you work in a team and need to collaborate on transcripts, Trint is the ideal solution. It offers AI-powered transcription with built-in editing and team collaboration tools.

✅ Pros:

• AI-powered transcripts with 99% accuracy
• Supports multiple languages
• Allows teams to collaborate in real-time

❌ Cons:

• Higher pricing than competitors
• AI struggles with heavy accents

💰 Pricing: Starts at $52/month

9. Audext – Best ASR with Editing Tools

Audext is an automatic speech recognition (ASR) tool with a built-in editor, making it easy to fine-tune transcriptions.

✅ Pros:

• Fast AI transcription
• Built-in editor for easy corrections
• Supports multiple audio formats

❌ Cons:

• No human transcription available
• Struggles with background noise

💰 Pricing: $12 per hour

10. oTranscribe – Best Free In-Browser Transcription Tool

If you’re looking for a free transcription tool, oTranscribe is an excellent choice. This browser-based app allows you to manually transcribe audio with an easy-to-use interface.

✅ Pros:

• 100% free
• Supports interactive timestamps
• Works directly in your browser (no downloads needed)

❌ Cons:

• No AI transcription
• Requires manual effort

💰 Pricing: FREE

11. Temi – Best Budget Automatic ASR

Temi is an affordable AI-powered transcription tool designed for users who need quick and simple transcription.

✅ Pros:

• Fast and budget-friendly ($0.25/min)
• Simple, user-friendly interface
• Works with multiple file formats

❌ Cons:

• Accuracy varies depending on audio quality
• No human transcription option

💰 Pricing: $0.25 per minute

12. Nuance Dragon – Best for Dictation & Professional Use

Nuance Dragon is a speech recognition tool built for professionals who need accurate dictation and transcription services. It’s widely used in the legal and medical industries.

✅ Pros:

• 99% accuracy with AI-powered dictation
• Supports real-time transcription
• Ideal for lawyers, doctors, and professionals

❌ Cons:

• Expensive compared to other AI options
• No human transcription service

💰 Pricing: Starts at $15/month

13. Transcribe – Best for Foot Pedal Support

Transcribe is a great choice for professional transcriptionists who use foot pedals to control audio playback.

✅ Pros:

• Supports foot pedal integration
• Offline mode for transcribing without an internet connection
• AI-powered transcription with speech-to-text conversion

❌ Cons:

• No free plan
• Lacks cloud storage options

💰 Pricing: $20 per year

14. GoSpeech – Best for Small Businesses

GoSpeech is an AI-powered transcription tool designed for small businesses and teams that need affordable transcription solutions.

✅ Pros:

• Supports multiple languages
• AI-powered summaries for meetings
• Designed for corporate teams

❌ Cons:

• No free plan
• Pricing is higher than some competitors

💰 Pricing: €49 per month

15. Happy Scribe – Best for ASR + Subtitles

Happy Scribe is an AI-powered transcription tool that also provides subtitle generation, making it perfect for content creators and video producers.

✅ Pros:

• AI + human transcription options
• Subtitle generation for videos
• Supports multiple languages

❌ Cons:

• Slightly slower AI transcription compared to competitors
• Editing tools could be improved

💰 Pricing: Starts at $10 per month

16. Express Scribe – Best for Professional Transcriptionists

Express Scribe is a powerful transcription tool designed for professional transcriptionists. It supports foot pedals, hotkeys, and multi-speed playback, making manual transcription faster and more efficient.

✅ Pros:

• Compatible with foot pedals for hands-free control
• Supports multi-speed playback and file management
• Works with various audio formats

❌ Cons:

• No AI transcription
• Steep learning curve for beginners

💰 Pricing: $8.83 per month

17. Sonix – Best for Fast, Customizable ASR

Sonix is an AI-powered transcription tool that focuses on speed, accuracy, and customization. It offers automated timestamping, speaker identification, and cloud storage integration, making it a great option for professionals.

✅ Pros:

• Fast AI transcription with up to 99% accuracy
• Supports over 40 languages
• Customizable timestamps and speaker identification

❌ Cons:

• No human transcription option
• More expensive than other AI-based tools

💰 Pricing: $10 per hour (30-minute free trial available)

What Is Transcription Software?

Transcription software is a tool that converts spoken language into written text. Whether you have a business meeting recording, podcast, lecture, or interview, these tools help transform audio and video content into text format.

Some transcription software uses AI-powered automation for fast transcription, while others assist human transcribers by offering features like playback control, timestamps, and speaker identification for better accuracy and ease of use.

These tools save time and effort for professionals, content creators, researchers, students, and businesses that frequently work with recorded audio or video.

Types of Transcription Services

There are several types of transcription services, each serving different needs:

✔️ Verbatim Transcription – Captures every spoken word, including fillers, pauses, and background sounds.
✔️ Intelligent Transcription – Removes filler words, slang, and unnecessary phrases for a cleaner, more readable transcript.
✔️ Automatic Transcription – Uses AI-powered software for fast, machine-generated transcripts with minimal human intervention.
✔️ Manual Transcription – Human transcribers carefully listen and type transcripts, ensuring high accuracy.
✔️ Edited Transcription – Improves readability by correcting grammar, structure, and incomplete sentences.
✔️ Phonetic Transcription – Uses phonetic symbols to represent sounds for linguistic analysis or pronunciation guides.

Some transcription tools even offer browser extensions for both verbatim and non-verbatim transcription, making the process more convenient.

Automatic vs. Manual Transcription: Which One Should You Choose?

Deciding between automatic and manual transcription depends on your needs.

• Automatic transcription is fast and cost-effective, making it ideal for quick summaries, first drafts, or casual use. However, accuracy may be lower in cases of background noise, heavy accents, or multiple speakers.
• Manual transcription offers higher accuracy since humans carefully listen and type out the text. It’s perfect for legal, medical, and academic documents, but it’s time-consuming and more expensive.

👉 If you need speed and affordability, go for AI-based transcription.
👉 If accuracy is your top priority, opt for human-powered transcription.

AI Transcription: Pros and Cons

✅ Pros of AI Transcription:

✔️ Fast turnaround time – Get transcripts in minutes.
✔️ More affordable than human transcription.
✔️ Available 24/7, with no waiting time.
✔️ Can handle large volumes of audio efficiently.

❌ Cons of AI Transcription:

❌ Lower accuracy for complex audio (e.g., heavy accents, background noise).
❌ Security concerns when handling sensitive audio.
❌ May require manual proofreading for better readability.

FAQs

What Is the Best Tool to Convert Audio to Text?

Some of the best transcription tools include GoTranscript, Trint, Descript, and Amberscript.

What Software Do Legal Transcriptionists Use?

Legal transcriptionists rely on tools like Nuance Dragon and Trint for high-accuracy transcriptions.

What Is the Cheapest AI Transcription Software?

For budget-friendly options, Otter.ai, oTranscribe, Express Scribe, GoSpeech, and Descript offer free forever plans.

Can Transcription Software Handle Multiple Languages?

Yes! Tools like Sonix, Descript, Trint, and Amberscript support multiple languages for global users.

Can Transcription Software Transcribe in Real-Time?

Yes, many tools like Otter.ai and Rev provide real-time transcription for meetings, lectures, and live events.

Can Transcription Software Handle Poor-Quality Audio?

Yes, GoTranscript, Happy Scribe, and other advanced transcription tools can process and improve low-quality recordings.

Final Thoughts

The best transcription software depends on your needs:

• Need real-time transcription? → Go for Otter.ai
• Want 100% human accuracy? → Try GoTranscript
• Looking for AI-powered video editing + transcription? → Use Descript
• Need meeting transcription? → Check out MeetGeek
• On a budget? → Consider Temi or oTranscribe

Transcription software is an essential tool for content creators, businesses, and professionals. Pick the one that best suits your workflow and start converting audio into text effortlessly! 🚀

Next up: Explore the 15 Top Text-to-Speech Software in 2025 to convert text into natural-sounding speech effortlessly! Perfect for content creators, businesses, and accessibility needs. Stay tuned. 🎙️🚀