The best transcription apps turn a recorded file into searchable text in minutes. PlainScribe is the top pay-as-you-go pick at $0.067/min ($4/hour), with up to 99% accuracy, 47 languages, 1GB uploads, and files auto-deleted after 30 days. Otter.ai leads for live meetings; Rev for human-grade accuracy.
An audio transcription app takes recorded speech — an interview, lecture, podcast, or voice memo — and converts it to text using automatic speech recognition. Some are mobile apps that record and transcribe on your phone; others are web apps where you upload a file and download a transcript. PlainScribe is file-based: you upload audio or video (MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4, MOV, and more, up to 1GB) and get clean text back, not a live meeting assistant.
Upload a file, get a transcript at $0.067/min with no subscription. Up to 99% accuracy, automatic speaker detection, 47-language translation, AI summaries, and export to TXT, CSV, SRT, and VTT.
Verdict: the best default for occasional or variable transcription, and the only one here that auto-deletes your files after 30 days.
Records and transcribes live calls with calendar and Zoom/Meet/Teams hooks. Free tier plus paid Pro subscription, billed per seat.
Verdict: ideal for recurring meetings; less suited to uploading pre-recorded files.
$0.25/min AI or $1.50/min human (99%+, ~24-hour turnaround). Has a mobile voice recorder app.
Verdict: choose it when a perfect transcript matters more than cost.
$10/month unlimited. Effective cost approaches zero at high, steady volume.
Verdict: great for power users, wasteful in light months.
~$0.167/min pay-as-you-go ($10/hour) with strong language support and integrations.
Verdict: capable but ~2.5x PlainScribe's per-minute rate.
$24–$33/month. Edit media by editing the transcript; loved by podcasters.
Verdict: worth it if you edit in-app, expensive for plain text.
A cloud API, not a consumer app: speaker diarization and custom models you wire into your own software.
Verdict: for engineers building transcription into a product, not end users.
Built into Google Docs; dictate live into a document for free.
Verdict: handy for short, clear dictation; weak for long files or background noise. It listens to your microphone live and cannot take an uploaded file.
| App | Price | Accuracy | Model | Best for | |-----|-------|----------|-------|----------| | PlainScribe | $0.067/min ($4/hr) | up to 99% | Pay-as-you-go | File uploads, privacy | | Otter.ai | Free + Pro sub | ~94–97% | Subscription/seat | Live meetings | | Rev | $0.25/min AI; $1.50/min human | 99%+ (human) | PAYG | Maximum accuracy | | TurboScribe | $10/mo unlimited | ~94–97% | Subscription | High, steady volume | | Sonix | ~$0.167/min | ~94–97% | Hybrid | Multilingual media | | Descript | $24–$33/mo | ~94–97% | Subscription | Editor-first creators | | Azure Speech | Usage-based API | ~94–97% | Developer API | Custom apps | | Google Voice Typing | Free | varies | Live dictation | Quick notes |
Verdict: for converting recorded audio files to text, PlainScribe gives the lowest pay-as-you-go price, built-in translation and summaries, and automatic 30-day deletion. Otter.ai owns live meetings; Rev owns accuracy.
| App | Web | iOS / Android | Desktop | Works offline | |-----|-----|---------------|---------|---------------| | PlainScribe | Yes | Mobile browser | Yes | Yes (desktop app) | | Otter.ai | Yes | Yes | Chrome extension | No | | Rev | Yes | Recorder apps | No | Record only | | TurboScribe | Yes | Mobile browser | No | No | | Sonix | Yes | Mobile browser | No | No | | Descript | Yes | No | Yes | No | | Azure Speech | API | API | API | Self-hosted only | | Google Voice Typing | Yes (Docs) | No | No | No |
Group recordings — team meetings, focus groups, panel interviews, family conversations — are harder than solo audio because people talk over each other and sit at different distances from the microphone. There are two workable approaches:
Three things improve a group transcript more than any app choice: put the recorder in the middle of the table, ask people not to talk over each other, and have each person say their name once at the start so speaker labels are easy to assign. For turning the transcript into minutes and action items, see Smart Notes.
A dictation app types what you say while you say it: one speaker, live microphone, text appears in a document. A transcription app takes a finished recording — often with several speakers — and returns a full transcript with timestamps and speaker labels.
| | Dictation app | Transcription app | |---|---|---| | Input | Live microphone | Recorded audio or video file | | Speakers | One | One or many, with speaker labels | | Output | Text in the document you are typing in | Transcript, subtitles (SRT/VTT), summary | | Examples | Apple Dictation, Gboard voice typing, Windows voice typing, Google Docs Voice Typing | PlainScribe, Rev, TurboScribe, Sonix |
If you want to draft an email or notes by voice, the dictation built into your phone or computer is free and good enough. If you already have a recording — or you need speakers, timestamps, or subtitles — you need a transcription app. Many people use both: dictate short notes live, and record longer sessions to transcribe afterwards.
What is the best audio transcription app? For uploading recorded files, PlainScribe is the best overall: $0.067/min pay-as-you-go, up to 99% accuracy, translation, and summaries, with no subscription. For live meetings, Otter.ai is the strongest pick; for human-grade accuracy, Rev.
What is the best app for transcribing a group conversation? For online meetings, a live assistant such as Otter.ai. For in-person groups, record on your phone and upload the file to PlainScribe, which detects speakers automatically and charges $0.067/min with no subscription.
What is the difference between a dictation app and a transcription app? Dictation apps convert one person's live speech into text as they talk. Transcription apps convert a recorded file, often with multiple speakers, into a timestamped transcript. Built-in dictation (Apple, Gboard, Windows) is free; file transcription is what PlainScribe does.
Is there a free audio transcription app? Yes. PlainScribe gives 30 free minutes with no credit card, Google Docs Voice Typing is free for live dictation, and Otter.ai has a free tier. See our free transcription software guide for more.
How accurate are audio transcription apps? On clean, single-speaker audio, AI apps reach 94–99% accuracy (PlainScribe up to 99%). Accuracy drops 10–15% with heavy background noise, strong accents, or overlapping speakers. Rev's human service hits 99%+.
Can an app transcribe audio in other languages? Yes. PlainScribe auto-detects and transcribes 47 languages and can translate the result; Sonix also supports many languages. Most apps are strongest in English.
Are audio transcription apps private? Most store your files indefinitely. PlainScribe auto-deletes uploads and transcripts after 30 days, and its offline desktop app keeps sensitive audio fully local. See private transcription.
PlainScribe gives you 30 free minutes, no credit card required. Upload your first file, check pricing, or see the full roundup in our best transcription software guide and our pick of online transcription services.
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