free speech to text transcription app

Speech to Text - Voice Typing & Transcription

Take notes with your voice for free, or automatically transcribe audio & video recordings. secure, accurate & blazing fast..

~ Proudly serving millions of users since 2015 ~

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Dictate Notes

Start taking notes, on our online voice-enabled notepad right away, for free.

Transcribe Recordings

Automatically transcribe (as well as summarize & translate) audios & videos. Upload files from your device or link to an online resource (Drive, YouTube, TikTok or other). Export to text, docx, video subtitles & more.

Speechnotes is a reliable and secure web-based speech-to-text tool that enables you to quickly and accurately transcribe your audio and video recordings, as well as dictate your notes instead of typing, saving you time and effort. With features like voice commands for punctuation and formatting, automatic capitalization, and easy import/export options, Speechnotes provides an efficient and user-friendly dictation and transcription experience. Proudly serving millions of users since 2015, Speechnotes is the go-to tool for anyone who needs fast, accurate & private transcription. Our Portfolio of Complementary Speech-To-Text Tools Includes:

Voice typing - Chrome extension

Dictate instead of typing on any form & text-box across the web. Including on Gmail, and more.

Transcription API & webhooks

Speechnotes' API enables you to send us files via standard POST requests, and get the transcription results sent directly to your server.

Zapier integration

Combine the power of automatic transcriptions with Zapier's automatic processes. Serverless & codeless automation! Connect with your CRM, phone calls, Docs, email & more.

Android Speechnotes app

Speechnotes' notepad for Android, for notes taking on your mobile, battle tested with more than 5Million downloads. Rated 4.3+ ⭐

iOS TextHear app

TextHear for iOS, works great on iPhones, iPads & Macs. Designed specifically to help people with hearing impairment participate in conversations. Please note, this is a sister app - so it has its own pricing plan.

Audio & video converting tools

Tools developed for fast - batch conversions of audio files from one type to another and extracting audio only from videos for minimizing uploads.

Our Sister Apps for Text-To-Speech & Live Captioning

Complementary to Speechnotes

Reads out loud texts, files & web pages

Reads out loud texts, PDFs, e-books & websites for free

Speechlogger

Live Captioning & Translation

Live captions & translations for online meetings, webinars, and conferences.

Need Human Transcription? We Can Offer a 10% Discount Coupon

We do not provide human transcription services ourselves, but, we partnered with a UK company that does. Learn more on human transcription and the 10% discount .

Dictation Notepad

Start taking notes with your voice for free

Speech to Text online notepad. Professional, accurate & free speech recognizing text editor. Distraction-free, fast, easy to use web app for dictation & typing.

Speechnotes is a powerful speech-enabled online notepad, designed to empower your ideas by implementing a clean & efficient design, so you can focus on your thoughts. We strive to provide the best online dictation tool by engaging cutting-edge speech-recognition technology for the most accurate results technology can achieve today, together with incorporating built-in tools (automatic or manual) to increase users' efficiency, productivity and comfort. Works entirely online in your Chrome browser. No download, no install and even no registration needed, so you can start working right away.

Speechnotes is especially designed to provide you a distraction-free environment. Every note, starts with a new clear white paper, so to stimulate your mind with a clean fresh start. All other elements but the text itself are out of sight by fading out, so you can concentrate on the most important part - your own creativity. In addition to that, speaking instead of typing, enables you to think and speak it out fluently, uninterrupted, which again encourages creative, clear thinking. Fonts and colors all over the app were designed to be sharp and have excellent legibility characteristics.

Example use cases

• Voice typing
• Writing notes, thoughts
• Medical forms - dictate
• Transcribers (listen and dictate)

Transcription Service

Start transcribing

Fast turnaround - results within minutes. Includes timestamps, auto punctuation and subtitles at unbeatable price. Protects your privacy: no human in the loop, and (unlike many other vendors) we do NOT keep your audio. Pay per use, no recurring payments. Upload your files or transcribe directly from Google Drive, YouTube or any other online source. Simple. No download or install. Just send us the file and get the results in minutes.

• Transcribe interviews
• Captions for Youtubes & movies
• Auto-transcribe phone calls or voice messages
• Students - transcribe lectures
• Podcasters - enlarge your audience by turning your podcasts into textual content
• Text-index entire audio archives

Key Advantages

Speechnotes is powered by the leading most accurate speech recognition AI engines by Google & Microsoft. We always check - and make sure we still use the best. Accuracy in English is very good and can easily reach 95% accuracy for good quality dictation or recording.

Lightweight & fast

Both Speechnotes dictation & transcription are lightweight-online no install, work out of the box anywhere you are. Dictation works in real time. Transcription will get you results in a matter of minutes.

Super Private & Secure!

Super private - no human handles, sees or listens to your recordings! In addition, we take great measures to protect your privacy. For example, for transcribing your recordings - we pay Google's speech to text engines extra - just so they do not keep your audio for their own research purposes.

Health advantages

Typing may result in different types of Computer Related Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI). Voice typing is one of the main recommended ways to minimize these risks, as it enables you to sit back comfortably, freeing your arms, hands, shoulders and back altogether.

Saves you time

Need to transcribe a recording? If it's an hour long, transcribing it yourself will take you about 6! hours of work. If you send it to a transcriber - you will get it back in days! Upload it to Speechnotes - it will take you less than a minute, and you will get the results in about 20 minutes to your email.

Saves you money

Speechnotes dictation notepad is completely free - with ads - or a small fee to get it ad-free. Speechnotes transcription is only $0.1/minute, which is X10 times cheaper than a human transcriber! We offer the best deal on the market - whether it's the free dictation notepad ot the pay-as-you-go transcription service.

Dictation - Free

• Online dictation notepad
• Voice typing Chrome extension

Dictation - Premium

• Premium online dictation notepad
• Premium voice typing Chrome extension
• Support from the development team

Transcription

$0.1 /minute.

• Pay as you go - no subscription
• Audio & video recordings
• Speaker diarization in English
• Generate captions .srt files
• REST API, webhooks & Zapier integration

Compare plans

Privacy policy.

We at Speechnotes, Speechlogger, TextHear, Speechkeys value your privacy, and that's why we do not store anything you say or type or in fact any other data about you - unless it is solely needed for the purpose of your operation. We don't share it with 3rd parties, other than Google / Microsoft for the speech-to-text engine.

Privacy - how are the recordings and results handled?

- transcription service.

Our transcription service is probably the most private and secure transcription service available.

• HIPAA compliant.
• No human in the loop. No passing your recording between PCs, emails, employees, etc.
• Secure encrypted communications (https) with and between our servers.
• Recordings are automatically deleted from our servers as soon as the transcription is done.
• Our contract with Google / Microsoft (our speech engines providers) prohibits them from keeping any audio or results.
• Transcription results are securely kept on our secure database. Only you have access to them - only if you sign in (or provide your secret credentials through the API)
• You may choose to delete the transcription results - once you do - no copy remains on our servers.

- Dictation notepad & extension

For dictation, the recording & recognition - is delegated to and done by the browser (Chrome / Edge) or operating system (Android). So, we never even have access to the recorded audio, and Edge's / Chrome's / Android's (depending the one you use) privacy policy apply here.

The results of the dictation are saved locally on your machine - via the browser's / app's local storage. It never gets to our servers. So, as long as your device is private - your notes are private.

Payments method privacy

The whole payments process is delegated to PayPal / Stripe / Google Pay / Play Store / App Store and secured by these providers. We never receive any of your credit card information.

More generic notes regarding our site, cookies, analytics, ads, etc.

• We may use Google Analytics on our site - which is a generic tool to track usage statistics.
• We use cookies - which means we save data on your browser to send to our servers when needed. This is used for instance to sign you in, and then keep you signed in.
• For the dictation tool - we use your browser's local storage to store your notes, so you can access them later.
• Non premium dictation tool serves ads by Google. Users may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Ads Settings . Alternatively, users can opt out of a third-party vendor's use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting https://youradchoices.com/
• In case you would like to upload files to Google Drive directly from Speechnotes - we'll ask for your permission to do so. We will use that permission for that purpose only - syncing your speech-notes to your Google Drive, per your request.

Best speech-to-text app of 2024

Free, paid and online voice recognition apps and services

Best overall

Best for business, best for mobile, best text service, best speech recognition, best virtual assistant, best for cloud, best for azure, best for batch conversion, best free speech to text apps, best mobile speech to text apps, how we test.

The best speech-to-text apps make it simple and easy to convert speech into text, for both desktop and mobile devices.

1. Best overall 2. Best for business 3. Best for mobile 4. Best text service 5. Best speech recognition 6. Best virtual assistant 7. Best for cloud 8. Best for Azure 9. Best for batch conversion 10. Best free speech to text apps 11. Best mobile speech to text apps 12. FAQs 13. How we test

Speech-to-text used to be regarded as very niche, specifically serving either people with accessibility needs or for  dictation . However, speech-to-text is moving more and more into the mainstream as office work can now routinely be completed more simply and easily by using voce-recognition software, rather than having to type through members, and speaking aloud for text to be recorded is now quite common.

While the best speech to text software used to be specifically only for desktops, the development of mobile devices and the explosion of easily accessible apps means that transcription can now also be carried out on a  smartphone  or  tablet . 

This has made the best voice to text applications increasingly valuable to users in a range of different environments, from education to business. This is not least because the technology has matured to the level where mistakes in transcriptions are relatively rare, with some services rightly boasting a 99.9% success rate from clear audio.

Even still, this applies mainly to ordinary situations and circumstances, and precludes the use of technical terminology such as required in legal or medical professions. Despite this, digital transcription can still service needs such as basic  note-taking  which can still be easily done using a phone app, simplifying the dictation process.

However, different speech-to-text programs have different levels of ability and complexity, with some using advanced machine learning to constantly correct errors flagged up by users so that they are not repeated. Others are downloadable software which is only as good as its latest update.

Here then are the best in speech-to-text recognition programs, which should be more than capable for most situations and circumstances.

We've also featured the best voice recognition software .

The best paid for speech to text apps of 2024 in full:

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

1. Dragon Anywhere

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

Dragon Anywhere is the Nuance mobile product for Android and iOS devices, however this is no ‘lite’ app, but rather offers fully-formed dictation capabilities powered via the cloud. 

So essentially you get the same excellent speech recognition as seen on the desktop software – the only meaningful difference we noticed was a very slight delay in our spoken words appearing on the screen (doubtless due to processing in the cloud). However, note that the app was still responsive enough overall.

It also boasts support for boilerplate chunks of text which can be set up and inserted into a document with a simple command, and these, along with custom vocabularies, are synced across the mobile app and desktop Dragon software. Furthermore, you can share documents across devices via Evernote or cloud services (such as Dropbox).

This isn’t as flexible as the desktop application, however, as dictation is limited to within Dragon Anywhere – you can’t dictate directly in another app (although you can copy over text from the Dragon Anywhere dictation pad to a third-party app). The other caveats are the need for an internet connection for the app to work (due to its cloud-powered nature), and the fact that it’s a subscription offering with no one-off purchase option, which might not be to everyone’s tastes.

Even bearing in mind these limitations, though, it’s a definite boon to have fully-fledged, powerful voice recognition of the same sterling quality as the desktop software, nestling on your phone or tablet for when you’re away from the office.

Nuance Communications offers a 7-day free trial to give the app a try before you commit to a subscription. 

Read our full Dragon Anywhere review .

• ^ Back to the top

2. Dragon Professional

Should you be looking for a business-grade dictation application, your best bet is Dragon Professional. Aimed at pro users, the software provides you with the tools to dictate and edit documents, create spreadsheets, and browse the web using your voice.   

According to Nuance, the solution is capable of taking dictation at an equivalent typing speed of 160 words per minute, with a 99% accuracy rate – and that’s out-of-the-box, before any training is done (whereby the app adapts to your voice and words you commonly use).

As well as creating documents using your voice, you can also import custom word lists. There’s also an additional mobile app that lets you transcribe audio files and send them back to your computer.   

This is a powerful, flexible, and hugely useful tool that is especially good for individuals, such as professionals and freelancers, allowing for typing and document management to be done much more flexibly and easily.

Overall, the interface is easy to use, and if you get stuck at all, you can access a series of help tutorials. And while the software can seem expensive, it's just a one-time fee and compares very favorably with paid-for subscription transcription services.

Also note that Nuance are currently offering 12-months' access to Dragon Anywhere at no extra cost with any purchase of Dragon Home or Dragon Professional Individual.

Read our full Dragon Professional review .

Otter is a cloud-based speech to text program especially aimed for mobile use, such as on a laptop or smartphone. The app provides real-time transcription, allowing you to search, edit, play, and organize as required.

Otter is marketed as an app specifically for meetings, interviews, and lectures, to make it easier to take rich notes. However, it is also built to work with collaboration between teams, and different speakers are assigned different speaker IDs to make it easier to understand transcriptions.

There are three different payment plans, with the basic one being free to use and aside from the features mentioned above also includes keyword summaries and a wordcloud to make it easier to find specific topic mentions. You can also organize and share, import audio and video for transcription, and provides 600 minutes of free service.

The Premium plan also includes advanced and bulk export options, the ability to sync audio from Dropbox, additional playback speeds including the ability to skip silent pauses. The Premium plan also allows for up to 6,000 minutes of speech to text.

The Teams plan also adds two-factor authentication, user management and centralized billing, as well as user statistics, voiceprints, and live captioning.

Read our full Otter review .

Verbit aims to offer a smarter speech to text service, using AI for transcription and captioning. The service is specifically targeted at enterprise and educational establishments.

Verbit uses a mix of speech models, using neural networks and algorithms to reduce background noise, focus on terms as well as differentiate between speakers regardless of accent, as well as incorporate contextual events such as news and company information into recordings.

Although Verbit does offer a live version for transcription and captioning, aiming for a high degree of accuracy, other plans offer human editors to ensure transcriptions are fully accurate, and advertise a four hour turnaround time.

Altogether, while Verbit does offer a direct speech to text service, it’s possibly better thought of as a transcription service, but the focus on enterprise and education, as well as team use, means it earns a place here as an option to consider.

Read our full Verbit review .

5. Speechmatics

Speechmatics offers a machine learning solution to converting speech to text, with its automatic speech recognition solution available to use on existing audio and video files as well as for live use.

Unlike some automated transcription software which can struggle with accents or charge more for them, Speechmatics advertises itself as being able to support all major British accents, regardless of nationality. That way it aims to cope with not just different American and British English accents, but also South African and Jamaican accents.

Speechmatics offers a wider number of speech to text transcription uses than many other providers. Examples include taking call center phone recordings and converting them into searchable text or Word documents. The software also works with video and other media for captioning as well as using keyword triggers for management.

Overall, Speechmatics aims to offer a more flexible and comprehensive speech to text service than a lot of other providers, and the use of automation should keep them price competitive.

Read our full Speechmatics review .

6. Braina Pro

Braina Pro is speech recognition software which is built not just for dictation, but also as an all-round digital assistant to help you achieve various tasks on your PC. It supports dictation to third-party software in not just English but almost 90 different languages, with impressive voice recognition chops.

Beyond that, it’s a virtual assistant that can be instructed to set alarms, search your PC for a file, or search the internet, play an MP3 file, read an ebook aloud, plus you can implement various custom commands.

The Windows program also has a companion Android app which can remotely control your PC, and use the local Wi-Fi network to deliver commands to your computer, so you can spark up a music playlist, for example, wherever you happen to be in the house. Nifty.

There’s a free version of Braina which comes with limited functionality, but includes all the basic PC commands, along with a 7-day trial of the speech recognition which allows you to test out its powers for yourself before you commit to a subscription. Yes, this is another subscription-only product with no option to purchase for a one-off fee. Also note that you need to be online and have Google ’s Chrome browser installed for speech recognition functionality to work.

Read our full Braina Pro review .

7. Amazon Transcribe

Amazon Transcribe is as big cloud-based automatic speech recognition platform developed specifically to convert audio to text for apps. It especially aims to provide a more accurate and comprehensive service than traditional providers, such as being able to cope with low-fi and noisy recordings, such as you might get in a contact center .

Amazon Transcribe uses a deep learning process that automatically adds punctuation and formatting, as well as process with a secure livestream or otherwise transcribe speech to text with batch processing.

As well as offering time stamping for individual words for easy search, it can also identify different speaks and different channels and annotate documents accordingly to account for this.

There are also some nice features for editing and managing transcribed texts, such as vocabulary filtering and replacement words which can be used to keep product names consistent and therefore any following transcription easier to analyze.

Overall, Amazon Transcribe is one of the most powerful platforms out there, though it’s aimed more for the business and enterprise user rather than the individual.

8. Microsoft Azure Speech to Text

Microsoft 's Azure cloud service offers advanced speech recognition as part of the platform's speech services to deliver the Microsoft Azure Speech to Text functionality. 

This feature allows you to simply and easily create text from a variety of audio sources. There are also customization options available to work better with different speech patterns, registers, and even background sounds. You can also modify settings to handle different specialist vocabularies, such as product names, technical information, and place names.

The Microsoft's Azure Speech to Text feature is powered by deep neural network models and allows for real-time audio transcription that can be set up to handle multiple speakers.

As part of the Azure cloud service, you can run Azure Speech to Text in the cloud, on premises, or in edge computing. In terms of pricing, you can run the feature in a free container with a single concurrent request for up to 5 hours of free audio per month.

Read our full Microsoft Azure Speech to Text review .

9. IBM Watson Speech to Text

IBM's Watson Speech to Text works is the third cloud-native solution on this list, with the feature being powered by AI and machine learning as part of IBM's cloud services.

While there is the option to transcribe speech to text in real-time, there is also the option to batch convert audio files and process them through a range of language, audio frequency, and other output options.

You can also tag transcriptions with speaker labels, smart formatting, and timestamps, as well as apply global editing for technical words or phrases, acronyms, and for number use.

As with other cloud services Watson Speech to Text allows for easy deployment both in the cloud and on-premises behind your own firewall to ensure security is maintained.

Read our full Watson Speech to Text review .

1. Google Gboard

If you already have an Android mobile device, then if it's not already installed then download Google Keyboard from the Google Play store and you'll have an instant text-to-speech app. Although it's primarily designed as a keyboard for physical input, it also has a speech input option which is directly available. And because all the power of Google's hardware is behind it, it's a powerful and responsive tool.

If that's not enough then there are additional features. Aside from physical input ones such as swiping, you can also trigger images in your text using voice commands. Additionally, it can also work with Google Translate, and is advertised as providing support for over 60 languages.

Even though Google Keyboard isn't a dedicated transcription tool, as there are no shortcut commands or text editing directly integrated, it does everything you need from a basic transcription tool. And as it's a keyboard, it means should be able to work with any software you can run on your Android smartphone, so you can text edit, save, and export using that. Even better, it's free and there are no adverts to get in the way of you using it.

2. Just Press Record

If you want a dedicated dictation app, it’s worth checking out Just Press Record. It’s a mobile audio recorder that comes with features such as one tap recording, transcription and iCloud syncing across devices. The great thing is that it’s aimed at pretty much anyone and is extremely easy to use. 

When it comes to recording notes, all you have to do is press one button, and you get unlimited recording time. However, the really great thing about this app is that it also offers a powerful transcription service. 

Through it, you can quickly and easily turn speech into searchable text. Once you’ve transcribed a file, you can then edit it from within the app. There’s support for more than 30 languages as well, making it the perfect app if you’re working abroad or with an international team. Another nice feature is punctuation command recognition, ensuring that your transcriptions are free from typos.   

This app is underpinned by cloud technology, meaning you can access notes from any device (which is online). You’re able to share audio and text files to other iOS apps too, and when it comes to organizing them, you can view recordings in a comprehensive file. 

3. Speechnotes

Speechnotes is yet another easy to use dictation app. A useful touch here is that you don’t need to create an account or anything like that; you just open up the app and press on the microphone icon, and you’re off.   

The app is powered by Google voice recognition tech. When you’re recording a note, you can easily dictate punctuation marks through voice commands, or by using the built-in punctuation keyboard. 

To make things even easier, you can quickly add names, signatures, greetings and other frequently used text by using a set of custom keys on the built-in keyboard. There’s automatic capitalization as well, and every change made to a note is saved to the cloud.

When it comes to customizing notes, you can access a plethora of fonts and text sizes. The app is free to download from the Google Play Store , but you can make in-app purchases to access premium features (there's also a browser version for Chrome).   

Read our full Speechnotes review .

4. Transcribe

Marketed as a personal assistant for turning videos and voice memos into text files, Transcribe is a popular dictation app that’s powered by AI. It lets you make high quality transcriptions by just hitting a button.   

The app can transcribe any video or voice memo automatically, while supporting over 80 languages from across the world. While you can easily create notes with Transcribe, you can also import files from services such as Dropbox.

Once you’ve transcribed a file, you can export the raw text to a word processor to edit. The app is free to download, but you’ll have to make an in-app purchase if you want to make the most of these features in the long-term. There is a trial available, but it’s basically just 15 minutes of free transcription time. Transcribe is only available on iOS, though.   

5. Windows Speech Recognition

If you don’t want to pay for speech recognition software, and you’re running Microsoft’s latest desktop OS, then you might be pleased to hear that speech-to-text is built into Windows.

Windows Speech Recognition, as it’s imaginatively named – and note that this is something different to Cortana, which offers basic commands and assistant capabilities – lets you not only execute commands via voice control, but also offers the ability to dictate into documents.

The sort of accuracy you get isn’t comparable with that offered by the likes of Dragon, but then again, you’re paying nothing to use it. It’s also possible to improve the accuracy by training the system by reading text, and giving it access to your documents to better learn your vocabulary. It’s definitely worth indulging in some training, particularly if you intend to use the voice recognition feature a fair bit.

The company has been busy boasting about its advances in terms of voice recognition powered by deep neural networks, especially since windows 10 and now for Windows 11 , and Microsoft is certainly priming us to expect impressive things in the future. The likely end-goal aim is for Cortana to do everything eventually, from voice commands to taking dictation.

Turn on Windows Speech Recognition by heading to the Control Panel (search for it, or right click the Start button and select it), then click on Ease of Access, and you will see the option to ‘start speech recognition’ (you’ll also spot the option to set up a microphone here, if you haven’t already done that).

Aside from what has already been covered above, there are an increasing number of apps available across all mobile devices for working with speech to text, not least because Google's speech recognition technology is available for use. 

iTranslate Translator  is a speech-to-text app for iOS with a difference, in that it focuses on translating voice languages. Not only does it aim to translate different languages you hear into text for your own language, it also works to translate images such as photos you might take of signs in a foreign country and get a translation for them. In that way, iTranslate is a very different app, that takes the idea of speech-to-text in a novel direction, and by all accounts, does it well. 

ListNote Speech-to-Text Notes  is another speech-to-text app that uses Google's speech recognition software, but this time does a more comprehensive job of integrating it with a note-taking program than many other apps. The text notes you record are searchable, and you can import/export with other text applications. Additionally there is a password protection option, which encrypts notes after the first 20 characters so that the beginning of the notes are searchable by you. There's also an organizer feature for your notes, using category or assigned color. The app is free on Android, but includes ads.

Voice Notes  is a simple app that aims to convert speech to text for making notes. This is refreshing, as it mixes Google's speech recognition technology with a simple note-taking app, so there are more features to play with here. You can categorize notes, set reminders, and import/export text accordingly.

SpeechTexter  is another speech-to-text app that aims to do more than just record your voice to a text file. This app is built specifically to work with social media, so that rather than sending messages, emails, Tweets, and similar, you can record your voice directly to the social media sites and send. There are also a number of language packs you can download for offline working if you want to use more than just English, which is handy.

Also consider reading these related software and app guides:

• Best text-to-speech software
• Best transcription services
• Best Bluetooth headsets

Which speech-to-text app is best for you?

When deciding which speech-to-text app to use, first consider what your actual needs are, as free and budget  options may only provide basic features, so if you need to use advanced tools you may find a paid-for platform is better suited to you. Additionally, higher-end software can usually cater for every need, so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may require from your speech-to-text app.

To test for the best speech-to-text apps we first set up an account with the relevant platform, then we tested the service to see how the software could be used for different purposes and in different situations. The aim was to push each speech-to-text platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.

Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar .

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Brian has over 30 years publishing experience as a writer and editor across a range of computing, technology, and marketing titles. He has been interviewed multiple times for the BBC and been a speaker at international conferences. His specialty on techradar is Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, covering everything from office suites to IT service tools. He is also a science fiction and fantasy author, published as Brian G Turner.

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Transcribe App and Online Editor

Your personal assistant for note taking and transcribing. our voice transcription service saves you time and helps you focus on what’s important..

Automatic transcription

Transcribe is your AI-powered speech-to-text service. Use the Transcribe app and online editor to automatically generate notes from meetings, interviews, videos and more.

More than 120 languages

Turn audio and video into searchable, editable and shareable content in more than 120 languages.

Spanish (Spain)

Spanish (Mexican)

Spanish (Colombian)

Traditional Chinese

Variety of formats

Import files from any app or cloud storage system. Supported formats include mp3, m4a, wav, m4v, mp4, mov and avi.

Document export

Export transcribed text into a document with timestamps and polish it there. Supported formats include PDF and Microsoft Word.

Zoom integration

Record your Zoom calls and get meeting notes almost instantly.

Voice recorder

Record and review conversations in real time with our live transcription service.

Dim the lights when you work late into the night.

Collaboration tools

Collaborate with your colleagues by exporting voice notes or using Teams feature.

Bonus 5 hours of transcription time

Additional time credits every month.

Additional export formats

Export to TXT, PDF, DOCX, SRT and JPG.

Cloud storage

Up to 500 files of speech recording can be backed up in the cloud.

Synchronization

Access your documents from any device (iPhone, iPad, MacOS or a web browser).

Edit on your phone, PC or Mac

Proofread and polish the transcription on whichever device you prefer.

Priority support

Speedier replies and help when you need it.

Bonus 30 hours of transcription time

Ability to create teams for collaboration (up to 5 teams).

Up to 1 000 audio files with infinite storage time.

For podcasters

Transcribe podcasts into written notes.

For business

Get meeting notes in an instant.

For journalists

Transcribe interviews to get news out fast.

For academics

Save time on your academic research.

For students

Transcribe lectures and seminars.

What our users are saying

I’m a freelance writer who uses the Voice Memo app when conducting interviews. It would take me HOURS to transcribe what was recorded. And that wasted my time when I could have been writing the article. Transcribe has now freed up that time.

I am disabled and I’ve been looking for this exact technology for at least two years because I can’t type anymore. A lot of these transcriptions don’t work, but this one does. I’ve probably done 60 hours of transcribing audio memos checks and with with very few exceptions it was Word for Word perfect. And when you didn’t get the word right it was because I was mumbling, or what have you.

This converted my rambling voice memos directly into text for use in a word document. My audio quality was low: I recorded with my iPhone in my lap while driving on the highway so there is lots of background noise. Still, the imperfections in text are all from me stammering. Actually, the app cut out lots of ums and repeated words improving what I said. It still requires editing and correcting - mostly formatting - but really couldnt be improved much at all. This is mature technology. Also, the software interface is top notch, like google or even better.

Time-saver and amazing results! Thanks a lot for this help! I often have to work with texts in German, English, Italian.

Just used this app to transcribe a 24 minute interview (on Apple Voice Memos) with my dad, about our family history. Using this app vs. transcribing it myself has literally saved me hours. The transcription was good enough that all I will need to do is clean up a few minor “misreads”, and I can present a written version of this interview to my dad as a gift for Christmas. Thanks for a great app!

I am very pleased with this app. I use it primarily to transcribe short information videos. I purchase time in one hour increments which is suitable for my needs.

Experts talk about Transcribe

Best voice-to-text apps.

Voice-to-text apps can be very useful for busy professionals. If you're always on the go or you think faster than you can write, these special programs can increase efficiency and store your recordings safe and sound via the cloud.

The 6 Best Dictation Apps for iPhone

If the iPhone's built-in dictation feature doesn't cut it for you, here are a few good dictation apps for you.

10 iPhone Speech-to-Text Apps 2021

If you don't want to type long texts yourself, a transcription service will be the best solution for you.

AUDIO TO TEXT CONVERTER

Convert audio to text here for instant, accurate audio transcriptions.

No credit card. No subscriptions. Free.

Convert audio to text

Save your typing hands' energy. This audio to text converter gives you accurate, downloadable, and editable transcriptions so you can use them any way you want.

Transcribe audio to text accurately

Worried that an auto-generated transcript will be riddled with errors? Our audio transcriber uses speech recognition and machine learning to accurately convert audio to text. It learns from past mistakes and misspellings. Plus, in your Brand Kit, you can save the correct spelling and capitalization of words, phrases, and product names to ensure high accuracy in every transcription you create.

Get a quick summary from either audio or video files

Once you’ve got an accurate transcript, it’s time to use it. Our audio to text converter supports multiple file formats that are widely compatible. Download your transcript as a TXT file so you can use it for anything you like. Share it with your audience, repurpose it, or save it in your digital asset management system so your audio files are searchable. 

Directly edit your transcript, audio, and video all in one place

Punctuate and capitalize text exactly the way you want. Inside of Kapwing, it’s super easy to edit your auto-generated transcript to perfection. And, you can even remove parts of the transcript to cut the corresponding clips out of your audio and video file, making your editing workflow faster than ever.

"Kapwing is incredibly intuitive. Many of our marketers were able to get on the platform and use it right away with little to no instruction . No need for downloads or installations—it just works."

Eunice Park

Studio Production Manager at Formlabs

Get the most out of one recording

You’ve found an audio to text converter that makes transcribing audio easy. That’s all, right? Wrong! Explore the rest of our video editing and collaboration features all-in-one place. 

Get a summary, show notes, and an article

Putting the finishing touches on your content is so time-consuming that it leaves little room for promotion. Create accurate transcripts with Kapwing with the click of a button. Then, use them for show notes, or turn snippets of your transcript into blog post paragraphs and social media posts. 

Grow your audience in over 75 languages

Translating costs you a ton of time—or a ton of money. Well, not anymore. You can rely on Kapwing’s automated translation features for audio and text. Just upload any audio file, generate subtitles in one click, and select the language you want to translate the text into. Generate translations for all of the languages that matter to your brand.

Cut turnaround time in half with an audio transcription

The world is full of content, so let’s make yours stand out. After you transcribe your videos with Kapwing, you can auto-generate subtitles or captions in an instant. Choose one of our attention-grabbing subtitles to apply to your video or create a custom look with fonts, colors, and animation styles that match your brand. 

“Kapwing is probably the most important tool for me and my team. [It's] smart, fast, easy to use and full of features that are exactly what we need to make our workflow faster and more effective. We love it more each day and it keeps getting better.”

Panos Papagapiou

Managing Partner at Epathlon

How to Convert Audio to Text

Click the 'Upload audio' button and select an audio file from your computer. You can also drag and drop a file inside the editor.

Open Transcript in the left-hand toolbar and select "Trim with Transcript." From there, select the audio file you want to transcribe and click on Generate Transcript.

Click on the download icon that's just above the transcript editor (downwards-facing arrow). Choose the transcript file format you prefer. You can download your transcript as an SRT, VTT, or TXT file.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert an audio recording to text?

Converting an audio recording to text is easy with Kapwing’s AI-powered video editing platform. Just upload any audio or video file. Then, head over to the Subtitles tab and select the correct language. Kapwing will auto-generate an accurate transcript that you can edit and download. 

How do I transcribe audio to text for free?

With Kapwing, you can generate text for up to ten minutes of audio per month. Use our AI-powered audio-to-text features to add subtitles and download transcripts. To unlock more minutes, choose one of our affordable plans.

Is there a tool that automatically transcribes my audio so I don’t have to manually type it out?

Yes, Kapwing automatically transcribes audio into text. Through speech recognition and machine learning, the automated transcriptions are highly accurate. Download the transcript for any purpose, or use this feature to automatically generate subtitles for a video.

Can I edit my transcript after I transcribed the audio?

Yes, after you use Kapwing’s automated audio-to-text capabilities, you can easily edit the transcript to perfect it. Kapwing even lets you edit your audio (trim and cut) simply by deleting the text you want to remove. Or, if you don’t want to alter the original audio track, you can always download the transcript as a TXT file and edit it on your computer.

What's different about Kapwing?

Kapwing is free to use for teams of any size. We also offer paid plans with additional features, storage, and support.

6 best free audio-to-text converters for transcription on a budget

What type of content do you primarily create?

Manual transcription is time-consuming and requires intense focus. Thankfully, artificial intelligence (AI) technology has gotten to the point where you can now transcribe audio to text automatically in a fraction of the time, with impressive accuracy. 

Even better, many of the best AI audio-to-text converters out there are completely free. The only problem left is figuring out which software is best for you.

To help, we compiled a list of the best free audio-to-text software. We thoroughly tested many audio-to-text software options, considered online reviews, and reviewed discussions in niche forums where people regularly need online transcription apps. We excluded paid tools with only a free trial and transcription-level restrictions to find the best free converters.

TL;DR: Best audio-to-text converters in 2024

What is an audio-to-text converter.

Audio-to-text converters use AI and speech recognition technology to transcribe recordings or voice into text, even with nuances like accents and tone variations. They save time on manual transcription and streamline the process of transforming spoken content into written form, which helps with accessibility, boosts SEO, and makes it easy to repurpose audio and video as blog posts and other written content.

Free audio-to-text software can help with:

• Transcribing meetings, voice memos, interviews, conferences, podcasts, lectures, and customer service calls for documentation, reference, analysis, and training purposes
• Creating subtitles or captions for social media and YouTube videos to enhance accessibility, engagement, and SEO
• Converting voicemails, voice notes, and interviews into text for better organization
• Creation of searchable archives for audio content, such as speeches or presentations
• Supporting individuals with hearing impairments by providing written transcripts of spoken content

⚡️ Speed up your workflow with AI: 100+ ChatGPT prompts for creators

What is the best tool to convert audio to text?

Short answer: Descript. Sure, you'd expect us to say that. But we really do believe Descript’s free audio-to-text converter is overall the best solution for quickly and accurately transcribing audio files.

Long answer: Choosing the best method for converting audio to text depends on the following:

• Needs and goals
• Budget and software pricing
• Ease of use
• Expected accuracy of the transcript
• Availability of additional features (e.g., editing tools, speaker identification)
• Integration with other software or platforms
• Supported file formats and languages
• Security and privacy of your audio content

Narrowing down the options based on the above factors will help you choose the best free audio-to-text software. But for this article, we'll focus on the tools that are best for someone looking for free options—and maybe willing to pay more for additional features.

Top 6 free audio-to-text converters

1. descript.

Best for: Transcribing any video or audio file accurately on a computer.

Descript offers automated transcription for both audio and video files, accessible through its desktop app for Mac and Windows or its browser-based editor. Drag and drop your audio files to convert to text in seconds. Descript supports 23 languages and boasts up to 95% accuracy. The tool transcribes audio verbatim, including pauses and filler words, but makes it easy to remove either with a click.

But Descript goes beyond mere transcription. It's a robust audio and video editor equipped with AI-powered features. Use its voice cloning or text-to-audio feature, Overdub , to refine recorded speech—perfect for correcting mispronunciations or adjusting pacing. Plus, you can effortlessly remove background noise and improve audio quality with just a click thanks to Studio Sound .

Unique features:

• Very user-friendly and great for beginners
• Detects 8+ speakers and labels them automatically
• Transcription glossary for custom dictionaries
• Multitrack transcription for synchronized recordings
• Automatic sync of the transcript to audio, including dialogue and sounds
• Cloud sync and storage up to 5 GB in the free plan
• Data security and privacy
• AI Actions for writing summaries, blogs, and much more
• Supports various audio file formats including WAV, MP3, AAC, AIFF, M4A, and FLAC
• Text-to-speech functionality to convert text files in reverse

"Saved me so much time in transcribing: I use Descript for quickly and efficiently transcribing videos I've recorded,” says Shuna M on G2 . 

“If I'd recorded an interview or off-the-cuff teaching, it used to take me hours to transcribe it, or I had to put it out without the accessibility features. Now, it does in seconds what it used to take me hours to do. I can include closed captions, transcripts, and audio-only files, which make my courses so much more accessible.” 

Cons of Descript’s free audio to text converter:

• No mobile app
• Not suitable for live transcription of online meetings
• Limited to 60 minutes of transcription per month in the free plan

Pricing: Free for up to 60 minutes of transcription per month. Annual paid plans start at $12 per month.

2. Otter.ai

Best for: Automatically transcribing meetings on platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.

Otter is an audio-to-text tool that offers live and automatic transcription within seconds. Out of all the transcription tools we have listed here, it's the only one with a Chrome extension, an iOS app, and an Android app. It integrates seamlessly with platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. 

We found its transcription capabilities to be pretty accurate and it used proper punctuation as per the context of the message. However, it tends to exclude filler words from the transcript, making it challenging to discern the speaker's emotions during recorded calls.

• AI features for meeting notes, summaries, questions, and action items
• Speaker identification by name
• Real-time transcription and notes via the Otter app
• Real-time annotation (highlights, text notes, comments, and images)
• Exportable audio, text, and captions in the free plan
• Editable text and speaker tags
• Takeaways panel for annotations and action items.
• OtterPilot automatically takes and shares notes even if you can’t join a Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet meeting.

Cons of Otter.ai’s free audio to text converter:

• Very limited free plan for transcribing audio files to text
• Supports only the English language

Pricing: Free plan offers 300 monthly transcription minutes; 30 minutes per conversation; allows importing and transcribing of three audio or video files in a lifetime. Annual paid plans start at $10 per month.

Best for: Sales teams and customer service representatives.

Fathom is one of G2 's highest-rated conversation intelligence solutions—that's a tool that helps businesses record, transcribe, and analyze conversations between their employees and customers. It’s not a traditional audio-to-text converter per se. But it instantly records, transcribes, and summarizes your Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams meetings, allowing you to concentrate on the conversation without worrying about taking notes. 

It’s best suited to sales reps who are looking to simplify meeting documentation and extract actionable insights. You can use it as a free Otter alternative for automatically transcribing your meetings, as there are no usage limitations on Fathom's free version.

Unique features: 

• Supports seven languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Portuguese.
• Instant access to fully transcribed call recordings and highlighted moments.
• Automatic generation and synchronization of call notes to Salesforce, HubSpot, or Close CRM.
• Seamless integration with Slack for real-time sharing of specific highlights.
• Integration with various productivity tools like Google Docs, Gmail, Notion, Asana, and Todoist for easy sharing of summaries and action items.
• Auto-generates and syncs call notes
• Hosted and developed following security best practices, including end-to-end encryption and regular security audits.

Cons of Fathom’s free audio to text converter:

• While the free version has no usage limitations, some advanced features are only available in the paid Team Edition.
• Limited to integration with specific CRM platforms and productivity tools.
• Transcribing is limited to seven languages. 

Pricing: Free with no usage limitations. The Team Edition, Fathom’s paid tier, starts at $24 per user, per month when billed annually and provides additional features for organizational deployment and insights into customer calls.

4. MacWhisper

Best for: People seeking fast and accurate transcription directly on their Mac, catering to diverse needs such as meetings, interviews, or educational purposes.

MacWhisper is a free audio-to-text transcription tool for Mac devices running on Ventura (13.0 and higher). It uses OpenAI's Whisper technology and offers high-quality transcription. The app ensures privacy by performing the transcription on-device, making it ideal for audio-to-text conversion of sensitive information. It's free on the developer's Gumroad page and is also available in the Mac App Store as Whisper Transcription.

• Record and transcribe audio files seamlessly on your Mac
• Export transcripts in various formats: .whisper, .srt, .vtt, csv, dot, docx, pdf, and HTML
• Metal and GPU support for rapid transcription
• Supports 100 languages with accurate text transcriptions
• Automatic filler word removal

Cons of MacWhisper’s audio to text converter:

• Requires significant computer memory, which may cause lags on your computer
• Performance may vary on older Intel-based Macs due to limited testing
• Only available for Mac users
• Unavailability of automatic speaker identification

Pricing: Free audio to text converter has no usage limits. MacWhisper Pro starts at around $31 per license for additional features including batch transcription, system audio recording, ChatGPT integration, and translation capabilities.

5. Google Docs Voice Typing

Best for: Individuals and professionals who need a simple, free, and efficient tool.

Google Docs Voice Typing is a built-in feature of Google Docs that allows users to transcribe audio input to text directly within the document. It offers a convenient and straightforward way to convert spoken words into written text.

This free audio to text converter is great for transcribing interviews, meetings, or dictation directly into text within the Google Docs environment.

• Seamless integration with Google Docs: directly accessible within the document—no extra software needed
• Transcribes audio input into text instantly, enabling immediate feedback and editing
• Multilingual support for global accessibility
• Edit and format text within Google Docs, including punctuation and styling
• Control formatting and editing with voice commands

Cons of Google Docs’ free audio to text converter:

• Requires internet for operation, limiting offline use.
• Transcription accuracy may vary due to factors like background noise and accent
• No automatic speaker identification

Pricing: Google Docs Voice Typing, which is part of Google's suite of productivity tools, is available for free to all users of Google Docs.

6. Windows Voice Typing

Best for: Windows users seeking a cost-effective solution to transcribe audio files like lectures, meetings, or video recordings into text.

Windows Voice Typing is Microsoft Windows’ built-in speech-to-text software. It provides a highly accurate transcript of your dictation and can be used without an internet connection—unlike Google Docs. 

You can use a combination of Windows’ dictation tool with a virtual audio cable to transcribe audio into text for completely free. This YouTube tutorial demonstrates how to use the Windows Dictation tool along with a virtual audio cable to achieve this without any cost or time limits.

Unique features and advantages:

• Windows voice typing has a simple interface for easy usage with live audio input.
• Offers real-time free transcription of spoken words into text
• Virtual Audio Cable facilitates the routing of audio output from any application to the Dictation tool.
• The combination enables flexibility in capturing audio from diverse sources for transcription.

Cons of Windows’ free audio to text converter:

• While generally reliable, transcription accuracy may vary, and punctuation might be missed occasionally.
• Users may find configuring the virtual audio cable and sound settings slightly challenging.

Pricing: Both Windows Voice Typing and virtual audio cables are freely available tools.

Choosing the best audio-to-text converter for you

After you've weighed the pros and cons, test your favorite audio-to-text converters using a short audio clip to find the perfect fit for your specific needs and preferences. There are some other audio transcription services on the market too, but they’re not free to use—like Rev, Sonix, and Scribie. 

Descript is not only useful for transcribing recordings, but it can also be a valuable tool for content creators, as it allows you to easily convert their audio and video content into written form for blog posts, YouTube descriptions , and social media captions . 

The all-in-one video editing software also includes a bunch of professional AI tools like:

• Automated transcripts with up to 95% accuracy
• Filler Word Removal in a single click 
• Remove Retakes to banish false starts
• AI Edit for Clarity , which removes fluff from your transcription
• Find Good Clips to repurpose clip-worthy moments into short-form videos

Want to give it a try? Join thousands of other creators by signing up for a free Descript account today.

‎Best audio-to-text converters FAQs

Which ai can transcribe audio to text for free.

Many AI-powered tools can transcribe audio to text for free, including Descript, Otter.ai, MacWhisper, and Google Docs Voice Typing.  

What is the easiest way to transcribe audio to text?

The easiest way to convert audio to text depends on your goals, what you need it for, and your budget. Use AI-powered audio-to-text converters like Descript to transcribe audio and tools like Otter or Fathom if you need transcription software that’s integrated with meeting apps like Google Meet or Zoom. 

What is the most accurate audio-to-text converter?

• Descript: up to 95% accuracy
• Otter.ai: up to 90% accuracy
• Rev: up to 90% accuracy

How do I make my voice-to-text more accurate?

To make your voice-to-text more accurate, speak loudly and clearly. Minimize background noise as much as possible to ensure the voice recognition software can focus on your voice. If you're using an external microphone, ensure it's good quality and positioned correctly for optimal voice capture.

Is there a free program that converts audio to text?

You can use the combination of Windows Voice Typing or Google Voice Typing with a virtual audio cable to convert audio to text for free with no limit, though it's a bit complex to set up. Descript is the best option for Mac and Windows users who need simple audio-to-text software.

Is there a free AI that converts audio to text?

Descript’s free software converts audio into text, and it’s completely free to use. The converter has a high accuracy rate of up to 95% and comes complete with AI tools to remove retakes and filler words.

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10 best dictation apps for Android to transcribe audio to text

Published on August 27, 2023

Dictation is a niche, but important function. After all, your voice is a lot faster than typing, pretty much all the time. Your mobile is perfect for this, given its portability. Of course, you’ll need a good app to use speech-to-text. Here are the best dictation apps for Android.

The best dictation apps for Android

Google keep, google translate.

• Live Transcribe

Microsoft Translate

Speechnotes, speechtexter, dragon anywhere, dictation websites, gboard (or most keyboards).

Price: Free

Gboard is a pretty good choice for voice dictation. It has a mic icon that you press. From there, just speak your sentences, and the app types it out. You can do this in a variety of apps, including note-taking apps, emails, or other text documents. We list Gboard because it uses Google’s speech-to-text technology. It works pretty well overall. However, most keyboards have a mic option that also works. It’s a good method for voice dictation because you can use your keyboard in almost any app.

By the way, this option is even better if you have a Pixel 6 or newer Pixel phone. These devices have Assistant voice typing , which is a much more advanced version of this app’s voice-to-text feature.

Google Keep is another good solution for dictation. You do need a keyboard with the functionality as well, though. The charm of Keep is that it keeps your audio file saved while your keyboard types out the transcription as you talk. You wind up with both the original audio file and also the transcription. It’s an excellent tool for this sort of thing, as many people use dictation for notes for the most part. Google Keep is a free option. Those looking for something a bit more professional can try Evernote as well.

Google Translate is a good option for dictation. You can easily and quickly translate between many languages, and a wide variety of them work offline. You can then copy and paste the translations wherever you want. It’s an excellent option for interviews where there is a multilingual element. Every translation stays on screen until you clear it. It can be a little tedious if you need to do a lot of translating, but it gets the job done.

Live Translate

Google’s Live Transcribe is an excellent way to transcribe things. You simply talk into it, and the app puts your voice into text. It has a variety of features, mainly for accessibility. That’s what the app is for, after all. However, it does save every transcription for three days on your phone. While it’s there, you can copy and paste it to your chosen note-taking or text document app. It may not work for super long applications, but otherwise, it works surprisingly well.

Microsoft Translate is one of the better dictation apps for the same reason as Google Translate. You can conduct things like interviews and get translations if the answers are in a different language from yours. The app boasts 70 languages, a two-pane mode in case both speakers need translation, and you can copy and paste stuff from the app into another one for future reference. Google Translate is the better option, but this is a good second option if Google isn’t doing it for you.

Price: Free / $16.99 per month

Otter is one of the most popular dictation apps on mobile right now. It’s technically a voice recorder app. You record voice audio, whether it be a work meeting or a school lecture. The app then gives you the option to listen and transcribe the audio. The free version of the app supports 300 minutes per month for free. Anything more serious and you need the subscription. There are also a bunch of other features, like collaboration features, the ability to identify speakers, and more. This is easily one of the best on mobile and one of the ones we’d recommend first.

Price: Free / $2.99 per month / $22.99 once

Speechnotes is an older option, but it still works decently well. This one is good for longer dictation. It boasts unlimited, non-stop dictation until you fill up your phone storage. Some other features include Google Drive backup, offline support, and controls for punctuation. There is also a home screen widget if you need it. The app has its ups and downs, a result of being around for so long. It’s also reasonably cheap with options for both a single and subscription price tier.

SpeechTexter is one of the better free dictation apps. It’s pretty simple to use. You simply open the app, hit the mic button, and start talking. This one supports more than 70 languages, decent accuracy, a custom commands dictionary, and you can share transcriptions if you need to. There aren’t a ton of features, but it is entirely free (with ad support), so it’s unreasonable to think it’ll compete with more expensive dictation apps. It still works well, even if it’s a bit anemic on features.

Price: $15 per month / $150 per year

Dragon Anywhere is made by Nuance, and is a professional-grade speech recognition service for your mobile device. It offers fast dictation, document creation/sharing, voice editing, cloud syncing, and seamless integration with Dragon Professional desktop services. Sounds fancy? It kind of is, which is why this app has no free version. You can get a 7-day trial, but the app costs $15 a month otherwise.

There are several free services online that can dictate and transcribe voice audio. Some examples include Dictanote, Amazon Transcribe , Speechnotes , Dictation.io , and many others. The services are usually free, at least to an extent, and you can access them from your mobile browser. Your browser needs mic permission, though, so be prepared for that. During testing, it seems most of them need Google Chrome to function properly so you’ll most likely need Chrome to make this solution work.

If we missed any great dictation apps to transcribe audio to text, tell us about them in the comments. You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists .

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16 Best Speech to Text Apps for Free

Save time and effort by using the best free speech-to-text app. Speak your thoughts and let the app handle the typing for you.

Speech-to-text technology enables users to quote and write effortlessly without typing. This is also useful for those who are visibly imparted or require assistance with gadgets. We’ve curated a list of the best free speech-to-text apps available online. Let’s explore these innovative tools together.

Table of Contents

With the power of Artificial Intelligence , these apps can transcribe your spoken words into text with impressive accuracy. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the best speech to text apps free and paid available today, so you can choose the one that suits your needs.

1. Google Assistant

As one of the most popular speech to text apps available for free, Google Assistant has an array of features that make it stand out from the rest. From sending messages hands-free to setting reminders , Google Assistant can do it all with just a simple voice command . So, if you’re ready to experience the convenience of a smart virtual assistant, let’s dive into the features that make Google Assistant the best speech to text app free!

• Accurate speech recognition
• Natural language processing capabilities
• Support for multiple languages
• Integration with other Google services and devices
• Ability to perform various tasks through voice commands
• Contextual understanding of conversations
• Personalization options
• Continuous learning and improvement
• Price : Free

2. Apple Dictation

Are you looking for a reliable and accurate speech to text app for your Apple device? Look no further than Apple Dictation! With its advanced features and intuitive interface, Apple Dictation is the perfect speech to text convertor for anyone who needs to transcribe their voice into text quickly and easily.

To Dictate words on your Apple device, simply tap the mic icon on your keyboard . If you’re dictating emails, taking notes, or composing documents, Apple Dictation makes it easy to get your thoughts down on paper without the hassle of typing, making it one of the best speech to text app free.

• Precise speech recognition
• Integration with Apple devices and services
• Multiple-language support
• Ability to dictate in various apps and contexts
• Support for punctuation and formatting commands
• Hands-free activation with Hey Siri
• Offline functionality
• Price: Free

Also Read : How to Use Text to Speech on TikTok

3. Dragon Anywhere

Dragon Anywhere is one of the most advanced and innovative speech to text apps that you can find in the market today. If you’re a student, writer, or busy professional, Dragon Anywhere has a range of features that will help you improve your productivity and efficiency .

With its powerful speech recognition technology and customizable formatting options , Dragon Anywhere is a must-have tool for anyone looking to streamline their workflow and get more done in less time. So, if you’re looking for a speech to text app that can keep up with your busy schedule, Dragon Anywhere is definitely worth checking out!

• Automatic and Accurate speech recognition
• Advanced customization options
• Support for specialized vocabularies and industry jargon
• Ability to edit and format dictated text
• Multi-device syncing
• Integration with cloud storage services
• Advanced dictation features, such as voice commands and macros
• Price : 1-Week Free Trial & then $15 per month

4. Voice Notes

Looking for an easy-to-use and reliable speech to text app? Look no further than Voice Notes! With its intuitive interface and powerful features, this app is perfect for anyone who needs to quickly and accurately transcribe their voice memos, interviews, or meetings . Whether you’re a busy professional, a student, or just someone who wants to stay organized, Voice Notes has everything you need to stay on top of your game.

• Ability to save and organize notes
• Multi-language support
• Adjustable playback speed
• Integration with Google Drive and other cloud storage services
• Easy sharing of notes through various platforms

Also Read : 15 Best Note Taking App with Stylus

5. Transcribe

Transcribe is the best speech to text app free that allows users to transcribe audio and video files into text effortlessly. Its impressive features make it one of the best speech to text apps on the market. Whether you’re a journalist, writer, or student, Transcribe is a reliable tool that will save you time and effort in transcribing your recordings.

• Ability to transcribe audio and video files
• Advanced editing and formatting tools
• AI-powered speaker identification and formatting
• Adjustable playback speed and pitch
• Price : Free version with $12 for a monthly Pro subscription

6. SpeechTexter

Get ready to experience the ultimate speech to text app that will revolutionize how you communicate – SpeechTexter. With its impressive array of features, this app is not only accurate but also fast and easy to use. Whether you’re a busy professional, a student, or simply looking for a more efficient way to transcribe your voice, SpeechTexter has got you covered.

• Ability to save and share transcribed text
• User-friendly interface

7. iTranslate Converse

iTranslate Converse is the best speech to text app free for language enthusiasts and frequent travelers. This app provides near-perfect accuracy and can instantly translate your spoken words into over 40 languages , eliminating the language barrier wherever you go.

Its intuitive interface and real-time translation capabilities make it easy to communicate with people from different countries and cultures. If you’re ordering food, asking for directions, or simply making new friends, iTranslate Converse is the perfect speech to text convertor to help you break down language barriers and connect with the world around you.

• Real-time translation
• Natural conversation mode
• Offline functionality for some languages
• Ability to save and organize translated conversations
• Integration with iTranslate’s other services and apps
• Hands-free activation with Hey iTranslate
• Price : Free with in-app purchases

Also Read : 22 Best Speech To Text Applications For Android Phone

Braina is a cutting-edge speech to text converter that caters to the needs of professionals and casual users alike. It offers unparalleled accuracy, transcribing your spoken words with precision and speed.

With its advanced features like voice commands, artificial intelligence , and support for multiple languages , Braina is the perfect tool to streamline your workflow and boost your productivity. Whether you’re a writer, a student, or a business professional, it is the perfect assistant to help you achieve your goals.

• Integration with the Windows operating system and other apps
• AI-powered conversation mode
• Price : Free version (Braina Lite) with $79 for Braina PRO and $199 for lifetime Braina PRO

9. Speechnotes

Speechnotes is a powerful and of the best free speech-to-text app that is sure to delight both tech-savvy users and casual users alike. It uses advanced algorithms to provide a highly accurate transcription of your spoken words in real-time, saving you the time and hassle of typing.

The app features a simple yet effective interface , customizable hotkeys , and support for multiple languages , making it a top contender in the speech to text converter market. With Speechnotes, you can streamline your workflow and boost your productivity with just a few clicks. So why wait? Try Speechnotes today and experience the power of voice dictation!

• Hands-free activation with a hotkey
• Automatic capitalization and spacing

10. Microsoft Dictate

Microsoft Dictate liberates users from the confines of their keyboards and unleashes their creativity with effortless speech to text conversion. This feature expedites document creation by enabling users to effortlessly dictate their ideas, while also supporting multiple languages to reach a global audience.

With advanced capabilities such as punctuation commands and voice editing and formatting , users can now wield their voices as powerful tools in crafting professional-grade content. With Dictate, the only limit is one’s imagination.

• Integration with Microsoft Word
• Ability to customize voice commands and preferences
• Real-time transcription and correction
• Cloud-based language recognition

Also Read : How to Integrate ChatGPT into Microsoft Word

11. Google Docs Voice Typing

Google Docs Voice Typing is a powerful tool that allows users to easily convert their speech into written text. With this feature, users can dictate their thoughts and ideas without the need for a physical keyboard, making it an ideal solution for those with mobility issues or for those who simply prefer speaking rather than typing. Voice Typing can also help increase productivity by enabling users to create documents quickly and efficiently.

• Support for punctuation and formatting
• Seamless integration with Google Docs
• Hands-free activation
• Customizable voice commands and preferences

Otter is the talkative friend you never knew you needed – except this friend doesn’t just listen, it transcribes everything you say quickly. This speech to text app is a true superstar, with advanced features like real-time collaboration and custom vocabularies. And the best part? It’s completely free! If you’re a student taking notes during class or a journalist interviewing sources, Otter is the perfect companion to help you stay on top of your game. With its impressive accuracy and user-friendly interface, Otter is the gift that keeps giving.

• Accurate and automatic transcription
• Real-time collaboration
• Integration with other productivity tools
• Speaker identification
• Custom Vocabulary
• Import and export functionality
• Voice and keyword search

The pricing for Otter is as such:

• Basic plan : Free
• Pro plan : $16.99 per month
• Business plan : $20 per user per month
• Enterprise plans : Custom

Notta boasts a super-fast and highly accurate transcription service, with the added bonus of being completely free. Notta’s user-friendly interface offers a seamless experience that’s as smooth as butter, and its integration with popular apps like WhatsApp and Telegram makes it a true game-changer. With Notta, you can transform your spoken words into text with ease, and without breaking the bank. Who knew that the best things in life really are free?

• Accurate and fast transcription
• Natural language processing
• Advanced security and privacy features
• High-quality audio recording

And the prices for the available versions are:

• Pro plan : $8.25 per month billed annually
• Team plan : $18 per month billed annually

Also Read : How to Use Text to Speech Android

Gboard is the James Bond of speech to text conversion, serving up the perfect blend of speed and convenience. With its sleek and user-friendly interface, G Board provides a seamless experience that’s both effortless and enjoyable.

This app’s impressive AI capabilities make dictation a breeze, with virtually no errors in transcriptions. It also offers a wide range of language support, letting you speak your mind in over 100 languages . Whether you’re texting, emailing, or creating notes, G Board is the best speech to text app free.

• Accurate voice recognition
• Built-in Google search functionality
• Easy-to-use interface
• Gesture typing
• Smart correction and suggestions
• Integration with other Google services
• Customizable keyboard themes

Verbit is the unicorn of speech to text converter, providing the best features at no cost! It offers impeccable accuracy, transcribing every word like a boss. With its support for over 100 languages , Verbit can translate your words into any language you speak. And if you’re worried about the flow, don’t be.

Verbit seamlessly integrates with your workflow, syncing with your favorite apps and software. From creating captions for your videos to transcribing your lectures, Verbit does it all with a single click. So why pay for an app when Verbit offers the best service for free?

• Accurate and automated transcription
• Custom vocabulary and industry-specific terminology
• AI-powered speaker identification and segmentation
• Price : Custom pricing

Also Read : 26 Best AI Assistant for Android

16. Speechmatics

If you’re a journalist on a tight deadline or a podcaster looking to transcribe interviews, Speechmatics has got your back. With its advanced algorithms and support for over 30 languages , Speechmatics is a global superstar. But that’s not all – this superhero comes with customizable vocabularies, making it a true champion of speech recognition technology. So, when you must transcribe audio and video content faster than a speeding bullet, Speechmatics is the best speech to text converter.

• Multi-device syncing and cloud storage
• Real-time transcription and translation
• Supports over 100 languages
• Integration with popular productivity tools
• Customizable vocabulary and commands
• Speaker identification and separation
• Cross-platform compatibility
• Price : There is a Free tier, but prices start at $2.75 per hour. Enterprise has custom pricing based on requirements

So, these apps have revolutionized the way we communicate and have made life easier for millions of people. Say goodbye to tedious typing and hello to effortless transcription. So, what are you waiting for? Download the app that suits you best and start transcribing today!

With these best speech to text apps free , you can transcribe your conversations, lectures, and even your own thoughts. Feel free to reach out to us with your queries and suggestions via the comments section below. Also, let us know what you want to learn about next.

About The Author

Pete Mitchell

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SpeechTexter is a free multilingual speech-to-text application aimed at assisting you with transcription of notes, documents, books, reports or blog posts by using your voice. This app also features a customizable voice commands list, allowing users to add punctuation marks, frequently used phrases, and some app actions (undo, redo, make a new paragraph).

SpeechTexter is used daily by students, teachers, writers, bloggers around the world.

It will assist you in minimizing your writing efforts significantly.

Voice-to-text software is exceptionally valuable for people who have difficulty using their hands due to trauma, people with dyslexia or disabilities that limit the use of conventional input devices. Speech to text technology can also be used to improve accessibility for those with hearing impairments, as it can convert speech into text.

It can also be used as a tool for learning a proper pronunciation of words in the foreign language, in addition to helping a person develop fluency with their speaking skills.

Accuracy levels higher than 90% should be expected. It varies depending on the language and the speaker.

No download, installation or registration is required. Just click the microphone button and start dictating.

Speech to text technology is quickly becoming an essential tool for those looking to save time and increase their productivity.

Powerful real-time continuous speech recognition

Creation of text notes, emails, blog posts, reports and more.

Custom voice commands

More than 70 languages supported

SpeechTexter is using Google Speech recognition to convert the speech into text in real-time. This technology is supported by Chrome browser (for desktop) and some browsers on Android OS. Other browsers have not implemented speech recognition yet.

Note: iPhones and iPads are not supported

List of supported languages:

Afrikaans, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Basque, Bengali, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Burmese, Catalan, Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Filipino, Finnish, French, Galician, Georgian, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Javanese, Kannada, Kazakh, Khmer, Kinyarwanda, Korean, Lao, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malay, Malayalam, Marathi, Mongolian, Nepali, Norwegian Bokmål, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Sinhala, Slovak, Slovenian, Southern Sotho, Spanish, Sundanese, Swahili, Swati, Swedish, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Tsonga, Tswana, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uzbek, Venda, Vietnamese, Xhosa, Zulu.

Instructions for web app on desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux OS)

Requirements: the latest version of the Google Chrome [↗] browser (other browsers are not supported).

1. Connect a high-quality microphone to your computer.

2. Make sure your microphone is set as the default recording device on your browser.

To go directly to microphone's settings paste the line below into Chrome's URL bar.

chrome://settings/content/microphone

To capture speech from video/audio content on the web or from a file stored on your device, select 'Stereo Mix' as the default audio input.

3. Select the language you would like to speak (Click the button on the top right corner).

4. Click the "microphone" button. Chrome browser will request your permission to access your microphone. Choose "allow".

5. You can start dictating!

Instructions for the web app on a mobile and for the android app

Requirements: - Google app [↗] installed on your Android device. - Any of the supported browsers if you choose to use the web app.

Supported android browsers (not a full list): Chrome browser (recommended), Edge, Opera, Brave, Vivaldi.

1. Tap the button with the language name (on a web app) or language code (on android app) on the top right corner to select your language.

2. Tap the microphone button. The SpeechTexter app will ask for permission to record audio. Choose 'allow' to enable microphone access.

3. You can start dictating!

Common problems on a desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux OS)

Error: 'speechtexter cannot access your microphone'..

Please give permission to access your microphone.

Click on the "padlock" icon next to the URL bar, find the "microphone" option, and choose "allow".

Error: 'No speech was detected. Please try again'.

If you get this error while you are speaking, make sure your microphone is set as the default recording device on your browser [see step 2].

If you're using a headset, make sure the mute switch on the cord is off.

Error: 'Network error'

The internet connection is poor. Please try again later.

The result won't transfer to the "editor".

The result confidence is not high enough or there is a background noise. An accumulation of long text in the buffer can also make the engine stop responding, please make some pauses in the speech.

The results are wrong.

Please speak loudly and clearly. Speaking clearly and consistently will help the software accurately recognize your words.

Reduce background noise. Background noise from fans, air conditioners, refrigerators, etc. can drop the accuracy significantly. Try to reduce background noise as much as possible.

Speak directly into the microphone. Speaking directly into the microphone enhances the accuracy of the software. Avoid speaking too far away from the microphone.

Speak in complete sentences. Speaking in complete sentences will help the software better recognize the context of your words.

Can I upload an audio file and get the transcription?

No, this feature is not available.

How do I transcribe an audio (video) file on my PC or from the web?

Playback your file in any player and hit the 'mic' button on the SpeechTexter website to start capturing the speech. For better results select "Stereo Mix" as the default recording device on your browser, if you are accessing SpeechTexter and the file from the same device.

I don't see the "Stereo mix" option (Windows OS)

"Stereo Mix" might be hidden or it's not supported by your system. If you are a Windows user go to 'Control panel' → Hardware and Sound → Sound → 'Recording' tab. Right-click on a blank area in the pane and make sure both "View Disabled Devices" and "View Disconnected Devices" options are checked. If "Stereo Mix" appears, you can enable it by right clicking on it and choosing 'enable'. If "Stereo Mix" hasn't appeared, it means it's not supported by your system. You can try using a third-party program such as "Virtual Audio Cable" or "VB-Audio Virtual Cable" to create a virtual audio device that includes "Stereo Mix" functionality.

How to use the voice commands list?

The voice commands list allows you to insert the punctuation, some text, or run some preset functions using only your voice. On the first column you enter your voice command. On the second column you enter a punctuation mark or a function. Voice commands are case-sensitive. Available functions: #newparagraph (add a new paragraph), #undo (undo the last change), #redo (redo the last change)

To use the function above make a pause in your speech until all previous dictated speech appears in your note, then say "insert a new paragraph" and wait for the command execution.

Found a mistake in the voice commands list or want to suggest an update? Follow the steps below:

• Navigate to the voice commands list [↑] on this website.
• Click on the edit button to update or add new punctuation marks you think other users might find useful in your language.
• Click on the "Export" button located above the voice commands list to save your list in JSON format to your device.

Next, send us your file as an attachment via email. You can find the email address at the bottom of the page. Feel free to include a brief description of the mistake or the updates you're suggesting in the email body.

Your contribution to the improvement of the services is appreciated.

Can I prevent my custom voice commands from disappearing after closing the browser?

SpeechTexter by default saves your data inside your browser's cache. If your browsers clears the cache your data will be deleted. However, you can export your custom voice commands to your device and import them when you need them by clicking the corresponding buttons above the list. SpeechTexter is using JSON format to store your voice commands. You can create a .txt file in this format on your device and then import it into SpeechTexter. An example of JSON format is shown below:

{ "period": ".", "full stop": ".", "question mark": "?", "new paragraph": "#newparagraph" }

I lost my dictated work after closing the browser.

SpeechTexter doesn't store any text that you dictate. Please use the "autosave" option or click the "download" button (recommended). The "autosave" option will try to store your work inside your browser's cache, where it will remain until you switch the "text autosave" option off, clear the cache manually, or if your browser clears the cache on exit.

Common problems on the Android app

I get the message: 'speech recognition is not available'..

'Google app' from Play store is required for SpeechTexter to work. download [↗]

Where does SpeechTexter store the saved files?

Version 1.5 and above stores the files in the internal memory.

Version 1.4.9 and below stores the files inside the "SpeechTexter" folder at the root directory of your device.

After updating the app from version 1.x.x to version 2.x.x my files have disappeared

As a result of recent updates, the Android operating system has implemented restrictions that prevent users from accessing folders within the Android root directory, including SpeechTexter's folder. However, your old files can still be imported manually by selecting the "import" button within the Speechtexter application.

Common problems on the mobile web app

Tap on the "padlock" icon next to the URL bar, find the "microphone" option and choose "allow".

• TERMS OF USE
• PRIVACY POLICY
• Play Store [↗]

copyright © 2014 - 2024 www.speechtexter.com . All Rights Reserved.

The best dictation software in 2024

These speech-to-text apps will save you time without sacrificing accuracy..

The early days of dictation software were like your friend that mishears lyrics: lots of enthusiasm but little accuracy. Now, AI is out of Pandora's box, both in the news and in the apps we use, and dictation apps are getting better and better because of it. It's still not 100% perfect, but you'll definitely feel more in control when using your voice to type.

I took to the internet to find the best speech-to-text software out there right now, and after monologuing at length in front of dozens of dictation apps, these are my picks for the best.

The best dictation software

What is dictation software.

If this isn't what you're looking for, here's what else is out there:

AI assistants, such as Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, and Microsoft's Cortana, can help you interact with each of these ecosystems to send texts, buy products, or schedule events on your calendar.

Transcription services that use a combination of dictation software, AI, and human proofreaders can achieve above 99% accuracy.

What makes a great dictation app?

How we evaluate and test apps.

Dictation software comes in different shapes and sizes. Some are integrated in products you already use. Others are separate apps that offer a range of extra features. While each can vary in look and feel, here's what I looked for to find the best:

High accuracy. Staying true to what you're saying is the most important feature here. The lowest score on this list is at 92% accuracy.

Ease of use. This isn't a high hurdle, as most options are basic enough that anyone can figure them out in seconds.

Availability of voice commands. These let you add "instructions" while you're dictating, such as adding punctuation, starting a new paragraph, or more complex commands like capitalizing all the words in a sentence.

Availability of the languages supported. Most of the picks here support a decent (or impressive) number of languages.

Versatility. I paid attention to how well the software could adapt to different circumstances, apps, and systems.

I tested these apps by reading a 200-word script containing numbers, compound words, and a few tricky terms. I read the script three times for each app: the accuracy scores are an average of all attempts. Finally, I used the voice commands to delete and format text and to control the app's features where available.

What about AI?

Also, since this isn't a hot AI software category, these apps may prefer to focus on their core offering and product quality instead, not ride the trendy wave by slapping "AI-powered" on every web page.

Tips for using voice recognition software

Though dictation software is pretty good at recognizing different voices, it's not perfect. Here are some tips to make it work as best as possible.

Speak naturally (with caveats). Dictation apps learn your voice and speech patterns over time. And if you're going to spend any time with them, you want to be comfortable. Speak naturally. If you're not getting 90% accuracy initially, try enunciating more.  

Punctuate. When you dictate, you have to say each period, comma, question mark, and so forth. The software isn't always smart enough to figure it out on its own.

Learn a few commands . Take the time to learn a few simple commands, such as "new line" to enter a line break. There are different commands for composing, editing, and operating your device. Commands may differ from app to app, so learn the ones that apply to the tool you choose.

Know your limits. Especially on mobile devices, some tools have a time limit for how long they can listen—sometimes for as little as 10 seconds. Glance at the screen from time to time to make sure you haven't blown past the mark. 

Practice. It takes time to adjust to voice recognition software, but it gets easier the more you practice. Some of the more sophisticated apps invite you to train by reading passages or doing other short drills. Don't shy away from tutorials, help menus, and on-screen cheat sheets.

The best dictation software at a glance

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Look no further than your Mac, iPhone, or iPad for one of the best dictation tools. Apple's built-in dictation feature, powered by Siri (I wouldn't be surprised if the two merged one day), ships as part of Apple's desktop and mobile operating systems. On iOS devices, you use it by pressing the microphone icon on the stock keyboard. On your desktop, you turn it on by going to System Preferences > Keyboard > Dictation , and then use a keyboard shortcut to activate it in your app.

Apple Dictation price: Included with macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Apple Watch.

Apple Dictation accuracy: 96%. I tested this on an iPhone SE 3rd Gen using the dictation feature on the keyboard.

Best free dictation software for Windows

Windows 11 speech recognition (windows).

Windows 11 Speech Recognition (also known as Voice Typing) is a strong dictation tool, both for writing documents and controlling your Windows PC. Since it's part of your system, you can use it in any app you have installed.

To start, first, check that online speech recognition is on by going to Settings > Time and Language > Speech . To begin dictating, open an app, and on your keyboard, press the Windows logo key + H. A microphone icon and gray box will appear at the top of your screen. Make sure your cursor is in the space where you want to dictate.

When it's ready for your dictation, it will say Listening . You have about 10 seconds to start talking before the microphone turns off. If that happens, just click it again and wait for Listening to pop up. To stop the dictation, click the microphone icon again or say "stop talking."  

As I dictated into a Word document, the gray box reminded me to hang on, we need a moment to catch up . If you're speaking too fast, you'll also notice your transcribed words aren't keeping up. This never posed an issue with accuracy, but it's a nice reminder to keep it slow and steady. 

While you can use this tool anywhere inside your computer, if you're a Microsoft 365 subscriber, you'll be able to use the dictation features there too. The best app to use it on is, of course, Microsoft Word: it even offers file transcription, so you can upload a WAV or MP3 file and turn it into text. The engine is the same, provided by Microsoft Speech Services.

Windows 11 Speech Recognition price: Included with Windows 11. Also available as part of the Microsoft 365 subscription.

Windows 11 Speech Recognition accuracy: 95%. I tested it in Windows 11 while using Microsoft Word. 

Best customizable dictation software

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In 1990, Dragon Dictate emerged as the first dictation software. Over three decades later, we have Dragon by Nuance, a leader in the industry and a distant cousin of that first iteration. With a variety of software packages and mobile apps for different use cases (e.g., legal, medical, law enforcement), Dragon can handle specialized industry vocabulary, and it comes with excellent features, such as the ability to transcribe text from an audio file you upload. 

For this test, I used Dragon Anywhere, Nuance's mobile app, as it's the only version—among otherwise expensive packages—available with a free trial. It includes lots of features not found in the others, like Words, which lets you add words that would be difficult to recognize and spell out. For example, in the script, the word "Litmus'" (with the possessive) gave every app trouble. To avoid this, I added it to Words, trained it a few times with my voice, and was then able to transcribe it accurately.

It also provides shortcuts. If you want to shorten your entire address to one word, go to Auto-Text , give it a name ("address"), and type in your address: 1000 Eichhorn St., Davenport, IA 52722, and hit Save . The next time you dictate and say "address," you'll get the entire thing. Press the comment bubble icon to see text commands while you're dictating, or say "What can I say?" and the command menu pops up. 

Once you complete a dictation, you can email, share (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox), open in Word, or save to Evernote. You can perform these actions manually or by voice command (e.g., "save to Evernote.") Once you name it, it automatically saves in Documents for later review or sharing. 

Accuracy is good and improves with use, showing that you can definitely train your dragon. It's a great choice if you're serious about dictation and plan to use it every day, but may be a bit too much if you're just using it occasionally.

Dragon by Nuance price: $15/month for Dragon Anywhere (iOS and Android); from $200 to $500 for desktop packages

Dragon by Nuance accuracy: 97%. Tested it in the Dragon Anywhere iOS app.

Best free mobile dictation software

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Back to the topic: it has an excellent dictation feature. To start, press the microphone icon on the top-right of the keyboard. An overlay appears on the screen, filling itself with the words you're saying. It's very quick and accurate, which will feel great for fast-talkers but probably intimidating for the more thoughtful among us. If you stop talking for a few seconds, the overlay disappears, and Gboard pastes what it heard into the app you're using. When this happens, tap the microphone icon again to continue talking.

Wherever you can open a keyboard while using your phone, you can have Gboard supporting you there. You can write emails or notes or use any other app with an input field.

The writer who handled the previous update of this list had been using Gboard for seven years, so it had plenty of training data to adapt to his particular enunciation, landing the accuracy at an amazing 98%. I haven't used it much before, so the best I had was 92% overall. It's still a great score. More than that, it's proof of how dictation apps improve the more you use them.

Gboard price : Free

Gboard accuracy: 92%. With training, it can go up to 98%. I tested it using the iOS app while writing a new email.

Best dictation software for typing in Google Docs

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Just like Microsoft offers dictation in their Office products, Google does the same for their Workspace suite. The best place to use the voice typing feature is in Google Docs, but you can also dictate speaker notes in Google Slides as a way to prepare for your presentation.

To get started, make sure you're using Chrome and have a Google Docs file open. Go to Tools > Voice typing , and press the microphone icon to start. As you talk, the text will jitter into existence in the document.

You can change the language in the dropdown on top of the microphone icon. If you need help, hover over that icon, and click the ? on the bottom-right. That will show everything from turning on the mic, the voice commands for dictation, and moving around the document.

It's unclear whether Google's voice typing here is connected to the same engine in Gboard. I wasn't able to confirm whether the training data for the mobile keyboard and this tool are connected in any way. Still, the engines feel very similar and turned out the same accuracy at 92%. If you start using it more often, it may adapt to your particular enunciation and be more accurate in the long run.

Google Docs voice typing price : Free

Google Docs voice typing accuracy: 92%. Tested in a new Google Docs file in Chrome.

Best dictation software for collaboration

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It's not as robust in terms of dictation as others on the list, but it compensates with its versatility. It's a meeting assistant, first and foremost, ready to hop on your meetings and transcribe everything it hears. This is great to keep track of what's happening there, making the text available for sharing by generating a link or in the corresponding team workspace.

The reason why it's the best for collaboration is that others can highlight parts of the transcript and leave their comments. It also separates multiple speakers, in case you're recording a conversation, so that's an extra headache-saver if you use dictation software for interviewing people.

When you open the app and click the Record button on the top-right, you can use it as a traditional dictation app. It doesn't support voice commands, but it has decent intuition as to where the commas and periods should go based on the intonation and rhythm of your voice. Once you're done talking, Otter will start processing what you said, extract keywords, and generate action items and notes from the content of the transcription.

If you're going for long recording stretches where you talk about multiple topics, there's an AI chat option, where you can ask Otter questions about the transcript. This is great to summarize the entire talk, extract insights, and get a different angle on everything you said.

Otter price: Free plan available for 300 minutes / month. Pro plan starts at $16.99, adding more collaboration features and monthly minutes.

Otter accuracy: 93% accuracy. I tested it in the web app on my computer.

Otter supported languages: Only American and British English for now.

Is voice dictation for you?

Dictation software isn't for everyone. It will likely take practice learning to "write" out loud because it will feel unnatural. But once you get comfortable with it, you'll be able to write from anywhere on any device without the need for a keyboard. 

And by using any of the apps I listed here, you can feel confident that most of what you dictate will be accurately captured on the screen. 

Related reading:

This article was originally published in April 2016 and has also had contributions from Emily Esposito, Jill Duffy, and Chris Hawkins. The most recent update was in November 2023.

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Miguel Rebelo

Miguel Rebelo is a freelance writer based in London, UK. He loves technology, video games, and huge forests. Track him down at mirebelo.com.

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The 8 Best Voice-to-Text Apps of 2024

Dragon Anywhere is the best overall voice-to-text app

Stacey has worn many hats throughout her writing career, working in content marketing, nonprofit communications, and journalism at different points in her life.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Getty Images / RapidEye-izabell

Voice-to-text apps can be helpful for accessibility needs and busy professionals alike. If you’re always on the go, transcribing interview notes, or you can think faster than you can write, these special programs can increase your efficiency and store the recordings safely and sound via the cloud. Depending on your needs, you can choose an app with customizable language for commonly used words or industry terms.

The main features to consider when looking at voice-to-text apps include accuracy, shortcuts, and available languages. Accuracy is one of the most critical factors, and some options perform much better than others in this area. These apps are becoming more mainstream, from basic software to advanced technology. Whether you want to take notes , send quick messages, or translate on the fly, the best voice-to-text apps below are ready to help.

Best Voice-to-Text Apps of 2024

Best overall: dragon anywhere, best assistant: google assistant.

• Best Transcription: Transcribe
• Best for Long Recordings: Speechnotes

Best for Notes: Voice Notes

• Best for Messages: SpeechTexter  

Best for Translation: iTranslate Converse

Best for niche industry terms: braina.

Dragon Anywhere

• Price: $15 per month or $150 per year
• Free Trial: One week
• Accuracy Rate: 99 percent

Why We Chose It

We chose Dragon Anywhere because of its 99 percent accuracy rating and options for voice editing and formatting.

Pros & Cons

No word limits

99 percent accuracy

Multiple ways to share documents

Expensive compared to some other apps

May take time to learn the built-in commands

Available for Android and iOS devices, Dragon Anywhere is a premium professional tool that’s a big deal in the world of dictation apps. It’s 99 percent accurate and comes with voice editing and formatting. You can use the app for as long as you need—there are no word limits.

Dragon Anywhere allows you to customize industry lingo for even more accuracy. After transcription, share your notes by email, Dropbox, Evernote, and more. For supported versions, you can synchronize Dragon Anywhere with your desktop and do voice work on your computer as well. However, to do this, you will need to purchase a desktop version of Dragon as well.

Its accuracy and rich features come with a cost, but the bill could be a worthy business investment if you often think of ideas on the fly or need to record meetings. The application costs $15 per month or $150 per year.

Google Assistant

• Price: Free
• Free Trial: N/A
• Accuracy Rate: Not disclosed

We chose Google Assistant because it can help you accomplish a variety of tasks.

Integrated into services you already use, such as email and messaging

Free to use

Not specifically designed for note-taking

Must use applets to boost note-taking abilities

Google Assistant does a lot, including playing music and opening maps. One of its best features? Voice recognition. You can use voice command to look up information and tell Google Assistant to perform certain functions, but it can also convert speech to text.

The app sends messages, manages tasks, and sets reminders. While it’s not a speech-to-text app in the purest sense, it will still help organize your ideas and notes with voice recognition.

Use IFTTT (If This Then That) to maximize your Google Assistant note-taking abilities. In one applet , Google Assistant can log all of your notes into a spreadsheet. You can also search IFTTT for other productivity-boosting applets or create your own as you see fit.  

Best for Transcription: Transcribe - Speech to Text

Transcribe - Speech to Text

• Price: $5 per hour of transcription, subscription options also available
• Free Trial: 15 minutes of transcription

Transcribe - Speech to Text offers you the opportunity to transcribe any voice or video file using the help of artificial intelligence.

Transcription available for over 120 languages and dialects

Easy-to-use software

Only available for Apple products

Journalists or executive assistants who have a lot of conversations to track may find this app useful. Using A.I., Transcribe can turn any voice or video memo into a transcription in over 120 different languages and dialects. After recording, you can drop your file in this app and export your raw text into another app such as DropBox.

Keep in mind that Transcribe is only available for Apple products with Voice Memo and video since there’s no direct in-app dictation. Transcribe can also get pricey. Users receive a free trial for 15 minutes of transcription. Every extra hour costs $5 and 10 hours costs $30, but there are also subscriptions available for frequent users.

Best for Long Recordings: Speechnotes - Speech to Text

Speechnotes - Speech to Text

• Accuracy Rate: 90 percent or better

We chose Speechnotes because it allows for extremely long recordings.

Long recordings allowed

Can add in punctuation where needed

In-app advertisements as a free app

Only available in browser and on Android

Writers who think faster than they can type will appreciate this app. Speechnotes is excellent for organizing long notes thanks to two special features. First of all, it doesn't stop recording—even if you pause to think or breathe—so you can keep the recording open for as long as needed. Second, you can tap a button or use a verbal command to insert punctuation marks into your work so they won't become too unwieldy.

The free app has a small ad banner, but you can upgrade to a premium version to get rid of it. Other perks: It won't clog up your phone space at 4 MB, plus it saves all your recordings as TXT files. Plus, you won’t need to open the app to use it either; you can tap on a widget to access Speechnotes. Keep in mind that Speechnotes is only available on your browser and Android. 

Voice Notes

We chose Voice Notes for its efficient layout to help you store notes.

Recognizes 120 languages

Only available on Android phones

Voice Notes has speech recognition that allows you to create notes efficiently. You can then organize your notes into categories and create reminders by customizing alerts synced with your phone calendar. The interface is intuitive and easy to use; simply press the microphone button and speak to record. You’ll even be able to make your notes with the phone screen turned off.

The app can recognize up to 120 languages, just in case you need to record notes in something other than English. The app is free, though you can subscribe to a premium plan to support the developer.

Of course, there are a few caveats. Voice Notes is a popular app, but the one major limitation is that it's only available on Android phones. Plus, you need to have Google voice search installed to use it.

Best for Messages: SpeechTexter - Speech to Text

SpeechTexter - Speech to Text

• Accuracy Rate: Better than 90 percent

SpeechTexter is a useful tool to help you draft texts, notes, emails, reports, and more with your voice. 

Desktop and android versions available

Over 70 languages supported

Customizable commands

Offline mode is less accurate

Need to send a quick message but find your hands occupied with other tasks? Here’s a quick solution. Using Google’s backend, SpeechTexter allows you to create text notes, emails, and reports with your own voice. The easy-to-use app supports over 70 languages with an accuracy rate higher than 90 percent. You can customize your own commands for punctuation as well.

It's possible to use the app when you're not connected to the Internet, though keep in mind that the accuracy lowers in offline mode and the recognition speed depends on your Internet connectivity. To use the app offline, make sure that you install language packs of your preference.

iTranslate Converse

• Price: $6 per month or $50 per year
• Free Trial: Yes

We chose iTranslate Converse because it is designed to help you translate languages on the go in noisy environments.

Works well in noisy environments

Enables real-time communication with someone in another language

38 languages recognized

Subscription fee

Unknown accuracy rate

Brought to you by the same developers behind the popular iTranslate app, iTranslate Converse is as close to real-time translation as you’ll get, which is convenient if you need to communicate with clients who don’t speak the same language as you or if you’re traveling abroad. All you have to do is set the two languages. Then tap, hold, and speak into your phone.

The app will pick up on the language that you’re speaking, then issue out a translation—yes, even in noisy environments. The app is capable of recognizing 38 languages. After your conversation is done, you can download full transcriptions. It’s not always perfect, of course, but it’s faster than going through a personal assistant app to look up translations for you.

While it has a subscription fee, iTranslate won't stretch your budget significantly. When you download it, you'll receive a free trial. After that runs out, you'll be upgraded to the pro version for $6 per month or $50 per year. You must cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the trial to avoid being put on a paid membership.

• Price: $0-$399
• Free Trial: No
• Accuracy Rate: 99%

Briana can help you utilize voice-to-text in a jargon-filled industry.

Personal A.I. builds to recognize your industry jargon

Over 100 languages recognized

May take some time to customize

Braina is a personal A.I. for Windows P.C.s with companion Android and IOS apps. The program can convert your voice into text for any website or software program, including a word processor. It recognizes most medical, legal, and scientific terms, which makes it ideal if you work in a niche industry with technical jargon. You can also teach Braina uncommon names and vocabulary with ease.

Braina has other helpful voice recognition features besides learning niche industry terms. For example, it can recognize over 100 languages to serve non-English users. The program also includes convenient dictation commands for deleting, tabbing, and casing.

The app has a few price tiers; there is a free version with limited access to features, while the pro version costs $79 per year or $399 for lifetime access (which often goes on sale for $199).

Final Verdict

Dragon Anywhere is our pick for the best overall voice-to-text app thanks to its streamlined tools, high accuracy rating, and accessible computer synchronization. The app costs a bit more than other popular options, but discounts are available on annual subscriptions, and it has no limit on words.

As a bonus, Dragon Anywhere also allows users to customize their experience for specific industry lingo and other terms. This app is also accessible for Android and iOS devices and features simple sharing options to multiple apps or email accounts.

Compare the Best Voice to Text Apps

Guide to choosing a voice-to-text app.

Not sure how to choose a voice-to-text app? Consider the following factors to select the best option for your needs:

• Accuracy rating
• Available languages
• Limits on words or usage
• Platform (Android or iOS)
• Exporting files
• Translation
• Customizable terms or industry language

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best voice to text app.

Dragon Anywhere is the best voice-to-text app on our list. This app is available for both Android and iOS users, has a high accuracy rating, and makes it easy to export files to your computer, email, or other apps.

What Is the Best Free Voice to Text App?

Speechnotes, Voice Notes, Google Assistant, and SpeechTexter are all great choices for free voice-to-text apps. Choose the best option for your specific needs based on maximum length of recording, available languages, and exporting options.

What Is the Best Way to Convert Voice to Text?

Voice-to-text apps and computer programs are both helpful ways to convert your voice to text. If you need to record notes on the go or away from your computer, a mobile app is likely best for you. On the other hand, some people prefer apps downloaded to their computers to take notes during meetings or classes.

What Is the Most Realistic Speech-to-Text?

Dragon Anywhere has the highest accuracy rating of voice-to-text apps compared in this list. Additionally, this app allows users to customize specific industry language and commonly used terms to make their transcriptions more realistic.

Methodology

To find the best voice-to-text apps we compiled a list of the most popular options available. Next, we took a closer look at several factors, including the price, free trial options, accuracy rates, and more. Finally, we decided which providers were best suited for what our readers needed.

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Keyboard shortcuts

Note: On focused video, in browsers that support HTML 5, use the following shortcuts:

• To play and pause press space.
• Increase volume ↑up arrow, decrease volume ↓(down arrow).

Introducing Live Transcribe video transcript

Illustrations show different styles of communication. One person signs “we” and another writes “all.” Someone types “communicate” on a phone and another says “differently.”

Animated text reads “But Live Transcribe lets you join in.”

A mobile phone using Live Transcribe enters the screen during a meeting scene. One person says “Is it all updated?” and another replies “Yep, everything’s ready.” while the phone displays captions.

Now the animated text reads “Instantly.” The mobile phone re-enters at a coffee shop and transcribes the barista saying “That’ll be $5, please.” Live Transcribe adjusts from spelling out dollars to showing the dollar sign.

Animated text reads “And have conversations with anyone, in any language” while multiple languages are displayed in the background. The Live Transcribe app logo animates as text reads “Right from your Android phone."

Introducing Live Transcribe

Now the hearing and the deaf and hard of hearing can have conversations easily, with just an Android phone.

See instant captions anywhere

Whether you’re ordering a coffee or meeting someone new, Live Transcribe helps you communicate in the moment.

With Live Transcribe, you can see words appear on your Android phone as they’re spoken.

Choose your languages

Pick from over 70 languages and dialects to read accurate captions in the language that’s being spoken.

Quickly switch between languages during bilingual conversations.

And catch important nuances

It’s powered by Google’s speech recognition technology, so the captions adjust as your conversation flows. And since conversations aren’t stored on servers, they stay secure on your device.

If it seems like someone says New York, but they’re actually talking about new Yorkshire terriers, the captions will autocorrect.

All right from your phone

Live Transcribe is easy to use, all you need is a Wi-Fi or network connection. It’s free of charge to download on over 1.8 billion Android devices operating on 5.0 Lollipop and above.

To start, simply use Live Transcribe anywhere, to have conversations with anyone.

Built with expert help

We partnered with Gallaudet University, a premier school for the deaf and hard of hearing, to make sure that Live Transcribe was helpful for everyday use.

Partners at Gallaudet helped with testing and improvements along the way.

A few thoughts from Gallaudet

“We can now do things that weren't even remotely possible a few years ago, like jump into conversations at the dinner table or casually join in when the opportunity arises.” Christian Vogler Professor and Researcher, Gallaudet University.

“Live Transcribe gives me a more flexible and efficient way to communicate with hearing people. I just love it, it really changed the way I solve my communication problem.” Dr. Mohammad Obiedat Professor, Gallaudet University

Ready to get started?

This new Android Accessibility service is available to download as an app on the Google Play store. After installing the app, turn on Live Transcribe in your phone’s Accessibility settings and tap on the app to use it.

If you have a Pixel 3 or above device, simply turn on Live Transcribe in your Accessibility settings.

Have a question or want to share your feedback on Live Transcribe? Find answers to frequently asked questions in our Help Center or contact us via Google Accessibility support .

The Best (Free) Speech-to-Text Software for Windows

Looking for the best free speech-to-text software on Windows? We compare speech recognition options from Dragon, Google, and Microsoft.

Looking for the best free speech to text software on Windows?

The best speech-to-text software is Dragon Naturally Speaking (DNS) but it comes at a price. But how does it compare to the best of the free programs, like Google Docs Voice Typing (GDVT) and Windows Speech Recognition (WSR)?

This article compares Dragon against Google Docs Voice Typing and Windows Speech Recognition for three typical uses:

• Writing novels.
•  Academic transcription.
• Writing business documents like memos.

Comparing Speech Recognition Software: Dragon Vs. Google Vs Microsoft

We will look at the nuances between the three below, but here's an overview on their pros and cons which will help you quickly make a decision.

1. Dragon Speech Recognition

Dragon Naturally Speaking beats Microsoft's and Google's software in voice recognition.

DNS scores 10% better on average compared to both programs. But is Dragon Naturally Speaking worth the money?

It depends on what you're using it for. For seamless, high-accuracy writing that will require little proof-reading, DNS is the best speech-to-text software around.

2. Windows Speech Recognition

If you don't mind proofreading your documents, WSR is a great free speech-recognition software.

On the downside, it requires that you use a Windows computer. It's also only about 90% accurate, making it the least accurate out of all the voice recognition software tested in this article.

However, it's integrated into the Windows operating system, which means it can also control the computer itself, such as shutdown and sleep.

3. Google Docs Voice Typing

Google Docs Voice Typing is highly limited in how and where you use it. It only works in Google Docs, in the Chrome Browser, and with an internet connection.

But it offers several options on mobile devices. Android smartphones have the ability to transcribe your voice to text using the same speech-to-text engine that also works with Google Keep or Live Transcribe.

And while Dragon Naturally Speaking offers a mobile app, it's treated as a separate purchase from the desktop client.

Dragon and Microsoft work in any place you can enter text. However, WSR can execute control functions whereas Dragon is mostly limited to text input.

Download : Live Transcribe for Android (Free)

Speech-to-Text Testing Methods

In order to test the accuracy of the dictation with the tools, I read aloud three texts:

• Charles Darwin's "On the Tendency of Species to Form Varieties"
• H.P. Lovecraft's "Call of Cthulhu"
• California Governor Jerry Brown's 2017 State of the State speech

When a speech-to-text software miscapitalized a word, I marked the text as blue in the right-column (see graphic below). When one of the software got a word wrong, the misspelled word was marked in red. I did not consider wrong capitalizations to be errors.

I used a Blue Yeti microphone which is the best microphone for podcasting  and a relatively fast computer. However, you don't need any special hardware. Any laptop or smartphone transcribes speech as well as a more expensive machine.

Test 1: Dragon Naturally Speaking Speech-to-Text Accuracy

Dragon scored 100% on accuracy on all three sample texts. While it failed to capitalize the first letter on every text, it otherwise performed beyond my expectations.

While all three transcription suites do a great job of accurately turning spoken words into written text, DNS comes out way ahead of its competitors. It even successfully understood complicated words such as "hitherto" and "therein".

Test 2: Google Docs Voice Typing Speech-to-Text Accuracy

Google Docs Voice Typing had many errors compared to Dragon. GDVT got 93.5% right on Lovecraft, 96.5% correc t for Brown, and 96.5% for Darwin. Its average accuracy came out to around 95.2% for all three texts.

On the downside, it automatically capitalized a lot of words that didn't need capitalization. It seems the engine also hasn't improved in accuracy since I last tested GDVT three years ago.

Test 3: Microsoft Windows Speech Recognition Text-to-Speech Accuracy

Microsoft's Windows Speech Recognition came in last. Its accuracy on Lovecraft was 84.3% , although it did not miscapitalize any words like GDVT. For Brown's speech, it got its highest accuracy rating of around 94.8% , making it equivalent to GDVT.

For Darwin's book, it managed to get a similarly high score of 93.1% . Its average accuracy across all texts came out to 89% .

Related: The Best Free Text-to-Speech Tools for Educators

Are Free Transcription Services Worth Using?

• Dragon Naturally Speaking got a perfect 100% accuracy for voice transcription.
• Microsoft's free voice-to-text service, Windows Speech Recognition scored an 89% accuracy.
• Google Docs Voice Typing got a total score of 95.2% accuracy.

However, there are some major limitations to free text-to-speech options you should always keep in mind.

GDVT only works in the Chrome browser. On top of that, it only works for Google Docs. If you need to enter something in a spreadsheet or in a word processor other than Google Docs, you are out of luck.

Our test results indicate it is more accurate than WSR, but you have to keep in mind that it only works in Chrome for Google Docs. And you will always need an internet connection.

WSR can make you more productive with its hands-off computer automation features. Plus, it can enter text. Its accuracy is the weakest out of the services that I tested.

That said, you can live with its misses if you are not a heavy transcriber. It's on par with Google Docs Voice Typing but limited to Windows.

For most users, the free options should be good enough. However, for all those who need high levels of transcription accuracy, Dragon Naturally Speaking is the best option around. As an occasional user, if you need a free service, Google Docs Voice Typing is a viable alternative.

These tools prove that your voice can make you more productive. Now, try out Google Voice Assistant  which is the best voice-control assistant you can use right now to manage everyday tasks.

Plus, be sure to check out these free online services to download text to speech as MP3 .

How to use Google’s free transcription tools

You may, however, be better off paying for a third-party app.

By Barbara Krasnoff , a reviews editor who manages how-tos. She’s worked as an editor and writer for almost 40 years. Previously, she was a senior reviews editor for Computerworld.

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If you’re in an important videoconferencing session and you are getting an infodump that you know you won’t remember, it can be very useful to have a transcription of that session. Video and audio recordings are all well and good, but a text version of your meeting can be a lot easier to search if you’re looking for that one specific bit of data inside of an hour’s worth of conversation.

There are a number of third-party apps out there that provide AI transcribing for recorded audio, such as Rev and Otter.ai . They also offer extra features, such as the ability to simultaneously listen to the audio and watch for places that need correction or to integrate directly with other apps such as Zoom. However, these are subscription services with fees. If free is what you’re looking for, then there are a couple of workarounds that may help — although they do have certain limitations.

Google Docs voice typing

Even longtime users of Google Docs may not be aware of its voice typing tool, which converts speech into text. This can be very handy if you have trouble typing or just find speaking faster or easier than typing. It can also be used as a transcription tool for any video or audio recording you may have. You can even run it during a live videoconference to transcribe the conversation as it happens.

To use voice typing as a transcription tool:

• Open a new Google Doc
• Select Tools > Voice typing
• If the language you’re using is not shown, click on the link above the microphone icon and choose your language
• When you’re ready to start recording, click on the microphone icon. It will turn bright red and begin transcribing. Note: be careful to click on the microphone icon after you start the audio you want to transcribe. Why? I’ll explain.

Once you’ve started the transcription feature, you cannot leave the Google Docs page, or the feature will automatically shut off. For example, if you’re transcribing a Zoom meeting, and you take a moment to click into your email, you are going to lose everything after that point until you go back to your document and click the microphone again.

In addition, the resulting transcription is — well, to be charitable, less than perfect. If people are speaking clearly, the Google Docs transcription feature does a reasonable job, but any mumbles, asides, or less-than-clear speech can be completely lost. In addition, forget commas, periods, and other niceties — if you want a fully grammatically correct document, you’ll have to fill those in later.

There is, however, an alternative.

Google Live Transcribe

Google’s Live Transcribe is an Android app that transcribes audio to your phone’s screen live as it “hears” it. The app is extraordinarily simple: you install it, load it, and it immediately begins transcribing. Originally built as an accessibility tool for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, Live Transcribe will save a transcription for three days. If you want to keep the text for longer than that, you simply copy and paste it into a document.

To test these transcription apps, I ran each while playing a YouTube video of The Verge ’s Dieter Bohn offering his take on the Pixel 4A . As you can see from the screenshots below, while neither will take any prizes for accuracy, Live Transcribe handled the audio feed reasonably better than Docs did. (Although I have to admit that I found the repeated mentions of the “pixel for a” from both apps rather funny.)

(Incidentally, I also tried using Gmail’s voice-to-text mode on my mobile phone to get a transcription, but the app kept choking on me about 20 seconds in.)

The verdict? If you only need a transcription of a meeting occasionally and don’t mind a number of errors and only a few periods, commas, and the like, then either might work for you, although I’d lean toward Live Transcribe. Otherwise, check out the third-party transcription services. They may not be free, but they’re more accurate, which very well may be worth it.

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Description.

Instant Transcribe. Meetings Made Easy Instantly Convert Audio & Summarize with AI! Transcribe Now Effortlessly transcribe any audio to clear, accurate text with Transcribe Now, your all-in-one transcription app. Upload recordings, capture live conversations on the fly, and watch them transform into easy-to-read text. Go beyond transcription with built-in AI summarization. Transcribe Now analyzes your transcript, providing a concise summary that highlights the key points. No more struggling through pages of text – grasp the essence of any lecture, meeting, or interview in seconds. Effortless editing and export. Make edits directly in the transcribed text. No need to jump back and forth between audio and text. Choose from popular formats like .txt, .docx, or .pdf to seamlessly integrate your transcripts into reports, emails, or captions. Transcribe Now is perfect for: Students: Capture lectures and interviews, then use AI summaries for efficient revision. Journalists: Quickly transcribe recordings and identify newsworthy quotes with AI summaries. Professionals: Summarize meetings and conferences with AI to share key takeaways with colleagues. Anyone: Convert audio to text quickly and easily, and gain deeper understanding through AI-powered summarization. Download Transcribe Now today and experience the future of transcription! PRICING: During the free transcribe 30 minutes, you can access all the app's features, but limit on transcription time, export format and transcribe youtube video. If you choose to continue using the application you will subscribe to the package of us, it's $12.99/mo or $79.99/year, you can access all the app's features, including: - 5 hours of transcribe time bonus each month - Export to format txt, pdf, docx, srt, jpg - Transcribe youtube video up to 30 minutes Privacy Policy URL: https://transcribe.omniailab.com/privacy Terms of Service URL: https://transcribe.omniailab.com/terms

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- Update the Notification feature when transcribing is completed - Update transcribe languages - Fix some bugs and update UI app

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Transcribe your videos to text, add subtitles, and translate to over 125 languages

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VEED features 98.5% accuracy in video transcriptions and translations . With over 125 languages supported, effortlessly transcribe your videos to text for better documentation of your video conferences, interviews, lectures, and presentations. You can also automatically add subtitles to reach a wider audience. Save time, improve accessibility, and enhance the searchability of your content with VEED’s artificial intelligence software.

For content creators and marketers, you can make your videos easily searchable on Google and YouTube by using your transcription texts as descriptions. Bring more followers to your social media pages and increase traffic on your website. Plus, our video-to-text converter is part of a robust and powerful online video editor . You will have access to a full suite of tools to help you create professional-quality video content—minus the learning curve.

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Review and edit the transcription if necessary. Just click on a line of text and start typing. Download your transcript in VTT, SRT, or TXT format.

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Accurate video transcriptions and translations using AI

VEED can detect languages from all over the world and instantly transcribe them with near-perfect accuracy, thanks to artificial intelligence. Translated into different languages, your YouTube videos will also be searchable worldwide. It’s fast, effortless, and affordable! Download your transcripts as TXT files for better business documentation. Downloading and translating transcriptions are available to premium subscribers. Check our pricing page for more info.

Transcribe video to text and instantly add subtitles

Apart from automatically transcribing your videos to text, you can also use VEED to instantly add captions to your videos. Make your content more engaging—especially on social media, where most viewers watch without sound. Create inclusive and accessible videos for all audiences, including those who are hard of hearing. Plus, with a full range of customization options, you have full control over the transcription process. Design your subtitles to fit your branding to help with your brand awareness campaigns!

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VEED's automated transcription software ensures near-perfect accuracy and unmatched affordability. You can even add custom words (like your name or brand name) to help our speech recognition program’s accuracy. If background noise is getting in the way, you can remove it from your audio in one click using our background noise remover . With a quick turnaround, accurate transcriptions, and background noise control, it's never been easier to transcribe your videos to text!

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While downloading transcription files requires a premium subscription, you can auto-generate captions and use most of VEED’s video editing tools free of charge. You can visit VEED’s pricing page for more information.

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Use VEED’s video-to-text converter to automatically transcribe videos to text. Easily extract spoken words from your videos and convert them to written text without sacrificing accuracy.

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VEED supports all popular file types and is compatible with a range of different audio, video, and platform formats. These include AAC, AVI, Facebook Video, GIF, Instagram Story Video, M4V, MOV, MP3, MP4, MPE, MPG4, OGG, WEBM, Xbox Video, Zoom Video, and many, many more!

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WWDC 2024: Here’s a list of AI features that Apple may announce at its annual developers conference

List of AI features that Apple may announce at its annual developers conference on June 10

• Summarisation tools will condense articles, web pages, meetings notes, text messages, emails, and even missed notifications.
• Reply suggestions will automatically generate complete email and text message responses.
• Siri will get an AI revamp, allowing precise control within apps for actions like deleting emails, editing photos, or summarising articles, the report said, adding that Siri integration with third-party apps and multi-command capabilities are planned for next year.
• Xcode, Apple's development software, is said to receive AI integration similar to Microsoft's GitHub Copilot, which helps developers write code automatically.
• The Mail app is likely to get automatic email categorisation similar to Gmail's feature.
• A new AI-powered emoji feature will create custom emoji based on typed phrases or words.
• Voice Memos will offer automatic recording transcription, similar to existing features on Google Pixel devices and other apps, the report said.
• The Photos app is likely to receive AI-powered photo editing tools for enhancements and object or person removal.

Change your background in Microsoft Teams meetings

If you want to change what appears behind you in your video meeting or call, you can either blur your background, replace it entirely with any image you want, or use Teams virtual background template . And with a Teams Premium license, you can change your Teams meeting background to a branded logo or image specific to your company.

Note:  Blurring or replacing your background might not prevent sensitive information from being visible to other people in the call or meeting.

Change your background before a meeting starts

Your background will persist in all your meetings and calls until you change it again.

Select a Teams background to apply it to your video feed, or upload and apply your own. 

To use an image of your own, select More video effects >  Add new  and then select one to upload from your computer. Make sure it's a .JPG, .PNG, or .BMP file.

To turn off background effects, select None  .

Note:  If you don't see this option in the menu, the feature might not be available on your device.

Change your background during a meeting

Select Preview to see how your chosen background looks before you apply it, and then select Apply .

Linux users aren't able to use this feature.

Background effects won't be available to you if you're using Teams through optimized virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).

Use AI to decorate your background in a meeting

Take advantage of the new AI-generated Decorate effect in Teams to further personalize your backgrounds. There are five options to choose from:

Clean up : Tidies up your surroundings, removing clutter and creating a more streamlined and minimalistic aesthetic.

Fancy : Incorporates lavish and elegant decorative elements, like wallpaper, candles, and chandeliers.

Greenhouse : Adds plants and greenery into your space.

Celebration : Includes festive decorations like balloons, streamers, and lighting.

Surprise me : Cycles through a variety of styles and themes to transform your space, including 2D animation, underwater, a block-style design reminiscent of Minecraft, and a space shuttle theme.

To turn on this feature, follow the same steps as noted above to change your background either before or during the meeting. 

Once in the video effects menu, select  Decorate .

If your camera is currently on, it will be turned off while you choose a new background. Select Start when prompted to turn off the camera and see your options.

Once you've chosen one of the five themes, select Generate to preview a few options.

If you want to see more choices, select Generate more . You can also select a different theme before generating more. Your previously generated option will still remain available.

Once you've found one you like, select Apply and turn on video .

Select Blur to blur your background. You'll appear nice and clear while everything behind you is subtly concealed. You can also replace your background with one of the images provided, or with one of your own choosing. To use an image of your own, select the plus sign and then select one to upload from your device. Make sure it's a .JPG, .PNG, or .BMP file.

Select Done .

Your new background will persist in all your meetings and calls until you change it again.

To turn off background effects, select  None .

Change your background during a meeting or call

Android requirements.

To change your background, your Android device must have the following:

Teams mobile app for Android (version 1416/1.0.0.2021143402 or later)

Android version 10 or later

Qualcomm Adreno 610 or later

Arm Mali-G71 or later

Arm Mali-T720 or later

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