A helpful guide to the best free AI transcription services

Free AI transcription maximises the impact of audio and video content. So, which is the best free AI transcription tool for you?

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      AI transcription converts spoken audio into text, facilitating accessibility, analysis, search optimisation and the repurposing of content across various fields and industries. This blog looks at some of the best AI transcription services currently available free of charge, highlighting valuable features, including context-aware transcription, meeting analytics and real-time assistance. These insights into each service’s strengths will help you make an informed choice for your specific needs.

      Five key takeaways from this article

      1. Free services typically offer a range of tailored features for specific needs.
      2. Consider language support for broader international reach and accessibility.
      3. Achieve high accuracy through technology, such as machine learning.
      4. Free plans have limitations; enhanced features usually require payment.
      5. Seamless integration and user-friendly interfaces enhance convenience and accessibility.

      The short answer: Which is the best free AI transcription?

      Otter.AI

      Otter.AI transcribes audio and video content accurately in real time, including business meetings, academic lectures, interviews and elsewhere, whether conducted in-person or virtually. Otter.AI’s cap on free transcription is more generous than most other free services.

      Free plan includes:

      • 300 transcription minutes per month (at 30 minutes per conversation).
      • AI meeting assistant, which records, transcribes, captures slides and generates summaries in real time.
      • Automatic writing and sharing of notes on Zoom, MS Teams and Google Meet.

      Want to know more about Semantix transcription services?

      Which is the best free AI transcription service for you?

      Leveraging AI-powered speech-to-text technology within your enterprise has the potential to up your content game significantly. However, finding the ideal solution to meet your requirements can be a challenge. Below is a selection of the best free AI transcription services (in no particular order), each accompanied by insights into its real-world applications and standout features.

      Fireflies

      Fireflies is an AI-powered transcription tool engineered to facilitate the recording, transcribing, and summarising of meetings and discussions, with a focus on supporting marketing, sales and product teams. This platform accommodates one language per session and streamlines the note-taking process. Additionally, Fireflies offers meeting analytics to assess communication dynamics and optimise strategies, fostering improved team cohesion and collaboration.

      Free plan includes:

      • Unlimited transcription for shared bot meetings, chrome extension and mobile app.
      • Customisable and automated AI summaries and meeting notes. · 800 minutes of storage

      Grain

      Grain offers the ability to record, transcribe and pinpoint details within video calls. The platform currently supports transcription in up to nine languages, thereby restricting its applicability for businesses aiming for a broader international scope compared to other similar services. Its primary utility lies in transcribing and condensing work meetings effectively.

      Free plan includes:

      • Transcription for 20 meetings.
      • Five additional uploads a month.
      • Access to an AI feature that summarises key parts of a meeting.

      Whisper AI

      Whisper AI employs machine learning technology to transcribe with an understanding of the source material’s context and nuance. This approach yields an impressive accuracy rate ranging between 95% and 98.5%, achieved without any manual intervention. Supporting multiple languages, this solution caters to businesses seeking to document Zoom meetings, students in need of transcribing class lectures, video editors adding subtitles, and podcasters repurposing audio content.

      All features are available free of charge, including:

      • Transcription of audio and video in real time or from recordings.
      • Subtitling and closed captioning of videos.
      • Transcription in multiple languages.

      Riverside

      Riverside boasts a transcription service that purportedly achieves a 99% accuracy rate across more than 100 languages. Additionally, it provides recording and editing functionalities. Its handy speaker differentiation feature identifies distinct speakers automatically, enhancing its competence in transcribing conference calls with multiple participants.

      Free plan includes:

      • A one-off, two-track (separate audio and video), two-hour transcription (to download the transcript, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan).
      • Unlimited single track (merged audio and video) recording and editing.
      • Up to 720p video quality.

      Happy Scribe

      Happy Scribe supports more than 120 languages and boasts a turnaround time of under five minutes. This versatile and user-friendly tool accepts various audio and video inputs, including desktop files, YouTube URLs and Google Drive links. It’s important to note that the AI-powered service maintains an accuracy rate of only 85%. Users requiring higher accuracy must subscribe to a paid plan.

      Free plan includes:

      • Subtitle and translation services (only 10 minutes are free).
      • Support for more than 120 languages.
      • Five-minute turnaround time.

      Zoom Transcription

      Zoom’s transcription feature automatically transcribes the audio from recorded meetings or webinars and stores it in the cloud. The transcript is generated as a separate VTT file within the recorded meetings list, with timestamps corresponding to the recording’s progression.

      Users can edit the transcript to improve accuracy by adding proper capitalisation and punctuation, which may not be captured accurately in the initial automated transcript.

      All features are available free with Zoom, including:

      • Automatic transcription of Zoom meetings and webinars.
      • Timestamps, which reference specific sections of the recording.
      • Editing of transcribed text to enhance accuracy and readability.

      Vowel

      Vowel operates similarly to popular web conferencing platforms such as Zoom, but with additional features, including AI-driven meeting summaries and advanced live transcription. These make Vowel a leading choice for users seeking accurate transcription of video calls. However, for transcription needs beyond video calls, alternative products might be more suitable.

      Free plan includes:

      • Recording and transcription of all meetings.
      • Hosting of meetings for up to 40 minutes each.
      • Review previous meetings for seven days after recording.

      Get precision transcription guaranteed

      While free platforms provide commendable accuracy and AI-powered features, the experienced transcribers at Semantix can deliver consistently high-quality transcription services for high volumes of content. So, if you want to avoid the uncertainty of transcription and focus instead on reaping the benefits this valuable resource can bring, contact us today.