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Amazon Transcribe

What Amazon Transcribe is
Amazon Transcribe converts live audio and recorded media into text. It supports real-time transcription of audio streams and batch processing of recordings stored in Amazon S3, with 113 supported languages. Transcripts can include punctuation, formatted numbers, word timestamps, speaker and channel identification, and vocabulary filtering. The service can identify one or more languages in audio without a language code, and users can add custom vocabulary or train language models with domain-specific text. Call Analytics offers sentiment, issue, speech-characteristic, categorization, and call-summary insights; Transcribe Medical supports dictation and conversational medical transcription and is HIPAA eligible. Privacy controls include personal information redaction and toxic-content detection. Transcription outputs can be encrypted at rest with S3 SSE-S3 or a customer-specified AWS KMS key, while TLS 1.2 protects data in transit. Exports are available in JSON, WebVTT, and SRT. A free tier covers 60 minutes per month for 12 months, without rollover. Paid pricing starts at $0.01; rates vary by region, and the AWS CLI does not support streaming transcription.
Who it suits
Amazon Transcribe suits teams that need to turn live audio or stored recordings into searchable text, including users who need speaker labels, timestamps, or language identification. Its medical transcription and call analytics features address clinical and contact-center workflows.
What it does well
- Supports 113 languages.
- Transcribes live streams and Amazon S3 recordings.
- Includes speaker identification and word timestamps.
- Offers JSON, WebVTT, and SRT exports.
- Free tier provides 60 minutes monthly for 12 months.
What to know first
- Unused free-tier minutes do not roll over.
- AWS CLI does not support streaming transcription.
- Rates vary by AWS Region.
Limits
The Free tier provides 60 minutes per month for 12 months, and unused monthly usage does not roll over. Standard batch and streaming charges are based on transcribed audio, billed in one-second increments with no minimum duration; rates vary by AWS Region and volume tier.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 60 minutes per month for 12 months · unused monthly usage does not roll over · restrictions apply | Free |
| Standard Batch | US East (N. Virginia) pricing example; rates vary by AWS Region and volume tier. · Pay-as-you-go batch transcription · Usage billed in one-second increments · No minimum usage | $0.01 a month |
| Standard Streaming | US East (N. Virginia) pricing example; rates vary by AWS Region and volume tier. · Pay-as-you-go streaming transcription · Usage billed in one-second increments · No minimum usage | $0.01 a month |
| Standard pricing | monthly based on seconds of audio transcribed · one-second increments · no minimum duration · rates vary by AWS Region | On request |
As aws.amazon.com lists them, read 1 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open https://aws.amazon.com/transcribe/.
- Choose real-time streaming transcription or batch processing for media stored in Amazon S3.
- Access the service through its API, AWS SDKs, or supported AWS tools.
- Select language handling and transcript features such as timestamps or speaker identification.
- Review the Free tier or pay-as-you-go pricing for your expected audio volume.
Verdict
Amazon Transcribe covers live and batch speech transcription, with language, speaker, and privacy features. Check regional pricing and note that streaming transcription is not supported through the AWS CLI.
Questions
Does Amazon Transcribe have a free plan?
The Free tier provides 60 minutes per month for 12 months. Restrictions apply, and unused monthly usage does not roll over.
How is Amazon Transcribe priced?
It is a paid service with US East (N. Virginia) batch and streaming examples from $0.01 a month. Rates vary by AWS Region and volume tier, and standard pricing is based on seconds transcribed.
Which audio workflows does it support?
It transcribes live audio streams in real time and recorded media stored in Amazon S3 in batches.
How many languages does it support?
Amazon Transcribe supports 113 languages and can identify the dominant language or multiple languages without a supplied language code.
Can it identify speakers and export transcripts?
Yes. It supports speaker identification and exports JSON, WebVTT, and SRT.
Does the AWS CLI support streaming transcription?
No. The AWS CLI does not support streaming transcriptions.
Facts from Amazon Transcribe's own pages
- API access
- Yes · aws.amazon.com, 20 Sept 2026
- AWS service integrations
- The product page identifies Amazon Connect Contact Lens and AWS HealthScribe as services used with Amazon Transcribe for call analytics and clinical documentation. · aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Call analytics
- Amazon Transcribe Call Analytics provides sentiment, issue, speech-characteristic, categorization, and generative call-summary insights. · aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Compliance
- Amazon Transcribe is covered under AWS HIPAA eligibility and BAA requirements. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Users can add custom vocabulary and train custom language models with domain-specific text. · aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- Transcription outputs can use Amazon S3 SSE-S3 or customer-specified AWS KMS keys at rest, while TLS 1.2 encrypts data in transit. · aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- JSON,WebVTT,SRT · aws.amazon.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- No · aws.amazon.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Input modes
- The service processes live audio streams for real-time transcription and recorded media files stored in Amazon S3 for batch transcription. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Batch transcription uses Amazon S3, and AWS provides SDKs and CLI access for supported programming languages. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Languages supported
- 113 · aws.amazon.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Language identification
- Amazon Transcribe can automatically identify the dominant language or multiple languages in audio without a specified language code. · aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Languages
- Amazon Transcribe provides features across 100+ languages. · aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Medical use
- Amazon Transcribe Medical supports dictation and conversational medical transcription and is HIPAA eligible. · aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Privacy controls
- Amazon Transcribe can filter vocabulary, redact personally identifiable information, and detect toxic audio content. · aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Amazon Transcribe is a fully managed automatic speech recognition service that converts streaming and recorded speech to text. · aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Speaker identification
- Yes · aws.amazon.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Timestamp support
- Yes · aws.amazon.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Transcript features
- It supports automatic punctuation, number formatting, word timestamps, speaker identification, channel identification, and vocabulary filtering. · aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Usage limit
- The AWS CLI does not support streaming transcriptions. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 1 Oct 2026
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