Free and open first

Best AI transcription tools in 2026

AI transcription tools convert speech recordings into text. This list is for people who need a transcription service or software while keeping costs in view.

46 apps
Research read 27 Sept 2026
How the order is worked out

1

Whisper

Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2

Whisper provides multilingual speech-processing capabilities as locally installable, MIT-licensed code and model weights.

9.3 Open source Visit site
2

oTranscribe

Free plan Open source Self-hostedWeb

oTranscribe is a manual transcription workspace with useful playback controls and several export options.

8.4 Free plan Visit site
3

Express Scribe

Free plan APILinuxMac+1

Choose Express Scribe if you need a transcription player with timestamps, configurable playback controls and dictation handling across desktop platforms.

7.6 Free plan Visit site
4

Happy Scribe

Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+1

Happy Scribe combines transcription, translation, meeting connections, and AI-assisted tools, with support for individual and team workflows.

7.6 Free plan Visit site
5

Notta
by Notta
Free plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+3

Notta combines meeting capture and file transcription with summaries, action items, and multiple export formats.

7.6 Free plan · paid from $8.17/user/mo (annual) · 7-day trial Visit site
6

Google Cloud Speech-to-Text

Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

Speech-to-Text offers multiple recognition modes, language support, and developer interfaces for application integration.

7.5 From $0.00 Visit site
7

Transkriptor

Free plan AndroidAPIExtension+2

Choose Transkriptor if you need transcription or translation with speaker identification, timestamps, and broad language support.

7.5 Free plan · paid from $9.99/mo Visit site
8

Amazon Transcribe

Free plan APIWeb

Amazon Transcribe covers live and batch speech transcription, with language, speaker, and privacy features.

7.4 From $0.01 Visit site
9

AssemblyAI

Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

AssemblyAI offers a broad set of speech capabilities and usage-based plans, with a free tier subject to stated limits.

7.4 From $0.15 Visit site
10

Vosk

Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4

Vosk provides offline recognition, streaming, and developer interfaces across a range of devices and server protocols.

7.4 Open source Visit site
11

Gladia
by Gladia
Free plan APIMacWeb+1

7.4 From $0.61 Visit site
12

IBM Watson Speech to Text
by IBM Watson Speech to Text
Free plan APISelf-hosted

7.3 Free plan Visit site
13

Simon Says
by Simon Says
Free plan ExtensioniPhoneMac+3

Choose Simon Says if you need multilingual transcription with transcript editing and exports to video, document, or subtitle formats.

7.3 Free plan · paid from $15/user/mo (annual) Visit site
14

Superwhisper

Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+3

Superwhisper offers cross-app dictation, context-aware formatting, and an offline on-device option. Review the trial limit and cloud-model handling if you plan to use cloud processing.

7.3 Free plan · paid from $8.49/mo Visit site
15

Sarvam AI Speech to Text
by Sarvam AI Speech to Text
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

Sarvam offers multiple output modes and processing routes, with speaker identification available in Batch and streaming over WebSocket.

7.2 From ₹30 Visit site
16

Buzz

Free plan LinuxMacWindows

Buzz brings multiple transcription inputs, transcript tools, and export formats into a free desktop app. Check its hardware requirements and operating-system notes before choosing it.

7.2 Free plan Visit site
17

TurboScribe

Free plan Web

TurboScribe offers multilingual transcription, translation, speaker labels, and audio restoration through its web interface.

7.1 Free plan Visit site
18

noScribe
by noScribe
Free plan LinuxMacWindows

noScribe offers local transcription, speaker recognition, and an editor suited to reviewing interview recordings.

7.1 Free plan Visit site
19

f4transkript
by f4transkript
Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1

f4 combines transcription, correction and qualitative analysis tools in one interface, with both automatic and manual workflows.

7.1 From €25 Visit site
20

FileToText
by FileToText
Free plan API

Choose FileToText if you need speaker-aware transcripts with word-level timestamps, synced playback and multiple export formats.

7.0 From $10/mo Visit site
21

MacWhisper
by MacWhisper
Free plan iPhoneMac

MacWhisper covers transcription, meeting recording, dictation, and transcript workflows, with a free plan and a paid one-time Pro option.

7.0 Free plan · paid from €64 Visit site
22

easytranscript

Free plan LinuxMacWindows

easytranscript pairs manual editing tools with automatic transcription on paid plans. The free Test version is limited to manual work, while online audio processing uses Microsoft Azure and Gladia.

7.0 Free plan · paid from €5/mo Visit site
23

Soniox
by Soniox
Free plan API

Choose Soniox if you need API-based transcription and translation with support for 60 languages, speaker labeling, and timestamps.

6.9 Free plan · paid from $19.99/mo Visit site
24

InqScribe
by InqScribe
Free plan MacWindows

InqScribe combines local transcription with editing, playback, and caption export tools. Its license choices differ in duration and purpose, so users should check which option fits their work.

6.9 Free plan · paid from $10 · 7-day trial Visit site
25

XTrans

Free plan LinuxWindows

XTrans combines detailed speaker and segment annotation with broad audio and language support. Its free GPLv3 releases fit teams doing substantial manual transcription on Linux or Windows.

6.8 Free plan Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

Look at each tool's free offering, entry paid rate, language coverage, minutes, speaker labels, timestamping, export types, and API availability. Note trial limits, and inspect an open-source licence when you need code access or modification.

Questions

Are free AI transcription tools available?

Free plans are available for AI transcription tools, and Whisper is listed as free and open source. Check the plan details, included minutes, and supported features.

What paid starting prices are listed?

The list starts at $0.00 for Google Cloud Speech-to-Text, $0.01 for Amazon Transcribe, $0.15 for AssemblyAI, and $9.99 per month for Transkriptor.

Can I try a tool before paying?

A free trial can let you test a tool before paying. Check the trial's limits and compare them with any free-plan terms before you choose.

Which platforms can these tools use?

Available deployment choices include API, macOS, web, Windows, Linux, and self-hosted setups. Check the platform details for a tool that fits your setup.

What features should I compare in transcripts?

Review language coverage, included minutes, speaker labels, timestamping, export types, and API availability.

Questions

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