Best Audio Transcription Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Happy Scribe is ranked #1 of 31 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Grain and Notta. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Grain. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Amazon Transcribe at $0.01/mo.
When recorded speech needs to become searchable or reusable text, transcription software can help with the conversion. Compare supported languages, maximum file length, and monthly transcription limits with real-time transcription and speaker identification to see what fits your recordings. API access can be relevant when transcription is part of a broader workflow; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost context. Happy Scribe, Grain, and Notta are among the entries to weigh. Consider whether you need live results or speaker labels, then check the listed language coverage and limits against the audio you expect to process.
31 audio transcription software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
31ranked
16free plans on this page
$0.01/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Audio Transcription Software 25 channels on this page · 73 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromLanguages supportedSpeaker identificationReal-time transcriptionMonthly transcription limitMaximum file lengthAPI access Spec sheet Score
01 Happy Scribe Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported150 languagesSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessYes 4/8spec lines stated 7.7
02 Grain Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported130 languagesSpeaker identificationnot statedReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.6
03 Notta Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported58 languagesSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.6
04 Speechmatics Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supportednot statedSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessYes 3/8spec lines stated 7.2
05 Otter.ai Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported6 languagesSpeaker identificationnot statedReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.1
06 Rev Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported2 languagesSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.1
07 tl;dv Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supportednot statedSpeaker identificationnot statedReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.1
08 Transkriptor Free planYesPaid from$9.99/moLanguages supportednot statedSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessYes 4/8spec lines stated 7.1
09 AssemblyAI Free planNoPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported99 languagesSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessYes 4/8spec lines stated 7.0
10 Avoma Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported62 languagesSpeaker identificationnot statedReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.0
11 Fathom Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported38 languagesSpeaker identificationnot statedReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.0
12 Google Cloud Speech-to-Text Free planNoPaid fromnot statedLanguages supportednot statedSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessYes 3/8spec lines stated 7.0
13 MacWhisper Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported100 languagesSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.0
14 Tactiq Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supportednot statedSpeaker identificationnot statedReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.8
15 Amazon Transcribe Free planNoPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported113 languagesSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessYes 4/8spec lines stated 6.7
16 Fireflies.ai Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported115 languagesSpeaker identificationnot statedReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.7
17 Rev AI Free planNoPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported1 languagesSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessYes 4/8spec lines stated 6.7
18 aTrain Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported99 languagesSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.6
19 Soniox Free planYesPaid from$19.99/moLanguages supported60 languagesSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.5
20 TranscribeMe Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported10 languagesSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessYes 3/8spec lines stated 6.5
21 ESPnet Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supportednot statedSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionYesMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessYes 4/8spec lines stated 6.3
22 Sembly AI Free planNoPaid from$10/moLanguages supported48 languagesSpeaker identificationnot statedReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.1
23 Amberscript Free planNoPaid fromnot statedLanguages supportednot statedSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessYes 3/8spec lines stated 6.0
24 Gladia Free planNoPaid fromnot statedLanguages supported100 languagesSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessYes 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
25 noScribe Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLanguages supportednot statedSpeaker identificationYesReal-time transcriptionnot statedMonthly transcription limitnot statedMaximum file lengthnot statedAPI accessnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.0
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which audio transcription software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Happy Scribe is ranked #1 of 31 with a score of 7.7. Grain is second and Notta third.
How many of these have a free plan?
16 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Amazon Transcribe has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.01/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.
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