The 10 Most Affordable Transcription Services

Converting speech to readable text used to be a daunting task requiring hours of manual labor. But in the last decade, transcription companies that offer both automated and human-generated transcripts have emerged to meet the ever-growing demand for reliable and accurate transcriptions.

With such a saturated market, choosing a transcription company that fits your specific needs, budget, and timeline is more challenging than ever.

To help you pick the right one, we rounded up the best and most affordable transcription service providers you can partner with. This guide also tackles the features you should look for in a transcription company to get the most bang for your buck.

What to Look For in a Transcription Service

Here are a few things to remember when choosing a transcription service.

Automated vs. human transcription

Automated and human transcriptions have their own set of pros and cons, but their biggest difference lies in the quality and speed.

Human-powered transcripts are generally more accurate but require more time to complete and are on the more expensive side of the transcription service spectrum. On the other hand, AI-generated transcripts are faster and cheaper and are of lower quality most of the time.

The key to choosing the right service is determining your priority—is it quality or speed? If you need the transcript immediately, and it doesn’t have to be perfect, go for AI. If you’re particular about accuracy and can wait a few days (or weeks), choose a human transcription service provider.

Accuracy

You probably need near-perfect transcripts if you’re in the legal, law enforcement, academic, or medical field. No company offers 100% accuracy, but if you need to transcribe technical or complex content, you’re better off hiring a transcription company that relies on human transcribers instead of those that use AI software.

Timestamps

Many of the transcription services reviewed in this article don’t include timestamps in their basic plans. Timestamps are helpful for a lot of transcripts, especially if you need to add captions or subtitles to videos. If this feature is important to you, check if your preferred provider offers it for free or for an extra fee.

Time limits

If you regularly work with many files, you might want to steer clear of transcription services that limit the length and the number of files that can be transcribed monthly.

While most of the companies reviewed offer unlimited transcriptions, this feature usually comes with a hefty fee, so watch out for those to ensure you stay within your budget.

Most Affordable Transcription Service Providers in 2023

Rev

Rev is a transcription service provider that offers both human and AI transcription. This company lets you choose between AI- or human-generated transcriptions—both with a quick turnaround. It promises to deliver 99% accuracy for human transcriptions and 90% accuracy for automated transcriptions.

Captions completed by Rev claim to be compliant with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design (ADA), so they guarantee to meet accessibility guidelines.

One unique service that Rev offers is live captions for Zoom meetings and webinars, which helps ensure that your meetings and online presentations are accessible to all.

It also offers a functional workspace that allows teams to collaborate on projects.

If you use a transcription service regularly, you might want to consider a Rev Max subscription, which offers 20 hours of audio recordings transcribed for $29.99 monthly after a two-week trial period. This plan provides excellent value for money as long as you maximize all those transcription hours.

Rev offers a wide range of à la carte services and subscription plans. So if you’re looking for a one-stop shop that provides captions, subtitles, and translation support for your audio and video files, you’ll find what you need here.

Turnaround time: Rev’s turnaround time is based on individual file length, not total order size. For example, the estimated median turnaround time for 0-10 audio minutes is two hours. For rush requests, the estimated median turnaround time for the same file length is 1 hour.

Price: $0.25 per audio minute for machine-generated transcripts and $1.50 per minute of audio for transcripts produced by human transcribers. Rush transcripts will cost you $2.25 per audio minute, with Rev claiming it will be completed five times faster than regular transcription requests.

Pros

  • Fast turnaround times
  • Good user interface
  • Variety of pricing options

Cons

  • Transcripts can be inaccurate
  • They don’t certify their transcripts, meaning you can’t use them in court or for anything official
  • They are not HIPAA or CJIS compliant
  • They don’t customize the formatting or layout for your transcripts
  • They are set up as a marketplace and use transcriptionists all over the world which causes inconsistencies in quality and accuracy
  • They split up your files and have multiple people transcribe parts of the same file which causes inconsistencies in the completed transcripts
  • Customer service can be slow or non existent

Scribie

Scribie is another transcription provider that offers both automated and human transcriptionists.

Their manual transcription service guarantees 99% accuracy rates, with the option to add time coding, subtitle files, speaker tracking, strict verbatim transcriptions, and more to your request.

You can track the progress of your order and even download versions as it is completed, which is especially helpful if you need a working version of the file to use immediately.

Scribie vouches for the quality of their transcripts. But if you’re unsatisfied with the output, you can ask for a free review, and they will return the updated document within 24 hours.

Using Scribie’s services is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is upload your file, select a plan, make a payment, and choose your timeline. Your transcript will then be sent to you within your expected time window.

Scribie’s low rates are tough to beat, but they probably charge lower prices because they have a limited number of features, unlike Rev. Also, its website needs a bit of revamping.

If you don’t need all those extra features, Scribie is still a solid option for users who only require the basics.

Turnaround time: 24 hours (applies only for files with clear audio and minimal background noise).

Price: $0.80 per audio minute. An extra fee of $0.50 per minute is added for files requiring strict verbatim, burnt-in time coding, and those with accented speakers and poor audio quality.

Pros

  • Affordable rates
  • Accurate transcriptions
  • The company will sign an NDA upon request

Cons

  • Clunky website
  • Additional charges apply to audio files with poor quality
  • Transcripts can be inaccurate
  • They don’t certify their transcripts, meaning you can’t use them in court or for anything official
  • They are not HIPAA or CJIS compliant
  • They don’t customize the formatting or layout for your transcripts
  • They are set up as a marketplace and use transcriptionists all over the world which causes inconsistencies in quality and accuracy
  • They split up your files and have multiple people transcribe parts of the same file which causes inconsistencies in the completed transcripts
  • Customer service can be slow or non existent

GoTranscript

GoTranscript is one of the fastest-growing transcription services online. If you have hard-to-decipher files that need to be transcribed, this might be the audio and video transcription service that can meet your needs.

GoTranscript’s human transcribers are highly skilled. They can provide accurate transcripts for low-quality recordings or those with heavy accents and background noise. They also support 50+ languages.

Another great thing about GoTranscript is that they’ve put a lot of thought into their website. Aside from the fact that it looks good, it’s easy to find the information you need because it’s intuitive.

GoTranscript offers quick turnarounds, but since they are based in India, the timing can vary for customers in another time zone.

If you’re looking for a 90%+ accurate human transcription option with the lowest possible price, GoTranscript might be worth a try.

Turnaround time: Its fastest service promises a return within 6-12 hours, which needs to be considered because of each file’s level of accuracy.

Price: Audio transcriptions start at $0.84 per minute. They offer discounts on bulk orders (i.e., 2500+ minutes of audio). The rate increases depending on the timeline, the audio quality, the number of speakers, and language preference.

Pros

  • Low-cost, human-generated transcription service
  • Supports multiple languages
  • Able to handle technical projects

Cons

  • No automated transcription option
  • The time difference between the US and India can affect the turnaround times
  • Transcripts can be inaccurate
  • They don’t certify their transcripts, meaning you can’t use them in court or for anything official
  • They are not HIPAA or CJIS compliant
  • They are set up as a marketplace and use transcriptionists all over the world which causes inconsistencies in quality and accuracy
  • Customer service can be slow or non existent

TranscribeMe

TranscribeMe has been around for a while and remains popular because of its low-cost transcription services that cater to various industries.

The company also offers translation and data annotation services, strengthening its position as one of today’s most versatile transcription providers.

Many customers who use TranscribeMe opt for the AI transcription option because it’s faster and cheaper. But if the result doesn’t meet your expectations, the company allows you to upgrade to human transcription services by simply paying the price difference.

TranscribeMe may be ideal for users with a large quantity of transcription work but aren’t too concerned about getting verbatim documents.

If cost is a primary consideration in your budgeting, it could be one of the better providers that can meet your quality requirements without breaking the bank.

Turnaround time: Depends on the transcription type ordered.

– Machine Express (computer-generated transcripts): Completed in about 3x the duration of the audio file (i.e., 30 minutes for a 10-minute file). 

– First Draft: One business day for transcripts without timestamps and speaker IDs. If included, two to three business days. 

– Standard: One to three days.

– Verbatim: Two to five days. 

Price: TranscribeMe’s most affordable transcription option is Machine Express, which starts at only $0.07 per audio minute.

TranscribeMe offers three human transcription packages:

– First Draft starts at $0.79 per minute (with ~98% average accuracy and next-day delivery)

– Standard starts at $1.25 per minute (99%+ accuracy guarantee and 1-3 business day delivery)

– Verbatim starts at $2 per minute (every word captured; delivery in 2-5 business days)

Pros

  • Speaker names and time stamping are included in all packages
  • Affordable pricing plans
  • Offers both human- and AI-based transcription services

Cons

  • Slow compared to competitors
  • Limited collaboration features
  • They don’t certify their transcripts, meaning you can’t use them in court or for anything official
  • They are set up as a marketplace and use transcriptionists all over the world which causes inconsistencies in quality and accuracy
  • Customer service can be slow or non existent

Otter

Otter has been regarded as one of the most reliable AI transcription services since entering the market in 2016.

It features a mobile app, a Chrome extension, and 300 minutes of free monthly transcription and 30 minutes per conversation. So if you only need a few files transcribed, you can probably get by with their free plan alone. However, if you want the ability to import and transcribe pre-recorded audio and video files, you should go for their Pro or Business plans.

Otter is mainly a transcription service, but lately, they have been marketing themselves more as a meeting note-taker that can integrate with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.

If you’re busy and can’t attend a meeting, an Otter assistant will join the call so you don’t miss anything. You will then receive a transcript of your meeting as it happens or afterward. This service also provides key takeaways and an automated meeting outline.

Otter can also take voice notes, which means it can double as a convenient dictation app when needed.

Turnaround time: The typical processing time for imported audio and video files is around the same time as the file duration. For audio recorded using Otter, the typical turnaround time is several minutes after the recording ends. 

Price: Otter offers three subscription plans: Basic Plan (free), Pro Plan ($8.33 per month), and Business Plan ($20 per month).

Pros

  • The free plan may be more than enough for occasional users
  • It can be used as a dictation service
  • Integrates with major video conferencing platforms

Cons

  • May produce transcripts with low levels of accuracy
  • AI-powered transcription struggles to keep up with human speech
  • They don’t certify their transcripts, meaning you can’t use them in court or for anything official
  • They are not HIPAA or CJIS compliant
  • Customer service can be slow

Trint

Trint is an audio transcription service that uses a digital AI tool to transcribe your video and various types of audio files. It also features an online editing software and a mobile app.

Trint only has a subscription model, so if you want to pay as you go, you might be better off using another transcription company.

But if you’re a business or website owner with videos looking to grow your customer base, Trint may be the ideal choice. They can stitch text to your video and produce an SEO-searchable video that you can embed into your website.

Having searchable captions attached to your video content will make it easier for people to find you, thereby driving more traffic to your website.

Trint’s lowest plan is $48 per user/month, covering seven automated transcriptions for up to three users. 

Turnaround time: Processing time typically takes as long as the audio or video duration or less.

Price: The Starter Plan (up to seven files a month) costs $48 per user/month, while the Advanced Plan (unlimited transcription and translation) costs $60 per user/month.

Pros

  • Excellent online editor
  • Offers closed captioning and translation in more than 50 languages
  • Can create transcriptions in over 30 languages

Cons

  • A bit on the expensive side for digital transcription
  • High error rate for complex files
  • They don’t certify their transcripts, meaning you can’t use them in court or for anything official
  • They are not HIPAA or CJIS compliant

Sonix

Sonix is a fully AI-based transcription software that offers quick turnaround times and accurate transcription.

However, getting your transcripts fast comes with a trade-off. Since Sonix is fully automated, you won’t enjoy the same accuracy level as human-generated transcripts. Still, the streamlined editing tools and competitive pricing can make up for it.

Sonix’s in-browser editor has several useful features, including speaker identification, time stamps, a custom dictionary, comments and notes (handy for group projects), and multiple export options.

This online transcription service integrates with tools like Vimeo, Zoom, YouTube, and Dropbox.

Turnaround time: A typical 30-minute file only takes a few minutes to transcribe.

Price: Pay-as-you-go transcription starts at $10 per hour of audio. A Premium subscription for users requiring more frequent transcription and advanced collaboration tools costs $5 per hour plus $22 per user/month.

Pros

  • Faster turnaround times
  • Provides accurate transcription services
  • Easy-to-use online editor

Cons

  • No integration with Google Meet or Microsoft Teams
  • AI summaries could be better
  • They don’t certify their transcripts, meaning you can’t use them in court or for anything official
  • They are not HIPAA or CJIS compliant

Descript

If you use transcription mainly for podcast and video editing, you’ll find that Descript has superb editing features that will make the entire process easier.

For instance, if you cut a sentence in your transcript, it will also be automatically cut from the audio or video. This makes achieving smooth cuts much easier, which can be helpful, especially for those who have yet to gain video editing skills.

Another great editing feature is Studio Sound, which removes echo and background noise from muddy audio.

You will also love the Overdub feature, which “copies” your voice so you can insert a sentence or two in the podcast without re-recording the whole thing.

The part where Descript falls short is in its accuracy. Compared to the other apps on this list, this one produces quite a lot of transcription errors.

A solution to this is purchasing the White Glove human transcription service, but you should be ready to spend more than the regular rate. It’s a bit pricey at $2 per minute, and there’s also a length limit of two hours for every audio file you upload.

But if you’re okay with less-than-perfect transcripts and are willing to make some manual edits to clean them up, then Descript can still be a good option.

Turnaround time: The White Glove service has an average turnaround of 24 hours. 

Price: The Creator plan costs $12 per user/month for 10 hours of transcription, while the Pro plan costs $24 per user/month for 30 transcription hours.

Pros

  • Makes podcast and video editing a breeze
  • Audio customization
  • Overdub feature allows voice cloning

Cons

  • Lower accuracy rate than other options
  • A bit on the expensive side
  • They don’t certify their transcripts, meaning you can’t use them in court or for anything official
  • They are not HIPAA or CJIS compliant

GMR Transcription

GMR Transcription is a human transcription service offering a range of related services, such as editing, translation, and proofreading.

Verbatim transcription and time stamping are also available upon request at additional costs.

They can also convert your paper documents into electronic ones, which is perfect for offices going paperless.

GMR Transcription is known for its high-quality transcripts. However, their services are more expensive, and the turnaround is slower than the other providers we’ve reviewed. But in particular circumstances, the company offers same-day transcription.

GMR Transcription provides bulk discounts, accepts videos in all file formats, and supports transcription in multiple languages. However, many customers are discouraged from using them because of their complicated and expensive pricing structure. That’s why GMR transcription is primarily used by educational institutions, corporate entities, and government organizations.

Turnaround time: GMR Transcription offers same-day and next-day services. Rush requests take one to two days to finish. Standard requests take three to five days to complete. The “discount” option (the cheapest one) takes three to four weeks.

Price: Starts at $1.25 per audio minute to $4.50. The rates increase depending on the number of speakers, desired turnaround time, and audio quality.

Pros

  • Very high accuracy rates
  • Additional services available
  • Supports transcription in multiple languages

Cons

  • Slow turnaround times
  • Extra fees for complex audio
  • They are under a 20 year FTC penalty for violating the privacy rights of thousands of former customers
  • They don’t certify their transcripts, meaning you can’t use them in court or for anything official
  • They are not HIPAA or CJIS compliant

Ditto Transcripts

Ditto Transcripts (yours truly) is a transcription service offering various features and pricing options.

We are similar to other providers in terms of price, turnaround time, user interface, and file formats. However, what sets us apart is our unbeatable transcript quality and superb customer support.

Our company uses a team of experienced and certified transcriptionists to produce high-quality transcripts. Our U.S.-based human transcribers have 10+ years of experience under their belts and are trained in the business, medical, legal, and law enforcement industries.

Even if your audio contains speakers with heavy accents, background noise, or muddy quality, our skilled workers can handle them.

More importantly, we abide by HIPAA and CJIS rules, assuring that your files are handled with utmost security and confidentiality.

Ditto Transcripts’ customer service is also the best in the industry. Unlike our competitors, we offer 24/7 customer support via call or email to answer your questions or concerns. We guarantee a 100% response rate because no question or issue is too small for us—all are equally important and deserve our attention.

Turnaround time: Guaranteed 24-48 hours for rush requests. 6‒10 business days for regular projects.

Price: General transcription services cost between $1.50 and $5.00 per audio minute. The actual price varies depending on the number of speakers and/or volume of minutes, audio quality, the turnaround time required, and unique needs and situations.

Pros

  • U.S.-based human transcriptionists
  • Guaranteed 99% transcript accuracy
  • Unlimited and 24/7 customer support
  • HIPAA and CJIS compliant
  • Will certify your transcripts for court and testify if necessary
  • Excellent customer service – the industry leader
  • Has been awarded multiple state, local, and federal contracts

Cons

  • Turnaround time for regular projects can be faster
  • Rates increase depending on the audio difficulty
  • More expensive than the marketplace companies listed above

Which Transcription Service Is Best for You?

Ultimately, the best transcription service for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. Ditto Transcripts is a good option if you’re looking for an affordable service with fast turnaround times, high-quality transcripts, and top-notch customer support.

We’ve been leading the industry since 2010, providing personalized transcription services to hundreds of customers in our home state of Colorado and states coast to coast. You may reach us at (720) 287-3710 for more information about our services. We are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time.

Looking For A Transcription Service?

Ditto Transcripts is a U.S.-based HIPAA and CJIS compliant company with experienced U.S. transcriptionists. Learn how we can help with your next project!