Step-by-step guide · try it free on this page
How to Transcribe Audio to Text
Upload the recording, wait a few minutes while it transcribes, then export the text as TXT, SRT or Word. The uploader is right here, so you can follow the steps with your own file. Files up to 30 minutes are free in full.
Transcribe files
Drop audio or video files here
MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, OGG, MP4, MOV and more · up to 3 files at once
Browse filesNo account needed: 3 files a day free, full transcripts up to 30 min each. for 30 more free minutes.
- Free up to 30 min per file
- No sign-up to transcribe
- Speaker labels and timestamps
- TXT, SRT and Word export
How to transcribe audio in 3 steps
- 1
Upload your audio file
Drop an MP3, M4A, WAV or video file into the box at the top of this page, or record from your microphone.
- 2
Wait while it transcribes
The language is detected and each speaker is labeled. An hour of audio is usually done in a few minutes.
- 3
Export as TXT, SRT or DOCX
Read and copy the transcript on the page, or download it as plain text, subtitles or a Word document.
Free limits at a glance
| Without an account | Free account | |
|---|---|---|
| Free files per day | 3 | 3 |
| Files up to 30 minutes | Full transcript | Full transcript |
| Files over 30 minutes | First 10 minutes | First 10 minutes, or use your minutes |
| Extra minutes | None | 30 on sign-up |
| File size | 500 MB | 2 GB |
| Files at once | 3 | 50 |
| TXT, Word, SRT and VTT downloads | After a free sign-up | Yes |
| Credit card | No | No |
Every file: up to 10 hours, 90+ languages, speaker labels and timestamps. After that, one-time packs: 3 hours for $6.99, 15 hours for $19.99 or 50 hours for $49.99, and minutes never expire. The original audio is deleted after transcription (within 48 hours at most), and we never use your files to train AI models.
Listen to an English test recording and inspect the actual output →
Step 1: Upload your audio file
Scroll back to the box at the top of this page and drag your file onto it, or click Browse files. On a phone, tapping Browse files opens your recordings, Files app or photo library. You can also press Record and talk straight into your microphone, which is handy for dictating notes.
You don't need to convert anything first. Common audio files (MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, OGG, OPUS, AAC) and video files (MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV) all work, so an iPhone voice memo, a WhatsApp voice message or a Zoom recording can go in as it is. From a video, only the sound track is used.
- Files up to 10 hours long
- Up to 500 MB and 3 files at once without an account
- Up to 2 GB and 50 files at once with a free account
Step 2: Wait while it transcribes
Before you press Transcribe, open Speaker recognition & more settings if you want to change anything. The language is detected automatically; pick it yourself if the recording opens with music or a long silence. Speaker labels are on by default. If you know how many people talk, set the number of speakers, which makes the labels cleaner. Turn labels off for a single voice, like a lecture or a voice memo.
Then wait. Transcription runs faster than the audio plays: a 30-minute file usually takes a minute or two, and an hour of audio a few minutes. If you are signed in, you can close the tab while a long file runs; we email you when it is ready, with download links in the email.
Step 3: Check the text and export it
The transcript appears under the upload box, split into sentences, grouped by speaker (Speaker A, Speaker B and so on) and stamped with the time each sentence starts. Read it through once. Names, brand names and jargon are where any speech-to-text engine makes most of its mistakes, and the timestamps make it quick to check a line against the audio.
Copy the text in one click, or download it. Downloads need a free account, and a transcript you made before signing up moves into the new account.
| Format | Use it for |
|---|---|
| TXT | Pasting into notes, a search tool or an AI chat for a summary |
| Word (DOCX) | Editing, fixing names and sharing with someone who will review it |
| SRT | Subtitles for YouTube, Premiere Pro, CapCut and most video editors |
| VTT | Captions for web video players |
Other ways to transcribe audio to text
An online tool like this one is the quickest route for most recordings, but it is not the only one. Here is how the common options compare, so you can pick the one that fits your file.
Microsoft Word has a Transcribe button (under Dictate on the Home tab) for Microsoft 365 subscribers, with a monthly upload limit. Adobe Premiere Pro can transcribe the audio in a video project, which suits editors who are already making captions there. Google Docs voice typing only listens through your microphone, so you have to play the recording aloud next to it in real time. Whisper, the open-source model from OpenAI, runs on your own computer if you are comfortable with Python and a terminal.
| Method | Cost | Speaker labels | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transcribe Audio (this page) | Free up to 30 min per file, 3 files a day; then from $1 an hour | Yes | Any recording, on a computer or a phone |
| Microsoft Word Transcribe | Needs a Microsoft 365 subscription | Yes | People who already work in Word |
| Adobe Premiere Pro | Needs a Premiere Pro subscription | Yes | Video editors making captions |
| Google Docs voice typing | Free | No | A short clip, played aloud in real time |
| Whisper on your computer | Free | Not built in | Private files, if you can use a terminal |
| Typing it by hand | Free, but takes hours | You add them | Very short clips |
Tips for a more accurate transcript
The engine can only write down what it can hear. Most transcripts that need heavy fixing come from the recording, not the software, so a few habits before you press record save time afterwards.
- Keep the microphone close to whoever talks. Distance hurts more than background noise.
- Avoid cafés and rooms with music; clinking cups are hard to filter out.
- Ask people not to talk over each other, which keeps speaker labels clean.
- Have speakers say their names at the start, so you can rename Speaker A and B quickly.
- Set the language yourself if the file starts with music or silence.
- Upload the original file rather than a re-compressed copy.
How much it costs to transcribe audio
Files up to 30 minutes are transcribed in full for free, 3 a day, without an account. A longer file shows its first 10 minutes free, and a free account adds 30 minutes on sign-up. After that, minutes come in one-time packs: 3 hours for $6.99, 15 hours for $19.99 or 50 hours for $49.99. There is no subscription, the minutes never expire, and the cost of each file is shown before it is processed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I transcribe audio to text for free?
Upload the file in the box at the top of this page. Files up to 30 minutes are transcribed in full for free, 3 a day, with no account. Longer files show their first 10 minutes free.
How long does it take to transcribe an hour of audio?
Usually a few minutes. Typing an hour of audio by hand takes several hours.
Can I transcribe audio on my phone?
Yes. Open this page in Safari or Chrome on your phone, tap Browse files and pick the recording, or press Record. No app is needed.
Can Microsoft Word transcribe audio?
Yes, if you have a Microsoft 365 subscription: Word has a Transcribe option under Dictate, with a monthly upload limit. Without a subscription, an online tool like this one is the simpler route.
How do I transcribe audio with more than one speaker?
Leave Recognize speakers on, and set the number of speakers if you know it. Each sentence is then labeled Speaker A, Speaker B and so on, which you can rename in the Word or TXT file.
How do I turn a transcript into subtitles?
Download the SRT (or VTT) file after the transcript is ready. It uses the same timestamps as the transcript and opens in YouTube, Premiere Pro, CapCut and most video editors.
Which languages can I transcribe?
More than 90, including English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese. The language is detected automatically, or you can pick it.
Does it translate the audio?
No. The transcript is in the language that was spoken. You can paste it into a translation tool afterwards.
More ways to transcribe
Try it on your own file
Files up to 30 minutes get a full transcript free, no account needed.
Upload a fileUpdated November 2026