10 Best Free AI Transcription Tools
AI has revolutionized the transcription industry, delivering near-perfect accuracy while adding powerful features like summarization, note-taking, and translation. Many platforms now offer these advanced tools for free, making high-quality transcription more accessible than ever.
In this blog, we'll explore the best free AI transcription tools available today, comparing their key features, pros, and cons. By the end, you'll know which platform best suits your needs, workflow, and language preferences.
Let's get started.
Top 10 Free AI Transcription Tools Reviewed & Compared
To quickly identify which tool best fits your needs, we've created a comparison table below. Whether you prioritize language support, meeting integration, or file upload flexibility, this at-a-glance overview will guide you to the perfect transcription solution for your specific use case.
| Free Transcription Tool | Best For | Number of Supported Languages |
| Maestra | Live transcription for meetings, events, and streams | 125+ |
| Otter | Meeting transcription with automated summaries | English, French, Spanish |
| Google Voice Typing | Quick dictation directly in Google Docs | 150+ |
| Restream | Audio/video file transcriptions for content creators | 15 |
| Live Transcribe | Real-time accessibility for Android users | 70+ |
| TurboScribe | Daily file uploads with high accuracy | 98+ |
| Krisp | Meeting transcription with noise cancellation | English (paid plans for other languages) |
| Transkriptor | Multilingual file transcription with flexible upload options | 100+ |
| Notta | Business professionals needing meeting transcription and AI summaries | 58 |
| Riverside | Quick, no-account transcription for podcasters and content creators | 100+ |
1. Maestra
Maestra offers a completely free live transcription app powered by AI, supporting over 125 languages for instant, accurate captions. You simply select your language and start speaking; the tool handles the rest in real time with precision. When finished, you can download the transcript as a Word or TXT file, or upgrade to display translated captions in your chosen language.
Pros
- Live accurate transcription in 125+ languages
- Integrates with Zoom, OBS, vMix, and Microsoft Teams
- Fully customizable captions with adjustable fonts, colors, and styles
Cons
- Translation features require a paid upgrade
- Also offers an audio to text converter for file uploads, which requires a paid plan
2. Otter
Otter is one of the most popular meeting transcription tools, and with a plan of 300 minutes per month, we can say that it is almost entirely free. It also integrates seamlessly with video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, automatically joining meetings to capture and transcribe discussions.
Pros
- Real-time transcription with speaker identification
- Automated summaries with action items and outlines
- 3 lifetime audio/video file uploads in the free plan
Cons
- Free plan has limits (number of minutes and file imports)
- Accuracy can decrease with poor audio quality
3. Google Voice Typing
Google Voice Typing uses speech recognition technology to convert live audio to text on a Google Docs file. It's one of our favorite methods for quick, no-fuss transcription for dictation and notes, directly in your browser without any third-party tool. You can also activate it on Chrome with just a few clicks and start speaking to see your words appear instantly.
Pros
- 100% free and built right into Google Docs and Chrome
- Supports voice commands for punctuation and formatting
- Available in more than 100 languages
Cons
- Requires internet access
- Does not work for transcribing pre-recorded audio files
4. Restream
Restream is primarily a multistreaming platform that offers free AI-powered transcription for audio and video files. The standalone tool is particularly useful for content creators who need quick, one-off transcriptions.
Pros
- High accuracy rate
- Simple, easy to use interface
- Supports several common audio/video file formats
Cons
- Limited language support (around 15 languages)
- Requires sign-up to download the transcript
5. Live Transcribe
Live Transcribe is Google's accessibility-focused Android app that provides free real-time speech-to-text transcription for conversations and environmental sounds. Designed primarily for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, it works in over 70 languages.
Pros
- On-device processing for privacy
- Can identify non-speech sounds like doorbells or baby crying
- Offline mode available
Cons
- Android only (not available on iOS)
- Designed for live conversations only; not for transcribing audio files
6. TurboScribe
As one of the best free AI transcription services, TurboScribe allows you to upload audio and video files and get accurate transcripts in seconds. The tool generally does well with accents, background noise, and even low audio quality.
Pros
- Generous free plan with up to 3 files daily
- Supports 98+ languages
- Fast processing speed and high accuracy
Cons
- File duration limitations on the free version (up to 30 minutes)
- Free transcription comes with TurboScribe branding
7. Krisp
Krisp is primarily an AI-powered noise cancellation tool that also offers meeting transcription and note-taking features. While primarily known for removing background noise during calls, its transcription capabilities have become increasingly robust. You can use it to transcribe meetings in English, and even generate AI-powered summaries after each call.
Pros
- Works with any conferencing app (Zoom, Teams, Meet, etc.)
- 2 daily AI notes and action items in the free plan
- Noise cancellation for 60 minutes per day
Cons
- Free transcription currently supports only English; other languages require a paid upgrade
- Transcription is a secondary feature; primarily focused on noise cancellation
8. Transkriptor
Supporting over 100 languages, Transkriptor is a solid AI tool for users who need multilingual on-demand transcription. You can upload files, paste links, or record directly in the browser, and the platform will automatically generate an accurate transcript complete with speaker identification and timestamps.
Pros
- Simple web interface with multiple upload options
- AI-powered chat and summary tools
- Free live and editable transcription in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Turkish
Cons
- Free version offers limited usage (only one 30-minute transcription per day)
- Processing time may slow down with long files
9. Notta
Notta is a versatile transcription service that excels at both real-time and recorded audio transcription. It integrates with major video conferencing platforms and offers AI-powered meeting summaries, making it ideal for business professionals.
Pros
- 50 file uploads and 10 AI summaries per month
- Speaker identification
- Integrates with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Slack
Cons
- Free plan limited to 120 minutes per month
- Free users can only record up to 3 minutes per conversation
10. Riverside
While Riverside is best known as a professional recording platform for podcasters and content creators, their standalone transcription tool is accessible to anyone and supports multiple languages. The tool is particularly handy for quick transcription needs when you don't want to commit to a subscription service.
Pros
- Free transcription tool available without account creation
- Supports multiple file formats and languages
- High accuracy powered by advanced AI models
Cons
- Lacks advanced features like speaker identification in the free tool
- Limited export option (TXT or SRT)
Benefits of Free AI Transcription Software
AI-powered transcription has transformed how we convert speech to text, making professional-quality transcripts accessible to everyone without breaking the bank. What once required expensive services or hours of manual typing can now be accomplished in minutes with just a few clicks.
Let's explore the key benefits that make free AI transcription such a game-changer.
Enhanced Efficiency
With artificial intelligence taking over the transcription field, the speed and accuracy of transcripts is better than ever. You can now transcribe hours of audio content in minutes and only need to proofread a little bit to achieve %100 accuracy.
Even without any editing, these tools we provided in the list have near-perfect accuracy, eliminating the need to do human-editing on most transcription related works.
Improved Accessibility
Free AI transcription brings essential accessibility benefits. It allows hearing-impaired audiences to engage with audio and video content, while also helping those who prefer reading or consume content on mute. Providing transcripts not only broadens your audience reach but also enhances overall user experience, and with so many free tools available, there’s no reason not to use them.
Greater Accuracy
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of transcription (even for humans) is understanding multilingual nuance and cultural context. AI models are rapidly improving in this area, learning to recognize accents, dialects, and idiomatic expressions with impressive precision.
While occasional errors can still occur, today’s AI transcription tools already deliver contextually accurate results across dozens of languages. With the pace of advancement, achieving near-perfect multilingual transcription is right around the corner.
Conclusion
Built on sophisticated speech recognition technology, AI continues to improve its understanding of linguistic nuances, accents, and diverse audio conditions. The tools in this guide deliver high accuracy, multilingual support, and useful features, all free to use.
Whether you're capturing meeting notes with Otter, going multilingual with Maestra, or simply dictating thoughts into Google Docs, there's never been a better time to embrace free AI transcription. Pick one that matches your workflow, test it out on your next project, and see the difference for yourself.
FAQ
Which free AI transcription software is the most accurate?
Maestra is one of the most accurate free AI transcription software available. It delivers highly precise live transcriptions in 125+ languages, which you can download as a DOCX or TXT file.
What is the best free live transcription tool?
If you’re looking for a reliable free live transcription tool, Maestra stands out for its accuracy and ease of use. It instantly converts speech to text in real time in 125+ languages. The tool works directly in your browser, no installation or account required.
What is the best free AI transcription service for audio files?
Two of the best free AI transcription services for audio files are TurboScribe and Riverside. Both give you free, high-quality transcriptions in your browser. Just upload your file and let the tools handle the rest.
Can AI transcription tools distinguish between different speakers?
Yes, most AI transcription tools today can distinguish between different speakers using advanced speech recognition technology. This process, known as speaker diarization, assigns labels to each person in a conversation. While occasional mix-ups may occur, the results are increasingly accurate and consistent.
Can AI transcription services handle medical or legal terminology?
AI transcription tools can handle medical and legal terms well, thanks to improvements in specialized language modeling. They can identify complex jargon and clinical terms with precision. You can also improve accuracy by adding specific words and phrases to a custom dictionary if the tool provides that feature.
Are free transcription tools secure for sensitive content?
Security varies significantly between free transcription tools, so it's crucial to review each platform's privacy policy before uploading sensitive content. For highly confidential material like legal documents or business discussions, we recommend investing in paid enterprise plans that offer encryption and compliance certifications.
Can ChatGPT do transcription?
ChatGPT can transcribe audio files, but transcription availability depends on your plan. The feature is only available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise subscribers. Once you have one of these plans, you can upload audio or video files directly into the chat, and ChatGPT will automatically generate an accurate, well-formatted transcript within seconds.
