Free & Paid: Top 15 AI Voice-to-Text Transcription Tools

There are several classifications, such as AI vs. manual transcription, and web vs. PC/smartphone apps. What are the differences?

AI Transcription vs. Manual Transcription

One classification of transcription is whether it's done "by AI" or "manually by a person using a keyboard."

Most of the tools and services introduced this time are AI transcription services.
Among those introduced, 'Koelabo' is a service where writers perform the transcription.

With Stable Diffusion (AI image generation) in 2022 and ChatGPT in 2023, it feels like AI adoption is rapidly accelerating.
The availability of high-quality transcription services is, of course, largely due to AI.

Before that, the function of transcribing audio files using computers already existed.
However, it can be said that until the recent widespread adoption of AI, it lacked practicality.
Perhaps some of you may have experienced trying to use voice input on an old computer only to find it unusable.

So, previously, if you wanted to transcribe something, you had no choice but to tirelessly type on a keyboard while listening to the audio file.
You either spent your own time transcribing it, or you paid a professional to do it.
In both cases, a person was ultimately doing the typing.

But now it's different!
Services like 'Mojiokoshi-san' offer high-quality transcription for free or at very reasonable prices!

Transcription is one of the fields that has benefited the most from AI.
If you only know old transcription software, you'll surely be amazed by the performance when you try it!

So, let's start by experiencing transcription for free.

Transcription Environment (Web / PC / Mobile)

Next, another classification is the environment in which transcription is performed.
This refers to the difference between doing it on the web, using a PC app, or using a mobile app.

Previously, voice recognition and transcription were often done by installing an application (software) on a PC.
However, with the widespread adoption of AI transcription, the situation has changed.

AI Transcription Primarily Used via Web

Now that AI transcription services are widespread, the most commonly used are web-based services, meaning those used in browsers like Chrome, Safari, or Edge.

For example, with 'Mojiokoshi-san,' you just open the top page and upload your audio or video files!

As such, many AI transcription services are accessed by opening their website in a browser.

The main reason why many AI transcription services are web-based is that high-performance computers are required to use advanced AI.
While some enthusiasts run various AIs on their high-performance home PCs, not all AIs can be run on a PC set up at home.
Furthermore, even if an AI could run on a home PC, you probably wouldn't want to transfer audio data to your home PC for work purposes.

In that regard, if you upload audio files to powerful computers on the internet, the performance of your home computer doesn't matter.

Web Allows Audio Transcription on Any Device

Web-based transcription services also offer another advantage!

That is, they can be used consistently on any device, whether it's a PC or a smartphone.

For example, you can record audio on your smartphone while out and about, then upload it to an AI transcription service via your browser.
When you return to the office, you can check the transcription results from your computer.
Such usage is easily possible.

Of course, there's no installation hassle either.

If you're using a transcription service now, we recommend using web services, including 'Mojiokoshi-san'!

Upload vs. Real-time

Finally, another point of difference among services is whether you upload an audio file for transcription or if the spoken content is transcribed in real-time.

The difference between upload-based services and real-time services is the time it takes for transcription to complete.
Real-time transcription services, naturally, will

the transcription is already complete the moment the meeting or other event ends.
On the other hand, with transcription services that require uploading, no matter how fast they are, there's always a time delay after the recording finishes, waiting for the upload and processing to complete.

However,
It's important to consider how much of a time difference there actually is in practical use.
For example, with meeting minutes or interviews, to finalize the content, you need to check the transcribed text for errors, incorrect kanji conversions, or misspelled proper nouns, right?
This effort is also necessary for real-time transcription.

Furthermore, services like 'Mojiokoshi-san' that transcribe uploaded files have the advantage of being compatible with many types of audio and video files, as you can simply upload them later.

While real-time transcription services are necessary for uses like "simultaneously broadcasting transcribed content," in other aspects, services that use uploaded files offer more flexibility, wouldn't you agree?

Conclusion: What is the Best Voice-to-Text Tool?

Up to this point, we've looked at various types of transcription tools from different angles.

So, based on that, what kind of tools are recommended?

In conclusion:

• AI transcription
• Web-based access
• Upload-based usage

These are the recommended features if you're looking to transcribe audio now.

If you're searching for a transcription service, choosing one with these three points in mind will surely yield excellent results.

'Mojiokoshi-san' is one such transcription tool, so why not try it for free first?

How to Transcribe Audio with 'Mojiokoshi-san': Using Meeting Minutes as an Example

So, what's the process for transcribing audio using a voice-to-text tool?

We'll explain how to transcribe meeting minutes using 'Mojiokoshi-san' as an example.

1. Record the Audio

First, record the meeting audio using your smartphone or an IC recorder.

A crucial point for smooth meeting minute transcription is to record in the best possible audio quality.

AI transcription is highly capable and can transcribe even with some noise, but it's always best to record in the highest quality possible from the start.

It's recommended to pay attention to audio quality, such as placing the recorder where participants' voices can be easily picked up and where sounds of shuffling papers are minimized, or ideally, using an external microphone.

2. Upload the Meeting Minutes Audio File

Upload the audio file for your meeting minutes from the 'Mojiokoshi-san' homepage.

It's very easy to use.

If you're on a smartphone, after opening the 'Mojiokoshi-san' homepage,

Tap "Select",

And simply choose your meeting minutes audio file.

Example of selecting on iPhone

Example of selecting on Android

If uploading from a PC, simply select the file from "Choose File" or drag and drop it.

3. Start Transcribing the Meeting Minutes

Once the file is selected and uploaded, transcription will begin automatically.

Please wait a moment for it to complete.

*For audio files longer than 10 minutes, you will be notified of the transcription results via email, so you can close the screen after uploading. For shorter files, it's best to keep the screen open.

4. Meeting Minutes Transcription Completed

Once transcription is finished, the results will be displayed on the 'Mojiokoshi-san' page.

This completes the process for transcribing meeting minutes.

Important Considerations When Choosing an Audio Transcription Tool

So, what should you keep in mind when selecting a transcription tool?

Check if a Free Trial is Available

The first thing to consider when choosing a transcription tool is:
Can you try it for free before paying?

For example, 'Mojiokoshi-san' allows you to experience it for free without registration (Learn more about the free trial here).

The reason why such a free trial feature is important is that
it allows you to check the actual quality of the transcription.

It would be very disappointing if you couldn't transcribe until you paid, and then found the quality to be low once you did.
While AI transcription performance is steadily improving, there are still strengths and weaknesses depending on the audio quality, such as specialized fields or noise.
Therefore, by testing a small portion of your audio, you can determine if the transcription service can smoothly transcribe the audio you want.

'Mojiokoshi-san' offers a free trial!

As mentioned above, 'Mojiokoshi-san' offers a free trial!
You can try it for free for up to 1 minute without registration, but by signing up for a free membership, you can transcribe audio files up to 1 minute long using AI for up to 10 minutes daily.

Why not experience the high quality of the latest AI transcription for free first?

Check the Available Transcription Time

The transcription time available varies by tool.
Also, even within the same service, the available transcription time may change depending on the plan.

For example, 'Mojiokoshi-san' offers multiple plans, from a free plan of up to 10 minutes per day to a plan that allows 20 hours of transcription per month (Reference: Features of Mojiokoshi-san | Audio, Video, and Image Transcription).
When subscribing to a transcription tool, choose one that matches the length and frequency of the audio you need to transcribe.

Check Security

Security is a major concern when using transcription tools.
Especially for business use, such as transcribing meeting minutes, it's essential that the service is recognized as having no security issues; otherwise, it naturally won't be approved for work use.

Therefore, when choosing a transcription tool, check that each service has appropriate security

It is important to check whether measures are being taken.

For example, "Mojiokoshi-san" takes comprehensive security measures, including not logging data with its AI engine (Reference 1: "About Specifications and Security" Reference 2: "Terms of Service").
This is the most crucial point when using transcription for business purposes, so be sure to check the security measures of transcription services in advance!

Check How Many Languages Are Supported

Most people reading this article are likely looking for a transcription tool for Japanese.
However, the number of languages supported is also an important factor.

Naturally, many services available in Japan support English in addition to Japanese.
However, for other languages, you might find that services don't support them unless you choose carefully.

The reason why multi-language support is important is that transcribing content makes it easy to translate into Japanese.

With the widespread adoption of tools like DeepL, translation is another field where AI has dramatically improved quality.
By combining AI transcription with AI translation, you can easily read overseas business documents.

For example, "Mojiokoshi-san" supports 99 languages!
When choosing a transcription tool, don't forget to check if it supports multiple languages.

Summary: How to Choose the Best Voice Transcription Tool

This time, we explained recommended voice transcription tools and specific ways to choose and use them.

Finally, here's a summary of the software and services introduced in this article:

• Mojiokoshi-san: All-purpose. AI automatically transcribes by simply uploading files.
• Texter: Easily record voice memos and transcribe on iPhone or Apple Watch.
• Edivoice: High-performance voice input keyboard for Android.
• Notta: Smartphone transcription app strong in translation. Dedicated microphone also recommended.
• AutoMemo: IC recorder + transcription tool set.
• Koelab: Transcription proxy service by professional transcribers.
• Voice Rep Pro: Windows software that makes manual transcription easy.
• User Local Voice Meeting Minutes System: Easily create web conference minutes by sharing a URL.
• Otter: English-focused transcription tool with convenient speaker identification and automatic highlighting features.

referrer" target="_blank">Group Transcribe: Microsoft's meeting transcription tool

RIMO Voice: Transcription tool available with time-based billing

YOMEL: Transcription tool specialized for meetings

Recoco: Free iPhone app

Speechy Lite: Free iPhone app with paid feature unlocks

AmiVoice Cloud Platform: Add transcription functionality to your own tools and developed apps

Each tool has its own capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses, so experiment with different options to find the best software or service for your needs, or even combine them!

Many tools offer free trials, so it's a good idea to try them out and experience their usability firsthand.

■ AI transcription service "Mr. Transscription"

"Mr. Transcription" is an online transcription tool that can be used from zero initial cost and 1,000 yen per month (* free version available).

• Supports more than 20 file formats such as audio, video, and images
• Can be used from both PC and smartphone
• Supports technical terms such as medical care, IT, and long-term care
• Supports creation of subtitle files and speaker separation
• Supports transcription in approximately 100 languages ​​including English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Italian, etc.

To use it, just upload the audio file from the site. Transcription text is available in seconds to tens of minutes.
You can use it for free if you transcribe it for up to 10 minutes, so please try it once.