Comparison of transcription services (AI apps, individuals, businesses) [7 choices for 3 types]
Sept. 18, 2024
I'd like to use a transcription service, but there are so many apps and specialized companies available that I don't know which one to choose...
Are you worried about something like that?
The term "transcription service" covers a wide range of types, including cloud services that utilize AI, AI transcription apps that can be used on smartphones or PCs, transcription companies where professional writers type on a keyboard, and, more recently, freelancers who take on individual transcription jobs using crowdsourcing sites .
Furthermore, there are even more services available among the tools and specialist companies, so many people may not understand the differences between them and are left scratching their heads trying to narrow it down to one.
I've had the experience of hiring the first company I saw without really knowing what they were doing, only to later regret it when I found a cheaper, higher quality service.
So, this time we will summarize recommended transcription services from AI apps, individuals, and professional companies , and also explain how to choose the best service for your purpose .
If you choose a service that is not a good match for your intended purpose, you will not get satisfactory results and you will end up wasting time and money. Please read this article and find the perfect transcription service for you.
We recommend AI transcription services for transcription
First, I will start with the conclusion.
For transcription, we recommend an AI transcription service.
Types of transcription services
Transcription services include
- AI transcription web service
- AI transcription app for smartphones
- PC-installed transcription app
- Transcription by professional writers
- Crowdsourced transcription
There are different types:
*We will compare and introduce the detailed features of each in the latter half of the article, so please take a look!
When comparing these three, we recommend the "AI Transcription Service."
If you're looking for a transcription service now, choose the AI transcription service
If you are looking to start using a transcription service, we highly recommend the "AI transcription service."
An AI transcription service is a service that uses AI to transcribe the contents of audio and video files into text .
It is used in a wide range of fields, including meeting minutes, interviews, work site records, and job interviews.
AI has developed rapidly recently, and the performance of AI speech recognition has improved dramatically in the field of transcription, which converts speech into text.
In fact, voice recognition is a field that is well suited to AI , and has advanced to the point where it can smoothly transcribe difficult content that includes technical terms and proper nouns, or foreign languages that Japanese transcription services have difficulty handling.
The conversion time is also very short, and with the fast conversion speed of the AI, even long audio can be transcribed in about 10 minutes .
Of course, because the transcription is done by a computer, the price is much cheaper than hiring a professional writer .
It is highly accurate, takes little time, and is inexpensive.
If you are planning to use a transcription service, we recommend one that uses AI.
Comparison of recommended transcription services: AI transcription web services
Now let's compare the best transcription services.
First, let me introduce you to AI transcription services .
1. Mr. Transcription
For those who are looking to use a transcription service, we recommend "Mr. Transcription."
"Mr. Transcription" is an AI transcription service that is easy to use for a wide range of users, from individuals to companies , and features industry-leading voice recognition AI that is highly accurate and can process in a short amount of time .
It's a simple process that only requires uploading files from the top page , so even those who are new to transcription services can get started right away.
There are two types of AI you can use!
- PerfectVoice: Transcribing even long audio files in about 10 minutes, and supporting 100 languages
- AmiVoice: Speaker separation function (transcribes each speaker separately), transcribes in the same time as the audio file
It has the following characteristics:
A large number of terms from specialized fields such as medicine and IT have been registered, making it possible to transcribe audio files containing a lot of technical terms and proper nouns with a high degree of accuracy .
Compared to other services, which offer multiple transcription engines but do not allow you to choose the AI engine of your choice, Mr. Transcription allows you to freely choose the AI engine you want to use.
We can also handle the security aspects required for business use, such as providing assistance with filling out security checklists (more information here) .
It's also easy to use because it supports a wide range of file formats, including audio, images, videos, and PDFs .
Another key point is that there are multiple pricing plans available depending on the volume of data used.
It's a subscription system with no initial costs, so you can choose the plan that's best for you each month.
It's free for up to one minute of audio, making it a great first tool to choose.
If you're having trouble deciding on a transcription service, try Mr. Transcription first.
2. Smart Writing
Smart Secretary is an AI transcription service that uses voice and AI to streamline the creation of meeting minutes .
If you want to edit your transcript in more detail, we also recommend these online transcription services:
In addition to supporting both real-time voice transcription and file import, a major feature of this app is its easy-to-use editor (text editing tool) .
It also supports collaborative editing by multiple people , allowing for seamless work from transcribing meeting minutes in real time to editing the content to be finally saved.
It has acquired ISMS (Information Security Management System Conformity Assessment) so safety is also guaranteed.
It's no wonder that it's being adopted by major companies.
Prices start from 10,000 yen.
The trial period lasts for 14 days, during which you can try it free of charge.
3. Otter
Otter is an AI transcription service that specializes in converting English into text in real time .
It also has a speaker recognition function , which can dramatically reduce the time it takes to write reports and minutes in English.
Technological advances are being made rapidly, especially in the area of AI-based English speech recognition, but overseas AI transcription services often have high barriers to use.
In this regard, Otter has full support for Japanese , so you are less likely to be confused compared to other overseas services.
It is compatible with multiple devices , so you can check the transcription results simultaneously on your PC and smartphone.
You need to register and log in to use it, and there is a free plan.
This is an AI transcription service recommended if you only want to transcribe English.
4. RIMO Voice
RIMO Voice is an AI transcription service specializing in Japanese .
It supports transcription of audio in a variety of situations, such as writing interviews, taking notes on business negotiations and sales, and speeches at events.
In addition to AI transcription, it also has an AI summary function.
You can smoothly compile business content such as minutes into their final form.
All audio and video file formats are supported for transcription.
Pricing plans include personal plans (hourly billing) and business plans (monthly billing), and the personal plans also offer a free trial.
5.AutoMemo
AutoMemo is an AI transcription service that comes with an IC recorder and a cloud transcription service .
All you need to do to transcribe is press the record button.
The saved files are converted by AI on the cloud, and the audio and text can be checked using a dedicated app (they can also be sent by email).
By connecting it to a computer with an audio cable, you can also record and transcribe web conferences.
We use Whisper from Open AI for transcription AI.
It is operated by Sourcenext and offers both individual and corporate plans.
There are two types of AI voice recorders: "AutoMemo S" for 19,800 yen and "AutoMemo R" for 13,860 yen. When you purchase a voice recorder, the personal plan comes with one hour of free usage.
6.YOMEL
YOMEL is an AI transcription service for creating meeting minutes .
Its main function is to automatically convert the remarks of meeting participants into text using AI transcription, making it possible to complete minutes in a much shorter time than if they were to be typed in manually.
Another plus point is that it is compatible with a variety of web conferencing tools.
It is compatible with major tools such as ZOOM, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, so there is no need to worry when setting it up.
Of course, it can also be used to transcribe face-to-face meetings.
Usage is based on a monthly subscription fee, with pricing geared towards corporate use for business purposes.
There is also a 2-week trial period, which allows you to use up to 10 hours of transcription for free.
7. Ai PLANET - Voice Convert
Ai PLANET-Voice Convert is a transcription service that features an AI transcription engine called Watson, developed by IBM .
Transcription services that use IBM's Waston are few and far between , but they can produce transcriptions with a high degree of accuracy, just like the speech recognition AI developed by other major companies such as Google and Microsoft.
The feature supports real-time transcription and transcription by uploading a file.
*Only mp3 audio files and mp4 video files are supported.
It is suitable for a variety of corporate use cases and can be implemented on a dedicated cloud or on-premise, so it may be suitable even for situations with strict security constraints.
We also offer a low-cost ASP menu (subscription system) that can be used easily and quickly , making it suitable for situations where you want to keep implementation costs down.
Compared to other services, it gives the strong impression of being primarily for business use, but it is one service you should consider when introducing AI transcription to your company.
8. AI Transcription
As the name suggests, "AI Transcription" is a service that transcribes a variety of audio and video data.
It can be used for a wide range of purposes, including taking meeting notes, transcribing interview content, and subtitling for video production, which are the main purposes of AI transcription services .
Supported languages are nine: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian.
No membership registration is required, just upload your files to use it.
The service is run by Tokyo Transcription, a company famous for its transcriptions by writers , and offers access to three AI transcription engines: Google, Azure, and AmiVoice.
9. Sloos
Sloos is an AI transcription service that excels at transcribing individual speakers .
It has a comprehensive speaker separation function, and can transcribe audio recognized by a single microphone for each speaker .
It also supports integration with web conferencing systems such as ZOOM and Microsoft Teams.
10.One Minutes
One Minutes is an AI transcription service that supports real-time transcription.
A feature that is not available with other AI transcription services is the ability to translate into multiple languages in real time.
It can transcribe and translate more than 10 languages in real time , making it useful for multilingual meetings with people from overseas.
The transcribed content can be corrected and edited on the spot.
There are personal and corporate plans available, with the personal plan allowing 3 hours of usage per month and the corporate plan allowing from 10 hours to unlimited usage per month (depending on the contract).
Compared to other services, this service has strengths in foreign language support, making it recommended for people whose jobs require the use of multiple languages.
11.Notta
Notta is an AI transcription service that allows you to upload audio and video files and have them transcribed.
There is also a Chrome extension available that can transcribe audio from web pages.
Real-time transcription is also possible .
It also has a full range of other features, including dictionary registration (paid plan required) and multilingual translation.
Pricing is available for personal and business plans.
The enterprise plan is designed for small businesses who want to collaborate on transcription in one workspace.
12. User local voice recording system
The User Local Audio Minutes System is a simple AI transcription service that can transcribe audio during meetings .
Multiple people can use the transcription function by issuing and sharing a dedicated URL.
This is a recommended service if you want to pinpoint only meeting minutes.
User local audio minutes system
13.Texter
Texter is an AI transcription service for transcribing web conferences .
All you have to do is log in and click the "Start minutes" button to begin transcription , so you can transcribe web conferences smoothly and without any hesitation.
In addition to real-time transcription, you can also import audio files, images, PDFs, and videos and convert them into text .
The fee is 30,000 yen per month.
*There was previously information about a free plan, but it is no longer mentioned.
Comparison of recommended transcription services: AI transcription apps for smartphones
Next, we will briefly introduce AI transcription apps that can be used on iPhones and Android smartphones .
14. Group Transcribe
Group Transcribe is an AI transcription service for iPhone provided by Microsoft .
Install the app on your iPhone and use it.
This app combines web conferencing and AI transcription functions, and all meeting participants must install it to use it.
The speaker separation function is comprehensive.
Taking advantage of the fact that everyone has the app installed, it is possible to transcribe each speaker and take minutes of the meeting .
15. Speechy Lite
Speechy Lite is a voice input app for iPhone .
By using the built-in "Import audio file" function, you can transcribe audio files stored on your iPhone.
To use it, simply record the audio using the standard voice memo and open it in Speechy Lite by clicking "Share."
It also has a function that automatically corrects incorrect kanji .
16. Speechnotes
Speechnotes is a transcription app for Android .
The app version only supports real-time transcription, but the browser version also supports converting audio files into text (for a fee).
It has the ability to insert punctuation marks and other symbols using voice commands or a custom keyboard , so if there is an error in the voice recognition, you can correct it using the keyboard.
Comparison of recommended transcription services: PC-installed transcription apps
Although there are fewer of them than before, transcription apps that you can install on your PC are still available.
There are also products with a one-time license, so they are recommended for those who don't like monthly payments.
17.Voice Code
Voice Code is a PC-installed AI transcription app provided by Sourcenext .
This is an app for Windows PCs that has a voice input function that transcribes speech spoken through a microphone.
In order to transcribe recorded audio, you need to play the audio externally and have the app recognize the audio from a microphone or other device; however , you can achieve more accurate transcription by using a tool such as a "virtual audio device" that allows the app to recognize sounds being played inside the PC .
18.Voice Rep Pro 3
Voice Rep Pro 3 is a PC-installed AI transcription app that uses Google's AI speech recognition engine .
It is for Windows only and requires Google Chrome to work.
What makes it unique is that it is an all-in-one product that comes with an AI transcription app and a dedicated editor for editing the transcribed audio .
This is a one-time purchase product and one license can be installed on one PC.
Comparison of recommended transcription services: Transcription by professional writers
So far we have introduced AI transcription services, but you can also use services where professional writers transcribe on a keyboard , which was common before AI transcription became widespread.
Let us introduce you to the types of services we offer.
19. Koelabo
Koelabo is a transcription specialist that offers a good balance of price, delivery time, and quality .
- More than 800 experienced writers
- Same-day or next-day finishing possible
- We also handle large-scale projects of over 200,000 minutes.
- Obtained the Privacy Mark
These features enable us to respond to a wide range of needs and provide a reliable system in terms of safety.
Another plus point is that compared to competing services, the price is relatively reasonable for a transcription service provided by a writer .
20. Editage
Editage is another transcription service provided by professional writers.
We have been providing transcription services using professional writers since 2005, and have worked on transcribing a wide range of content for clients ranging from medical and academic institutions, mass media, law firms, to general corporations.
Its speciality is that it mainly focuses on transcribing foreign languages, including English .
In addition to English, it also supports Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Italian, and Russian .
Compared to other services, the biggest advantage is that the transcription is done by experts with extensive knowledge of foreign languages, so there are no errors in the content.
The same company also provides foreign language proofreading services, making this a great service to rely on when precision in content is required .
Comparison of recommended transcription services: Crowdsourcing edition
Finally, we will introduce a crowdsourcing site where you can find writers to request transcription.
21. CrowdWorks
CrowdWorks is one of the most well-known crowdsourcing sites.
CrowdWorks has a dedicated category for transcription (tape transcription), with over 3,000 registered jobs (as of December 2023).
In addition to registering a job and widely soliciting contractors, you can also request work by specifying a specific worker .
There are nearly 2,000 workers who have registered transcription on their profiles, so you can choose the best person by looking at their track record, etc.
If you are looking to recruit transcription writers on a crowdsourcing site, this is the first site you should register with.
22. Lancers
Lancers is a major crowdsourcing site alongside CrowdWorks .
There is a category for "transcription, transcription, and transcription," with nearly 15,000 jobs registered (as of December 2023).
There are approximately 1,500 crowdworkers who have registered transcriptions on their profiles.
As this is also a major site, there are a large number of crowdworkers registered, from experienced writers to new writers who can be hired at low prices .
To recruit crowdworkers, you can simply register with both CrowdWorks and Lancers.
Pricing and pros and cons of transcription services
So far, we have looked at various transcription services.
From here, we will compare the prices and advantages and disadvantages of each transcription method.
As mentioned at the beginning, transcription
- AI transcription web service
- AI transcription app for smartphones
- PC-installed AI transcription app
- Transcription by professional writers
- Crowdsourced transcription
There are several methods such as:
Each transcription method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the prices vary greatly.
I have briefly summarized the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of each.
AI transcription (web service, smartphone, PC)
Recently, there has been an increase in services and apps that can automatically transcribe text using AI.
Among the services introduced here,
Web Services:
- Transcription Mr.
- Smart Secretary
- Otter
- RIMO Voice
- AutoMemo
- YOMEL
- Ai PLANET - Voice Convert
- AI Transcription
- Sloos
- One Minute
- Notta
- User local audio minutes system
- Texter
Smartphone app:
- Group Transcribe
- Speechy Lite
- Speechnotes
PC-installed apps:
- Voice Code
- Voice Rep Pro 3
is applicable.
Automatic transcription by AI can easily transcribe without human intervention ,
- The deadline is approaching
- I want to transcribe immediately
- I want to outsource work at a lower cost by dividing up the work
- I'm tired of dealing with outsourced companies
This is recommended for people who:
The average rate is around 2.5 to 30 yen per minute .
Benefits of AI transcription
Above all, the biggest advantage is the low price .
The biggest feature of this service is that the unit price is very low because the transcription is done without human intervention. The lowest price is 2.5 yen per minute .
A two-hour transcription costs just 300 yen.
The accuracy is better than expected, so first-time users will be amazed!
Many sites allow you to use the service for free for a few minutes, so it's a good idea to try it out to see how much transcription you can get.
Disadvantages of AI transcription
The disadvantage is that since the transcription is done automatically by AI, the audio you hear is converted into text exactly as it is .
Specifically, words that don't have any particular meaning, such as "eh," "ah," and "hmm," are transcribed as is , which can make the text difficult to read.
In addition, although the latest AI can easily distinguish human voices even when there is noise, if there is too much noise, the transcription accuracy may decrease or errors in kanji may occur.
Web services are recommended for AI transcription
If you want to use AI transcription, we recommend using a web service that you can use from your browser rather than an app that you need to install on your PC or smartphone .
Web services can be used from anywhere, whether that be a PC or a smartphone, as long as you have an internet connection.
Another major reason is that transcription services offered as web services often incorporate the latest new AI features more frequently .
For AI transcription, we recommend "Mr. Transcription"
If you're having trouble deciding which AI transcription service to use, we recommend trying Mr. Transcription first .
Mr. Transcription's latest AI has high transcription accuracy and can transcribe in a short amount of time .
You can also try out the transcription service for free , so you can check the quality of the transcription before using it.
Would you like to experience the latest AI transcription with Mr. Transcription?
Transcription by professional writers
If you search online, you will often find transcriptions done by professional writers .
Among the products introduced this time,
- Koelabo
- Editage
is applicable.
Since the transcription is done by experienced professionals, the content is reliable, but the cost tends to be higher.
Be aware that some companies may have a minimum order amount.
The standard price range is about 108 to 800 yen per minute . The price varies greatly depending on the delivery format and delivery date.
Benefits of transcription by professional writers
Above all, it gives me a sense of security .
Communication is smooth and the order is delivered on time.
Compared to crowdsourcing, which we will introduce next, this method allows you to leave everything to specialist companies, making it ideal for jobs where you don't have much time for communication or have strict deadlines .
Another major feature is the wide range of options available to meet a wide range of needs.
Some companies can even handle highly specialized content and full-scale editing for publication.
Disadvantages of transcription by professional writers
The disadvantage is that the cost tends to be high .
For example, for a two-hour transcription,
- [Company A] 6 days (approximately 8 business days): 26,400 yen
- [Company B] 5 days (approximately 7 business days): 12,936 yen
- [Company C] 4 business days: 39,800 yen
We offer prices such as:
Also, sometimes estimates are required in advance, which can add extra time to the process.
Requesting help from individuals (crowdsourcing)
Crowdsourcing sites make it easy for anyone to find people to take on a job.
Among the products introduced this time,
- CrowdWorks
- Lancers
is applicable.
If you request it through crowdsourcing, the price is
- What you are applying for
- People who applied
It depends greatly on the
Prices vary widely, from 6 yen to 200 yen per minute .
Benefits of requesting work from individuals (crowdsourcing)
The main benefits of crowdsourcing are:
- You can request keyboard transcription at a low cost
- If you meet a good person, you can continue to hire them.
These are the two points.
Transcription by professional writers tends to be expensive , but it is possible to get the job done more cheaply by requesting it from an individual through crowdsourcing .
It depends on the content of the job, but for a two-hour transcription job, you can get many applications for around 5,000 yen.
For beginners just starting out, there are trial prices available, so you can request services at a surprisingly low price.
Another point is that if you meet a good person, you can ask them to work for you on an ongoing basis .
Disadvantages of requesting work from individuals (crowdsourcing)
In crowdsourcing, the quality of the people who do the work varies, so
- Should cheap mean bad quality?
- Do you choose high-quality people even if the unit price is higher?
It tends to be a choice between these two.
Even though the other party is an intermediary through a crowdsourcing site, they are still individuals, so the lower the unit price,
- Delivery deadlines not met
- There is a risk of losing contact
- Confidentiality is neglected
- Abandoning a job midway
There are these risks.
In some cases, it may be cheaper and faster to use AI transcription or ask a company to do it for you.
How to choose a transcription service based on your purpose
Finally, we will introduce how to choose the recommended service for each situation where transcription is commonly used .
If you want to create meeting minutes
For those who just want to keep a record or for internal review purposes, we recommend the inexpensive and easy-to-use "Transcription Mr."
If you want to edit the minutes later or share them with your team, we recommend editing them after using AI to transcribe them with Mr. Transcription .
If you plan to submit it as an official document or revise it to make it easier to read and make it publicly available, in addition to using AI transcription, you may want to outsource it to ``CrowdWorks' ' or use a transcription service provided by professional writers such as ``Koelabo.''
If you want interview transcripts
If you already have a recording file prepared, you can select it in the same way as for minutes above.
If you want to record and transcribe audio in real time while interviewing someone , it's easy to use smartphone apps like "Texter" or "Speechnotes."
If you are looking to purchase a new IC recorder, we also recommend the "AutoMemo" that comes with the set.
Of course, we also recommend recording the conversation on your smartphone or IC recorder and then transcribing it later using an AI transcription service like Mr. Transcription .
If you want to transcribe audio data containing highly specialized content
If you want to transcribe an audio file that contains frequent use of specific technical terms , and you have the time and money, Koelabo is the most reliable option, as they have writers for a wide range of specialties.
Another option is to search for workers who are knowledgeable in that field on CrowdWorks .
We also recommend " Mr. Transcription, " which is rare among affordable online tools as it has a dictionary function.
summary
This time, we explained recommended transcription services and how to choose apps and sites.
In addition to the services introduced in this article, there are various other tools and providers available, each with their own characteristics and strengths and weaknesses.
If you've read the article to the end but still can't narrow down your search,
- AI Apps
- Crowdworker (individual)
- Specialist
I recommend trying them in this order and moving on to the next one if you're not satisfied.
Prices also tend to increase as you go down the line, so this method also avoids the risk of incurring unnecessary expenses by hiring a specialist company for a task that could be handled with an AI app .
If you want to keep costs down, you can try combining multiple apps and services . *We've explained this in detail in a separate article, so please take a look.
It's easier to give birth than to worry about it.
Rather than worrying about it, it's better to try them out in practice, as this will help you understand the differences between them and clarify which service is best for you .
You can start with a free app or a trial version.
Why not try out our AI transcription service?
■ 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.
Email: mojiokoshi3.com@gmail.com
Transcription for audio / video / image transcription. It is a transcription service that anyone can use for free without installation.
- What is Mr. Transcription?
- Transcript images, sounds, and videos with Mr. Transcription
- Free registration
- Rate plan
- manual