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Transcription Services: AI, Freelancer & Company Comparison
June 7, 2025
I want to try a transcription service, but there are so many options like apps and professional agencies, and I don't know which one to choose...
Are you struggling with this kind of dilemma?
While the term "transcription service" might sound simple, there are various types: cloud services leveraging AI, AI transcription apps for smartphones and PCs, professional transcription agencies where human transcribers type, and recently, freelancers offering transcription services through crowdsourcing platforms.
Moreover, within these tools and professional services, there are countless options, making it hard to understand their differences. Many people find it difficult to narrow down their choices and end up feeling overwhelmed.
I've had the experience of just picking a service that caught my eye without really understanding it, only to regret it later when I found a cheaper, higher-quality service.
That's why this article will summarize recommended transcription services, including AI apps, individual transcribers, and professional agencies, while also explaining how to choose the best service for your specific needs.
If you choose a service that doesn't match your original purpose, you won't get satisfactory results, and you'll end up wasting both time and money. Be sure to read this article and find the perfect transcription service for you.
AI Transcription Services are Highly Recommended for Transcription
First, let's get straight to the point.
For transcription, AI transcription services are highly recommended.
Types of Transcription Services
Transcription services include:
- AI transcription web services
- AI transcription apps for smartphones
- PC-installed transcription software
- Transcription by professional agency transcribers
- Crowdsourced transcription
※ We'll compare and introduce the detailed features of each later in the article, so please check it out!
Among these three, "AI transcription services" are the most recommended.
If You're Choosing a Transcription Service Now, Go for AI Transcription Services
If you're looking to use a transcription service for the first time, we highly recommend "AI transcription services."
AI transcription services use AI to transcribe the content of audio or video files into text.
They are used in a wide range of fields, including meeting minutes, interviews, on-site recordings, and job interviews.
AI has developed rapidly recently, and in the field of converting audio to text, the performance of AI speech recognition has dramatically improved.
In fact, speech recognition is a field well-suited for AI, and it has advanced to the point where it can smoothly transcribe even difficult content, such as specialized terminology, proper nouns, or foreign languages that were challenging for traditional Japanese transcription services.
The conversion time is also very short; fast AI transcribers can complete even long audio files in about 10 minutes.
Of course, since the transcription is done by a computer, the cost is significantly lower compared to hiring a professional transcriber.
>High accuracy, short processing time, and affordable prices.
If you're looking to use a transcription service, AI-powered transcription services are highly recommended.
Comparison of Recommended Transcription Services: AI Web Services
Let's compare some of the best transcription services available.
First, we'll introduce AI transcription services.
1. Mojiokoshi-san
For those new to transcription services, 'Mojiokoshi-san' is an excellent choice.
'Mojiokoshi-san' is an AI transcription service that is easy for a wide range of users, from individuals to businesses. It features industry-leading speech recognition AI that offers high accuracy and fast processing times.
With simple operations like uploading files directly from the top page, even first-time users can quickly get started with the transcription service.
It's also convenient that you can try out the transcription service immediately without needing to register as a member.
It supports security measures required for corporate use, such as filling out security checklist forms, making it suitable for business operations (learn more here).
The extensive support for various file formats, including audio, images, videos, and PDFs, also makes it very user-friendly.
Another key point is the availability of multiple pricing plans based on the volume of data used.
Since it's a subscription service with no initial fees, you can choose the optimal plan each month.
Audio up to 3 minutes is free, making it a perfect tool to start with.
Paid plans are also very affordable, starting from approximately 0.4 yen per minute, or about 28 yen per hour.
If you're unsure which transcription service to choose, start by trying 'Mojiokoshi-san'.
2. Smart Shoki
Smart Shoki is an AI transcription service that streamlines meeting minute creation using voice and AI.
If you need to meticulously edit transcribed data, this online transcription service is also highly recommended.
In addition to supporting both real-time voice transcription and file import, a major feature is its user-friendly editor (text editing tool).
It also supports collaborative editing by multiple users, allowing for seamless workflow from real-time transcription of meeting minutes to editing the final content for saving.
With ISMS (Information Security Management System conformity assessment) certification, its security is impeccable.
It's no wonder that major corporations have adopted it.
Pricing starts from 10,000 yen.
There's a 14-day trial period during which you can try it for free.
3. Otter
Otter is an AI transcription service specializing in real-time English text conversion.
It also includes speaker identification functionality, significantly reducing the time needed to compile English reports and meeting minutes.
While AI-powered English speech recognition technology is rapidly advancing, many overseas AI transcription services can be challenging to use.
However, Otter offers robust Japanese language support, making it less confusing compared to other international services.
With multi-device compatibility, you can view transcription results simultaneously on both your PC and smartphone.
Registration and login are required for use, and a free plan is available.
This AI transcription service is recommended if you primarily need to transcribe English audio.
4. RIMO Voice
RIMO Voice is an AI transcription service specializing in Japanese.
It supports transcribing audio from various situations, such as interviews for writing articles, meeting notes for business negotiations, and speeches at events.
In addition to AI transcription, it also features an AI summarization function.
This allows for the smooth finalization of business-related content, such as meeting minutes.
It supports a comprehensive range of audio and video file formats for transcription.
Pricing plans include a personal plan (time-based billing) and a corporate plan (monthly subscription), with a free trial available for the personal plan.
5. AutoMemo
AutoMemo is an AI transcription service that bundles an IC recorder with a cloud transcription service.
All you need to do for transcription is press the record button.
Saved files are converted by AI in the cloud, and you can review the audio and text using a dedicated app (email sending is also possible).
By connecting it to your computer with an audio cable, you can also record and transcribe web conferences.
The transcription AI uses OpenAI's Whisper.
Operated by SOURCENEXT, it offers both personal and corporate plans.
There are two types of AI voice recorders: "AutoMemo S" at 19,800 yen and "AutoMemo R" at 13,860 yen. Purchasing a voice recorder includes 1 hour of free transcription for personal plans.
6. YOMEL
YOMEL is an AI transcription service designed for creating meeting minutes.
Its primary function is to automatically transcribe participants' remarks in meetings using AI transcription, making it possible to complete meeting minutes in a much shorter time compared to manual typing.
A key advantage is its compatibility with various web conferencing tools.
It supports major tools like ZOOM, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, so there's no need to worry about integration when adopting it.
Of course, it can also be used for transcribing in-person meetings.
Usage is based on a monthly subscription, with pricing set for corporate use in business settings.
There's also a 2-week trial period, allowing up to 10 hours of free transcription.
7. Ai PLANET-Voice Convert
Ai PLANET-Voice Convert is a transcription service characterized by its adoption of Watson, an AI transcription engine developed by IBM.
While transcription services using IBM's Watson are rare and valuable, they can transcribe with high accuracy, similar to speech recognition AI developed by other major companies like Google and Microsoft.
Its features include real-time transcription and transcription by uploading files.
*Supported file formats are mp3 for audio files and mp4 for video files only.
It supports various forms of corporate use, and can be implemented with dedicated cloud or on-premise solutions, making it potentially suitable even for situations with strict security constraints.
Low-cost ASP menus (subscription-based) that are easy and quick to use are also available, catering to situations where initial costs need to be minimized.
Compared to other services, it gives a strong impression of being primarily for business use, but it's one service to consider when a company plans to introduce AI transcription.
8. AI Transcription
"AI Transcription" is, as the name suggests, a service for transcribing various audio and video data.
It can be used for a wide range of common AI transcription service applications, such as meeting notes, interview transcription, and video subtitle creation.
It supports 9 languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian.
No membership registration is required; simply upload your file to use it.
Operated by Tokyo Honyaku, famous for its human transcription services, it utilizes three types of AI transcription engines: Google, Azure, and AmiVoice.
9. Sloos
Sloos is an AI transcription service that excels at transcribing by speaker.
It features robust speaker diarization, allowing transcription for each speaker even from audio recognized by a single microphone.
It also supports integration with web conferencing systems like ZOOM and Microsoft Teams.
10. One Minutes
One Minutes is an AI transcription service that supports real-time transcription.
A unique feature not found in other AI transcription services is its ability to translate into multiple languages in real-time.
It can transcribe and translate over 10 languages in real-time, making it useful for multilingual meetings with international participants.
Transcribed content can also be corrected and edited on the spot.
Pricing includes plans for individuals and corporations. Individual plans allow up to 3 hours per month, while corporate plans range from 10 hours per month to unlimited use (depending on the contract).
Given its strength in foreign language support compared to other services, it is recommended for professionals who work with various languages.
11. Notta
Notta is an AI transcription service that allows you to upload audio and video files for transcription.
It also offers a Chrome extension, enabling transcription of audio from web pages.
Furthermore, real-time transcription is available.
It comes with a full set of features, including custom dictionaries (requires a paid plan) and multilingual translation.
Pricing includes plans for individuals and corporations.
The corporate plan is designed for small businesses that want to collaborate on transcription within a single workspace.
12. User Local Voice Meeting Minutes System
The User Local Voice Meeting Minutes System is a simple AI transcription service that can transcribe audio from meetings.
By generating and sharing a dedicated URL, multiple users can utilize the transcription feature.
This service is recommended if you specifically need to transcribe meeting minutes.
User Local Voice Meeting Minutes System
13. Texter
Texter is an AI transcription service for transcribing web conferences.
It's easy to use: just log in and click the "Start Meeting Minutes" button to begin transcription, allowing for smooth and hassle-free web conference transcription.
In addition to real-time transcription, it's also possible to import audio files, images, PDFs, and videos for text conversion.
The monthly fee is 30,000 yen.
*Previously, there was information about a free plan, but it is no longer listed.
Recommended Transcription Services Comparison: AI Transcription Apps for Smartphones
Next, we'll briefly introduce AI transcription apps available for iPhone and Android smartphones.
14. Group Transcribe
Group Transcribe is an AI transcription service for iPhone provided by Microsoft.
It's used by installing the app on your iPhone.
This app features web conferencing and AI transcription capabilities, and all meeting participants must install it to use it.
Its speaker separation function is particularly robust.
Leveraging the fact that everyone has the app installed, it can transcribe and create meeting minutes for each speaker.
15. Speechy Lite
Speechy Lite is an iPhone voice input app.
By using its "Import Audio File" feature, you can transcribe audio files saved on your iPhone.
To use it, simply open audio recorded with the standard Voice Memos app in Speechy Lite via "Share."
It also includes an automatic correction feature for incorrect kanji characters.
16. Speechnotes
Speechnotes is an Android transcription app.
While the app version only supports real-time transcription, the browser version also supports converting audio files to text (paid).
It has a feature to insert punctuation and other symbols using voice commands or a unique keyboard, allowing for corrections with the keyboard even if there are errors in speech recognition.
Recommended Transcription Services Comparison: PC-Installed Transcription Apps
Although their numbers have decreased compared to before, PC-installed transcription apps are still available.
Some products offer a one-time purchase license, making them recommended for those who prefer not to pay monthly subscriptions.
17. Voice Code
Voice Code is a PC-installed AI transcription app provided by SOURCENEXT.
It's an app for Windows PCs that includes a voice input function to transcribe spoken words from a microphone.
It can also transcribe recorded audio.
While you typically need to play audio externally and have the app recognize it via a microphone, using tools like a "virtual audio device" that allows the app to recognize sounds playing internally on your PC can enable more accurate transcription.
18. Voice Rep Pro 3
Voice Rep Pro 3 is an AI transcription application for PC installation that uses Google's AI speech recognition engine.
It's exclusive to Windows and requires Google Chrome to operate.
Its key feature is that it's an all-in-one product, bundling an AI transcription app with a dedicated editor for refining transcribed audio.
This is a one-time purchase product, allowing installation on one PC per license.
Recommended Transcription Services Comparison: Professional Transcribers
So far, we've introduced AI transcription services. However, before AI transcription became widespread, services where professional transcribers manually transcribe audio using a keyboard were common and are still available.
Let's explore what services are out there.
19. Koelab
Koelab is a specialized transcription service that offers a good balance of price, turnaround time, and quality.
- Over 800 experienced transcribers
- Same-day or next-day delivery available
- Capable of handling large projects exceeding 200,000 minutes
- Holds PrivacyMark certification
These features allow them to meet a wide range of needs and maintain a reliable system for security.
A key point is that compared to competing services, their human transcription service is relatively affordable.
20. Editage
Editage also offers professional transcription services by human transcribers.
They have been providing transcription by expert transcribers since 2005, handling a wide range of content for medical and academic institutions, mass media, law firms, and general corporations.
Their main characteristic is that they primarily focus on foreign language transcription, including English.
They support English, as well as Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Italian, and Russian.
Compared to other services, the biggest advantage is the accuracy of content, as transcription is handled by experts proficient in foreign languages.
The same company also provides foreign language proofreading services, making it an ideal service when strict content accuracy is required.
Recommended Transcription Services Comparison: Crowdsourcing
Finally, we'll introduce crowdsourcing platforms where you can find transcribers to hire.
21. CrowdWorks
Among crowdsourcing sites, CrowdWorks is particularly well-known.
CrowdWorks has a dedicated category for transcription (tape transcription), with over 3,000 registered projects (as of December 2023).
In addition to posting projects to solicit bids widely, it's also possible to directly assign work to specific freelancers.
There are nearly 2,000 freelancers who list transcription in their profiles, so you can find experienced professionals.
you can choose the best person for your needs.If you're looking to hire transcription writers through a crowdsourcing site, this is the first site you should register with.
22. Lancers
Lancers is a major crowdsourcing site alongside CrowdWorks.
It has a "tape transcription/transcription/writing" category with nearly 15,000 jobs registered (as of December 2023).
The number of crowdworkers who have registered transcription in their profiles is approximately 1,500.
As a major site, it has a very large number of crowdworkers registered, from skilled writers to new writers who can be commissioned at lower prices.
If you register with both CrowdWorks and Lancers, you'll have no problem finding crowdworkers.
Transcription Service Costs, Pros, and Cons
We've covered various transcription services so far.
Now, let's compare and explain the costs, advantages, and disadvantages for each method of transcription.
As mentioned at the beginning, transcription methods include:
- AI transcription web services
- AI transcription apps for smartphones
- PC-installed AI transcription apps
- Transcription by professional service providers
- Crowdsourced transcription
Each transcription method has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the costs vary significantly.
Here's a brief summary of the characteristics, pros, and cons of each.
AI Transcription (Web Service, Smartphone, PC)
Recently, there has been an increase in services and apps that offer automatic AI transcription.
Among the services introduced this time, the following apply:
Web Services:
- Mojiokoshi-san
- Smart Shoki
- Otter
- RIMO Voice
- AutoMemo
- YOMEL
- Ai PLANET-Voice Convert
- AI Mojiokoshi
- Sloos
- One Minutes
- Notta
- User Local Voice Meeting Minutes System
- Texter
Smartphone Apps:
- Group Transcribe
- Speechy Lite
- Speechnotes
PC-Installed Apps:
- Voice Code
- Voice Rep Pro 3
AI-powered automatic transcription allows for easy transcription without human intervention, making it recommended for those who:
- Are facing tight deadlines
- Need immediate transcription
- Want to outsource work cheaply through division of labor
- Are tired of dealing with external vendors
The general price range is about 0.4 to 30 yen per minute.
Advantages of AI Transcription
Undoubtedly, the biggest advantage is the low cost.
Since transcription can be done without human intervention, the unit price is significantly low, which is a major feature. At its cheapest, transcription can be done for 0.4 yen per minute.
Even for two hours of transcription, it's only 56 yen.
The accuracy is also better than expected, so first-time users will be surprised!
It's such a low price that you'll wonder why you ever transcribed things yourself before.
Many sites offer free usage for a few minutes, so it's recommended to try them out to see how much transcription you can get done.
Disadvantages of AI Transcription
The disadvantage is that since it's automatic AI transcription, the audio you hear is transcribed exactly as is.
Specifically, meaningless words like "uh," "um," and "hmm" are transcribed as they are, which can make the text difficult to read.
Also, while the latest AI can accurately distinguish human voices even with noise, if there's too much background noise, the transcription accuracy might decrease, or there might be errors in kanji characters.
For AI Transcription, Web Services Are Recommended
If you're using AI transcription, web services accessed through a browser are recommended over apps installed on your PC or smartphone.
With web services, you can use them from anywhere, whether on a PC or smartphone, as long as you have an internet connection.
A major reason is that transcription services offered as web services often incorporate new features of the latest AI more frequently.
For AI Transcription, 'Mojiokoshi-san' is Recommended
If you're unsure which AI transcription service to choose, it's highly recommended to try 'Mojiokoshi-san' first.
The latest AI in 'Mojiokoshi-san' offers high transcription accuracy and can transcribe quickly.
Additionally, you can try out 3 minutes of actual transcription for free, allowing you to check the quality before committing.
Paid plans are also very affordable, starting from approximately 0.4 yen per minute, which translates to about 28 yen per hour.
Why not experience the latest AI transcription with 'Mojiokoshi-san'?
Transcription by Professional Agency Writers
When you search online, you'll often find transcription services provided by professional agency writers.
Among those introduced here, the following fall into this category:
- Koelabo
- Editage
While the content is stable due to transcription by experienced professionals, costs tend to be higher.
Be aware that some companies may have a minimum order fee.
The price range is approximately 108 yen to 800 yen per minute. Prices can vary significantly depending on the delivery format and turnaround time.
Advantages of Transcription by Professional Agency Writers
The biggest advantage is the peace of mind.
Communication is smooth, and deadlines are met precisely as ordered.
Compared to crowdsourcing, which will be discussed next, entrusting everything to a professional agency is ideal for situations where you don't have much time for communication or when deadlines are strict.
Another significant feature is the wide range of options available to meet various needs.
Some even handle highly specialized content or extensive editing for publications.
Disadvantages of Transcription by Professional Agency Writers
The main disadvantage is that the cost is inevitably higher.
For example, for two hours of transcription, they quote prices such as:
- [Company A] 6 business days (approx. 8 calendar days): 26,400 yen
- [Company B] 5 business days (approx. 7 calendar days): 12,936 yen
- [Company C] 4 business days: 39,800 yen
Also, a prior quote may be required, which can add extra days to the process.
Hiring Individuals (Crowdsourcing)
Using crowdsourcing platforms makes it easy for anyone to find people willing to take on transcription work.
Among those introduced this time, the following apply:
- CrowdWorks
- Lancers
When outsourcing through crowdsourcing, prices vary greatly depending on:
- The content of the job application
- The person who applied
The market rate also varies widely, from 6 yen to 200 yen per minute.
Benefits of Outsourcing to Individuals (Crowdsourcing)
The main benefits of crowdsourcing are:
- You can request keyboard transcription at a low cost.
- If you find a good person, you can continue to work with them.
These are the two key points.
While transcription by professional agency writers tends to be expensive, outsourcing to individuals through crowdsourcing can be more affordable in comparison.
Depending on the project content, a 2-hour transcription job can attract many applicants for around 5,000 yen.
For beginners just starting out, there are often trial prices, and you might be surprised at how cheaply you can get work done.
A key advantage is that if you find a good person, you can continue to assign them work.
Disadvantages of Outsourcing to Individuals (Crowdsourcing)
The quality of transcribers on crowdsourcing platforms varies, so it often comes down to two choices:
- Do you prioritize low cost, even if it means lower quality?
- Do you choose higher quality individuals, even if the unit price is higher?
Even though a crowdsourcing site acts as an intermediary, the transcriber is still an individual. The lower the unit price, the higher the risks of:
- Missed deadlines
- Risk of losing contact
- Negligence regarding confidentiality
- Work being abandoned midway
These are the risks involved.
In some cases, it might even be cheaper and faster to use AI transcription or outsource to a professional company.
Choosing a Transcription Service: By Purpose
Finally, we'll introduce how to choose the best transcription service for common scenarios.
When You Need to Create Meeting Minutes
For those who simply want to save a record or for internal review purposes, "Mojiokoshi-san" is recommended due to its affordability and ease of use.
If you want to meticulously edit the minutes later or share them with a team, it's recommended to use AI transcription with "Mojiokoshi-san" and then edit them.
For formal documents or when you need to make them easy to read and publish externally, besides AI transcription, it's advisable to outsource through "CrowdWorks" or use professional transcription services like "Koelab".
When You Need Interview Transcription Data
If you already have the audio recording file, you can follow the same selection criteria as for meeting minutes.
If you want to record and transcribe audio in real-time while conducting an interview on the spot, smartphone apps like "Texter" or "Speechnotes" are easy to use.
If you're looking to buy a new IC recorder, set
We also recommend "AutoMemo," which is a popular choice.
Of course, it's also a good idea to record with your smartphone or an IC recorder and then transcribe later using an AI transcription service like "Mojiokoshi-san."
When you want to transcribe audio data with highly specialized content
If you want to transcribe an audio file with content that frequently uses specific technical terms, and you have the time and budget, "Koelab" is the most reliable option, as they have writers specializing in various fields.
Alternatively, you can also look for workers with expertise in that field on "CrowdWorks."
"Mojiokoshi-san" is also recommended, as it features a dictionary function, which is rare for affordable online tools.
Summary
This time, we explained recommended transcription services, apps, and how to choose a website.
In addition to the services introduced in this article, there are various other tools and providers, each with their own characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses.
"Even after reading the article to the end, I still can't narrow down the service..." If this is you, we recommend the following approach:
- AI apps
- Crowdworkers (individuals)
- Specialized agencies
Try them in this order, and if you're not satisfied, move on to the next.
Since costs tend to increase as you go down the list, this method helps you avoid the risk of unnecessary expenses, such as relying on a specialized agency for a task that an AI app could handle.
For those who want to minimize costs, there's also the technique of combining multiple apps and services. *This is explained in detail in a separate article, so please refer to it as well.
Easier said than done.
Rather than overthinking, actually trying them out will make the differences clearer and help you identify which service is right for you.
Start with free apps or trial versions if you like.
Why not give AI transcription services a try?
■ 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.
It is "Mr. Transcription" who can easily transcribe from audio, video, and images.
Transcription allows you to transcribe for up to 10 minutes for free.
You can copy, download, search, delete, etc. the transcribed text.
You can also create subtitle files, which is ideal for transcription of interview videos.
HP: mojiokoshi3.com
Email: mojiokoshi3.com@gmail.com
Email: mojiokoshi3.com@gmail.com
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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
