Free AI audio transcription — upload audio & get a TXT or SRT
Free AI audio transcription: upload audio or video and get an instant machine transcript (TXT, SRT) with realistic free-tier limits and an easy upgrade path.
Built for teams that want transcripts to turn into reusable, searchable assets.
Free AI audio transcription — upload audio & get a TXT or SRT
Free AI audio transcription means you can upload an audio or video file, click “Start transcribing,” and download a machine-generated transcript in TXT or SRT without paying upfront. This tool supports common formats like MP3, WAV, MP4, and M4A, includes language auto-detection, and gives you a usable transcript fast—while keeping clear limits around export types, file size, and advanced features. Start transcribing
How to use it right now
Getting a transcript here is intentionally simple. You do not need to configure anything complex or install software. The flow is designed for quick, one-off use cases like lectures, voice notes, or short clips you want to caption or search.
First, upload your file directly in the browser. After the upload completes, you confirm the job by clicking “Start transcribing.” On the free tier, you can choose between speed and quality modes depending on whether you want faster turnaround or slightly better accuracy on clear audio.
Once processing finishes, your transcript appears in the dashboard editor. You can read, copy, and lightly edit the text before exporting it. For free users, export options include plain text (TXT) and subtitle format (SRT), which works with most video platforms.
Here’s what that flow looks like in practice:
- Upload audio or video (MP3, WAV, MP4, etc.)
- Choose speed or quality mode (free tier option)
- Click “Start transcribing”
- Wait for processing to complete
- Review and edit the transcript in the dashboard
- Export as TXT or SRT
This is enough for most quick transcription needs, especially if your goal is readable notes or basic captions.
Supported inputs & outputs
This tool is built to handle the file formats people actually use day to day. You can upload both audio and video files, and the system extracts the speech automatically before transcribing it.
Supported input formats include:
- AAC
- FLAC
- M4A
- MP3
The list also covers several less common formats:
- MP4
- MPEG / MPGA
- OGG
- WAV
- WEBM
That covers common recording apps, downloaded media, and exported files from editing software. If your file plays on your device, there’s a good chance it will work here.
On the output side, the free tier focuses on practical, widely compatible formats rather than advanced export options. You can download:
- TXT (plain text transcript)
- SRT (subtitle file for video captions)
TXT is useful for notes, articles, and documentation. SRT is structured with timestamps, so you can drop it directly into video editors or platforms like YouTube.
If you need additional formats like VTT, DOCX, or structured JSON, those are available on paid plans. You can explore those capabilities on the features page.
What the free workflow includes (and its limits)
The free version is designed to be genuinely useful, not just a teaser. You can upload real files, generate transcripts, and export them without paying. That said, there are clear boundaries so you know what to expect before you start.
The transcription itself is powered by self-hosted, Whisper-based models on the free tier. These models generally perform well on clear audio with minimal background noise, but accuracy can vary depending on accents, recording quality, and overlapping speech.
Here are the main realities of the free workflow:
- Processing is asynchronous, so longer files take more time to complete
- Accuracy is strong on clear recordings, but not perfect in noisy conditions
- Language auto-detection supports 100+ languages, but mixed-language audio can reduce accuracy
- Speaker identification (who said what) is not included on the free tier
- Word-level timestamps are not included in free exports
- Exports may include a watermark depending on usage or plan limits
You still get access to the transcript editor in the dashboard, which lets you fix errors before exporting. That alone makes a big difference compared to tools that only provide raw, uneditable output.
If a job stalls or fails, you can cancel it manually and retry. This helps avoid getting stuck waiting on a broken upload.
In short, the free tier is best for short to medium recordings where you need readable text quickly, not perfect formatting or deep analysis.
Real-world examples: what you can do for free
The easiest way to understand the value of this tool is to see how it fits into everyday tasks. Many users do not need advanced features—they just need a transcript that works.
For quick meeting notes, you can upload a recorded call or voice memo and get a transcript you can scan or clean up. This works well when only one or two people are speaking clearly.
For lecture excerpts or class recordings, the free tier handles shorter segments effectively. If your lecture is long, you can split it into smaller files or upgrade for a smoother workflow.
For podcast clips or social media content, you can generate SRT files for captions. This is especially useful for short highlights or promotional snippets rather than full episodes.
Here are three common scenarios:
- A 10-minute meeting recording turned into searchable notes
- A 15-minute lecture segment transcribed for study review
- A short podcast clip converted into captions for video
Once you move into longer recordings or multi-speaker content, the limitations become more noticeable.
Where free workflows usually break
Free transcription tools tend to struggle in predictable situations. This one is no different, and it is better to be upfront about where friction appears.
Long recordings are the biggest constraint. Even if the system accepts the file, processing time increases and managing the output becomes harder without batch tools or advanced formatting.
Multi-speaker audio is another challenge. Without speaker identification, you get a single stream of text, which can be difficult to follow in interviews or group discussions.
Audio quality matters more than most people expect. Background noise, overlapping voices, and low recording volume all reduce transcription accuracy, regardless of the model used.
These issues do not make the tool unusable, but they define when it is time to consider upgrading instead of forcing a free workflow to fit.
When and why to upgrade
If you find yourself editing heavily, splitting files manually, or needing structured outputs, you are already at the edge of what the free tier is designed for.
Paid plans use a different transcription engine (ElevenLabs Scribe) and add features that make a noticeable difference in real workflows. These upgrades are less about “more minutes” and more about saving time and improving clarity.
Upgrading becomes useful when you need:
- Speaker identification (who said what in conversations)
- Additional export formats like VTT, DOCX, or JSON
- Batch uploads for handling multiple files at once
- Higher consistency on longer or more complex audio
- Workflow features beyond basic transcription
You can review plan details and limits on the pricing page. The upgrade path is meant to feel like a natural step once your needs grow beyond quick, one-off transcripts.
FAQ
Q: How accurate is the free AI transcription?
Accuracy is generally strong on clear audio with minimal background noise. Like most speech-to-text systems, results vary depending on recording quality, accents, and overlapping speech. Expect to do light editing for best results.
Q: What languages are supported?
The system includes automatic language detection and supports over 100 languages. You do not need to select a language before uploading, but accuracy may drop if multiple languages are mixed heavily in one file.
Q: Is this really free?
Yes, you can upload files, generate transcripts, and export TXT or SRT without paying. However, advanced features and additional export formats are part of paid plans.
Q: Does the free version include speaker identification?
No. Speaker identification (diarization) is not included on the free tier. Transcripts will appear as a single block of text without labeled speakers.
Q: Will my transcript have a watermark?
Free exports may include a watermark depending on usage or limits. This does not prevent you from using the transcript, but it may not be ideal for polished or client-facing work.
Q: Can I edit the transcript?
Yes. After processing, you can open the transcript in the dashboard editor and make changes before exporting.
Q: What happens with long recordings?
Long files may take longer to process and can be harder to manage in the free workflow. For full lectures, podcasts, or extended meetings, upgrading or splitting files is usually more practical.
Q: Is my audio stored permanently?
Storage and retention can depend on system behavior and plan level. If you need more control over files and workflows, paid plans typically offer more consistency.
For a deeper walkthrough of transcription workflows, see this guide: how to transcribe audio to text.
Start transcribing now
You can upload a file and get a working transcript in minutes. No setup, no guessing about formats, and no hidden steps between upload and export.
If all you need is a quick transcript, the free tool will get you there. If you need more structure, scale, or automation, you will have a clear path forward.
Start transcribing View pricing