Best Free Transcription Software Tools in 2025: Top Speech-to-Text Picks

Transcription tools have become essential for students, journalists, podcasters, and busy professionals. In 2025, powerful AI engines and new mobile/desktop features make speech-to-text easier than ever – and even free! In this post, we review truly free or generous freemium transcription software. We cover web apps, PC/Mac programs, iPhone/Android apps, and highlight what’s new in 2025. Each tool includes pros/cons, use cases, and a feature comparison (languages, speakers, export formats, accuracy and limits).

Whether you’re taking class notes, interviewing someone, or creating video content, there’s a free transcription solution for you. Let’s dive in and find the best tool for your needs.

1. Otter.ai (Web, iOS, Android)

Otter.ai’s mobile app (iOS/Android) and web dashboard make it easy to capture meeting or lecture audio on the fly. Otter.ai is a popular AI meeting assistant known for reliable accuracy. Its free Basic plan offers up to 300 minutes per month (30-min per session limit) . Otter works on desktop browsers or via iPhone/Android apps and integrates with Zoom/Google Meet for live transcription. It supports English (US/UK), Spanish, and French . When transcribing, Otter can automatically identify multiple speakers if you train voices in advance. The interface lets you export transcripts and captions in common formats (txt, PDF, DOCX, SRT, etc.) .

Pros: AI-driven accuracy (especially in quiet settings), speaker labeling, live summary/chat features, iOS/Android apps, 3-file import limit on free plan. Cons: Free plan has monthly limits; only 3 languages; need internet (cloud-based). Otter’s search and editing tools are handy for students revisiting lectures or journalists reviewing interviews. The new 2024–25 update even added French and Spanish support , making it more multilingual.

2. Google Live Transcribe (Android)

Google’s Live Transcribe & Sound Notifications app (built into Pixel and available on many Android phones) instantly captions live speech. It supports over 70 languages and dialects – you can even switch languages mid-conversation. Since it runs on-device, Live Transcribe works offline once downloaded. There’s no transcription time limit; you can let it run as long as your battery allows. Just launch the app and point your phone’s mic at a conversation. Text appears in real-time, which you can copy to other apps.

Pros: Completely free and unlimited; supports 70+ languages ; works on many Android devices; great for casual conversations and meetings. Cons: No speaker diarization (treats all speech as one source); transcription can lag in noisy environments; no built-in export (must copy text manually). This tool is perfect for instant notes in class or quick interviews: just hit record on your phone and save the transcript later.

3. iOS Voice Memos (iOS 18+)

Apple’s iOS 18 (coming in 2025) finally added native transcription to Voice Memos . On iPhone 12 and later, you can record voice memos and instantly view/edit the transcript in the app . It supports about 10 major languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese . Transcription happens on-device (no data leaves your phone) and has no obvious time limit . After recording, tap the menu and choose “View Transcript” to copy or edit text.

Pros: Free and offline; no limits or ads; integrated into iPhone (requires iOS 18+); fast for single-speaker recordings; multi-language support . Cons: Only on iPhone/iPad (no desktop client); no speaker separation; best for personal notes rather than long meetings. For example, an iPhone user can quickly dictate a lecture or podcast and get a text to share. This is brand-new in 2025 and a game-changer for iOS users who previously had to rely on third-party apps.

4. Whisper (OpenAI AI Engine)

OpenAI’s Whisper is a free, open-source speech-to-text model that runs locally or via cloud notebooks. Several desktop/web apps (like WhisperTranscribe) now let you transcribe files without uploading data to a server. Whisper’s large model supports 99 languages , so it handles everything from English and Chinese to swahili or Zulu. Accuracy is very good on clean recordings, and you can export transcripts or subtitles (SRT, TXT, etc.). Speaker diarization isn’t built-in, though some third-party tools do combine Whisper with speaker detection.

Pros: Totally free and local (with enough computing power); extremely broad language support (99 languages) ; no commercial lock-in. Cons: Requires a relatively powerful PC (or Google Colab); no ready GUI in most cases (though some apps exist); manual process. Whisper is ideal for tech-savvy users who want full control and privacy. For instance, a researcher can drop in an audio file and get a quick transcription of an international interview with no per-minute fees.

5. Notta AI (Web, iOS, Android)

Notta is a newer AI transcription service that offers a free plan with 120 minutes per month . It supports 58 languages for transcription , including popular ones like English, Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, German, and more. Notta’s cloud-based editor tags speakers and even has a live transcription mode for meetings. You can export transcripts as text, Word, SRT, etc. Notta also includes translation features if needed.

Pros: Decent free quota (120 min) , many languages , speaker ID, live transcription in web app, decent interface. Cons: Need account signup; free plan restricts some features (higher accuracy models, history); transcribed files are stored online. Notta is great for multi-language interviews or webinars. For example, a bilingual journalist could record an international discussion and get transcripts in both the original language and English using Notta’s tools.

6. Descript (Windows, Mac, Web)

Descript is famous for video podcast editing, but it also offers transcription. The free plan includes 60 minutes of transcription per month . It supports multiple languages (primarily English) and identifies speakers. Its standout feature is editing audio by editing text: delete a line in the transcript and the audio is cut. You can export cleaned transcripts or captions.

Pros: Innovative “text-based” audio editing; integrates recording/transcription/publishing in one app; good for podcasters and video creators. Cons: Only 1 hour free ; watermark on video exports; must be online to transcribe. Descript is ideal for podcasts and video teams who can get one hour of free transcripts to try out the tool. It’s also updated regularly with AI features (like filler word removal).

7. oTranscribe (Web)

oTranscribe is a 100% free, open-source web app for manual transcription . It doesn’t do speech-to-text automatically, but it provides a convenient player and editor side by side. You load your audio/video file, and as you type, you can pause/play with keyboard shortcuts. It never sends your data anywhere – everything runs in your browser . You can export the transcript to plain text, Markdown, or Google Docs format .

Pros: Completely free and private; works offline in browser; excellent for interviews where you can stop/start frequently. Cons: Not automatic (you must type); no speaker labeling (manual); best for short clips. This is a favorite among journalists and academics doing manual transcripts (for example, an oral history project where accuracy is crucial, and speed is less important).

Choosing the Right Tool & Use Cases

• Students & Lectures: Tools like Otter and Live Transcribe shine here. Otter can record class discussions and tag multiple speakers (professors and classmates), while Live Transcribe is handy for quick in-class notes on Android.
• Journalists & Researchers: oTranscribe (manual) or Whisper (AI) are popular. oTranscribe lets you manually transcribe interviews privately . Whisper (via a desktop app or Google Colab) can quickly draft transcripts in many languages .
• Podcasters & Content Creators: Descript (with its easy editing) and Notta (for quick AI transcripts) are strong picks. Podcasters love Descript’s workflow (edit text = edit audio) . The [17] image above shows a podcaster using a setup like this. Notta’s transcription can kickstart your show notes or captions in multiple languages .
• Business Meetings: Otter.ai and Notta integrate well with Zoom/Teams. Otter’s real-time notes are great for team meetings (plus multilingual support now ), and Notta can transcribe and share meeting summaries.
• On-the-Go & Mobile Notes: iOS Voice Memos and Google Live Transcribe are unbeatable for quick use. No setup needed – just open your phone. In 2025, an iPhone user can record a voice memo and instantly get text, while Android users have 70+ languages at their fingertips .

What’s New in 2025?

AI transcription keeps improving each year. In 2025, several advances stand out:

• New Language Support: Otter.ai recently added French and Spanish , and Notta covers 58 languages . This means multilingual teams can use AI tools without switching apps.
• On-device Transcription: Apple’s iOS 18 adds offline transcription in Voice Memos (no upload needed) . Similarly, Google’s Live Transcribe runs entirely on-device. This boosts privacy and enables use without internet.
• Model Improvements: Behind the scenes, speech-recognition models (like Whisper and cloud APIs) have gotten faster and more accurate. OpenAI’s Whisper and its derivatives can now transcribe accents and noisy audio far better than before. Cloud services (Microsoft, Google, Amazon) have also updated their AI transcription engines.
• User Interfaces: Tools like Descript keep innovating UI – for example, auto-highlighting speaker turns and adding filler-word removal. Otter now offers AI summaries and chat Q&A about your transcript. These make it easier to get key insights from your recordings.

Overall, 2025’s free tools feel smarter and more user-friendly. You can expect cleaner transcripts with minimal effort.

Pros, Cons & Key Tips

• Accuracy: AI tools are very good on clear audio, but mistakes still happen with heavy accents or background noise. Always proofread important transcripts. For highest accuracy, speak clearly and use a good mic.
• Privacy: Free cloud tools (Otter, Notta, Descript) send audio to servers. If your content is sensitive, prefer on-device options (iOS Voice Memos, Google Live Transcribe, Whisper on your machine, or manual oTranscribe) .
• Time Limits: Be aware of free quotas. For example, Otter’s 300 min/month and Notta’s 120 min/month fill up if you transcribe long meetings. If you need more, you may combine tools or transcribe overnight via Whisper for unlimited volume.
• Speaker Labels: If you need to know “who said what,” Otter.ai, Notta, and Descript can auto-label speakers (with some setup) . Others like Live Transcribe and Whisper do not.
• Export Formats: All listed tools allow copying text. Many let you export .txt or subtitle files. For video creators, look for SRT export (Otter, Descript, Notta) to add captions.

FAQs

Q: Are free transcription tools accurate enough for professional use?

A: Modern AI transcription is impressively accurate (often 90%+ on clear speech), but expect errors. Always review and edit critical transcripts. For interviews or creative content, combine AI with manual fixes for best results.

Q: Can I use these tools in multiple languages?

A: Yes – many support several languages. For instance, Otter.ai handles English, French, Spanish ; Notta covers 58 languages ; Google Live Transcribe supports 70+ ; Apple’s Voice Memos covers 10 major languages . Whisper (openAI) can do 99 languages .

Q: Do these tools require an internet connection?

A: Tools like Otter.ai, Notta, and Descript need internet (they use cloud AI). Google Live Transcribe on Android and iOS Voice Memos (iOS 18) perform transcription on-device . Whisper can run offline on your own computer if set up properly.

Q: How do I export transcripts?

A: Most apps let you download or copy text. For example, Otter allows exporting transcripts as .txt, .docx, SRT, etc. . Descript exports text and captions. oTranscribe exports to text or Google Docs . Google/Apple require manual copy or share actions.

Q: Which free tool should I choose?

A: It depends on your needs. For meetings and notes, Otter.ai is great. For instant phone transcription, use Live Transcribe (Android) or Voice Memos (iPhone). For long recordings in any language, Whisper is unbeatable if you’re tech-savvy. If you prefer video/audio editing features, try Descript’s free tier.

In summary, the landscape of free transcription software in 2025 is richer than ever. By mixing and matching these tools, you can cover almost any scenario without spending a dime. Whether you need quick meeting notes or polished podcasts, there’s a free solution that fits the bill.