Transcribe

AI-powered mobile transcription for audio, video, and live speech

Updated March 28, 2026

Transcribe Overview

Transcribe is an AI-driven speech-to-text app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that converts audio and video into accurate text in minutes. It supports live recording, file uploads, and phone or WhatsApp messages, with multilingual transcription, summaries, translations, and flexible time-based usage. The app is designed for meetings, interviews, lectures, and everyday voice notes.

Key Features

  • AI Transcription: Converts audio, video, and live speech into accurate text with timestamps and speaker separation.
  • Live Voice Recorder: Transcribes speech in real time directly on your device.
  • Multilingual Support: Transcribes in 100+ languages and translates transcripts into 40+ languages.
  • AI Summaries: Generates concise summaries and key points from long transcripts.
  • Editing Tools: Refine text, adjust speakers, and format transcripts with rich text options.
  • Flexible Time Credits: Use purchased transcription time anytime with no expiration.

Pricing

Plan Price Featured
Free Trial Free (30 minutes one-time) AI transcription access, Live and file transcription, Multilingual support
PRO – Monthly $14.99/mo (Billed Monthly) Unlimited live transcription, 5 hours file transcription/month, Advanced export formats
PRO – Annual $99.99/yr Unlimited live transcription, 5 hours file transcription/month, Lower annual cost
Business – Monthly $59.99/mo (Billed Monthly) Team usage, Higher transcription limits, Business-grade support
Business – Annual $399.99/yr Discounted annual pricing, Team workflows, Advanced integrations
One Hour Audio Credit $4.99 (One-time) Pay-as-you-go usage, No subscription required, Credits never expire
10 Hours Audio Credits $29.99 (One-time) Bulk discount, Flexible usage, No monthly commitment

Price details: https://transcribe.com/pricing

Pros

Competitor

Pros

Otter.ai Compared to Otter.ai, Transcribe offers more flexible pay-as-you-go time credits, which suit users with occasional transcription needs. The mobile-first design feels simpler for quick recordings, and users are not locked into strict monthly limits, making it easier to control costs for short projects.
Rev Unlike Rev’s higher per-minute pricing, Transcribe provides affordable in-app purchases and subscriptions. It is faster for instant AI results and easier to use on mobile devices, making it practical for users who need quick drafts without waiting for human transcription turnaround times.
Descript Transcribe is far simpler than Descript, focusing purely on transcription rather than complex audio editing. This makes it easier for non-technical users who just want text output, saving time and avoiding the learning curve associated with advanced desktop-based editing tools.
Sonix Compared to Sonix, Transcribe is more accessible on mobile and offers live transcription directly on a phone. Its credit-based system can be cheaper for light usage, while Sonix is more oriented toward professional, browser-based workflows.
Google Speech-to-Text Transcribe provides a polished consumer app experience that Google Speech-to-Text lacks. Users benefit from built-in summaries, editing tools, and exports without needing developer setup, making it more approachable for everyday users and professionals outside technical teams.

Cons

Competitor

Cons

Otter.ai Compared to Otter.ai, Transcribe lacks strong collaboration features such as shared workspaces and team commenting. Otter is often preferred for ongoing meeting workflows, while Transcribe is more individual-focused and less optimized for collaborative environments.
Rev Unlike Rev’s human transcription option, Transcribe relies fully on AI, which can struggle with poor audio quality or overlapping speakers. Users needing near-perfect accuracy for legal or broadcast use may find Rev’s human-reviewed service more reliable.
Descript Transcribe does not offer advanced audio or video editing like Descript. Creators who want to edit media by editing text, remove filler words, or publish podcasts may find Transcribe too limited for end-to-end content production.
Sonix Sonix provides more detailed transcription analytics and enterprise-grade management tools. Transcribe’s simpler feature set may feel restrictive for large teams or users managing extensive archives of long-form, professional recordings.
Google Speech-to-Text While easier to use, Transcribe cannot match Google Speech-to-Text’s raw scalability and customization through APIs. Developers or enterprises needing deep integration, custom models, or massive volumes may find Google’s solution more powerful.

Reviews

Based on the reviews from the Apple App Store, here is a conclusion of what users are saying about Transcribe – Speech to Text:

Overall Consensus: Great for Quick Dictation, Weak Custom Punctuation

The app is generally highly praised for its speed, intuitive interface, and excellent customer service. However, professional users (such as researchers or authors) note that it struggles with complex formatting and external audio sources.

What Users Love (Pros):

  • Blazing Fast Speeds: Users are thrilled with how much time the app saves them compared to manual typing. One user noted it transcribed an hour of audio in under 5 minutes.
  • Pay-As-You-Go Pricing: Several users praised the fact that there are no forced monthly subscriptions. You can just buy block credits on demand (for example, $4.99 for 1 hour, or cheaper bulk rates like ~$3/hour).
  • Excellent Customer Support: Users report surprisingly fast and accommodating customer service, even successfully getting help on Sunday mornings. The developers also actively respond to both positive and negative App Store reviews.
  • “Smart” Filtering: It does a good job of automatically cutting out stammering, “ums,” and redundant words to clean up casual rambling.

What Users Dislike (Cons):

  • Struggles with Zoom/Skype Calls: Users noted the app is terrible at transcribing audio that is playing out of an external speaker (like recording a Zoom interview playing on a laptop). Note: The developer replied admitting the AI model struggles to recognize “digital” voices coming from speakers compared to live human voices in the room.
  • Fails at Spoken Punctuation: Professional dictators who are used to software like Dragon complained that the app ignores advanced dictation commands. If you say “Open quote” or “New line,” it just types those words out. It currently only reliably recognizes “Period.”
  • Drops Sentences in Long Interviews: In long, 30+ minute qualitative interviews with fast speakers or heavy colloquialisms, the app occasionally misses entire chunks of dialogue.

The Verdict: If you are recording your own voice directly into the phone (like a voice memo) or recording a crystal-clear live meeting, it is phenomenal. However, if you are an author who requires advanced spoken punctuation or a researcher trying to transcribe a messy Zoom call, you will likely be disappointed.