7 Best Podcast Transcription Services: A Complete Comparison
Contents
If you’re a podcaster, you know the universal headache of having an audience that loves your content but does not have time to listen.
What if I tell you there’s a cheat code and your audience could read your podcast instead?
And that's when podcast transcription services swoop in to save the day.
Transcribing your podcast has many benefits as follows:
- SEO Boost
- Easy access to your content
- Content repurposing
But there are loads of options out there, and the real grind is in fishing out the best podcast transcription services. So we compared the 7 best to help you choose.
Why You Need a Podcast Transcription Service
How Podcast Transcription Improves SEO
Are you wondering why you should transcribe your podcast content?
While transcribing each episode of your podcast may be construed as a hassle, it can provide major SEO ( Search Engine Optimization) benefits.
Provided that you use the right podcast transcription service, the process can be smooth and effortless.
Optimizing your podcast for SEO is a visibility game changer. How? In layman’s terms, search engines cannot “hear” your podcast, but they can index transcripts and make your content rank higher.
Besides that, visitors stay longer on your page when they read along, as compared to when they listen, and this improves SEO.
While they read, they’re also likely to quote and link to your written content.
How to Choose the Best Podcast Transcription Service
Accuracy and AI vs. Human Transcription
AI transcription may struggle with accents and background noise, but it’s speedy and low-cost.
Human transcription takes longer and costs more but is highly accurate.
Think up to 99% accuracy.
If you’re prioritizing accuracy, go for Verbalscripts or Rev.
If you need quick, automated transcripts, Otter.ai or Sonix would work well for you.
Pricing – Free vs. Paid Services
Fortunately, Otter.ai and Scribie's AI transcription comes with free basic plans.
They may have lower accuracy and limited minutes but work for simple transcriptions.
Paid services often translate to premium quality, better formatting and speaker identification which is ideal for professionals.
7 Best Podcast Transcription Services Compared
VerbalScripts – The Best Overall Podcast Transcription Service
If you’re after a great deal, then VerbalScripts is the top pick for the best transcription service.
Unlike AI-only services, VerbalScripts use human proof-readers; and their methodology emphasizes 99% accuracy.
Key Features are:
- Human review transcription ensures unmatched precision and near-perfect results.
- You get ready to use transcripts
- They are mobile and desktop-friendly
- Works for all podcast types
- Simple upload process
- Fast turnaround time
- Competitive prices
Pricing:
Our pricing starts at $1.25 per minute for refined human touch versions.
Rev- Best for High Accuracy Human Transcription
Rev is human-powered transcription service known for speedy delivery and high accuracy. And that has been the catalyst for their remarkable growth.
The key benefits are:
- They do human-powered transcription which ensures precision and accuracy
- You get a fast turnaround; within hours
- They work with any audio quality even with background noises.
Pricing: Starts at $0.25 per minute for A.I. transcription and $1.25 per minute for human transcription services.
Otter.ai - Best for AI Powered Live Transcription
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Otter.ai is a fan-favourite AI transcription service best suited for podcasters seeking real-time transcription.
It’s popular for being widely endorsed on Reddit as one of the best podcast transcription services for anyone who wants economical and automated options.
Key Benefits are:
- They have a free plan with limited minutes for light users
- You get live transcription during the recording
- Share and edit transcripts with your team
- Automattic speaker tagging
- Distinguishes multiple voices
Pricing: Get 300 mins free every month.
4. Descript – Best for Podcast Editing & Transcription
Descript is industry-defining for its ability to transcribe and lets you edit your podcast similarly to a text file.
They also offer users a free basic starter pack that includes the necessary tools to begin transcribing.
The Key Benefits:
- Text-based editing
- Excellent for beginners
- You can fix mistakes without re-recording (AI-powered Overdub)
Pricing: Ranges from free to $40 per month, depending on the plan.
5. Sonix – Best for Automated Editing & Transcription
Sonix is impeccable for dialogue-focused podcasts.
You might wonder why. Because it provides customized features with multi-speaker conversations and structured transcripts.
The Key Benefits:
- AI-powered speaker identification
- Text-based audio editing
- Time synchronized transcripts
- Transcribes in 40+ languages
- Allows teams to comment adit and share transcripts
Pricing: The standard transcription cost per hour of audio in the U.S. and Canada is around $90, or $1.5 per audio minute
6. SpeakWrite – Best for Legal & Professional Podcasts
Speakwrite is dedicated to legal, professional and business transcription services.
It’s therefore stellar for any podcaster in these specific industries.
The key Benefits:
- Ideal for highly sensitive and confidential content
- They’re available 24/7; day or night
- Get high-accuracy results done through both human and AI transcription
Pricing: 1.5 cents per word for single-speaker audio transcription. They also offer multi-speaker transcription for 1/4 cent per word.
7. Scribie – Best for Budget-Friendly Transcription
If you aim to find an economically friendly podcast transcription service, then Scribie is an excellent choice.
They offer you both human-reviewed and AI-generated transcripts at low rates.
The key benefits:
- Affordable pricingYou get options ( cheaper AI-generated transcripts or highly accurate human-reviewed transcriptions.
- They automatically label different voices
Pricing: Automated: $0.10, Manual: $0.80
FAQs on Podcast Transcription
1. What is a podcast transcription service?
A podcast transcription service helps you convert your podcast audio into text format to allow you to create written content from your audio for your audience that is unable to engage with listening but prefers reading.
These transcriptions are also important for SEO and accessibility.
2. Why should I use a podcast transcription service?
If you want your content to be more accessible to a larger audience, including those with hearing impairments, then you should be using podcast transcription services.
Transcription also allows you to repurpose your content into blog post materials, ebooks and other platforms. It’s betting more value from your hard work.
3. What should I look for in the best podcast transcription service?
Consider services that offer accuracy, have a quick turnaround time, their platform is user-friendly, offer extra features like time stamps, compare pricing models, and select what fits your budget.
4. Are podcast transcription services accurate?
Many transcription service providers use AI technology, but the accuracy still varies based on factors like Audio quality and Background noise.
Some services also offer additional human-reviewed transcriptions for even higher accuracy, while some provide AI-based options only.
5. Can I edit my transcriptions after they’re delivered?
Most podcast transcription services will allow you to edit once iit'sdelivered.
In this case, a platform that provides tools, formatting speaker labels is a better option.
6. How much does podcast transcription cost?
The cost varies from $0.10 to $3.00 per minute of audio.
Prices are determined by the service you're getting, the accuracy levels and features provided by the platform.
7. Can transcription services handle multiple speakers?
Yes, the majority of transcription services can distinguish between multiple speakers and label them accordingly.
This feature is important for interview podcasts as well as panel discussions.
8. Are there any free podcast transcription services?
There are a few free transcription services available, but they often come with limitations.
The results may have low accuracy, or the platform has fewer features and a limited amount of transcription time.
If you’re a podcaster, you know the universal headache of having an audience that loves your content but does not have time to listen.
What if I tell you there’s a cheat code and your audience could read your podcast instead?
And that's when podcast transcription services swoop in to save the day.
Transcribing your podcast has many benefits as follows:
- SEO Boost
- Easy access to your content
- Content repurposing
But there are loads of options out there, and the real grind is in fishing out the best podcast transcription services. So we compared the 7 best to help you choose.
Why You Need a Podcast Transcription Service
How Podcast Transcription Improves SEO
Are you wondering why you should transcribe your podcast content?
While transcribing each episode of your podcast may be construed as a hassle, it can provide major SEO ( Search Engine Optimization) benefits.
Provided that you use the right podcast transcription service, the process can be smooth and effortless.
Optimizing your podcast for SEO is a visibility game changer. How? In layman’s terms, search engines cannot “hear” your podcast, but they can index transcripts and make your content rank higher.
Besides that, visitors stay longer on your page when they read along, as compared to when they listen, and this improves SEO.
While they read, they’re also likely to quote and link to your written content.
How to Choose the Best Podcast Transcription Service
Accuracy and AI vs. Human Transcription
AI transcription may struggle with accents and background noise, but it’s speedy and low-cost.
Human transcription takes longer and costs more but is highly accurate.
Think up to 99% accuracy.
If you’re prioritizing accuracy, go for Verbalscripts or Rev.
If you need quick, automated transcripts, Otter.ai or Sonix would work well for you.
Pricing – Free vs. Paid Services
Fortunately, Otter.ai and Scribie's AI transcription comes with free basic plans.
They may have lower accuracy and limited minutes but work for simple transcriptions.
Paid services often translate to premium quality, better formatting and speaker identification which is ideal for professionals.
7 Best Podcast Transcription Services Compared
VerbalScripts – The Best Overall Podcast Transcription Service
If you’re after a great deal, then VerbalScripts is the top pick for the best transcription service.
Unlike AI-only services, VerbalScripts use human proof-readers; and their methodology emphasizes 99% accuracy.
Key Features are:
- Human review transcription ensures unmatched precision and near-perfect results.
- You get ready to use transcripts
- They are mobile and desktop-friendly
- Works for all podcast types
- Simple upload process
- Fast turnaround time
- Competitive prices
Pricing:
Our pricing starts at $1.25 per minute for refined human touch versions.
Rev- Best for High Accuracy Human Transcription
Rev is human-powered transcription service known for speedy delivery and high accuracy. And that has been the catalyst for their remarkable growth.
The key benefits are:
- They do human-powered transcription which ensures precision and accuracy
- You get a fast turnaround; within hours
- They work with any audio quality even with background noises.
Pricing: Starts at $0.25 per minute for A.I. transcription and $1.25 per minute for human transcription services.
Otter.ai - Best for AI Powered Live Transcription
Otter.ai is a fan-favourite AI transcription service best suited for podcasters seeking real-time transcription.
It’s popular for being widely endorsed on Reddit as one of the best podcast transcription services for anyone who wants economical and automated options.
Key Benefits are:
- They have a free plan with limited minutes for light users
- You get live transcription during the recording
- Share and edit transcripts with your team
- Automattic speaker tagging
- Distinguishes multiple voices
Pricing: Get 300 mins free every month.
4. Descript – Best for Podcast Editing & Transcription
Descript is industry-defining for its ability to transcribe and lets you edit your podcast similarly to a text file.
They also offer users a free basic starter pack that includes the necessary tools to begin transcribing.
The Key Benefits:
- Text-based editing
- Excellent for beginners
- You can fix mistakes without re-recording (AI-powered Overdub)
Pricing: Ranges from free to $40 per month, depending on the plan.
5. Sonix – Best for Automated Editing & Transcription
Sonix is impeccable for dialogue-focused podcasts.
You might wonder why. Because it provides customized features with multi-speaker conversations and structured transcripts.
The Key Benefits:
- AI-powered speaker identification
- Text-based audio editing
- Time synchronized transcripts
- Transcribes in 40+ languages
- Allows teams to comment adit and share transcripts
Pricing: The standard transcription cost per hour of audio in the U.S. and Canada is around $90, or $1.5 per audio minute
6. SpeakWrite – Best for Legal & Professional Podcasts
Speakwrite is dedicated to legal, professional and business transcription services.
It’s therefore stellar for any podcaster in these specific industries.
The key Benefits:
- Ideal for highly sensitive and confidential content
- They’re available 24/7; day or night
- Get high-accuracy results done through both human and AI transcription
Pricing: 1.5 cents per word for single-speaker audio transcription. They also offer multi-speaker transcription for 1/4 cent per word.
7. Scribie – Best for Budget-Friendly Transcription
If you aim to find an economically friendly podcast transcription service, then Scribie is an excellent choice.
They offer you both human-reviewed and AI-generated transcripts at low rates.
The key benefits:
- Affordable pricingYou get options ( cheaper AI-generated transcripts or highly accurate human-reviewed transcriptions.
- They automatically label different voices
Pricing: Automated: $0.10, Manual: $0.80
FAQs on Podcast Transcription
1. What is a podcast transcription service?
A podcast transcription service helps you convert your podcast audio into text format to allow you to create written content from your audio for your audience that is unable to engage with listening but prefers reading.
These transcriptions are also important for SEO and accessibility.
2. Why should I use a podcast transcription service?
If you want your content to be more accessible to a larger audience, including those with hearing impairments, then you should be using podcast transcription services.
Transcription also allows you to repurpose your content into blog post materials, ebooks and other platforms. It’s betting more value from your hard work.
3. What should I look for in the best podcast transcription service?
Consider services that offer accuracy, have a quick turnaround time, their platform is user-friendly, offer extra features like time stamps, compare pricing models, and select what fits your budget.
4. Are podcast transcription services accurate?
Many transcription service providers use AI technology, but the accuracy still varies based on factors like Audio quality and Background noise.
Some services also offer additional human-reviewed transcriptions for even higher accuracy, while some provide AI-based options only.
5. Can I edit my transcriptions after they’re delivered?
Most podcast transcription services will allow you to edit once iit'sdelivered.
In this case, a platform that provides tools, formatting speaker labels is a better option.
6. How much does podcast transcription cost?
The cost varies from $0.10 to $3.00 per minute of audio.
Prices are determined by the service you're getting, the accuracy levels and features provided by the platform.
7. Can transcription services handle multiple speakers?
Yes, the majority of transcription services can distinguish between multiple speakers and label them accordingly.
This feature is important for interview podcasts as well as panel discussions.
8. Are there any free podcast transcription services?
There are a few free transcription services available, but they often come with limitations.
The results may have low accuracy, or the platform has fewer features and a limited amount of transcription time.
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