Free Transcription Software

Get an AI transcript of your audio or video in minutes, or type it yourself in our free online editor with timestamps, speaker labels and shortcuts. Your first 10 minutes of AI transcription are free.

Start for free Open the free editor

4.6 on G2 4.7 on Trustpilot

SOC 2 Type II
GDPR compliant

Free transcription editor with speaker labels and timestamps

Chosen by 6M+ users and 41,000+ teams to turn audio and video into text.

How to transcribe audio for free

Upload your file

Add an MP3, MP4, WAV or other audio or video file, or paste a YouTube link.
Get your AI transcript

HappyScribe transcribes it in minutes, with speaker labels and timestamps.
Edit and export

Fix any word in the editor, then export to TXT, DOCX, PDF or SRT.

Skip the typing with an AI first draft

Typing one hour of audio by hand can take four hours or more. HappyScribe writes the first draft in minutes, up to 98% accurate, with speakers and timestamps. Then you polish it in the same editor.

Start for free

A free editor built for transcribers

Speaker labels

Add a speaker to any paragraph. Rename a speaker once and every occurrence updates.
Automatic timestamps

Press Enter to start a new paragraph and the editor adds the timestamp for you.
Keyboard shortcuts

Play, pause, rewind and insert speakers without leaving the keyboard.
Auto-rewind on pause

When you pause, playback steps back a few seconds so you never miss a word.

Also included

YouTube and Vimeo playback

Transcribe a video straight from its link, with no download needed.
Export in 40+ formats

Download your transcript as TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT and more.
No account needed

Open the editor in your browser and start typing. Nothing to install.

Open the free editor

Customer Reviews

4.7/5 on Trustpilot

When I need something transcribed from an MP3, I use this service. In my profession, transcription is needed regularly. I like this service because it is pretty much quick, accurate, and painless.
Jonathan Orris Trustpilot
I really like this tool. From time to time, I need to convert audio to text - and get it done accurately, and HappyScribe does a great job. It's fast, easy, and accurate.
Robyn Wright Trustpilot
I have been using HappyScribe for more than 6 years now and I love the ease of just uploading my audio and having a clean transcript.
Rim B. G2

Frequently asked questions

Is HappyScribe's transcription software free?

Yes. The online transcription editor is free and works without an account. AI transcription comes with 10 free minutes when you sign up, no credit card needed. After that, you can choose a paid plan.

Can I use the free editor without signing up?

Yes. Open the free editor, add your audio or video file or a YouTube or Vimeo link, and start typing. Sign up when you want HappyScribe to write the transcript for you.

Free editor or AI transcription: which should I use?

Use the free editor if you want to type every word yourself. Use AI transcription if you want a draft in minutes: you review and correct it in the same editor, which is much faster than typing from scratch.

How accurate is AI transcription?

Up to 98% on clear recordings. Accuracy depends on audio quality, accents and background noise. For 99% accuracy, you can order a human-made transcript, delivered in 24 hours.

Which file formats can I use?

Upload MP3, MP4, WAV, M4A, MOV and other common audio and video formats, or import from YouTube, Google Drive or Dropbox. Export to TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT and more than 40 formats in total.