The best AI transcription tools in 2025: Which one fits your workflow?

Whether you're producing content, running interviews, or managing remote teams, AI transcription tools have become essential. They turn spoken words into searchable, editable text, saving you hours of manual note-taking and making your work more accessible, shareable, and insightful.

In this guide, we evaluated five leading tools based on accuracy, speed, collaboration features, language support, and pricing transparency. 

How we chose these AI transcription tools

When creating this list, we focused on practical, real-world utility. Our goal is to help you find the best AI transcription tools for your needs, whether you’re looking for full-video recordings, meeting insights, or the ability to autoshare meeting summaries. Here’s how we made our selections:

• We analyzed third-party ratings and reviews

We looked at reviews from trusted sources like G2 and Trustpilot to understand what real users value (and critique) about each tool. This helped us spot common pain points and standout strengths.

• We highlight each tool’s best use case, not just who’s “#1”

Instead of ranking tools from first to last, we chose to spotlight what each product does best. Some are great for teams with a lot of regional accents, while others shine at real-time collaboration or lightning fast call summaries. We believe the best tool depends on you and what you need it for.

By combining user feedback, real-world experience, and tailored evaluation, we’ve curated a list that helps you make an informed choice faster.

Let’s dive into the tools.

Trint – Best for Real-Time Collaboration and Storybuilding

Founded by a journalist, Trint emphasizes speed, accuracy, and collaboration, making it especially popular among media outlets, podcasters, and content creators. The platform offers multilingual transcription, real-time collaboration tools, and advanced editing features, all accessible via a user-friendly web interface and mobile app. Trint’s standout story-building tools enable users to pull quotes and assemble narratives directly from transcripts, streamlining the content creation process for fast-paced environments.

Key Features:

• Converts audio and video files to text in over 40 languages, with claimed accuracy rates up to 99% for clear audio

• Assemble quotes and segments from multiple transcripts to create articles, scripts, or podcasts

• Multiple users can highlight, comment, and edit transcripts simultaneously, with granular access controls and shared drives

Pros:

• Excellent for teams needing fast turnaround and collaboration

• Built-in storytelling tools for podcasting or newsrooms

• Intuitive design, easy file uploads, and compatibility with all major browsers

Cons:

• More expensive than many competitors, especially for individuals or casual users; no permanent free tier

• “Unlimited” plans have vague usage caps, which may frustrate high-volume users

• Direct integration with Zoom is available, but not with Microsoft Teams or Google Meet

Pricing:

• Starter Plan: €48 per seat/month (billed annually at €576). Includes up to 7 audio or video files and 3 translations per month, plus collaboration with 2 teammates.

• Advanced Plan: €52 per seat/month (billed annually at €624). Offers unlimited transcriptions, AI-powered summaries, shared drives, subtitling, and 1 hour/month of mobile live transcription.

• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing. Adds live transcription from any device, automatic language recognition, advanced security, and team-wide collaboration tools.

• Free trial available; no ongoing free plan.

What users say about Trint:

"The transcription process is very robust. Customer support is fantastic, and I use Trint with every project involving a customer interview. Marking up videos for production could not be easier!" – Verified User., G2

"Bottomline: if you're looking for a transcription app: there's others which do the job as well but cheaper. If you're looking for an app that helps you create an EDL or XML for your editor, keep looking." – FE., Trustpilot

Descript – Best for Creators and Video Editors

Descript is built for creators who want to produce, polish, and publish content without switching tools. Its standout feature is the ability to edit video and audio simply by editing the transcript, turning media editing into a word processor-style experience. Whether you’re cutting out filler words, rearranging clips, or using AI voice to fix mistakes, Descript makes the workflow seamless.

Key Features:

• Automatic transcription with up to 95% accuracy for well-recorded content, delivering near-instant results for audio and video files up to 15 hours long

• AI-powered “Speaker Detective” identifies and labels multiple speakers, with assistance for naming each participant and filler-word detection

• Overdub (AI voice cloning) for script changes

• Supports transcription of synchronized recordings with speakers on separate tracks for enhanced accuracy

• Create personalized vocabularies to improve transcription accuracy for industry-specific terms, names, or frequently used phrases

Pros:

• All-in-one platform for podcasters and creators

• Multiple format options including plain text, rich text, markdown, HTML, Word docs, and subtitle formats (SRT/VTT)

• Makes audio and video editing accessible to beginners by treating transcripts like documents, eliminating the need for complex timeline manipulation

• Automatic identification and bulk removal of filler words like “um,” “uh,” “like,” and “you know

Cons:

• Only 1 hour of transcription per month on the free plan, with significant limitations compared to competitor

• Struggles with poor audio quality, heavy accents, background noise, and overlapping speech, requiring manual corrections

• Pricing becomes expensive for teams with high transcription needs, and additional features require higher-tier plans

Pricing:

• Free: $0 per month

• Hobbyist: $24/month (or $192 annually, equivalent to $16/month)

• Creator: $35/month (or $288 annually, equivalent to $24/month)

• Business: $50/month (or $480 annually, equivalent to $40/month)

• Additional Options:

  • White Glove Human Transcription: $2 per minute (up to 2-hour limit per file)

  • Extra Transcription Hours: $2 per additional hour beyond plan limits

  • Student/Educator Discount: Available through special application process

  • Basic Seats: Free collaboration seats for viewing and commenting (Business plan and above)

"I used the free version to transcribe a few videos and I think it would be nice to leave at least a positive comment. Descript did what it had to, it lets you neatly organize stuff, has tons of features and pretty nice UI." - Jiri Fiala., Trustpilot

"The transcription is not very accurate (in my estimation it’s about 85% accurate). It was so time-consuming to correct the transcripts that I gave up after a year. I thought by carefully correcting the transcripts, I would be helping the machine learning get better and better over time. But it doesn’t make any difference at all. So, then I switched to producing a raw transcript in PDF format for my listeners, but putting a warning page saying that it contains lots of errors or omissions.” - SSP., Trustpilot

Sonix – Best for Multilingual Audio

Sonix is a fast, browser-based transcription platform designed for teams working in multiple languages. With support for over 40 languages, advanced subtitle exports, and AI features like sentiment analysis and topic detection, Sonix is ideal for global teams who need transcription that goes beyond the basics. Its powerful in-browser editor allows users to review, edit, and share transcripts easily, while integrations with tools like Zoom, Google Drive, and Adobe Premiere streamline content workflows.

Key Features:

• AI-powered transcription with up to 99% accuracy in 50+ languages

• In-browser editor with audio-text sync and word-level playback

• Speaker identification with custom labeling

• Sentiment analysis, topic and entity detection, and auto-summarization

• Subtitles and captions with formatting options and burn-in support

• Real-time collaboration, commenting, and sharing with permission controls

• Custom dictionaries to improve accuracy on names and industry terms

Pros:

• Great for global teams and international content

• Delivers up to 99% accuracy for clear audio and can transcribe a 30-minute file in approximately 3-4 minutes

• Clean, intuitive browser-based editor that combines the familiarity of a word processor with advanced audio-syncing capabilities

Cons:

• No real-time transcription capabilities for live meetings (only available through integrations), requiring files to be uploaded post-recording

• Pricing is higher than many competitors, particularly for individuals or casual users, with no permanent free tier

• Some users report slow response times and generic troubleshooting advice, with no phone support available

• The hybrid pricing model (subscription + usage fees) can be confusing and costs can escalate quickly for high-volume users

Pricing:

• Free trial available, 30 minutes of free transcription only

• Standard Plan (Pay-as-you-go): $10 per transcription hour, single-user access

• Premium Subscription: $22 per user per month (or $16.50 annually), $5 per transcription hour (50% savings), $3 per translation hour (70% savings)

• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing quote, 5+ user minimum

• Additional services:

  • AI Translation: $10 per hour (Standard), $3 per hour (Premium)

  • Specialized Legal Plans: Starting at $3,500 annually for basic legal transcription, $6,500 annually for AI analysis features

  • Volume Discounts: Available for companies requiring 100+ hours per month

"I was really impressed with how easy Sonix was to use. It handled different audio formats with no issues, and the transcription was surprisingly accurate. The whole process was super straightforward, no learning curve at all. I’ll definitely be using it again" – Simon V Muzenda., Trustpilot

"I signed up for the $22 monthly subscription thinking it included transcriptions. To my surprise, Sonix charges extra for every single transcription on top of the subscription fee. In the end, I paid $50 in one month, even though I had already paid for the membership." – Tena Tena., Trustpilot

Rev – Best for Those Who Need a Human Transcription Option

Rev stands out for its dual offering: lightning-fast AI transcription and highly accurate human services. It’s trusted by content teams, legal professionals, and researchers alike - anyone who needs dependable transcripts, whether speed or precision is the priority. The platform is easy to use, with transparent pricing and flexible options for teams of all sizes.

Key Features:

• Offers both automated (AI) and human-verified transcription services, allowing users to choose based on their accuracy and budget needs

• Human transcription with 99%+ accuracy

• Provides captions in over 37 languages and supports FCC/ADA-compliant human captions in English and Spanish

• Rush delivery available

• Record, upload, and edit audio/video files via browser or mobile app, with real-time syncing between devices

Pros:

• Both AI and human services are generally noted for quick delivery times

• Web and mobile platforms are intuitive and easy to navigate, making uploads and edits straightforward

• Secure, vetted workforce for human transcriptions

Cons:

• Human transcription can become expensive for lengthy files or frequent use

• Occasional complaints that “human” transcriptions are not always more accurate than AI, especially for nuanced or publishable content

• AI-generated summaries may lack structure and depth compared to leading alternatives

Pricing: 

• AI Transcription: Starts at $0.25 per audio minute. Fast and budget-friendly, though you may need to clean up the results.

• Human Transcription: $1.50 per audio minute with speaker IDs and timestamps. Ideal when precision matters.

• Captions & Subtitles: $1.50 per video minute for human captions. Foreign subtitles are pricey and begin at $5.00 per minute.

• Free Tier: New users can access limited AI minutes for free.

• Enterprise & Bulk Discounts: Available for high-volume users.

• No Monthly Minimums: Pay-as-you-go flexibility with optional enterprise plans.

What users say about Rev:

"My team and I also really like the AI features such as summary and main points, which allows my team members without any previous knowledge of the subject matter to understand things very quickly opening the transcript in Rev. I also really love how I can easily share a transcript with one of our clients if we need to. I've also had very positive experiences with Rev's helpful and friendly customer support." – Brian U., G2

"I don't have a lot of complaints-- but I do wish there was like a learning function inside my account-- since I use the same speakers, it could learn their voices/accents and get even more accurate over time." – Amanda D., G2

Supernormal Desktop App – Best for Instant Post-Meeting Drafts Without Meeting Bots

The Supernormal app is a AI meeting assistant and workspace for Mac that generates transcripts directly from your device without sending a bot into the call. It’s built for people who want reliable meeting transcription with zero meeting disruption. The app captures the audio from Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams calls running on your Mac, processes it locally to produce transcripts, and then turns those transcripts into clear summaries and follow-up notes.

While many transcription tools focus on file uploads or bot-based capture, the app prioritizes speed, accuracy, and privacy-minded processing on the user’s machine. For teams and client-facing roles that run back-to-back calls, it offers a fast way to get searchable transcripts and meeting insights without extra steps.

Its focus isn’t just accurate transcription. Supernormal is built to help you act on what was said, making it especially valuable for client-facing roles, project leads, and anyone who needs fast follow-through after every call.

Key Features:‍

• Uses on-device processing to generate transcripts without requiring a meeting bot

• Automatically produces meeting summaries, action items, and suggested follow-ups

• Generates first-draft emails, updates, and project documentation from your meeting content

• Integrates with Slack, Linear, and Cursor for quick handoff into your workflow

• Works for Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams calls held on your Mac

Pros:

• No bots joining your calls

• Excellent for people who want meeting insights and follow-up materials, not just raw transcripts

• Fast turnaround between meeting and ready-to-share draft

• Helps reduce context switching by pushing output directly where you work

Cons:‍

• Mac-only during closed beta

• Still expanding transcription-focused features compared with longtime incumbents

Pricing:

Radiant is currently free in open beta. Early access users have full feature access while the team prepares for public launch.

What users say about the Supernormal app:

"...its AI feature is super useful, and the draft I receive always provides a good starting point. So, based on my personal experience, Radiant’s AI tools are 10/10." - The Business Dive
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"I love that it runs quietly in the background and automatically captures the important details without me having to manage anything during the call." - Verified User, G2

Final Thoughts on Transcription Tools

The best AI transcription tool isn’t about finding the most features - it’s about choosing the one that fits your unique workflow. Whether you're recording team meetings, editing content for publishing, or managing multilingual interviews, there’s a tool built for your use case.

Need fast, structured meeting notes that sync with your CRM? Go with Supernormal. Want to edit video by editing text? Try Descript. Working across languages? Sonix might be your best bet.

Each tool on this list shines in different scenarios. Choose the one that saves you time, integrates with your stack, and supports how you actually work.