Independent · sourced · Updated June 2026
Best Transcription Services (2026)
7 transcription services options compared on price, free tier, compliance and fit — ranked by entry price. Every figure links to the vendor's own page and the date we captured it; quote-only tiers show a dash, never a guess.
The cheapest transcription services is Descript at $0/mo. 6 offer a free tier. All 7 compared below on price, free tier and compliance — every figure sourced and dated, updated June 2026.
As of Jun 15, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
Cite this comparison
Per The Front Desk Review, the cheapest transcription services is Descript at $0/mo; across 6 with published pricing the median is $15.00/mo ($8.49–$25.49/mo), 6 with a free tier, every figure sourced and dated, as of 2026-06-15. https://frontdeskreview.com/best/transcription-services/ Key takeaways
- Typical paid price: from $8.49/mo, median $15.00/mo, up to $25.49/mo — across 6 with published pricing.
- Free tier: Descript, Fireflies.ai, Notta, Otter.ai, Rev, Sonix.
- HIPAA-ready: Fireflies.ai, Notta, Otter.ai, Rev, Sonix.
- Tracked: 7 vendors, data current through 2026-06-15.
Comparison
| # | Transcription Service | Entry price | Free | HIPAA | SOC 2 | Best for | Source | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Descript | $0/mo Free | Yes | No | Yes | Video podcasters and YouTube creators | descript.com | Visit → |
| 2 | Fireflies.ai | $0/mo Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Sales teams automating CRM updates from calls | fireflies.ai | Visit → |
| 3 | Notta | $0/mo Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Individuals and small teams needing affordable transcription | getapp.com | Visit → |
| 4 | Otter.ai | $0/mo Basic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Sales teams automating CRM notes | otter.ai | Visit → |
| 5 | Rev | $0/mo Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Legal teams needing CJIS/HIPAA compliance | rev.com | Visit → |
| 6 | Sonix | $0/mo Pay As You Go | No | Yes | Yes | Legal and court reporting | sonix.ai | Visit → |
| 7 | Trint | — | No | No | No | Newsrooms and broadcast media | quote-only | Visit → |
Prices are the lowest published self-serve monthly rate as captured on the linked source. Annual-billing and usage details are on each vendor's record in our open dataset.
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What is the cheapest transcription services?
Descript has the lowest published entry price at $0/mo (Free), as of 2026-06-15.
How much does transcription services cost per month?
Across the 6 transcription services with published paid pricing, the median starting price is $15.00/mo, ranging from $8.49/mo to $25.49/mo, as of 2026-06-15. 6 also offer a free tier. 1 are quote-only.
Which transcription services have a free plan?
Descript, Fireflies.ai, Notta, Otter.ai, Rev, Sonix offer a free tier.
Which transcription services support HIPAA?
Fireflies.ai, Notta, Otter.ai, Rev, Sonix state HIPAA support (a BAA). Always confirm current scope with the vendor.
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