Best AI transcription tools: select the right one for your needs

Pierre Touzeau

November 20, 2023

Software Comparison

Like many of us, you're probably here to select the ideal AI transcription tool for your business. But here's the thing: there are hundreds of solutions available, each with a myriad of features. The goal of this article is to help you understand which solution is right for your business. Whether you work in a startup, involved in media production, education, market research, or any other industry, we aim to guide you in finding the perfect solution for your needs.

What is AI transcription and how does it work

AI Transcription is a technology that uses artificial intelligence to convert spoken language coming — usually coming from audio or video files — intro text. Here's how it works:

Audio/Video processing: the AI system first analyzes audio or video files, where speech is detected and isolated from any background noise.
Speech Recognition: using automatic speech recognition, the AI transcribes the spoken word into text. This process involves recognizing different speech patterns like languages, accents, jargons and more. Those patterns can vary a lot depending on your use cases.
NLP Utilisation: NLP is applied to ensure the transcription is not only accurate in terms of words but also in understanding the context and nuances of the language. It includes grammar checks and contextual interpretation.
Output generation: the system outputs a written transcript. It can also include features like speaker identification, sentiment analysis, topic identification and more.

While those steps are pretty common among all technology. They often come with various features that might depend on the way you intend to use AI Transcription. For example, a technology developed for the health industry might include specific jargon while the output might be presented differently depending on how you want to use the transcript.

Let's explore the different solutions for the following industries:

For Startups
For Creators & Media Production Company
For SEO Professionals
For Market Research Firms
For Law Firms
For Healthcare Providers

AI Transcription for Startups

How to pick the right solution

To pick the right solution, you might need to consider a few things:

Audio/Video input: for startups, you might need to deal with various video files whether it’s coming from meeting recordings on Zoom or Google Meet, video messages that are sent asynchronously or videos that you might need to upload from your marketing team or another webinar you just attended.
Speech recognition: professional jargon in the tech world differs a lot from other industries. You might also need to deal with various languages as you expand in different countries. You need to consider a solution that is trained on the right professional jargon while being able to do it in many languages so that you don’t need to pick another solution anytime you open a new market.
Output generation: the way the output is displayed depends a lot on the way you intend to use the transcript for (summary, analysis, content creation, etc…). Tech startups don’t have the capacity to buy a specific solution for each use case and usually prefer to select a solution that can offer enough flexibility in managing the transcript output whether it’s for generating summaries and followups, tagging and analyzing the transcript, or exporting it for content creation.
Budget and scalability: startups must navigate budget constraints — avoiding the purchase of numerous specialized tools — while ensuring their chosen solutions can efficiently scale with their growth, particularly in the management and structuring of information.

Our favorite pick: Claap

Claap is considered one of the best AI transcription solutions for startups and tech companies, trusted by leaders like Revolut, Qonto or smaller startups like Scoreplay and Figures. Claap excels in bringing all the use cases startup needs – meeting recording, screen recording, knowledge sharing – into one tool and uses AI transcription to power those use cases:

Meeting Recording: Claap helps you automatically record your meetings, generate the transcript in over 99 languages and let you summarize the video using AI-summary templates you can pick to get the most accurate summary (sales discovery, customer success calls, user research, team updates, and more…).
Screen Recording: Claap helps you record quick video of your screen and uses the transcript to help you create the most engaging video with features such as automated video chapters, or using the transcript to edit your video.
Knowledge Sharing: Claap lets you organize all videos in a centralized video workspace divided into teams and channels. They use the video transcript to easily find back videos or specific quotes. Alternatively their powerful Notion integration lets you directly push the videos with the transcript in a dedicated Notion database if your goal is to use the transcript for content creation

Key features

Use any video file: Chrome Extension, Google Meet App, Zoom Integration, Video Upload.
Transcript in over 99 languages with speaker detection and word-level time stamp.
AI-powered summary with templates
AI-powered editing: auto-titles, auto-chapters, use transcript to edit video
AI-powered search and workspace organization
Powerful integrations with Notion (incl. databases), Slack and most of your project management tools.

Claap limitations

Only support video files
Transcripts can’t be translated into other languages

Claap pricing

Free
Basic Recorder: $10/month
Power Recorder: $30/month
Enterprise: contact for pricing

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AI Transcription for Creators & Media Production Company

How to Pick the Right Solution

For creators and media production companies, the ideal AI transcription tool must cater to specific needs:

Audio/Video Input: In this industry, dealing with diverse formats and qualities of audio and video content is common. Whether it's podcast recordings, film production, or YouTube content, the tool must handle various file types and qualities with ease.
Speech Recognition: Given the creative nature of this field, the tool should be adept at handling a range of speech patterns, dialects, and possibly artistic or technical jargon. This ensures accurate transcription across various content forms.
Output Generation: The transcription output should be adaptable for different uses — from subtitling to scriptwriting. Creators often require a tool that can help in content editing and repurposing, not just transcription.

Our Favorite Pick: Descript

Descript is highly recommended for creators and media production companies. It stands out for its robust features that cater specifically to the creative industry:

Meeting & Content Recording: Descript offers exceptional capabilities in recording content, be it interviews, podcasts, or video footage. It efficiently transcribes content in multiple languages and provides users with intuitive tools for summarizing and editing.
Advanced Editing Features: One of Descript’s unique selling points is its advanced editing suite. It allows users to edit audio and video content as easily as editing a text document, using the transcript to cut, rearrange, or modify the content.
Content Repurposing: Descript shines in its ability to help creators repurpose their transcribed content. Whether it's for creating scripts, subtitles, or social media snippets, its functionalities are aligned with the versatile needs of content creators.

Key Features

Versatile input handling: Supports various audio/video formats.
Advanced speech recognition: Accurately transcribes different speech patterns and dialects.
Editing suite: Intuitive text-based editing of audio and video.
Repurposing tools: Facilitates easy content transformation for various platforms.
Multi-language support: Transcribes in multiple languages.

Descript Limitations

May require a learning curve for advanced editing features.
Limited functionalities in free version compared to premium plans.

Descript Pricing

Free version available with basic features.
Creator Plan: $12/month.
Pro Plan: $24/month.
Enterprise: Contact for pricing.

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AI Transcription for SEO Professionals

How to Pick the Right Solution

SEO professionals require specific features from an AI transcription tool to enhance their digital marketing strategies:

Audio/Video Input: SEO experts often work with a range of multimedia content, including podcasts, webinars, and video interviews. The ideal tool should efficiently process various audio and video formats.
Speech Recognition: Accurate transcription is crucial for SEO. The tool must be capable of recognizing and transcribing diverse speech patterns, accents, and technical terminologies specific to different industries.
Output Generation: For SEO purposes, the transcription output should be optimized for search engines. This includes the ability to easily integrate transcriptions into websites, blogs, and social media platforms, enhancing online visibility.

Our Favorite Pick: Trint

Trint stands out as a premier choice for SEO professionals, thanks to its specialized features:

Efficient Content Processing: Trint excels in processing multimedia content, delivering accurate transcriptions that can be used to boost SEO efforts.
Enhanced Speech Recognition: With its advanced speech recognition technology, Trint ensures that even the most industry-specific jargon is accurately transcribed, which is essential for creating keyword-rich content.
SEO-Friendly Output: Trint's transcriptions are tailored for SEO, offering easy integration with various digital platforms to enhance online presence and search engine rankings.

Key Features

Supports diverse audio/video formats for comprehensive content processing.
Advanced speech recognition for accurate, industry-specific transcriptions.
SEO-optimized transcription output for easy integration with digital platforms.
Time-saving editing tools for quick content adjustments.
Multi-language support for global SEO strategies.

Trint Limitations

Higher cost compared to some other transcription tools.
May require additional editing for highly technical or specialized content.

Trint Pricing

Starter Plan: $48/month.
Advanced Plan: Custom pricing based on needs.
Enterprise Solutions: Contact for pricing and tailored features.

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AI Transcription for Market Research Firms

How to Pick the Right Solution

Market research firms have unique requirements when selecting an AI transcription tool:

Audio/Video Input: These firms often deal with diverse data sources, including focus group discussions, interviews, and customer feedback videos. The tool should handle various formats and quality levels effectively.
Speech Recognition: Accuracy in transcribing diverse dialects and colloquial language is vital. The tool must be adept at capturing nuances in speech to ensure that market insights are not lost or misinterpreted.
Output Generation: Transcripts need to be easily analyzable. Features like sentiment analysis, keyword tagging, and thematic categorization can greatly aid in interpreting the data for market insights.

Our Favorite Pick: SpeakAI

SpeakAI is highly recommended for market research firms for its specialized capabilities:

Robust Data Handling: SpeakAI is proficient in handling a wide range of audio and video inputs, making it suitable for the varied data sources used in market research.
Advanced Speech Recognition: Its speech recognition technology is tailored to accurately transcribe colloquial language and diverse dialects, which is crucial for market research.
Insightful Output Analysis: SpeakAI goes beyond simple transcription; it offers advanced analysis features like sentiment analysis and thematic categorization, which are invaluable for extracting market insights from the transcripts.

Key Features

Versatile input compatibility: Efficiently processes various audio/video formats.
High-accuracy speech recognition: Captures colloquial language and dialects effectively.
Analytical transcription output: Includes features like sentiment analysis and keyword tagging.
User-friendly interface: Simplifies the process of data interpretation and analysis.
Integration with research tools: Seamlessly integrates with various market research software.

SpeakAI Limitations

Pricing may be a consideration for smaller firms or individual researchers.
Some advanced features might have a learning curve for new users.

SpeakAI Pricing

Free Trial available.
Professional Plan: $30/month.
Team Plan: $60/month.
Enterprise: Custom pricing based on specific requirements.

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AI Transcription for Law Firms

How to Pick the Right Solution

When it comes to AI transcription tools for law firms, several key factors must be considered:

Audio/Video Input: Law firms often work with a variety of audio and video materials, such as court recordings, client interviews, and legal proceedings. The transcription tool must handle these diverse formats accurately.
Speech Recognition: Legal terminology is complex and specific. The transcription tool must be capable of accurately capturing legal jargon and nuances in speech to ensure precise documentation.
Output Generation: The transcript output should be clear, well-structured, and easy to navigate. This is crucial for legal documents where every detail matters and is often subject to review and analysis.

Our Favorite Pick: Rev

Rev is particularly well-suited for law firms due to its specialized features:

Accurate Transcription of Legal Content: Rev excels in transcribing legal proceedings and documents with high accuracy, ensuring that legal jargon and specific terminologies are correctly captured.
Confidentiality and Security: Understanding the sensitive nature of legal work, Rev places a strong emphasis on confidentiality and data security, making it a trustworthy choice for law firms.
Efficient Document Handling: With Rev, law firms can easily manage transcriptions, edit them as needed, and integrate them into their legal documentation workflow.

Key Features

High accuracy in transcribing legal terminology and proceedings.
Emphasis on confidentiality and security, aligning with legal industry standards.
User-friendly interface for easy editing and integration of transcripts.
Support for a wide range of audio and video formats.
Rapid turnaround times for urgent legal documentation needs.

Rev Limitations

Pricing may be higher compared to other general transcription services.
While highly accurate, complex legal language might sometimes require additional manual review.

Rev Pricing

Standard Plan: $1.25 per minute.
Rush Service: Additional cost for expedited turnaround.
Volume discounts available for large or ongoing projects.

AI Transcription for Healthcare Providers

How to Pick the Right Solution

Selecting an AI transcription tool for healthcare providers involves considering unique requirements:

Audio/Video Input: Healthcare providers often record patient consultations, medical lectures, and clinical meetings. The tool must efficiently handle various audio and video formats used in these settings.
Speech Recognition: It's essential that the tool accurately transcribes medical terminologies and patient discussions. This requires sophisticated speech recognition capable of understanding complex medical jargon.
Output Generation: The transcripts need to be precise and easily integrable into medical records systems. They should aid in clinical documentation, research, and patient care coordination.

Our Favorite Pick: Sonix

Sonix is highly regarded in the healthcare sector for its specialized capabilities:

Precise Medical Transcription: Sonix offers high accuracy in transcribing medical content, ensuring that complex terminologies and patient information are correctly captured.
Security and Compliance: Given the sensitive nature of medical information, Sonix adheres to stringent security protocols and is compliant with healthcare privacy standards like HIPAA.
Efficient Integration and Usability: Sonix allows for seamless integration with healthcare systems, making it easy for providers to manage, edit, and use transcripts in their workflow.

Key Features

High accuracy in medical transcription, capturing complex terminologies.
Strong emphasis on security and HIPAA compliance.
User-friendly interface for straightforward transcript management.
Supports a wide array of audio and video formats common in healthcare settings.
Tools for efficient integration with medical records and healthcare systems.

Sonix Limitations

The cost may be a factor for individual practitioners or smaller clinics.
Some specialized medical terminologies may require additional manual verification.