How to Transcribe Video and Audio to Text: Best Tools, Free Options, and AI Solutions
Whether you’re creating content, attending meetings, or reviewing old recordings, transcribing video and audio into text can make your workflow faster and more organized. You can search, edit, quote, translate, and share content more easily once it’s written down.
The good news? You don’t need to transcribe manually anymore. Today, there are AI-powered tools that can convert your video or audio files into clean, editable text — often in just a few clicks.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- Why transcription matters for video and audio
- Whether tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can help
- How free services compare to paid options
- And which tools (like Notta) give you the best results with the least effort
If you’re still pausing and typing your way through recordings, you’re wasting hours. Let AI take over.
Why Transcribe Video and Audio to Text?
Transcribing your video or audio recordings isn’t just for journalists or podcasters. It’s useful in all kinds of everyday work — from business meetings to online courses, content creation, and customer support.
Here’s what transcription helps you do:
☑ Make content searchable
Instead of scanning through a 45-minute video, you can search keywords in the transcript and jump to the exact moment.
☑ Create captions or subtitles
If you’re posting on YouTube or social media, adding captions boosts accessibility and engagement — and transcripts make it easy.
☑ Summarize and repurpose content
With a written version of your meeting or podcast, you can quickly write summaries, blog posts, or email updates.
☑ Translate and localize faster
Once in text form, it’s easy to translate transcripts into other languages using tools like Notta or Google Translate.
A good transcript isn’t just a record — it’s a launchpad for everything else you want to do with that content.=
Can AI Tools Like ChatGPT or Copilot Transcribe Audio or Video?
You might wonder if tools like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot can help you transcribe audio or video files. The answer is: not directly — but with help, yes.
❌ ChatGPT can’t “hear” audio or video
ChatGPT can’t process raw media files like MP3, WAV, or MP4. If you want to use ChatGPT to summarize a conversation, you first need to transcribe the content elsewhere (using a tool like Notta), then paste the text into ChatGPT.
❌ Copilot (Microsoft 365) can’t do live transcription
Microsoft Copilot in Word or Teams can summarize and analyze text, but it doesn’t support real-time transcription or direct file uploads for audio/video.
Office 365’s “Transcribe” feature in Word (web version only) lets you upload and transcribe recordings — but it’s limited and not designed for video.
✅ So what should you use?
For actual transcription, you need a tool designed for media-to-text conversion — something that accepts files or joins meetings to record automatically.
The best tools for that include:
- Notta: Uploads, live transcription, AI summaries, and translation
- Otter.ai: Good for team notes and collaborative meetings
- tl;dv: Great for Zoom/Meet recordings and video tagging
Let Notta handle the transcription. Then use ChatGPT to rewrite, summarize, or repurpose it.
Free vs Paid Transcription Services: What’s the Difference?
When it comes to transcribing audio or video files, you have two choices: free tools or paid services. Both have their place — but the differences matter depending on how often you need transcripts and what level of quality you expect.
Free Services
☑ Great for occasional use
☑ Usually limited by minutes or file size
☒ Often lack speaker identification
☒ No AI summaries, formatting, or export flexibility
☒ Accuracy may drop in noisy or multi-speaker recordings
Examples include:
- YouTube’s automatic captions (for your own uploads only)
- Microsoft Word Online (limited to audio uploads)
- Basic Whisper-based open-source tools
Paid Services
☑ Higher accuracy, even with accents or background noise
☑ More export options (TXT, DOCX, SRT)
☑ Real-time transcription and meeting capture
☑ Speaker labels and keyword search
☑ AI-generated summaries and translation
Recommended paid tools:
- Notta: Real-time transcription, summaries, multilingual support
- Otter.ai: Team-focused features
- tl;dv: Good for meeting recordings and highlights
Free tools work — until they don’t. When accuracy or workflow matters, a paid tool like Notta pays for itself fast.
1. Notta – Best for Real-Time, Multilingual Transcription
Notta is a powerful transcription tool designed for professionals, educators, and content creators. You can upload audio or video files, paste YouTube URLs, or even transcribe live meetings via Zoom or Google Meet using its Chrome extension or Notta Bot.
What makes Notta stand out is its ability to:
- Generate AI-powered summaries after transcription
- Identify speakers (Pro plan)
- Translate transcripts into 30+ languages
- Export in various formats like DOCX, SRT, or plain text
- Work across web and mobile, with data synced in real time
| Feature | Free Plan | Pro Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Upload audio/video | ☑ | ☑ |
| Real-time transcription | ☒ | ☑ |
| Speaker labels | ☒ | ☑ |
| AI-generated summaries | ☒ | ☑ |
| Language support | Basic | 30+ languages |
| Export formats | TXT only | DOCX, SRT, PDF |
Try Notta here — it’s the most versatile tool if you work with both video and audio in different languages.
→ 👉 Visit Notta’s official site to start transcribing for free.
2. Otter.ai – Best for Teams and Collaborative Notes
Otter.ai is widely used in business settings, especially for internal meetings and webinars. Its biggest strength is collaboration: users can share transcripts in real time, highlight key points, and leave comments.
Otter connects directly with Zoom (for paid Zoom accounts) and works well for:
- Live team meetings with shared notes
- Speaker identification
- Searchable meeting history
- Basic summaries based on keyword detection
However, Otter doesn’t support video file uploads, and it only works in English.
| Feature | Free Plan | Pro Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Live Zoom transcription | ☑ (Zoom Pro only) | ☑ |
| Speaker ID | ☑ | ☑ |
| File upload (audio only) | ☑ | ☑ |
| AI summary | Limited | ☑ |
| Export formats | TXT | DOCX, PDF |
| Language support | English only | English only |
Otter is great for English-speaking teams, but it lacks flexibility for creators or multi-language projects.
→ 👉 Visit Otter.ai to explore team transcription features.
3. tl;dv – Best for Meeting Highlights and Video + Transcript Sync
tl;dv (Too Long; Didn’t View) is built for busy professionals who want to capture and review meetings quickly. It automatically records Zoom or Google Meet sessions, then generates AI summaries, time-stamped transcripts, and highlight tags so you can jump to important moments.
Unlike Notta or Otter, tl;dv doesn’t support uploading video/audio files — it’s purely meeting-focused. But it’s great for:
- Sales or product teams who review long calls
- Internal training sessions
- Saving video context along with text
| Feature | Free Plan | Pro Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Zoom/Meet integration | ☑ | ☑ |
| Video recording + transcript | ☑ | ☑ |
| File uploads | ☒ | ☒ |
| AI-generated summaries | ☒ | ☑ |
| Export formats | TXT | Timestamped video cuts |
| Language support | English only | English only (limited support) |
tl;dv is useful if you’re reviewing meetings later — but not ideal if you work with files or need full translations.
→ 👉 Check out tl;dv’s website for meeting-based transcription and highlights.
4. Descript – Best for Editing Videos and Podcasts via Text
Descript is more than just a transcription tool — it’s a full editing platform where you can cut video or audio simply by editing the transcript. It’s a favorite among podcasters and video creators who want fast transcription and seamless post-production in one place.
It allows you to:
- Auto-transcribe video or audio files
- Remove filler words with AI
- Add subtitles and export clean transcripts
- Edit video like a document — no timeline needed
| Feature | Available |
|---|---|
| File upload (audio/video) | ☑ |
| Speaker separation | ☑ |
| Transcript-based editing | ☑ |
| AI cleanup (filler removal) | ☑ |
| Export formats | SRT, TXT, video |
| Languages | Mostly English |
If you’re a creator, Descript lets you transcribe and edit your podcast or video in the same tool. No need to jump between apps
→ 👉 Visit Descript here to try transcript-based video editing.
5. Unmixr AI – Best One-Time Purchase Option for Long-Term Use
Unmixr AI is a one-time purchase tool that runs offline and offers high-quality transcription using OpenAI’s Whisper model. It’s designed for creators, researchers, or privacy-conscious users who prefer no subscriptions and full control.
It offers:
- Full audio/video file transcription
- No file limits or recurring costs
- Multi-language support (via Whisper)
- Total offline use for maximum privacy
Key Features:
| Feature | Available |
|---|---|
| One-time license | ☑ |
| File upload (audio/video) | ☑ |
| Offline transcription | ☑ |
| Speaker separation | ☒ |
| Export formats | TXT, SRT |
| Language support | 50+ (via Whisper) |
If you hate subscriptions and want to own your transcription software, Unmixr is a smart, affordable investment. Perfect for solo creators and researchers.
Get Unmixr AI on AppSumo — search Unmixer on AppSump
→ 👉 Find Unmixr AI on AppSumo — search the product name to locate the latest deal.
6. Whisper (OpenAI) – Best Free Option for Developers
What makes it different: Whisper is an open-source speech recognition model by OpenAI. It offers surprisingly strong transcription quality for a free tool — but requires technical setup (Python, CLI).
Highlights:
- Free and open-source
- High accuracy even with accents
- Supports dozens of languages
- No UI — needs coding knowledge
| Feature | Available |
|---|---|
| Real-time use | ☒ (batch only) |
| File upload (via CLI) | ☑ |
| Speaker labels | ☒ |
| Translation | ☑ (auto) |
| Use case | Developers, hobbyists |
Great if you can code. Not for non-tech users.
Want the Smartest Pick?
If you’re looking for a balanced, beginner-friendly, and AI-enhanced transcription tool, start with Notta. It handles video, audio, meetings, and translation — without technical setup.
Would you like me to revise the full comparison table including these 6 tools next?
Transcription Tool Comparison: Features at a Glance
| Tool | File Upload | Real-Time | Speaker ID | AI Summary | Translation | One-Time Purchase | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notta | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (Pro) | ✅ | ✅ (30+ languages) | ❌ | 🏆 All-around use, multilingual transcription |
| Otter.ai | ✅ (audio only) | ✅ (Zoom only) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | 👥 Teams, meeting notes |
| tl;dv | ❌ (live calls only) | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ (Pro) | ❌ | ❌ | ⏱️ Busy professionals reviewing meetings |
| Descript | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ (via editing) | ❌ | ❌ | 🎙️ Podcast/video editors |
| Unmixr AI | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (via Whisper) | ✅ | 🔒 Offline use, privacy, no subscriptions |
| Happy Scribe | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ (60+ languages) | ❌ | 🌍 Subtitle creation & media translation |
Need one tool that does it all? → Notta’s your best bet
Want to pay once and own it forever? → Unmixr AI is your go-to
Working in teams? Otter is built for collaboration
Final Thoughts
Transcribing audio and video content no longer requires hours of manual effort. Whether you’re working with interviews, YouTube videos, business calls, or podcasts, the right transcription tool can save you time, increase accuracy, and turn spoken words into usable text.
Here’s what you need to know when choosing a tool:
- Notta is the most versatile option — offering real-time transcription, AI summaries, multilingual support, and seamless file uploads, all in one intuitive platform.
- Otter.ai is ideal for teams that need collaborative meeting notes and shared access to transcripts.
- tl;dv is perfect if you regularly review Zoom or Meet recordings and want timestamped video highlights.
- Descript is built for creators who want to transcribe and edit media through a single interface.
- Unmixr AI is the best choice for those who want a one-time purchase with full offline transcription and no recurring fees.
→ You can find it by searching “Unmixr AI” on AppSumo. - Happy Scribe is great for accurate subtitles, multilingual support, and media localization at scale.
Ultimately, the best tool depends on your goals — but if you’re looking for a reliable, beginner-friendly solution with a generous free plan,
start with Notta here and let AI do the heavy lifting for you.
Let the tools transcribe — so you can focus on what matters most.g for a reliable, easy-to-use solution with a generous free plan, Notta is a smart place to start.
