Best Free AI Transcription Tools
Free transcription tools have gotten remarkably good. The catch is that every tool defines 'free' differently: some limit minutes, some limit features, some limit the types of audio they process. We cut through the marketing to evaluate what you actually get on each free plan and which limitations matter most for different use cases.
Fathom
FreeFathom offers the most generous free plan in AI transcription. Unlimited meeting recording and transcription for Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams with no monthly minute caps. Summaries, action items, and key points are all included. The free plan is genuinely usable as a primary tool, not just a trial. The main limitation is that it only works with video conferencing platforms.
Otter
Free (300 min/mo)Otter's free tier gives you 300 minutes of transcription per month with 30-minute limits per conversation. That is enough for several meetings or lectures. You get real-time transcription, speaker identification, and summaries. The mobile app works on the free plan too, making it useful for in-person recordings. The per-conversation limit is the main constraint.
Descript
Free (1 hr/mo)Descript's free tier includes one hour of transcription per month plus access to the full editing suite. That is not much volume, but it lets you test the unique text-based editing workflow. If you only need occasional transcription, one hour might be enough. The editing features available on the free plan are more capable than what competitors offer on their paid tiers.