Audacity
Don’t want to install Audacity? Drop the file here.
The first 20 minutes of any recording are transcribed free: a recording up to 20 minutes transcribes in full, a longer one is previewed, and a pack from $6 (500 minutes) transcribes the rest and opens every export, and credits never expire.
Free open-source DAW with community plugins and a budding AI line.
Best for hobbyist podcasters and students who want a free DAW that runs anywhere. Pricing: free.
What it is
Audacity is the long-running open-source audio editor. Recent versions added a built-in plugin manager and OpenVINO-based AI plugins (noise suppression, music separation, transcription).
Watch out for: UI dated; many features need third-party plugins.
Install / use
Go to Audacity audacityteam.orgWhat people actually do with Audacity-style transcription
The tool is the means. These are the jobs — each one priced at published rates, each one wired up on its own page.
Features
| Speaker diarization | No |
| Word-level timestamps | No |
| Streaming / real-time | No |
| Languages supported | None |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
Audacity vs Whipscribe
| Feature | Audacity | Whipscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Desktop apps | Transcription APIs |
| Pricing | free | $6–$24 one-time packs (credits never expire) · first 20 minutes free |
| Speaker identification | — | Named in the summary, key quotes and chapters |
| Word timestamps | — | Yes |
| Streaming | — | No |
| Languages | — | 99 |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to Audacity
Frequently asked about Audacity
Is Audacity free?
Yes. Audacity is free.
Does Audacity work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
Audacity runs on macOS, Windows and Linux.
How do I get started with Audacity?
There is nothing to install — Audacity is used in the browser. Create an account on the vendor's site and upload or connect your audio.
Does Audacity identify different speakers?
No. Audacity does not label speakers; a conversation comes back as one continuous text. If you need speaker labels, that is a separate tool or a different service.
Does Audacity give word-level timestamps?
No — Audacity produces segment or sentence timing only, so subtitle cues can land mid-word.
Can Audacity transcribe live audio?
No — Audacity works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is Audacity HIPAA compliant?
Audacity does not claim HIPAA compliance. For PHI, run it on infrastructure you control or choose a service that will sign a BAA.
What are the limitations of Audacity?
UI dated; many features need third-party plugins.
Who is Audacity best for?
Hobbyist podcasters and students who want a free DAW that runs anywhere.
Does Audacity run offline?
Audacity runs on your own machine as a desktop app. Check whether the model runs locally or calls a cloud service — some desktop tools do both.
Can I use Audacity in the browser?
No — Audacity is a macOS, Windows and Linux application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Who makes Audacity?
Audacity is made by Muse Group.
What kind of tool is Audacity?
In this directory Audacity is filed under audio post as a desktop app.
What are the alternatives to Audacity?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/audacity-alternatives comparing Audacity with the closest tools in the same category on price, platform and features.
Can I automate Audacity-style transcription without running it myself?
Yes. If what you want is transcripts rather than the tool itself, Whipscribe does the same job as a hosted API: submit a file or URL, poll a job id, pull the result as txt, json, srt, vtt or docx. $0.012 a minute — about $0.72 an audio hour — bought as credits that never expire. The automation recipes on this site show it wired to Drive folders, Zoom recordings, S3 buckets and no-code platforms.
Whipscribe is a hosted transcription service. If you want transcripts without running infrastructure, paste a URL or drop a file in the form below — you'll have a transcript in seconds.
Transcribe your recordings
Using Audacity today? Send your next recording here and compare the transcript. Transcribe any language, any recording · Transcription services from $0.29 an hour · Transcribe from any meeting or recording platform · How to transcribe, step by step
Explore
All transcription tools · By language · By platform · By file format · How-to guides · Transcription services · Transcription API · Pricing
Long recording to get through?
One file up to 10 hours, as an upload or a link: see MP3 to text for long recordings, how to transcribe a podcast and the SRT generator.
Comparing tools before you pay?
If you would rather pay a service than run software yourself: see the best transcription services side by side, cheap transcription services and the real cost per hour and our transcription service with prices and turnaround.