oTranscribe
Don’t want to install oTranscribe? 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 browser-based manual transcription tool — keyboard-shortcut transcript editor.
Best for journalists, researchers, and students transcribing interviews by hand with keyboard playback control. Pricing: free.
What it is
oTranscribe is a free, open-source web app for manual transcription — you control playback with keyboard shortcuts while typing. Beloved in journalism and qualitative research.
Watch out for: Manual transcription only — no AI transcription.
Install / use
otranscribe.com — free, open source
What people actually do with oTranscribe-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.
Wire it into ZapierMake.comAmazon S3SlackGoogle DriveEmergent
Features
| Speaker diarization | No |
| Word-level timestamps | No |
| Streaming / real-time | No |
| Languages supported | 1 |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
Links
oTranscribe vs Whipscribe
| Feature | oTranscribe | Whipscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Open source | 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 | 1 | 99 |
| Platforms | Web | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to oTranscribe
Frequently asked about oTranscribe
Is oTranscribe free?
Yes. oTranscribe is free and open source.
Does oTranscribe work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
oTranscribe runs in the browser, so it works on any desktop OS with a modern browser, and on phones and tablets.
How do I get started with oTranscribe?
There is nothing to install — oTranscribe is used in the browser. Create an account on the vendor's site and upload or connect your audio.
How many languages does oTranscribe support?
oTranscribe lists 1 languages.
Does oTranscribe identify different speakers?
No. oTranscribe 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 oTranscribe give word-level timestamps?
No — oTranscribe produces segment or sentence timing only, so subtitle cues can land mid-word.
Can oTranscribe transcribe live audio?
No — oTranscribe works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is oTranscribe HIPAA compliant?
oTranscribe 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 oTranscribe?
Manual transcription only — no AI transcription.
Who is oTranscribe best for?
Journalists, researchers, and students transcribing interviews by hand with keyboard playback control.
Does oTranscribe run offline?
oTranscribe runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Is there a oTranscribe desktop app?
No — oTranscribe is browser-only. There is nothing to install and nothing runs on your machine.
Where is the oTranscribe source code?
On GitHub at github.com/oTranscribe/oTranscribe. It is maintained by Elliot Bentley.
What kind of tool is oTranscribe?
In this directory oTranscribe is filed under open source as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to oTranscribe?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/otranscribe-alternatives comparing oTranscribe with the closest tools in the same category on price, platform and features.
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.
Running a entertainment & media business? How entertainment & media teams use the Whipscribe API →
Transcribe your recordings
Running oTranscribe yourself? Send the same file here and compare the transcript. Transcribe any language, any recording · Transcription services from $0.29 an hour · Entertainment & media transcription · 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 how to transcribe an MP3 of any length, how to transcribe a podcast and the SRT file generator.
Comparing tools before you pay?
If you would rather pay a service than run software yourself: see an honest roundup of the best transcription services, the cheapest way to transcribe an hour of audio and transcription services from $6.