Transcription Pricing Comparison: Every Service Ranked [2026]
Compare pricing across API, subscription, and pay-per-use transcription models. From $0.003/minute APIs to $52/month subscriptions, see exactly what every major service charges in 2026.
BrassTranscripts Pricing
BrassTranscripts charges $2.50 per file for recordings under 15 minutes and $6.00 per file for recordings up to 2 hours, with bulk volume pricing from $4.50/file (20-49 files) down to $3.00/file (250+ files). BrassTranscripts uses a pay-per-batch model with no subscription, monthly fees, or usage caps.
Every file includes speaker identification, 4 output formats (TXT, SRT, VTT, JSON), and a 30-word preview before payment. For teams and organizations processing 20+ files at once, the bulk transcription service offers volume pricing and concurrent processing.
| Tier | File Duration | Price Per File | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single File (Short) | 1-15 minutes | $2.50 | Speaker ID, 4 formats, 30-word preview |
| Single File (Standard) | 16-120 minutes | $6.00 | Speaker ID, 4 formats, 30-word preview |
| Bulk (20-49 files) | Up to 120 min each | $4.50/file | Concurrent processing, dashboard |
| Bulk (50-99 files) | Up to 120 min each | $4.00/file | Concurrent processing, dashboard |
| Bulk (100-249 files) | Up to 120 min each | $3.50/file | Concurrent processing, dashboard |
| Bulk (250+ files) | Up to 120 min each | $3.00/file | Concurrent processing, dashboard |
No Subscription, No Monthly Fees
- ✓ Pay per batch — no recurring charges
- ✓ No usage caps or minute limits
- ✓ Speaker identification included at no extra cost
- ✓ All 4 output formats (TXT, SRT, VTT, JSON) included
- ✓ 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee
API Transcription Pricing
API transcription services range from $0.003 to $0.032 per minute, making them the cheapest option for developers who can integrate programmatically. BrassTranscripts has published detailed cost breakdowns for each major API provider, including hidden fees and real-world cost calculations.
API pricing typically covers speech-to-text only. Features like speaker diarization, punctuation, and custom vocabulary often cost extra. Click each service below for a complete pricing breakdown including add-on costs.
Rev.ai — $0.003/min (Reverb)
Lowest API price available. Rev.ai Reverb model at $0.18/hour for pre-recorded audio.
Read full pricing guide →OpenAI Whisper API — $0.006/min
$0.36/hour. Simple pricing with no add-on fees. No speaker diarization available.
Read full pricing guide →Google Cloud STT — $0.016-$0.032/min
$0.96-$1.92/hour depending on model. V2 Chirp model costs more but offers better accuracy.
Read full pricing guide →Deepgram Nova-3 — $0.46/hr
Pay-as-you-go at $0.0077/min. Nova-3 model includes smart formatting and punctuation.
Read full pricing guide →AssemblyAI — $0.15-$0.35/hr
Nano model at $0.15/hr, Best model at $0.35/hr. Speaker diarization and summarization available.
Read full pricing guide →AWS Transcribe — $0.024/min
$1.44/hour standard batch. Custom vocabulary and medical transcription cost extra.
Read full pricing guide →Azure Speech to Text — $1/hr Real Cost
Microsoft Azure batch transcription. Custom models and diarization add to base cost.
Read full pricing guide →Subscription Service Pricing
Subscription transcription services charge $10 to $52 or more per month, bundling transcription minutes with features like real-time meeting recording, team collaboration, and CRM integrations. BrassTranscripts has published honest pricing reviews for each major subscription platform.
Subscriptions work best for teams transcribing 10+ hours per month who need collaboration features. For occasional users, the monthly fee often exceeds what pay-per-use would cost. See the individual reviews and alternative comparison pages below.
Otter.ai
$16.99/month Pro plan. Real-time meeting transcription with usage caps per conversation.
Read pricing breakdown →Sonix
$10/hour pay-as-you-go or $5/hour + $22/user/month Premium. Hybrid model adds subscription fees on top of per-hour charges.
Read pricing review →Trint
$52/month Starter plan. Enterprise-focused with team collaboration features.
Read pricing review →Looking for alternatives? Compare BrassTranscripts directly against subscription services:
Pay-Per-Use vs Subscription Transcription
Pay-per-use transcription eliminates the recurring monthly cost that makes subscriptions expensive for users who transcribe fewer than 10 hours per month. BrassTranscripts analysis of subscription pricing found that most individual users overpay by 40-60% compared to pay-per-use models because they pay during low-usage months.
The decision depends on volume and consistency. Below is a breakdown of when each model makes financial sense, plus deep dives into the hidden costs of subscription pricing.
Pay-Per-Use Works Best When
- ✓ You transcribe fewer than 10 hours/month
- ✓ Your transcription needs vary month to month
- ✓ You want zero commitment or monthly fees
- ✓ You need one-time or project-based transcription
- ✓ You want to avoid paying during idle months
Subscriptions Work Best When
- ✓ You transcribe 10+ hours every month consistently
- ✓ You need real-time meeting transcription
- ✓ You require team collaboration features
- ✓ Your organization needs CRM/calendar integrations
- ✓ You have predictable monthly volume
Hidden Costs of Transcription Subscriptions
Why the advertised monthly price is rarely what you actually pay. Overage fees, feature gates, and idle month costs exposed.
Read the analysis →"Transcription Subscriptions Were Killing Me"
Real cost analysis of switching from subscription to pay-per-use transcription. See the math on annual savings.
Read the story →Pricing Calculator Prompts
BrassTranscripts published a set of AI prompts that calculate your exact transcription costs across services based on your actual usage pattern. These prompts work with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to produce personalized cost comparisons.
Instead of manually comparing pricing tiers and add-on fees, paste your monthly file count and average duration into the AI calculator prompts to get a side-by-side cost breakdown instantly.
Transcription Cost Calculator AI Prompts
Copy-paste prompts that calculate your costs across BrassTranscripts, Otter.ai, Sonix, Trint, and API services. Enter your file count and duration to get an instant cost comparison.
Get the calculator prompts →Why Choose BrassTranscripts
No Subscription Required
Pay per batch — no monthly fees, no usage caps, no idle month charges
Speaker Identification Included
Pyannote 3.1 diarization at no extra cost — most APIs charge extra for this
No Developer Setup Required
Upload and download — no API keys, no code, no infrastructure to manage
All 4 Formats Included
TXT, SRT, VTT, JSON with every file — no per-format charges
Bulk Volume Pricing
$4.50/file (20-49) to $3.00/file (250+) with concurrent processing and a dashboard
Privacy First
Files deleted after 24-48 hours, never used for AI training
Ready to Start Transcribing?
Upload your file and get a transcript with speaker labels in minutes. $2.50 for short files, $6.00 for files up to 2 hours. No subscription required.
Upload and Transcribe →30-word preview before payment • All 4 formats included • 100% satisfaction guarantee
Frequently Asked Questions About Transcription Pricing
What is the cheapest transcription service in 2026?
The cheapest transcription API is Rev.ai at $0.003/minute for pre-recorded audio. For pay-per-use services without API integration, BrassTranscripts charges $2.50 for files under 15 minutes and $6.00 for files up to 2 hours. The cheapest subscription service starts around $10/month (Otter.ai Basic), but subscriptions include usage caps that can make them more expensive per minute than pay-per-use models for low-volume users.
Should I use an API or a transcription service?
Use a transcription API if you have developer resources and need to process files programmatically at scale — APIs like OpenAI Whisper ($0.006/min), Deepgram ($0.0077/min), and Rev.ai ($0.003/min) offer the lowest per-minute rates. Use a transcription service like BrassTranscripts if you need a simple upload-and-download workflow without writing code. Services cost more per minute but include speaker identification, multiple output formats, and a user interface.
Why are transcription subscription plans so expensive?
Transcription subscriptions like Otter.ai ($16.99/month), Sonix ($10/hr or $5/hr + $22/user/month), and Trint ($52/month) charge recurring fees regardless of usage. Users who transcribe fewer than 5 hours per month often pay more per minute on subscriptions than on pay-per-use services. Subscriptions also include features many users don't need, such as team collaboration, CRM integrations, and real-time meeting bots. The hidden cost of subscriptions is paying during months with low or zero usage.
How much does it cost to transcribe one hour of audio?
One hour of audio costs between $0.18 and $52 depending on the service. API pricing: Rev.ai $0.18/hr, OpenAI Whisper $0.36/hr, Deepgram $0.46/hr, Google Cloud STT $0.96-$1.92/hr, AWS Transcribe $1.44/hr, Azure Speech $1.00/hr. Pay-per-use: BrassTranscripts $6.00/hr flat rate. Subscription: Otter.ai ~$4.25/hr (at $16.99/month for 4 hours), Trint ~$10.40/hr (at $52/month for 5 hours). The most cost-effective option depends on your monthly volume.
What is the best transcription service for occasional use?
For occasional transcription (fewer than 5 files per month), pay-per-use services are the most cost-effective because you only pay when you transcribe. BrassTranscripts charges $2.50-$6.00 per file with no subscription or monthly commitment. Subscription services like Otter.ai and Trint charge monthly fees even during months with zero usage, making them poor value for infrequent transcription needs.
Have more questions about transcription pricing? Visit our complete FAQ page or contact .