Short answer: For a genuinely free, ongoing way to turn speech into usable notes, CraftNote and Otter are the two with real recurring free tiers — CraftNote if you want structured, searchable notes (summaries + action items), Otter if you want live meeting transcription. Sonix and Happy Scribe are stronger for polished, multi-language transcripts but only offer short free trials, not a free plan.
Most "best transcription app" lists mix free tools with trial-only paid ones. This guide separates them clearly and compares the four most-asked-about options for US users in 2026 — by free tier, price, languages, and what each is genuinely best at.
| App | Free tier | Cheapest paid | Languages | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CraftNote | 5 AI notes + 5 hrs recording / month | $9.99/mo ($8.33/mo annual) | 100+ (translation) | Turning recordings into structured, searchable notes |
| Otter.ai | 300 min/mo (30 min/conversation) | $8.33/user/mo (annual) | 6 (EN, ES, FR, DE, JA, ZH) | Live meeting transcription + asking questions |
| Happy Scribe | 10-min trial only | $8.50/mo or $0.20/min | 150+ (transcription) | Many languages + human-checked transcripts |
| Sonix | 30-min trial only | $10/hr (pay-as-you-go) | 54+ | Polished transcripts with an in-browser editor |
Pricing and limits as published on each tool's official pricing page, June 2026 — always check current plans.
How We Compared
We looked at each tool's free tier, pricing, language support, and core features as listed on their official pricing pages in June 2026, plus how each fits the most common speech-to-text needs — meetings, interviews, and quick voice notes. We did not run a lab accuracy benchmark; where a vendor advertises a specific accuracy number, we note it as their claim, not a tested result.
The Picks
CraftNote — best for turning recordings into structured notes
Verdict: The most useful free option if you want more than raw text. CraftNote transcribes audio, video, PDFs, or a YouTube link and turns it into a structured summary with action items, owners, and decisions, plus speaker-labeled transcripts you can ask questions about. It works across web, iOS, and Android, translates notes into 100+ languages, exports to PDF/DOCX, and keeps recordings encrypted and out of AI training.
- Pros: Real recurring free tier (5 AI notes + 5 recording hours/month); summaries with action items, not just a transcript; searchable; multi-input (audio/video/PDF/YouTube); strong privacy stance.
- Cons: Free tier caps notes and recording hours; newer name than the incumbents.
Otter.ai — best free option for live meetings
Verdict: The strongest free pick if your main need is live transcription of remote calls. Otter's free plan gives 300 minutes a month (up to 30 minutes per conversation), with live transcription, speaker identification, and summaries with action items. It joins Zoom, Meet, and Teams automatically, though language support is narrower (six languages) and the free tier limits file imports.
- Pros: Generous-ish free minutes; real-time meeting transcription; auto-joins major call platforms; AI chat over your meetings.
- Cons: 30-min cap per conversation on free; only 6 languages; integrations gated to paid tiers.
Happy Scribe — best for many languages and human accuracy
Verdict: The pick when you need a polished transcript in a less common language. Happy Scribe supports 150+ languages for AI transcription and adds an optional human-transcription service (from $2.00/min) for the highest accuracy. There's no real free plan — just a 10-minute trial — so it's a paid tool (Basic from $8.50/mo, or $0.20/min pay-as-you-go).
- Pros: 150+ languages; AI + human transcription; flexible pay-as-you-go.
- Cons: No ongoing free tier; human transcription adds cost; geared to transcripts more than summaries/follow-up.
Sonix — best for polished transcripts and editing
Verdict: A strong choice when the transcript itself is the deliverable. Sonix offers an in-browser editor, speaker labels, timestamps, summaries, and 54+ languages, and advertises around 99% accuracy (its own stated figure). Like Happy Scribe, it's trial-only (30 minutes) rather than free, with pay-as-you-go at $10/hour.
- Pros: Clean editor and exports (DOCX/PDF/SRT/VTT); 54+ languages; AI summaries/chapters; compliance options (SOC 2/HIPAA/GDPR) on Enterprise.
- Cons: No free plan; per-hour cost adds up for heavy use; built around transcripts, not meeting follow-up.
Which Should You Pick?
- Want a truly free, ongoing tool? CraftNote (for structured notes) or Otter (for live meetings) — they're the only two here with real recurring free tiers.
- Want the transcript itself, polished? Sonix, or Happy Scribe if you need a rare language or human checking.
- Want notes you can act on, not just text? CraftNote — it pulls out action items, owners, and decisions, and lets you search and ask questions later.
Common Questions
What is the best free speech-to-text app in 2026?
If you want an ongoing free tier rather than a one-time trial, CraftNote and Otter are the two strongest options. CraftNote is best if you want structured notes with action items; Otter is best for live meeting transcription. Sonix and Happy Scribe only offer short free trials before requiring payment.
Is Otter or CraftNote better for free transcription?
It depends on the job. Otter's free plan focuses on live meeting transcription with 300 minutes a month, while CraftNote's free plan turns recordings, uploads, and PDFs into searchable notes with summaries and action items. Pick Otter for live calls, CraftNote for structured notes you act on later.
What is the most accurate transcription app?
Accuracy varies by audio quality, accent, and language, and vendor claims aren't directly comparable. Sonix advertises around 99% accuracy, and Happy Scribe offers human transcription for the highest accuracy in many languages. For everyday meetings and notes, the mainstream AI tools here are all close enough that fit and features usually matter more than a headline accuracy number.
Do free transcription apps have limits?
Yes. Free tiers cap usage — for example, CraftNote's free plan allows 5 AI notes and 5 recording hours per month, and Otter's allows 300 minutes per month with a 30-minute cap per conversation. Sonix and Happy Scribe don't have ongoing free plans, just short trials.
Once you know whether you need raw transcripts or notes you can act on, the choice gets simple. If it's the latter, try CraftNote's voice-to-text tool or set it up for your workflow from the professionals page.
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