Best Speech-to-Text Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Google Cloud Speech-to-Text is ranked #1 of 28 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of Amazon Transcribe and AssemblyAI. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Amazon Transcribe. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Amazon Transcribe at $0.01/mo.
Speech-to-text software can capture live speech or turn recorded audio into transcripts, with different options for apps, integrations and language coverage. Compare capture modes and supported languages alongside speaker labels and offline transcription. Desktop and mobile apps may suit different recording setups, while API access matters for connected workflows. Free-plan availability and the paid starting point offer further comparison points. The ranking begins with Google Cloud Speech-to-Text and Amazon Transcribe, followed by AssemblyAI and Speechmatics. Rev AI, Happy Scribe, Transkriptor and Soniox also appear among the first entries. Weigh the listed capabilities against the way your team records, processes and uses transcripts.
28 speech-to-text software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Capture modes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Google Cloud Speech-to-Text | 8.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $0.02/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 2 | Amazon Transcribe | 8.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $0.01/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 3 | AssemblyAI | 8.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $0.15/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 4 | Speechmatics | 8.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 5 | Rev AI | 8.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $0.01/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 6 | Happy Scribe | 8.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $8.50/mo | — | — | — | View |
| 7 | Transkriptor | 8.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $8.33/mo | Yes | 9.99 /mo | — | View |
| 8 | Soniox | 7.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $19.99/mo | Yes | 19.99 /mo | — | View |
| 9 |  Vosk | 7.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | — | View |
| 10 | Sonix | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $10/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 11 | ElevenLabs | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $6/mo | Yes | 6 /mo | — | View |
| 12 |  Trint | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | — | View |
| 13 | Notta | 7.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $8.17/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
| 14 | Buzz | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 15 | Azure AI Speech | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | — | — | — | View |
| 16 | OpenAI Text-to-Speech | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $15/mo | — | — | — | View |
| 17 | MacWhisper | 6.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | €64/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
| 18 | TurboScribe | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 19 | Otter.ai | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 20 |  Picovoice Leopard | 6.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | — | View |
| 21 | Whisper | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | — | View |
| 22 |  tl;dv | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 23 | Tactiq | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $8/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
| 24 |  Voice In | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 25 |  Dragon Professional | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | — | View |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which speech-to-text software is ranked first on Inferse?
Google Cloud Speech-to-Text is ranked #1 of 28 with a score of 8.9. Amazon Transcribe is second and AssemblyAI third.
How many of these have a free plan?
15 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Amazon Transcribe has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.01/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.