Google Recorder alternative
Google Recorder alternative: Scriptorium vs Recorder
Google's Recorder app transcribes on the phone itself and is excellent for what it is: a recorder for Pixel devices. It is not an option if you use an iPhone or another Android phone, or if the recording is a file made elsewhere. Scriptorium transcribes uploaded files from any device.
Updated
Where Google Recorder is the better choice
- Transcription runs on the device and the audio is discarded afterwards, per Google's help page.
- Recordings up to 18 hours, and it is free with the Pixel, with no minute cap stated on the pages read.
- Shares straight to Google Docs and NotebookLM, with speaker labels on Pixel 6 and later.
Where Scriptorium fits better
- Works from any phone or computer browser, including iPhone.
- Takes recordings made elsewhere: the pages we read did not describe importing external audio into Recorder.
- SRT and VTT exports, and 33 languages plus automatic detection.
Google Recorder and Scriptorium side by side
| Google Recorder | Scriptorium | |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | Pixel 3 and later phones and Pixel Tablet | Any device with a browser |
| Cost | Free with the device; no price on the pages read | Free first file; plans on the pricing page |
| Languages | A short list for live transcription (English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Mandarin and a few more); about 50 for re-transcribing | 33 plus automatic detection |
| Exports | Share link, audio or transcript file, .txt, Google Docs, NotebookLM | TXT, timestamped TXT, SRT, VTT, Markdown, JSON and CSV |
| Speaker identification | Pixel 6 and later, US English only | Optional speaker labels, up to 8 speakers |
| Importing outside audio | Not described on the pages read | Yes: that is the main use |
| Max recording length | Up to 18 hours | 15 minutes on the preview; account limits on the pricing page |
| Privacy | Recordings stay on the device unless you back them up or share them | Hosted site receives your file (guest files are deleted after a day); can also be self-hosted |
Checked on 2026-10-24 from the vendor's own pages listed below. Prices and limits change; confirm on their site before you buy. A cell that says "Check their site" means the page did not state it, was unreadable to us, or contradicted itself, and we chose not to guess.
Which should you pick?
- Pick Google Recorder if You have a Pixel and want private, on-device transcription of what you record yourself.
- Pick Scriptorium if You use an iPhone or another phone, or your audio is a file from somewhere else.
Scriptorium's transcripts are automatic and make mistakes; read them against the audio. The free preview is on the home page, and the pricing page lists plans.
Sources
Questions
Does Google Recorder work on iPhone?
Is Recorder more private?
Is it free?
Try it with your own file
Upload a recording and read the transcript.