Microsoft Word Transcribe alternative
Microsoft Word Transcribe alternative: Scriptorium vs Word
If you already pay for Microsoft 365, Word's Transcribe is a convenient way to turn a recording into a Word document. It needs that subscription and a supported browser or Word version. If you do not have it, or you need SRT subtitles, Scriptorium works in any browser without a Microsoft account.
Updated
Where Microsoft Word Transcribe is the better choice
- Built into Word: the transcript lands in a Word document, and the audio is saved to OneDrive.
- 80+ locales listed, and speaker labels you can rename.
- With a Copilot licence the monthly upload allowance is listed as 30,000 minutes.
Where Scriptorium fits better
- No Microsoft 365 subscription or Microsoft account.
- SRT and VTT subtitle exports, which Word's page does not list.
- M4A, WAV, MP3, MP4 and many more; Word lists .wav, .mp4, .m4a and .mp3 uploads.
Microsoft Word Transcribe and Scriptorium side by side
| Microsoft Word Transcribe | Scriptorium | |
|---|---|---|
| Free route | Needs a Microsoft 365 subscription; 300 minutes of uploaded audio a month | One file up to 15 minutes and 25 MB, 3 tries a day, no account |
| Account for the free route | Yes, a signed-in Microsoft account | No for the first file; a free account adds a saved library |
| Languages | 80+ locales | 33 plus automatic detection |
| Exports | A Word document, or sections inserted into one | TXT, timestamped TXT, SRT, VTT, Markdown, JSON and CSV |
| Speaker identification | Speaker 1, Speaker 2 labels, renameable | Optional speaker labels, up to 8 speakers |
| Upload formats | .wav, .mp4, .m4a, .mp3 | M4A, MP3, WAV, FLAC, Opus, MP4, MOV, MKV and more |
| Entry paid price | Included with Microsoft 365; its standalone price: check Microsoft's site | Pro $9.99 a month (600 minutes), Pro+ $19.99 a month (2500 minutes) |
| Needs internet | Yes, and Word for the web works only in Edge and Chrome per its page | Yes: it is a website |
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 Microsoft Word Transcribe if You already have Microsoft 365 and want the transcript inside a Word document.
- Pick Scriptorium if You want SRT or VTT, a browser-only tool, or no Microsoft account.
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
Is Word's Transcribe free?
Can Word make SRT subtitles?
Is it free?
Try it with your own file
Upload a recording and read the transcript.