Speechnotes alternative
Speechnotes alternative: Scriptorium vs Speechnotes
Speechnotes does two things: live dictation in the browser, which its page says is "completely free - with ads", and transcription of uploaded files, billed per minute. Scriptorium does only the second, and its first file is free. If you want to speak and see text appear, Speechnotes is the tool; if you have a recording and want a transcript and subtitle files without paying, read on.
Updated
Where Speechnotes is the better choice
- Live dictation in the browser, free with ads and with "no registration needed", which Scriptorium does not do.
- Pay-as-you-go file transcription at $0.1 a minute with no subscription, and it says it takes files from Google Drive, YouTube or other online sources.
- Its page says recordings are deleted from its servers as soon as transcription is done.
Where Scriptorium fits better
- A first file free with no payment and no account (15 minutes, 25 MB), where Speechnotes bills uploaded files and states no free allowance.
- TXT, timestamped TXT, SRT, VTT, Markdown, JSON and CSV from one transcript; Speechnotes' page names SRT only.
- Speaker labels and line-by-line editing.
Speechnotes and Scriptorium side by side
| Topic | Speechnotes | Scriptorium |
|---|---|---|
| Free route | Dictation is free with ads; transcribing an uploaded file is $0.1 a minute and no free allowance is stated | One file up to 15 minutes and 25 MB, 3 tries a day, no account |
| Account for the free route | Dictation: no registration. File transcription: Check their site | No for the first file; a free account adds a saved library |
| Languages | "All file types & languages"; no list and no count | 33 plus automatic detection |
| Exports | "Generate captions .srt files" is named; other formats are not | TXT, timestamped TXT, SRT, VTT, Markdown, JSON and CSV |
| Speaker identification | Check their site | Optional speaker labels, up to 8 speakers |
| Meeting bot | Check their site | No bot: you upload the recording after the call |
| Entry paid price | $0.1 a minute pay as you go; dictation Premium $1.9 a month | Pro $9.99 a month (600 minutes), Pro+ $19.99 a month (2500 minutes) |
| Max file length | Check their site | 15 minutes and 25 MB on the preview; account limits on the pricing page |
| Accepts links | Yes: "Google Drive, YouTube or any other online source" | No: files only |
| Privacy | Recordings deleted as soon as the transcription is done, per its page; training on your data is not stated | Hosted site receives your file (guest files are deleted after a day); can also be self-hosted |
Checked on 2026-10-27 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 Speechnotes if You want live dictation, or pay-per-minute transcription that takes a link.
- Pick Scriptorium if You have a recording and want a free first transcript with SRT, VTT and editing.
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 Speechnotes free?
Can Speechnotes transcribe a YouTube link?
Is it free?
Try it with your own file
Upload a recording and read the transcript.