Choose by the limits that affect your classes
A free transcription app turns spoken audio into searchable text. For students, the useful question is not simply “How many minutes are free?” It is whether one lecture fits, whether you can import an existing recording, and whether summaries or transcripts stay available after class.
The table below compares published plan details supplied for this guide. Competitor facts were last checked on September 2, 2026; Notta’s free-plan details and education offer are stated as of September 30, 2026. Free offers can change, so confirm the current terms with each provider before relying on them for a semester.
Notta is an AI-powered meeting productivity platform for turning conversations into searchable knowledge and useful next steps. Its capture options include web, mobile, Chrome extension, and desktop workflows. For students, that can help preserve a short interview or discussion as searchable notes, but a plan’s recording cap still determines whether it fits a full lecture.
What is a free transcription app?
A free transcription app converts recorded speech or a live conversation into written text, often with speaker labels and tools to review or search the result. Students use these apps to revisit interviews, study discussions, and eligible class recordings. “Free” can mean a monthly quota, a small lifetime allowance, limited AI features, or a short trial, so it is important to read the terms behind the label.
Top Picks (Fast List)
- #1 — Fathom — Best for students who want unlimited transcript access and can work within its AI-note limits.
- #2 — Otter Basic — Best for a monthly allowance of 300 transcription minutes and short meetings.
- #3 — Fireflies — Best for meeting transcription when its team-storage and AI-credit limits suit your use.
- #4 — MeetGeek Basic — Best for a modest, clearly stated monthly transcription-hours allowance.
- #5 — Notta — Best for short recordings, multilingual study material, and a defined file-upload allowance.
These picks are matched to the limits listed in the supplied plan information, not to independent performance testing. The right choice depends on your recording length and the features you will actually use.
Comparison Table (All Picks)
These five options illustrate different kinds of free access. A monthly minute allowance is not the same as a per-meeting limit, a file-upload allowance, or an AI-summary quota. Check each column against the kind of recording you expect to use.
| Name | Key strengths | Key limitations | Best for | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fathom | Unlimited recordings, transcripts, and summaries are listed. | Full AI notes cover the first 10 meetings; later notes cover only the first 10 minutes. Ten AI prompts or reports for life. | Students who value transcript access over unlimited AI notes. | The free transcript offer is not framed as a monthly minute quota. |
| Otter Basic | 300 transcription minutes per user per month. | 30 minutes per meeting and 3 lifetime imports. | Short meetings and students with predictable monthly use. | Monthly minutes and imported-file limits are stated separately. |
| Fireflies | Unlimited meeting transcription is listed. | AI credits are limited; team storage is 400 minutes. | Students who primarily need meeting transcripts. | Makes the difference between transcription and retained storage clear. |
| MeetGeek Basic | 3 transcription hours per month. | 2 hours per meeting and 5 lifetime uploads. | Students who want a fixed monthly time allowance. | Monthly hours, per-meeting length, and lifetime uploads are explicit. |
| Notta | 120 transcription minutes per month, 50 file uploads, 10 AI Notes generations, and broad language options. | 3 minutes per conversation on the Free plan. | Short tests, quick notes, and multilingual clips—not full lectures. | A clear upload and AI Notes allowance, with language features for global study. |
Plan information in this comparison was supplied for this guide. Limits can change; verify directly with the provider before use.
A closer look at Notta for students
Good for short clips; the three-minute cap matters
Notta’s Free plan is listed with 120 transcription minutes per month, 50 file uploads, and 10 AI Notes generations. But each conversation is capped at three minutes, so the monthly total should not be mistaken for permission to transcribe a full lecture in one go. It is a better match for short practice clips, quick interviews, or testing the workflow.
The language counts describe separate capabilities: Notta lists monolingual transcription in 58+ languages, simultaneous bilingual transcription in 23 languages, and translation in 80 languages. Do not treat those as one combined transcription count; availability and plan limits may differ.
Eligible students and faculty can apply for a 50% education discount on annual Pro, annual Business, or monthly Business, subject to eligibility checks. The discounted annual Pro purchase is valid for one year, and a new application is needed to purchase again at the education rate. Confirm current eligibility and prices before buying.
Other free plans and trial options
These options may suit a narrower workflow, such as media editing or occasional file analysis. “Lifetime” means the stated allowance is not a monthly quota. A trial is also not the same as an ongoing free plan.
| App | Free access listed | Recording, upload, or storage limit | Student check |
|---|---|---|---|
| tl;dv | Unlimited recordings and transcripts; limited free AI allowances. | Up to 40 web recordings per week; 3 hours per meeting. Recordings archived after 3 days and deleted after 3 months. | Full AI notes for the first 10 meetings; after that, notes cover the first 10 minutes. 10 lifetime AI prompts or reports and 4 lifetime clips. |
| Read AI | 5 meeting transcripts or reports per month. | 1 hour per meeting. | Check whether five reports cover your monthly class schedule. |
| Fellow | 5 AI notes and 5 AI recordings per user for life. | Free plan supports up to 5 seats. | The note and recording counts are lifetime totals, not monthly allowances. |
| Descript | 1 media hour per month and 100 one-time AI credits. | Designed for media work as well as transcription. | Track both media hours and credits if you edit audio or video. |
| Rev | 45 AI transcription minutes per month; analysis of up to 5 files. | Free AI access is limited. | A small monthly allowance can work for testing or short clips. |
| Sonix | 30-minute free trial, not a permanent free subscription. | 10-minute file-processing trial; 3 AI Chat files per month. | Treat it as a trial and check the current terms before uploading class audio. |
| Krisp | No permanent free tier listed; 7-day trial. | No further free-plan allowance specified in the supplied information. | A short trial does not provide ongoing free access. |
| Plaud | 300 transcription minutes per month with an activated device. | Requires a separate recording device. | Factor in hardware and any ongoing membership cost. |
How We Evaluated These Apps
This guide compares the supplied free-plan facts for student use. It does not claim hands-on testing or a shared accuracy benchmark. We focused on the constraints most likely to interrupt a study workflow.
- Recording length — A monthly quota is useful only if an individual class recording fits the per-meeting cap.
- Upload access — Imported audio may have limits separate from live or meeting transcription.
- AI notes and prompts — A transcript allowance does not promise unlimited summaries, questions, or reports.
- Storage and retention — Expiration, archive rules, and team storage can affect whether notes are still there at exam time.
- Language fit — Language options differ between monolingual transcription, bilingual transcription, and translation.
- Free-plan clarity — We separated monthly quotas, lifetime credits, trials, and device-dependent plans instead of treating them as equal.
- Study practicality — A transcript should be easy to review alongside the original audio and approved course materials.
The 5 Best Free Transcription Apps for Students
“Best” here means best fit for a particular free-plan use case, not an overall quality award. Check the current plan before you choose, especially if you need to record a full lecture or import an existing file.
#1 Fathom — Best for transcript access without a monthly minute quota
What it is / Why it stands out
Fathom lists unlimited recordings, transcripts, and summaries on its free plan. Its AI-note limits still matter: full AI notes apply to the first 10 meetings, and later notes cover only the first 10 minutes.
Best for
- Students who want ongoing transcript access.
- Users who can work without full-length AI notes for every meeting.
Key characteristics
- Unlimited recordings are listed for the free plan.
- Unlimited transcripts are listed.
- Unlimited summaries are listed.
- The supplied pricing details do not state a per-meeting cap.
- Full AI notes cover the first 10 meetings.
- After those meetings, notes cover the first 10 minutes.
- 10 AI prompts or reports are listed for life.
Pros / Why We Love It
- Unlimited transcript access is useful for repeated review.
- The free offer is not described as a monthly minute bucket.
- Its AI-note cap is stated separately from transcript access.
Cons
- AI-note coverage becomes shorter after the first 10 meetings.
- AI prompts or reports have a lifetime cap.
- The supplied facts do not state a maximum meeting length.
Verdict: Consider Fathom if transcript access matters most and its AI-note limits fit your review habits.
#2 Otter Basic — Best for a defined monthly minute allowance
What it is / Why it stands out
Otter Basic lists 300 transcription minutes per user per month. Its 30-minute meeting cap and three lifetime imports are separate limits, so it fits shorter sessions better than long lectures or frequent imported recordings.
Best for
- Students who can split their use across short meetings.
- Users who want a monthly allowance that is easy to count.
Key characteristics
- 300 transcription minutes per user each month.
- 30-minute maximum per meeting.
- 3 lifetime imports.
- Monthly minutes and imports have separate limits.
- The supplied comparison lists English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and Chinese.
Pros / Why We Love It
- The monthly transcription amount is specific.
- The meeting cap is visible in the plan facts.
- Language options are listed in the supplied comparison.
Cons
- A single recording cannot exceed 30 minutes under the listed limit.
- Only three lifetime imports are listed.
- The monthly allowance may not cover a busy class schedule.
Verdict: Choose Otter Basic when your recordings are short and the 300-minute monthly quota matches your expected use.
#3 Fireflies — Best for meeting transcription with separate storage limits
What it is / Why it stands out
Fireflies lists unlimited meeting transcription on its free tier, but its AI credits are limited and team storage is 400 minutes. That distinction is useful: unlimited transcription does not mean unlimited saved recordings or AI features.
Best for
- Students who primarily need meeting transcripts.
- Small study groups that can monitor shared storage.
Key characteristics
- Unlimited meeting transcription is listed.
- AI credits are limited.
- Team storage is listed as 400 minutes.
- The supplied comparison lists 100+ languages.
- English is listed as its primary language; other languages are described as beta.
Pros / Why We Love It
- The transcription allowance is not limited by a stated monthly minute figure.
- Storage and AI credits are identified as separate constraints.
- The supplied comparison calls out language availability.
Cons
- 400 minutes of team storage may be shared across users.
- AI credits are limited.
- Additional languages are listed as beta in the supplied comparison.
Verdict: Fireflies may suit study groups that want meeting transcription and can manage the shared storage and AI-credit limits.
#4 MeetGeek Basic — Best for a fixed monthly transcription-hours budget
What it is / Why it stands out
MeetGeek Basic lists three transcription hours per month, with a two-hour cap per meeting. Its five lifetime uploads are another distinct limit to consider if you plan to work from recordings rather than live meetings.
Best for
- Students with a small, predictable amount of recorded material.
- Users who need a longer single-session cap than a short meeting limit.
Key characteristics
- 3 transcription hours per month.
- 2 hours maximum per meeting.
- 5 lifetime uploads.
- The monthly time quota is distinct from lifetime file uploads.
- The supplied facts do not specify a summary allowance.
Pros / Why We Love It
- Monthly hours are straightforward to budget.
- The stated per-meeting cap can fit longer sessions.
- Upload limits are called out separately.
Cons
- Three hours may not cover several classes each week.
- Only five lifetime uploads are listed.
- Summary and AI limits are not detailed in the supplied facts.
Verdict: Choose MeetGeek Basic if three monthly hours and five lifetime uploads are enough for your study plan.
#5 Notta — Best for short recordings and multilingual study material
What it is / Why it stands out
Notta turns conversations and uploaded audio or video into searchable text and study notes. Its free plan lists 120 transcription minutes per month, but each conversation is capped at three minutes, so the plan is not suited to full-length lecture transcription.
Best for
- Short clips, quick notes, and testing a transcription workflow.
- Students who need the listed language options for short material.
Key characteristics
- 120 transcription minutes per month on the listed Free plan.
- 3 minutes per conversation.
- 50 file uploads per month.
- 10 AI Notes generations per month.
- Monolingual transcription is listed for 58+ languages.
- Simultaneous bilingual transcription is listed for 23 languages.
- Real-time and post-transcription translation are listed for 80 languages.
Pros / Why We Love It
- The upload and AI Notes quotas are stated separately.
- Language capabilities are listed as distinct features.
- Notta supports web and mobile workflows for conversation capture.
Cons
- The three-minute per-conversation limit rules out a full lecture in one recording.
- 120 monthly minutes do not remove the per-recording cap.
- Language features or availability may have separate limits.
Verdict: Notta is worth considering for short clips and multilingual workflows, but choose another plan if you need one continuous full-lecture transcript.
Turn recorded words into usable study notes
A transcript is a starting point, not a replacement for course materials. A searchable record can help you find a phrase or revisit a discussion, while a summary can make the main points easier to scan. Notta’s product approach is to capture conversations, help people understand the content, and turn it into searchable knowledge and next steps.
For longer study sessions, check the exact limits before recording. When reviewing a transcript, compare important explanations with the original audio, slides, equations, demonstrations, and approved course materials. Speech-to-text cannot capture everything shown on a board or screen.
If you want to see how the workflow looks, review Notta’s web app or explore AI-generated meeting notes. The app is designed to help people move from recorded conversation to searchable information, rather than leaving audio as an isolated file.
How to Choose the Right Free Transcription App
- If you need one long lecture transcript → choose a plan whose per-meeting cap covers the full recording, and confirm the recording method works with your device.
- If you import class recordings → check the number of uploads, file duration, and any lifetime or monthly cap before choosing.
- If you mainly need searchable text → compare transcript quotas and retention before paying for more AI summaries than you will use.
- If summaries matter for revision → check how many AI notes, prompts, or reports are included and whether the limit is monthly or for life.
- If you study in more than one language → compare monolingual transcription, bilingual transcription, and translation separately.
- If you share a plan with classmates → check whether minutes or storage are pooled at the team level.
- If privacy or class rules apply → follow your institution’s recording, accessibility, and academic policies, and get permission when required.
Study smarter with a review workflow
1. Capture with permission
Check course rules first. Choose a capture method that fits the class and the app’s recording limit.
2. Find the key passage
Use transcript search or timestamps to return to the section you need instead of rereading every note.
3. Verify and revise
Check names, technical terms, and important claims against the recording and official class sources.
Students working with recorded interviews may also want a research interview transcription workflow. For cross-language classes, explore bilingual transcription for study and keep it distinct from translation. If you need a fast refresher, see how reviewing summary decisions can help you verify the source. Students comparing capture approaches can also read about bot-free desktop recording.
FAQs
What is a free transcription app?
A free transcription app converts speech from a live conversation or audio file into written text without requiring a paid plan for every use. Free access may still have limits on recording length, monthly minutes, uploads, storage, or summaries. Check which limits apply before recording a class or interview.
Which free transcription app is best for students?
It depends on what you need to transcribe. Fathom lists unlimited recordings and transcripts, with limits on full AI notes; Otter Basic lists 300 monthly minutes and a 30-minute meeting cap. Notta lists multilingual features and 120 monthly minutes, but its three-minute per-conversation cap makes it unsuitable for a full lecture in one recording.
Can Notta’s Free plan transcribe a full lecture?
Notta’s Free plan is listed with 120 transcription minutes each month, but the limit is three minutes per conversation. That per-recording cap means the plan is not suitable for transcribing a full lecture as one recording. Check the current plan details before deciding whether it fits your class routine.
Are free transcription minutes the same as free AI summaries?
No. A plan can allow transcription while limiting summaries, prompts, or reports separately. For example, Notta’s listed Free plan includes 10 AI Notes generations per month, while some other plans use lifetime AI limits or reduce how much of a meeting receives full notes. Review each quota on its own.
Can I record a lecture without asking?
Do not assume recording is allowed. Follow your institution’s recording, privacy, accessibility, and academic rules, and obtain any permission required by your instructor or school. Also consider the privacy of classmates whose voices may be captured, and use recordings only in ways your course permits.
More ways to compare your workflow
If your study work includes interviews, you can explore transcribing research interviews. To review notes across several recordings, consider searchable conversation notes. Students comparing multilingual workflows can also look at translation and transcript language options. If you plan to share a digest with a project group, see visual summaries for group review.
A clear next step
Match the app to your next recording
Write down the longest recording you expect, the number of files you will import, and whether you need summaries. Then compare those needs with each current free-plan limit before you sign up.
Conclusion: Fathom may suit students who prioritize transcript access and can accept its AI-note limits, while Otter Basic offers a clearly stated monthly minute allowance for shorter meetings. Notta is a more natural fit for short clips and multilingual study material than for full lectures under the listed Free-plan cap. Before choosing, check current terms, course rules, and the longest recording you need to keep.