fastrepl · harshikaalagh-netizen · Mar 4, 2026
diff --git a/apps/web/content/articles/free-transcription-software.mdx b/apps/web/content/articles/free-transcription-software.mdx
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 meta_title: "Top 6 Truly Free Transcription Software in 2026"
 display_title: "Best Free Transcription Software in 2026"
 meta_description: "Find truly free transcription solutions in 2026 that offer real usability, privacy, and accuracy for all your speech-to-text needs. No surprises or limits."
-author: "Harshika"
+author:
+  - "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/cover.png"
+featured: false
 category: "Comparisons"
 date: "2025-10-08"
 ---
@@ -16,14 +18,16 @@ This guide reviews genuinely free transcription software that works without cons
 
 ## Best free transcription software: quick comparison
 
+
 | Tool           | Best For                   | Transcription Type                       | Real-Time | Monthly Limit               | Export Formats           |
 | -------------- | -------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | --------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------ |
-| Char       | Privacy & unlimited use    | Meeting + live video/audio transcription | ✅ Yes    | Unlimited                   | MD, PDF, RTF             |
-| Transcript LOL | Multi-source imports       | Files + URL imports                      | ❌ No     | 2 files daily (20 min each) | TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT |
-| Riverside      | Unlimited no-signup tool   | Files only                               | ❌ No     | Unlimited                   | TXT, SRT                 |
-| Otter AI       | Meeting bot automation     | Meeting bot + files                      | ✅ Yes    | 300 min (30 min/recording)  | MP3, TXT (PDF/DOCX paid) |
-| Notta          | Multi-language translation | Meeting bot + files                      | ✅ Yes    | 120 min (3 min/recording)   | TXT (others paid)        |
-| MacWhisper     | Simple Mac transcription   | Files only                               | ❌ No     | Unlimited                   | TXT, SRT, VTT            |
+| Char           | Privacy & unlimited use    | Meeting + live video/audio transcription | ✅ Yes     | Unlimited                   | MD, PDF, RTF             |
+| Transcript LOL | Multi-source imports       | Files + URL imports                      | ❌ No      | 2 files daily (20 min each) | TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT |
+| Riverside      | Unlimited no-signup tool   | Files only                               | ❌ No      | Unlimited                   | TXT, SRT                 |
+| Otter AI       | Meeting bot automation     | Meeting bot + files                      | ✅ Yes     | 300 min (30 min/recording)  | MP3, TXT (PDF/DOCX paid) |
+| Notta          | Multi-language translation | Meeting bot + files                      | ✅ Yes     | 120 min (3 min/recording)   | TXT (others paid)        |
+| MacWhisper     | Simple Mac transcription   | Files only                               | ❌ No      | Unlimited                   | TXT, SRT, VTT            |
+
 
 ## How we chose these tools
 
@@ -74,7 +78,7 @@ You can check detailed reviews of these tools in our guide to [best transcriptio
 
 ### 1. Char: best for local processing and unlimited transcription
 
-<Image src="/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-1.webp" alt="Char" />
+![Char](/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-1.webp)
 
 [Char](/) is an open-source AI notepad for meetings that gives you complete control over your data and AI stack. Everything is stored as plain markdown files—not in proprietary databases. You choose your AI: managed cloud, BYOK, or run local models.
 
@@ -84,7 +88,6 @@ Zero lock-in means you can switch AI providers anytime and your files work with
 
 - Unlimited transcription with no monthly caps or per-minute charges
 - Real-time transcription using Whisper models (Tiny, Base, V3 Large Turbo)
-- AI-powered meeting summaries with custom HyperLLM-V1 model
 - Conversational search across all transcription history
 - Custom vocabulary support for industry-specific terminology
 - Universal platform compatibility without bots
@@ -95,17 +98,17 @@ Zero lock-in means you can switch AI providers anytime and your files work with
 
 #### When will you need to pay?
 
-<Image src="/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-2.webp" alt="is Char free" />
+![Char pricing](https://auth.hyprnote.com/storage/v1/object/public/blog/Screenshot-2026-03-04-at-9.01.49-PM.png)
 
 Free forever for local transcription, BYOK, and all core features. The managed cloud service ($8/month) adds the easiest setup without managing API keys.
 
 Enterprise licensing is available when your organization needs on-premises deployment, SSO integration, consent management, or custom branding. [Contact sales for a quote](/founders).
 
-<CtaCard/>
+&nbsp;
 
 ### 2. Transcript.LOL: best for multi-source imports
 
-<Image src="/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-3.webp" alt="is transcript lol free" />
+![is transcript lol free](/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-3.webp)
 
 Transcript.LOL is a cloud-based transcription platform powered by OpenAI's Whisper that converts audio and video files into text across 100+ languages.
 
@@ -126,15 +129,15 @@ The daily allocation model provides 2 transcripts per day (up to 20 minutes each
 
 #### When will you need to pay?
 
-<Image src="/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-4.webp" alt="transcript lol pricing" />
+![transcript lol pricing](/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-4.webp)
 
 The $20/month Unlimited plan is necessary when you exceed 2 daily transcripts, need files longer than 20 minutes, want AI summaries and custom prompts, require chatbot features for querying transcripts, or need high-priority faster processing.
 
 The $40/month Team plan adds shared workspaces for collaboration, multiple user accounts under one subscription, and team access management.
 
 ### 3. Riverside: best for no-signup transcription
 
-<Image src="/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-5.webp" alt="riverside free transcription" />
+![riverside free transcription](/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-5.webp)
 
 While Riverside is primarily known as a podcast and video recording platform, their [standalone transcription tool](https://riverside.com/transcription) works as a simple web utility that converts any audio or video file to text.
 
@@ -153,15 +156,15 @@ The tool uses OpenAI's Whisper model and handles files up to 5GB across 100+ lan
 
 #### When will you need to pay?
 
-<Image src="/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-6.webp" alt="riverside pricing" />
+![riverside pricing](/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-6.webp)
 
 Riverside's paid platform ($19/month Standard or $29/month Pro) adds speaker detection and labeling, in-tool transcript editing with audio playback sync, AI-powered Magic Clips for social media, automated show notes generation, text-based video editing, and professional recording features with 4K video and separate audio tracks.
 
 The free transcription tool handles basic text conversion. Serious content creators will outgrow its limitations and upgrade for editing workflow integration.
 
 ### 4. Otter.ai: best for meeting bot integration
 
-<Image src="/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-7.webp" alt="otter ai transcription review" />
+![otter ai transcription review](/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-7.webp)
 
 Otter.ai is a meeting assistant similar to Char. It transcribes conversations, generates summaries, and helps you search through meeting history. The key difference is that Char processes everything locally on your device, while Otter sends all your audio to the cloud for processing.
 
@@ -184,7 +187,7 @@ The cloud approach enables Otter's signature feature: the meeting bot that autom
 
 #### When will you need to pay?
 
-<Image src="/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-8.webp" alt="otter ai pricing" />
+![otter ai pricing](/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-8.webp)
 
 The $16.99/month Pro plan becomes necessary when you exceed 300 minutes, need 90-minute conversations instead of 30, want 1,200 monthly minutes, require PDF/DOCX/SRT exports, need unlimited conversation history, or want advanced search and custom vocabulary features.
 
@@ -194,7 +197,7 @@ Enterprise is relevant for organizations requiring SSO, HIPAA compliance, domain
 
 ### 5. Notta: best for multi-language transcription
 
-<Image src="/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-9.webp" alt="Notta transcription review" />
+![Notta transcription review](/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-9.webp)
 
 [Notta](https://www.notta.ai/en) is a cloud-based transcription platform that handles 58 languages with claimed 98% accuracy.
 
@@ -215,7 +218,7 @@ Similar to Otter.ai, Notta automatically joins your Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft
 
 #### When will you need to pay?
 
-<Image src="/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-10.webp" alt="notta pricing" />
+![notta pricing](/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-10.webp)
 
 The 3-minute recording limit makes the free plan nearly useless for actual meeting transcription. The $13.49/month Pro plan is necessary immediately, providing 1,800 minutes monthly, up to 5 hours per recording, 100 file uploads, 100 AI summaries, transcript translation, custom vocabulary, and exports in multiple formats (TXT, PDF, DOCX, SRT, XLSX).
 
@@ -225,7 +228,7 @@ Enterprise becomes relevant for organizations requiring SAML SSO, audit logs, no
 
 ### 6. MacWhisper: best for simple Mac transcription
 
-<Image src="/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-11.webp" alt="mac whisper review" />
+![mac whisper review](/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-11.webp)
 
 [MacWhisper](https://goodsnooze.gumroad.com/l/macwhisper) is a Mac app that wraps OpenAI's Whisper technology in a simple drag-and-drop interface.
 
@@ -248,7 +251,7 @@ Performance depends heavily on your hardware. Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3) hand
 
 #### When will you need to pay?
 
-<Image src="/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-12.webp" alt="Mac whisper pricing" />
+![Mac whisper pricing](/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/transcription-12.webp)
 
 MacWhisper Pro ($29-35 one-time payment, no subscription) unlocks better accuracy with Medium, Large, Large-V2, or Large-V3 models, batch transcription to process multiple files simultaneously, speaker identification for multi-person conversations, system audio recording to transcribe Zoom or Teams meetings directly, and advanced exports including Word, PDF, and HTML formats.
 
@@ -258,8 +261,6 @@ If data privacy matters and you need truly unlimited transcription without hidde
 
 Unlike most transcription tools that lock you into their cloud, Char stores everything as plain markdown files and lets you choose your AI stack. Zero lock-in, complete control.
 
-For teams handling sensitive conversations—patient consultations, legal discussions, financial planning, confidential business meetings—Char solves the fundamental problem that cloud-based tools can't: keeping your data private while delivering powerful transcription.
-
-Ready to take control of your transcription data? [**Download Char for macOS**](/download) and get unlimited private transcription (Windows version coming soon).
+Ready to take control of your transcription data? **[Download Char for macOS](/download)** and get unlimited private transcription (Windows version coming soon).
 
-<CtaCard/>
+&nbsp;