Converting speech into text is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you’re a journalist, content creator, student, or business professional, having a reliable speech-to-text tool can save hours of manual transcription work. But when dealing with long audio files, finding a free tool that gets the job done efficiently can be a challenge.
In this blog, we’ll explore The 5 Best Free Speech-to-Text Conversion Tools for Long Audio Files that can handle long audio files. We’ll compare their features, advantages, disadvantages, and provide a step-by-step guide on how to use each tool.
Why Use Online Speech-to-Text Tools?
Online speech-to-text converters offer several benefits:
✅ Save time – No need for manual transcription.
✅ Increase productivity – Ideal for interviews, meetings, and lectures.
✅ Accessibility – Helps people with hearing impairments or those who prefer reading over listening.
✅ Multitasking – Focus on other tasks while the software transcribes your audio.
Now, let’s explore the top 5 free online tools for transcribing long audio files!
1. Otter.ai – Best for Meetings and Interviews
Overview
Otter.ai is an AI-powered transcription service that allows users to transcribe meetings, interviews, and lectures with high accuracy. It supports real-time transcription and file uploads, making it an excellent choice for professionals.
Key Features
✔ AI-powered automatic transcription
✔ Speaker identification for multi-speaker conversations
✔ Supports file uploads (MP3, WAV, M4A)
✔ Integrates with Zoom and Google Meet for live transcription
✔ 300 free minutes per month (30 min per file limit)
How to Use Otter.ai
- Sign up for a free account on Otter.ai.
- Click “Import” and upload your long audio file.
- Wait for the AI to transcribe the audio (takes a few minutes).
- Edit the transcript for any errors.
- Download or copy the text for further use.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ High accuracy | ❌ 30-minute limit per file on the free plan |
| ✅ Speaker differentiation | ❌ Struggles with background noise |
| ✅ Easy to use | ❌ Requires an internet connection |
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2. Whisper by OpenAI – Best for High Accuracy
Overview
Whisper is an open-source speech-to-text AI developed by OpenAI. It is known for its exceptional accuracy and ability to handle multiple languages and noisy audio files. However, it doesn’t have a direct online interface—you need to use third-party tools.
Key Features
✔ Highly accurate AI-powered transcription
✔ Supports multiple languages
✔ Works well even with background noise
✔ Can handle long audio files without time limits
How to Use Whisper (Online Version)
- Visit third-party websites that integrate Whisper, such as WhisperTranscribe or Aiko.chat.
- Upload your long audio file in MP3, WAV, or M4A format.
- Wait for the AI to process the file.
- Review the transcript for accuracy.
- Download the transcript as a text file.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Extremely high accuracy | ❌ No official online platform |
| ✅ Works well with noisy environments | ❌ Requires technical setup for offline use |
| ✅ Supports long audio files | ❌ Slower processing time for large files |
3. Speechnotes – Best for Quick Real-Time Dictation
Overview
Speechnotes is a browser-based speech-to-text tool that uses Google’s speech recognition technology. It is best for real-time dictation but doesn’t support file uploads.
Key Features
✔ Real-time speech recognition
✔ No sign-up required—works instantly
✔ Works with Google Chrome
✔ Unlimited dictation time
How to Use Speechnotes
- Open Speechnotes in Google Chrome.
- Click the microphone icon to start recording.
- Play your long audio file on another device (the tool will transcribe it live).
- Edit and copy the transcript for further use.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ 100% free and unlimited | ❌ No file upload option |
| ✅ No sign-up required | ❌ Dependent on internet connection |
| ✅ Works with multiple languages | ❌ Accuracy may drop with poor audio quality |
4. Sonix (Free Trial) – Best for Professional Use
Overview
Sonix is an AI-powered automatic transcription service designed for professionals. It offers highly accurate transcriptions, but its free plan is limited to 30 minutes of free transcription.
Key Features
✔ High-quality AI transcription
✔ Supports over 30 languages
✔ Uploads multiple audio formats (MP3, WAV, MP4)
✔ Cloud-based editor for making changes to transcripts
How to Use Sonix
- Visit Sonix and create a free account.
- Upload your long audio file.
- Wait for the AI to transcribe it (takes a few minutes).
- Edit and download the text transcript.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Very high accuracy | ❌ Only 30 minutes free |
| ✅ Supports multiple languages | ❌ Requires sign-up |
| ✅ Cloud-based editor | ❌ No real-time transcription |
5. Dictation.io – Best for Simple Real-Time Transcription
Overview
Dictation.io is a free, online speech-to-text tool that runs in your browser. It’s ideal for real-time dictation, but does not support file uploads.
Key Features
✔ Real-time dictation (no file uploads)
✔ Supports multiple languages
✔ Free and easy to use
How to Use Dictation.io
- Open Dictation.io in Google Chrome.
- Click on the microphone to start recording.
- Play your long audio file on another device.
- Edit and copy the transcript once done.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Completely free | ❌ No file uploads |
| ✅ Works with multiple languages | ❌ Requires good audio quality |
| ✅ Simple and easy to use | ❌ No offline mode |
Final Comparison Table: The 5 Best Free Speech-to-Text Conversion Tools for Long Audio Files
| Tool | File Uploads | Real-Time Transcription | Free Limitations | Accuracy | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otter.ai | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | 300 min/month (30 min per file) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Meetings, Interviews |
| Whisper AI | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | No official online service | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | High-accuracy transcriptions |
| Speechnotes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | No file uploads | ⭐⭐⭐ | Quick dictation |
| Sonix | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | 30 min free trial | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Professional use |
| Dictation.io | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | No file uploads | ⭐⭐⭐ | Simple transcri |
Conclusion: The 5 Best Free Speech-to-Text Conversion Tools for Long Audio Files
If you need a completely free tool with file upload support, Otter.ai is a great choice. If accuracy is your top priority, go for Whisper AI. For real-time transcription, Speechnotes and Dictation.io are solid options. Sonix is best for professional transcriptions but has a limited free plan.
