There are a vast number of transcription services on the market, and they fall into two camps: human transcription services and AI transcription services.

So which one's right for you? It depends on your unique needs and circumstances - in particular the budget you've got to work with, the timeline you're committed to, and how accurate you need the transcription to be.

In this guide, we'll break down the key differences between human and AI transcription services to help you pick the best fit for your project.

Jump to:

• What is human transcription?

• When to choose human transcription services

• The disadvantages of human transcription

• What is AI transcription?

• When to use AI transcription services

• The disadvantages of AI transcription

• How to choose between human and AI transcription services

Human transcription services employ real-life people to transcribe your audio and video files. These professionals listen to your recording and manually type out everything that's said, word for word. Since humans have a greater capacity for understanding the nuances of speech - like accents, context, and subtle cues - human transcribers are able to deliver highly accurate transcriptions.

If precision is non-negotiable - such as with legal or medical transcriptions - a human transcription service is the way to go. Human transcribers capture every detail, from pauses and laughter to subtle shifts in tone, ensuring your transcription is as accurate as possible.

The human ear is better at distinguishing voices and interpreting complex interactions. If your audio includes several speakers, frequent interruptions, background noise, or overlapping dialogue, a human transcriber will handle these complexities more effectively, accurately identifying who's saying what.

​​Human transcription takes time - typically around four hours to transcribe a single hour of audio. On top of that, demand can mean longer wait times, so you may need to get in line until a transcriber becomes available. If you're on a tight deadline, this can be a drawback compared to the rapid speed of automated services.

Since these services employ real people, and real people need to be paid, these services come at a much higher cost. The average rate is 75 cents to $1.50 per minute, which can add up to $45-$90 per hour of audio transcription. For large projects, this can become a significant investment.

AI transcription - also known as automatic or machine transcription - uses automatic speech recognition (ASR) software to transcribe your audio and video files. ASR systems use artificial intelligence and machine learning to listen to your audio and convert it into text.

Since it's a machine doing all the hard work, automatic transcription is both faster and more budget-friendly than human transcription services.

If speed is your priority, automatic transcription is your best bet. Just upload your audio or video file to Transcribe, and within minutes, you'll have a detailed transcript ready to go. There's no quicker way to get a transcription! From there, you can export it in your preferred format and easily share it with colleagues, clients, or classmates.

For those on a budget - like students or teams with tight funds - AI transcription offers an affordable solution. At Transcribe, our PRO plan costs as little as $8.33 a month for 5 hours of transcription, working out at less than $2 per hour of recording.

If you're planning on reviewing the transcription and condensing it into study notes or meeting notes, transforming it into marketing material, or pulling out quotes for an article, then a rough draft from AI transcription is perfect. Once you've got your transcript, it's easy to search, skim, edit, and reformat it to suit your needs.

Learn how to edit transcripts like a pro!

If your project involves multilingual content, AI transcription can handle multiple languages, helping you reach a broader audience without additional translation steps. Many AI transcription services, including Transcribe, support multiple languages, making it easy to work with international content or collaborate with global teams.

While ASR technology is continually improving and becoming more and more accurate, it still has limitations that prevent it from reaching human-level accuracy. AI transcription may struggle with understanding slang, regional accents, or strong dialects. Additionally, if your recording includes multiple speakers, overlapping voices, or significant background noise, the transcription quality may be lower. For projects where precision is essential - like in medical and legal settings - these limitations can be a drawback.

The best transcription service for you depends on three main factors: your budget, your timeline, and the level of accuracy you need.

If you're handling sensitive material - like legal or medical documents - where absolute accuracy is critical, human transcription is your best choice. Professional transcribers catch every detail, ensuring a precise record of your audio.

On the other hand, if you need a transcription instantly, are working with a tight budget, or simply want a rough draft that you can review and edit yourself, AI transcription services are a perfect fit. AI transcription is fast, affordable, and flexible, allowing you to refine and format the transcript to your needs.

Automatic transcription services are particularly popular with podcasters, journalists, academics, students, and marketing professionals - plus businesses who want to use transcriptions to create quick, searchable meeting notes.

​​If you're looking for a quick, cost-effective way to convert your audio into text, AI transcription is a smart choice. It offers the speed and flexibility you need to keep up with fast-paced projects, whether you're working on a podcast, a study session, or team meeting notes.

With Transcribe, you get access to top-quality AI transcription, user-friendly editing tools and support for multiple languages - all at an affordable rate. Give it a go, and see how it can streamline your workflow and save you time (and money!).

Download the Transcribe app or launch the online editor to get started!