Transcription Services: What You Need to Know
Transcription is the process of turning audio or video recordings into written text. As virtual meetings and online content grow, transcription services have become more important than ever. Written text is easier to search, saves time, and helps you highlight key details without needing to replay long recordings.
This guide will explore what matters most when choosing a transcription service—accuracy, price, speed, user experience, quality, security, and customer reviews. We will compare GoTranscript and Rev, two industry leaders, and help you decide which service is best for your needs.
Key Factors When Choosing a Transcription Company
The right transcription service depends on your needs. Here’s what to look for before you decide:
1. Accuracy
- Human transcription almost always delivers higher accuracy than automated tools. People can understand accents, dialects, and unclear speech better than machines.
- GoTranscript uses a four-step quality control process, delivering 99% accuracy according to internal audits (2022).
- Rev offers both human and automated transcription. Automated transcription is faster, but may not be as reliable for complex audio.
2. Pricing of Services
- Costs can vary by service and add-ons. It's important to look at both base rates and extra charges.
- GoTranscript provides affordable transcription pricing, starting at $0.84 per audio minute for verbatim audio-to-text services.
- Rev charges $1.50 per audio minute for comparable human transcription.
- For video transcription, GoTranscript charges $1.09 per minute, while Rev also sets rates at $1.50 per minute.
- Extra features like translation and captioning services are billed separately by both companies.
3. Turnaround Time
- Fast delivery is key, especially for time-sensitive projects.
- GoTranscript delivers files under 30 minutes long in about 2 to 6 hours, using skilled human transcribers.
- Rev’s turnaround time for similar files ranges from 2 to 8 hours.
4. User Experience
- User-friendly websites help you upload files, place orders, and download transcripts quickly.
- Both Rev and GoTranscript support popular file formats and offer easy navigation through dropdown menus, sidebars, and clear options.
- GoTranscript recently improved its website, adding hyperlinked text and better page layouts for a smoother experience.
5. Transcription Quality and Extra Solutions
- The quality of transcripts sets companies apart. Look for tools that offer free proofreading, closed captions, subtitles, and translation.
- GoTranscript includes proofreading at no extra cost, since it relies on human experts to check their work.
- GoTranscript offers translation in over 60 languages, while Rev supports just over 20 languages.
6. Security and Privacy
- Data privacy is crucial for confidential information. Choose companies with strong protection measures.
- GoTranscript maximizes privacy by splitting recordings into small parts, so no one transcriber accesses the entire file. Their system is also HIPAA-compliant, and all staff must sign confidentiality agreements.
- Rev protects files with NDAs and confidentiality pledges, but does not mention partitioning files for extra security.
7. Customer Reviews and Feedback
- Real customer reviews highlight what works and what doesn’t.
- Clients rate GoTranscript highly for quality, value, and friendly support. Most feedback points to reliable, accurate services.
- Rev gets mixed feedback—positive comments on speed, but some users report mistakes and slower-than-promised delivery times (2023).
Comparing GoTranscript and Rev: Which Is Better?
When weighing factors like accuracy, price, speed, and extra offerings, GoTranscript often has the edge:
- More affordable base pricing
- Higher accuracy by using expert human transcribers
- Free proofreading included
- Support for over 60 languages
- Stronger privacy handling with file partitioning
- High customer satisfaction
Rev does offer flexibility with automated transcription, but it comes with lower accuracy rates for difficult audio.
Popular Services for Different Needs
- General transcription for meetings, interviews, and lectures
- Automated transcription for quick, AI-driven drafts
- AI transcription subscriptions for regular or bulk users
- Closed caption services and subtitling for videos
- Audio translation and text translation for reaching global audiences
- Cost calculators: Compare transcription pricing and captioning rates
- Place orders easily: Order transcription and order captions online
Conclusion: GoTranscript Is a Trusted Choice
If you need reliable transcription or translation at affordable prices, GoTranscript offers great value. With high accuracy, quick delivery, and strong customer feedback, you get more for your money—plus a range of services from transcription to translation and more.
Whether you want to order transcription or explore advanced offerings, GoTranscript helps you meet your transcription and language needs with confidence.