Top 5 Kurdish Transcription Services (Best Providers Compared in 2026)

Looking for the best Kurdish transcription service in 2026 comes down to three things: dialect coverage (Sorani vs. Kurmanji), quality control, and a workflow that fits your turnaround and budget. Below are five providers to consider, with GoTranscript as our top pick for teams that want a straightforward ordering process and human-reviewed results.

Primary keyword: Kurdish transcription services.

Quick verdict

• Best overall: GoTranscript (clear ordering workflow, human transcription option, add-on proofreading, and related caption/subtitle services).
• Best for enterprise teams: Rev (strong brand, multiple workflows, but confirm Kurdish dialect availability before ordering).
• Best for localization-heavy projects: TransPerfect (large language operations; confirm Kurdish coverage and project minimums).
• Best for marketplace flexibility: Upwork (you can hire Kurdish-speaking freelancers directly; results vary based on vetting).
• Best for budget DIY + review: Fiverr (fast to find sellers; you must manage screening and consistency).

Important note: “Kurdish” is not one single standard in practice for transcription work. Many projects need Sorani or Kurmanji, and sometimes a specific writing system, so always confirm dialect and orthography before you pay.

How we evaluated Kurdish transcription services (transparent methodology)

We compared providers using criteria you can check yourself during a trial order or pilot project. We did not use unpublished test scores or private data.

• Dialect coverage: Whether the provider can handle Sorani, Kurmanji, and region-specific vocabulary, and whether they ask you to specify it up front.
• Quality control: Presence of human review, proofreading options, and clear revision policies.
• Output options: Clean verbatim vs. full verbatim, speaker labels, timestamps, and file formats (DOCX, SRT, VTT).
• Workflow fit: Ease of ordering, communication, and handling multi-file projects.
• Security basics: Clear statements on confidentiality and access control (where publicly available).
• Turnaround flexibility: Whether you can choose deadlines and scale volume without chaos.
• Total effort: How much work you must do after delivery (spot-checking, fixes, standardization).

Top 5 Kurdish transcription services in 2026 (pros and cons)

1) GoTranscript (top pick)

GoTranscript is a strong choice when you want a predictable ordering process and the option to pair transcription with adjacent services like proofreading and captions.

• Pros
  • Simple ordering flow for single files or batches.
  • Human transcription option suited for non-English audio.
  • Add-on transcription proofreading if you have a draft that needs cleanup.
  • Convenient extras if you publish video: closed caption services are available.
• Cons
  • You still need to specify Kurdish dialect, speaker names (if known), and any required spelling conventions.
  • Highly technical topics may require you to provide a glossary for best consistency.

2) Rev

Rev is widely known for transcription and captions and can be a practical option for teams that already use its platform, as long as Kurdish support matches your dialect needs.

• Pros
  • Well-established workflow for ordering and managing transcripts.
  • Common output features like timestamps and speaker labels (plan-dependent).
• Cons
  • Confirm Kurdish availability and which dialects are supported before committing.
  • Costs and turnaround may be less flexible for niche language needs.

3) TransPerfect

TransPerfect is a large language services provider that can fit complex localization workflows, such as multi-language projects that include Kurdish.

• Pros
  • Good fit for managed projects that combine transcription, translation, and review.
  • Process-driven for organizations that need vendor onboarding.
• Cons
  • May be heavier than you need for a few short interviews.
  • Confirm dialect coverage, pricing structure, and minimums.

4) Upwork (hire Kurdish transcriptionists directly)

Upwork is useful when you need a very specific Kurdish dialect, a niche subject-matter background, or a long-term transcription assistant.

• Pros
  • You can screen for Sorani/Kurmanji fluency and regional familiarity.
  • Flexible: per-hour, per-minute, or per-project pricing.
• Cons
  • Quality varies; your results depend on your hiring process.
  • You must define formatting rules and manage consistency across files.

5) Fiverr (gig-based sellers)

Fiverr can work for small, simple tasks when you can clearly define expectations and you can personally review the deliverable.

• Pros
  • Fast to find options and compare packages.
  • Easy to request add-ons like timestamps or speaker labels (seller-dependent).
• Cons
  • Inconsistent standards across sellers.
  • Harder to scale a multi-episode or multi-interview workflow without drift in spelling and formatting.

How to choose the right Kurdish transcription service for your use case

The “best” provider depends on what you are transcribing, how accurate it must be, and which Kurdish dialect you need.

If you are transcribing interviews or research

• Choose a provider that supports speaker labels and timestamps for quoting and analysis.
• Ask for a consistent spelling approach (especially for names and places).
• Plan a short pilot: one file, then decide whether to scale.

If you are transcribing court, asylum, or legal-adjacent audio

• Prioritize human transcription and a clear revision path.
• Request verbatim rules in writing (fillers, false starts, interruptions).
• Confirm how the provider handles unclear audio markers and time-coding.

If you are creating video content (YouTube, courses, documentaries)

• Decide if you need transcripts, captions, or both.
• Use captions to support accessibility, comprehension, and multilingual audiences.
• If you need compliant captioning for public-facing content, review the general accessibility guidance from the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

If you already have an AI transcript and need cleanup

• Pick a service that offers proofreading/editing of an existing transcript.
• Provide a glossary of Kurdish terms, names, and acronyms.
• Ask the editor to standardize spelling across Sorani/Kurmanji conventions (as requested), rather than “correcting” into a different dialect.

Specific accuracy checklist for Kurdish transcription (use this before you approve delivery)

Use this checklist to evaluate any Kurdish transcript, no matter which provider you choose.

Dialect and writing system

• The transcript matches the requested dialect: Sorani or Kurmanji (or a clearly defined regional variant).
• The transcript uses the agreed writing system (for example, Arabic-based script vs. Latin-based script) and stays consistent.
• Key region-specific words are transcribed as spoken, not “normalized” into a different dialect.

Names, numbers, and proper nouns

• People’s names stay consistent throughout the file.
• Place names match your preferred spelling list.
• Dates, times, and numbers follow one format (and match the audio).

Speaker tracking and structure

• Each speaker label is correct and consistent.
• Overlapping speech is handled in a predictable way (not merged into one line).
• Paragraph breaks follow topic changes, not random pauses.

Unclear audio handling

• Unclear sections are marked consistently (for example, [inaudible 01:23]) with timestamps if requested.
• The transcript does not “guess” important content when the audio is not clear.
• The provider flags segments where audio quality makes accuracy difficult.

Formatting you may want to request up front

• Clean verbatim vs. full verbatim rules.
• Timestamps: periodic (every 30–60 seconds) or per speaker change.
• File format: DOCX, PDF, TXT, or caption formats like SRT/VTT for video.

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

• Ordering “Kurdish” without naming the dialect: Always specify Sorani or Kurmanji, plus the script you want.
• No glossary for technical terms: Provide a short list of names, places, and key terms before the job starts.
• Assuming AI-only is enough: If you need high accuracy, plan for human review or proofreading.
• Ignoring audio quality: If possible, reduce background noise and capture each speaker on a separate mic.
• Not defining verbatim rules: Decide whether fillers and false starts matter for your use case.

Common questions

1) What Kurdish dialect should I request for transcription?

Request the dialect spoken in your audio, most often Sorani or Kurmanji. If your audience reads a specific script, also specify whether you need Arabic-based or Latin-based writing.

2) Can I get Kurdish captions (SRT/VTT) instead of a plain transcript?

Yes, many providers can deliver caption files, but you should confirm formats and reading speed rules. For accessibility-oriented caption basics, the FCC’s captioning overview is a useful reference point in the U.S.

3) How do I check accuracy if I do not speak Kurdish?

Ask for timestamps, then hire a separate Kurdish reviewer for a spot check of key sections. You can also validate names, numbers, and repeated terms against a glossary you provide.

4) Should I choose verbatim or clean verbatim?

Choose clean verbatim for most content like interviews, podcasts, and business meetings. Choose full verbatim when every hesitation or interruption matters, such as certain legal or linguistic projects.

5) What should I send along with the audio?

Send speaker names (if known), a short glossary, and the dialect/script requirements. If the audio includes code-switching (Kurdish + Arabic, Turkish, or English), tell the provider which parts to keep in the original language.

6) Can one provider handle Kurdish transcription and translation?

Some providers can do both, but confirm the direction (for example, Kurdish to English) and whether they keep timecodes aligned. If you plan to localize, decide whether you need a transcript first or a direct translation from audio.

7) How long does Kurdish transcription take?

Turnaround depends on audio length, number of speakers, and difficulty (noise, accents, cross-talk). A good provider will let you choose a deadline and will flag files that need extra time due to quality issues.

Conclusion

The best Kurdish transcription service is the one that reliably matches your dialect and formatting needs with a quality-control process you can trust. Start with a small pilot, use the accuracy checklist above, and scale only after you confirm consistency.

If you want a straightforward way to order Kurdish transcription and related deliverables like proofreading or captions, GoTranscript can help with professional transcription services.