How to convert audio to text for free
- Visit the ScribeForge homepage.
- Drag your audio file onto the upload area (or click to browse).
- Click Transcribe and wait 5–15 seconds depending on file length.
- Your transcript appears instantly. Copy it or download as .txt.
Supported formats: MP3, WAV, FLAC, M4A, OGG, OPUS, WEBM, AAC, AIFF, MP4. Maximum size: 25MB.
Why ScribeForge for audio to text?
Grok-powered accuracy
Unlike tools based on older Whisper models, ScribeForge uses xAI's latest Grok STT model, released April 2026. It offers state-of-the-art accuracy on English and 50+ other languages, with strong performance on accented speech and noisy recordings.
Speaker detection and timestamps
ScribeForge returns segment-level timestamps with your transcript, making it easy to navigate long recordings and identify who said what.
Privacy by design
We process your audio in memory and delete any temporary files immediately. We don't store your recordings, and we don't use them to train models. See our privacy policy.
No account required
Unlike most transcription services, ScribeForge doesn't ask for an email or credit card to start. Just upload and transcribe.
Audio to text pricing
Free
2 transcriptions/day
IP-based, no card needed
50 Credits
One-time purchase
50 transcriptions, never expire
Monthly
Per month
200 transcriptions/day, unlimited
At $9 for 50 credits, that's just $0.18 per transcription — significantly cheaper than dedicated transcription services like Otter.ai, Descript, or Rev.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free audio to text tool in 2026?
ScribeForge offers the best free tier for AI-powered transcription in 2026: 2 free conversions per day, no account needed, powered by xAI's Grok STT — one of the most accurate models available. For occasional use, it's completely free.
Can I transcribe video files?
Yes — MP4 and WEBM video files are supported. The audio track is extracted and transcribed automatically.
How accurate is the audio to text conversion?
Accuracy depends on audio quality. For clear speech with minimal background noise, expect 95%+ word accuracy. Noisy environments, strong accents, or multiple overlapping speakers will reduce accuracy somewhat.
Does it work with phone call recordings?
Yes. Phone call recordings in MP3 or M4A format work well. Mono audio is fine — you don't need stereo.
Is there an API for audio to text?
Yes. With a license key you can call our POST /api/transcribe endpoint directly. The API accepts multipart form data with your audio file and returns JSON with the transcript and segment data.