Summary
- To transcribe a video to text: set the spoken language, add names and terms, transcribe, correct, then export what the next step needs.
- What changes by recording type is the detail: speakers for podcasts, data handling for research, chapters and captions for lectures, translation for multilingual video.
- On VideoText, Free handles files up to 30 minutes and 3 transcription jobs a day; Pro handles transcription files up to 4 hours, batches of up to 20 and 30 hours of speech a month.
- Transcribe your video to text in Video to Transcript, free with an account.
Transcribing a video to text takes minutes of your time when the steps are in the right order, and hours when they are not: a wrong language, names misspelled throughout, a transcript split into pieces, or an export the next person cannot use. This page sets out the core steps once, then links the guide for your type of recording.
Transcribe a video now: upload it to Video to Transcript. Export TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT and more from the same transcript; no card needed.
The core steps to transcribe video to text
| Step |
Tool |
Note |
| Transcribe video or audio |
Video to Transcript |
Language picker lists 104 languages, or auto-detect; add names and terms first |
| Label speakers |
Video to Transcript (Pro) |
Only when the recording has more than one speaker |
| Correct an existing transcript |
Fix Transcript |
Accept or reject each suggested fix; rename speakers once for the whole file |
| Add timestamps |
Video to Transcript or Fix Transcript |
Per interval, segment or speaker, or calculated SMPTE timecode |
| Export |
Video to Transcript |
TXT, DOCX, PDF, 3-column DOCX or PDF, SRT, VTT, JSON, CSV |
| Translate |
Video to Transcript, or Translate Subtitles for subtitle files |
104 target languages for subtitle translation |
By recording type
- Multilingual transcription: transcribe foreign-language video in 2027: transcribe in the spoken language, correct, then translate with timing kept.
- How to transcribe a podcast to text in 2027: one transcript per episode, reused for the page, notes, clips and captions.
- Interview transcription software for research in 2027: data handling first, consistent conventions, exports for analysis.
- How to transcribe lectures and course videos to text in 2027: whole recordings, course terms, chapters and captions from one pass.
- How to add captions to training videos in 2027: captions, transcripts and translated tracks for a training library from one corrected source.
Already have a transcript? Correct it in Fix Transcript instead of transcribing again.
Long recordings and existing transcripts
When the transcript goes to a client
What it costs
Free covers files up to 30 minutes, no card needed; free exports include a short VideoText watermark, and Pro exports have none. Pro is $14.99/month or $120/year, with 30 hours of speech a month, transcription files up to 4 hours and speaker labels, and no per-minute charges. See pricing.
FAQ
Should I set the spoken language or use auto-detect?
Set it when you know it. VideoText's own guidance is that auto-detect is less accurate, particularly for accented English and mixed-language recordings.
Can I transcribe long recordings in one file?
On Pro, yes: up to 4 hours per file. Free handles up to 30 minutes.
Can I fix a transcript I already have?
Yes. Fix Transcript opens TXT, DOCX, SRT or VTT up to 20 MB without re-transcribing.
How do I transcribe a video to text for free?
Create a free account, upload the video to Video to Transcript with the spoken language set, and export. Free covers files up to 30 minutes and 3 transcription jobs a day, with a short watermark on exports.
Next step
Upload your next recording to Video to Transcript with the spoken language set and names added. When you need longer files, speaker labels or clean exports, Pro is $14.99/month or $120/year with no per-minute charges. All guides: Subtitle and transcription tools: the 2027 guide.
Sources: VideoText Video to Transcript, Fix Transcript, Translate Subtitles, audio-to-text and pricing pages, https://videotext.io/video-to-transcript, https://videotext.io/fix-transcript, https://videotext.io/translate-subtitles, https://videotext.io/audio-to-text-converter and https://videotext.io/pricing, https://videotext.io/fix-subtitles, https://videotext.io/guideline-format, https://videotext.io/video-to-subtitles (checked October 25, 2026; rechecked October 28, 2026).