AIFree · No sign-up · AI runs on your device

Speech to text.

Transcribe a recording, voice note, meeting or video into text, or record straight from your microphone. The transcribing happens in your browser, so your audio stays with you.

Audio never leaves your device Over 20 languages Text or subtitles (.srt) No account needed
or record
AI: an on-device speech model (about 40–150 MB, downloaded once and kept by your browser). Your audio is never uploaded.
Your recording is never uploaded to us. It’s transcribed right here in this browser tab. The first time, your browser downloads the speech model itself — your audio is never part of that download.
At a glance

Speech to text: quick facts

Transcribe audio or video into text or subtitles with AI on your device.

Updated

Price
Free. No sign-up, no watermark.
Input
MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG, WebM, FLAC, and the sound from MP4 or MOV videos.
Output
Text, timestamps or .srt subtitles; optional English translation.
AI model
About 40 MB (Fast) or 80 to 150 MB (More accurate), downloaded once.
Speed
A one-hour recording often takes a few minutes on a modern computer.
Privacy
Your recording is transcribed in your browser and never uploaded.
How it works

How to transcribe a recording to text

Add an audio or video file, or record from your microphone, choose Fast or More accurate, and transcribe. Copy the text, download it as .txt, or save subtitles as an .srt file.

  1. 01

    Add a recording

    Upload audio or video, or record from your microphone.

  2. 02

    Transcribe

    Choose the language (or let it detect it) and press Transcribe.

  3. 03

    Download

    Save the transcript as text, or as .srt subtitles for a video.

Tips

Tips for a more accurate transcript

The recording itself decides most of the accuracy, so a little care before you press record pays off.

  • Record clear audioTranscription is most accurate when one person speaks at a time, close to the microphone, without music or traffic behind them. A little care while recording saves a lot of correcting afterwards.
  • Use More accurate for anything importantFast is fine for a quick voice note. For interviews, lectures or anything you’ll quote, choose More accurate: it downloads a larger model once and takes longer, but makes fewer mistakes with names and technical words.
  • Set the language if it guesses wrongIf the language is detected wrongly, choose it under Spoken language. To get English from speech in another language, set Output to English translation instead.
  • Add subtitles to your videosDownload subtitles (.srt) saves timed captions you can add to a video on YouTube, in most video editors, and in players such as VLC.

Like every Altto tool, this runs on your device — nothing you add is uploaded. How Altto works

1 hour

of recording often takes just a few minutes to transcribe on a modern computer with a recent browser. Older or less powerful devices take longer.

Before you start

Will it run on my device?

Because the AI runs on your own device instead of on a server, your computer does the work — that’s what keeps your files private. Most computers from the last few years are fine, but a more powerful one is noticeably faster.

Your device:Checking…

Minimum

  • ComputerAny laptop or desktop from about the last 6 years
  • Memory (RAM)4 GB
  • BrowserThe latest Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari
  • QualityUse “Fast” (about 40 MB download)

Without graphics acceleration, a recording can take as long to transcribe as it does to play.

Recommended Fastest

  • ComputerA recent laptop or desktop (e.g. Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5 or better)
  • Memory (RAM)8 GB or more
  • BrowserChrome or Edge, which can use your graphics chip (WebGPU)
  • Quality“More accurate” (about 80–150 MB download)

Phones can transcribe short voice notes; for long recordings use a computer.

Tested on a mid-range PC with AMD Ryzen built-in graphics (no separate graphics card), in Chrome: An 11-second clip transcribed in about 3 seconds once the model was downloaded (roughly 20 minutes for an hour-long recording on the same PC).

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Will it work on my computer or phone?
Most computers from the last few years run it fine. Because the AI runs on your own device, a more powerful computer is faster. See minimum and recommended specs, including a quick check of your device.
Is my recording uploaded?
No. The audio is decoded and transcribed inside this browser tab. It is never sent to Altto or to a transcription company.
What gets downloaded?
Only the speech model: about 40 MB for Fast, or around 80–150 MB for More accurate, depending on your device. Your browser keeps it, so next time it starts straight away.
How long does it take?
It depends on your device. On a modern computer with a recent browser a one-hour recording often takes a few minutes; on older phones it’s slower. Fast is quicker; More accurate makes fewer mistakes.
Which files work?
Anything your browser can play: MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG, WebM, FLAC and the sound from MP4 or MOV videos. Some phone formats such as AMR can’t be opened by browsers — convert them to MP3 first.
Can it translate?
Yes — choose “English translation” under Output and it will write an English transcript of speech in another language.
Does it tell who is speaking?
No, it doesn’t label speakers. It starts a new paragraph when there’s a pause, and the timestamps view shows when each line was said.
Can I transcribe a call or a video from the web?
Yes, as long as it’s saved on your device as an audio or video file: export or download it first, then add it here. If you’re recording a call yourself, let the other people on it know first.
How do I fix mistakes in the transcript?
Download the .txt, or copy the text into a document, and correct it there. Names, jargon and people talking over each other are the usual trouble spots. To fix subtitles, open the .srt file in a text editor and change the wording, leaving the numbered time lines as they are.