Compare 14 transcription apps and tools for meeting minutes including VoicePing, AIGIJIROKU, and Notta. Free and paid options for Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone.
When taking meeting minutes, using a transcription app allows you to save all spoken content as data without missing anything.
However, you might be wondering, “Can transcription apps really improve our business operations?”
Indeed, some transcription apps that don’t properly utilize the latest AI technology have low accuracy. This article explains the overview of transcription apps and the features they need, then introduces recommended transcription apps.
What is a Transcription App?
A transcription app is a tool that uses AI voice recognition technology to automatically convert spoken words into text.
In business, transcription apps are widely used for meetings, consultations, interviews, seminars, and more. Many companies particularly want to keep meeting content as notes.
However, not all transcription apps meet business-level standards. Some apps have low transcription accuracy. Functionality and usability vary depending on the app you use.
Benefits of Recording Meeting Content with Transcription Apps
Meeting minutes are typically created using human resources—staff listening to audio data and compiling it, or outsourcing transcription work. Here are 4 benefits of using transcription apps compared to having people directly take meeting minutes.
1. Reduced Staff Burden
Using a transcription app dramatically reduces the effort needed to create meeting minutes. Since the app converts voice information to text in real-time, staff only need to check and correct typos after the meeting ends. The time required for staff to create minutes while listening to audio varies, but it’s not unusual for one meeting’s minutes to take several hours.
2. Reduced Meeting Minutes Tracing Costs
When reviewing meeting content later, if it’s been converted to text by a transcription app, you can easily search for the information you need. Without text conversion, you have to listen to the audio to find the necessary sections. Using a transcription app significantly reduces the time and cost of searching for information.
3. Real-time Capability
Transcription apps allow you to create meeting minutes in real-time. Without a transcription app, there’s a time lag before minutes are completed. The benefit of real-time text conversion is that members who join a meeting midway can immediately understand the meeting content. This eliminates the need to explain content to late joiners, also helping shorten meeting times.
4. Recording Nuances
Transcription apps basically record everything word for word. As a result, nuances and feelings from the meeting are conveyed better. Conversely, when company staff or external staff do transcription, unnecessary parts or hesitations are often cut. Being able to convey nuances is very important for accurately communicating meeting content.
Key Selection Points When Considering Transcription Apps
There are key selection points companies should keep in mind when implementing transcription apps. Here are 7 essential points needed to improve productivity and prevent problems.
1. Is Transcription Accuracy High?
High transcription accuracy is essential for using apps for meeting minutes. Low-accuracy transcription apps cause problems like:
- Missing important statements
- Requiring extensive manual corrections
- Misrepresenting what was actually said
High-accuracy transcription apps achieve high precision by applying AI technology. As of 2022, no transcription tool offers 100% accuracy, but some tools claim 99.8% accuracy.
2. Can It Be Used with Web Conferencing?
In recent years, telework adoption has increased, and web conferencing opportunities have grown. To transcribe web conference content, one of the following conditions is important:
- Built-in web conferencing features
- Integration with existing video conferencing tools
- Ability to capture system audio
3. Ease of Use and Implementation
When choosing an app with ease of use and implementation in mind, consider:
- Intuitive user interface
- Quick setup process
- Minimal training required
- Consider ease of use for all team members
4. Security
When using transcription tools, you must also consider information handling. If you implement a transcription tool with low security, meeting data could leak externally or be tampered with via the internet.
Meetings sometimes discuss confidential information, trade secrets, and personal information, so leaks could become serious incidents.
5. Multi-language Support and Translation Features
If a transcription app tool supports multiple languages and translation features, you can smoothly handle transcription in foreign languages.
- Support: Can transcribe directly in supported languages
- Translation: Can translate foreign languages to your language
6. Speaker Identification
In meeting minutes with multiple members, recording who made each statement is important. Minutes without speaker identification confuse readers. Speaker identification can be done by online identification by ID, or AI voice recognition.
7. Supported Devices
Transcription apps include PC software for Windows/Mac, cloud software that runs in browsers, and smartphone apps for Android/iPhone. Confirm that the transcription app or software supports the devices you’re using.
Top 3 Recommended Transcription Software
1. VoicePing
VoicePing is a virtual office tool with high-accuracy transcription features. A virtual office tool places employee avatars in a virtual office to enhance online productivity.
It includes web conferencing, chat, document sharing, and other features needed for telework. Also, because it supports Vietnamese translation, it’s particularly beneficial for companies doing Vietnam offshore development.
Key Features:
- High-accuracy AI transcription
- Web conferencing integration
- Multi-language support (including Vietnamese)
- Implementation support available
Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans from $35/month
Website: voiceping.net
2. AIGIJIROKU
AIGIJIROKU is an “automatic meeting minutes tool.” It’s equipped with AI and achieves high-accuracy text conversion through industry-specific customization for finance, IT, law, etc., and by reflecting individual members’ speaking habits.
Key Features:
- Industry-specific customization
- Learning individual speaking patterns
- Text format download
- Email and SNS sharing
Website: gijiroku.ai
3. Notta
Notta is a transcription tool provided by MIND CRUISER LIMITED. Notta supports many languages and offers both free and paid plans.
Key Features:
- Multiple language support
- Free plan with real-time transcription
- Minutes creation on paid plan
Pricing: Free plan available; paid plan at $8.25/month
Website: notta.ai
Free Transcription Software for Windows/Mac
1. Sloos
Sloos is an automatic transcription software developed by QuantumCore Inc. As of February 2022, Sloos is being offered free for awareness-building purposes.
Cautions:
- Requires disabling firewalls to use
- Doesn’t support foreign language recognition or translation
- Japanese only
Website: sloos.qcore.co.jp
2. User Local Voice Minutes System
User Local Voice Minutes System is an automatic transcription system provided by User Local, Inc. It’s web browser-based software that currently only supports Chrome.
Features:
- Free to use
- Text emotion analysis (positive/negative)
- Browser-based
Website: voice-dashboard.userlocal.jp
3. Google Docs
Google’s Google Docs also has transcription features.
Features:
- Free with Google account
- Supports English, Chinese, and other languages
- Easy to access
Limitations: Manual correction required due to voice recognition accuracy and feature limitations (no punctuation, no line breaks, no speaker recognition)
Free Voice Transcription Apps for Android
1. Speechnotes
Speechnotes is an Android voice transcription app that lets you input voice just by clicking the microphone and speaking.
2. Edivoice
Edivoice is an Android voice transcription app that makes it easy to create high-accuracy reports and meeting minutes. All features are free, but ads are displayed.
3. Voice Transcription & Sound Detection
Voice Transcription & Sound Detection is an Android voice transcription app that supports people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Google Play: Voice Transcription & Sound Detection
Free Voice Transcription Apps for iPhone
1. Texter
Texter is a voice transcription app for iPhone/iPad. It can transcribe not only voice but also video and images.
Free plan includes:
- Short transcription sessions
- Basic features
Paid plans: Premium, Premium Plus, and Business options available
2. Group Transcribe
Group Transcribe is a voice transcription app for iPhone/iPad provided by Microsoft. All features are completely free with no paid plans.
3. Speechy Lite
Speechy Lite is a real-time voice transcription app for iPhone/Android. The free version allows up to 10 recordings, but upgrading to the Pro version removes limits.
Pricing: Free version available; Pro version at $8/month
Transcription Apps with Recorder Devices
Portable dedicated recorder devices can be used to improve efficiency of in-person meeting minutes and memo creation.
1. Logmeets
Logmeets is a transcription app provided by Jiku Technologies Inc. The dedicated device is palm-sized and suitable for carrying.
Features:
- Portable recorder device
- Cloud synchronization
- Meeting minutes creation
Pricing: From ¥10,000/month (~$70/month)
Website: ziku-tech.com
2. Minutes Mayker
Minutes Mayker is a transcription app provided by Project May, Inc.
Pricing: ¥60,000/month (~$400/month) with no initial fee, for 60 hours and up to 30 accounts
Website: mmayker.projectmay.co.jp
Conclusion
Creating meeting minutes is originally a time-consuming and labor-intensive task. Outsourcing is possible, but that requires cost and time.
Using a transcription app enables real-time text conversion of meeting voice information. Using high-accuracy tools with AI technology dramatically improves meeting minutes work efficiency.
If you’re considering implementing a transcription app for meeting minutes, it’s important to think comprehensively about telework working styles and productivity. To achieve productivity improvement and business efficiency, implement a transcription app that matches your objectives.
Try VoicePing Free and experience high-accuracy transcription with built-in translation features.
