Free podcast transcription can mean an initial allowance, a quota that renews every month, a credit balance, or software you run on your own computer. Those differences matter more than the word "free" on a signup button.
This guide compares seven options and the limits that affect an actual podcast episode. For production editors, content-generation tools, and human services, see our broader podcast transcription tool comparison.
Our recommendation: Start with Podtyper to try podcast-link transcription with downloadable files and AI insights. Your first 30 minutes include PDF, TXT, SRT, and VTT exports plus a summary, takeaways, and quotes. If you need regular transcription afterward, paid plans start at $9.99/month for 800 minutes. The free allowance is an initial trial; options with recurring free quotas are compared below.
How This Comparison Was Compiled
Official product and pricing pages checked October 19, 2026. This is a documented feature and allowance comparison, not a controlled test of transcription accuracy or speed. Sources are linked beside the relevant details. We publish Podtyper and include our own product with that relationship disclosed.
Plans can change. Before starting a long episode, check the remaining allowance, per-episode duration limit, required account, and included export format.
Free Allowances at a Glance
| Tool | Advertised free allowance | Reset or billing unit | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Podtyper — our pick for trying link-to-transcript output | First 30 minutes with exports and AI insights | Initial allowance | Longer episodes may produce partial transcripts; signup required |
| PodcastsToText | 30 minutes per month | Recurring monthly minutes | Episodes up to 30 minutes |
| SpotScribe | Three starting credits | Credits; a monthly free reset is not stated | Podcast episodes up to 60 minutes; check source-specific restrictions |
| PodText | Free retrieval of available Apple transcripts | Existing transcript retrieval | A published transcript must be available |
| Readpodcast AI | 150 credits per month | Recurring monthly credits | Advertised as three episode/video unlocks; other actions may use credits |
| Whisper, run locally | No service minute quota | Your own hardware | Setup, downloaded audio, storage, and compute required |
| Otter Basic | 300 minutes per month | Recurring minutes | Three lifetime file imports; 30 minutes per conversation |
Credits, file imports, and minutes are not interchangeable. A plan with more monthly minutes can still be unsuitable for weekly podcast uploads if its file-import allowance does not renew.
1. Podtyper — Best for Trying Podcast-Link Transcription with Exports and AI Insights
Free allowance: your first 30 minutes after signup, with no credit card required.
Podtyper accepts supported public Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube episode links. You receive timestamped text, an AI summary, key takeaways, and quotes, with PDF, TXT, SRT, and VTT exports.
The allowance does not reset to 30 minutes every month. If an episode exceeds your remaining minutes, the result may be a partial transcript. Free PDF/TXT exports include Podtyper branding. Supported public audio must be accessible.
After that initial allowance, paid plans start at $9.99/month for 800 minutes. You can try the same kinds of output you will use afterward: a readable PDF, editable TXT, timed SRT/VTT captions, and AI insights. For a source-specific walkthrough, use the Spotify transcript generator.
Why we recommend it: you can go from a supported public episode link to downloadable text, captions, and a summary in one workflow, with a clear price for continued use. It is our pick for evaluating that combination before subscribing. If a recurring free allowance is your main requirement, compare the monthly options below.
2. PodcastsToText — Recurring Minutes with an Episode Cap
The PodcastsToText free plan lists 30 minutes per month, episodes up to 30 minutes, speaker recognition, and exports as TXT, Markdown, SRT, VTT, JSON, DOCX, and PDF. Its editor and speaker labels are included in the free plan.
The episode cap is a separate restriction from the monthly total. Do not assume the free plan can process a 90-minute interview simply because you want only its opening section. Paid AI content features and longer episodes are described separately on the pricing page.
Useful when: you transcribe occasional short episodes and want recurring minutes or additional document formats.
3. SpotScribe — Starting Credits with Duration Limits
SpotScribe's pricing page advertises three starting credits, podcast episodes up to 60 minutes, and YouTube videos up to 10 minutes on its free plan.
The page does not state that those three free credits renew monthly. Do not convert them into a minute allowance without checking the credit rules. Also check whether your source and required exports or AI features are included; the plan comparison distinguishes features by tier.
Useful when: you want to try a Spotify-focused transcript workflow using a limited credit balance. Verify the limits for the particular episode before starting.
4. PodText — Retrieving Apple's Existing Transcript
PodText at pod-text.com offers free Apple Podcasts transcript retrieval without an account. It describes fetching the transcript Apple publishes and exporting it as text, Markdown, subtitles, or PDF.
This is a different service from generating a new transcript from audio. It depends on an existing transcript being available for the episode. When it is available, retrieving it can save the need for another speech-to-text pass; when it is missing, you need another route.
Useful when: the episode already has an Apple transcript and your goal is to copy, search, or download it.
5. Readpodcast AI — Monthly Credits for Episodes and AI Work
Readpodcast AI's plans list 150 free credits per month, presented as three podcast episode or YouTube video unlocks with transcripts and insights.
A credit balance is different from a minute quota. Check which actions consume it and what is included with an unlock, especially if you also want generated insights or other AI features. Its paid plans list additional features separately.
Useful when: you want podcast discovery and reading alongside a small recurring credit allowance. Compare what you can actually unlock rather than just the size of the credit number.
6. Whisper — Running Transcription on Your Own Computer
The official Whisper repository provides an open-source speech-recognition model and command-line tooling you can run locally. It does not impose a hosted service's monthly minute quota.
You must obtain the episode audio, install the dependencies, and provide the hardware and storage. Runtime depends on the model and your machine. Running locally does not make electricity, cloud compute, or setup time free. Speaker labeling and a polished podcast workflow may require additional software.
Useful when: you are comfortable with technical setup and want control over local transcription. This guide does not establish that Whisper is more accurate than the hosted tools listed here.
7. Otter Basic — Meeting Minutes with Limited File Imports
Otter Basic lists 300 transcription minutes per month, a 30-minute limit per conversation, and three lifetime audio/video file imports. The file-import limit is not three new uploads every month.
That is a significant restriction if you plan to upload a new podcast regularly. Its meeting integrations, live transcription, and speaker identification may still suit people who already use it for interviews and calls. Check the current plan's export options if you need subtitle files.
Useful when: live meetings are your main use case and podcast file imports are occasional.
Choose by the Limit That Matters to You
- I have a public episode link and want to try exports and AI insights: start with Podtyper, our recommendation for evaluating this workflow. The first 30 minutes are free, with a $9.99/month plan for 800 minutes when you need more.
- I want recurring minutes for short episodes: compare PodcastsToText's monthly quota and episode cap.
- I want to try a Spotify-focused service: check SpotScribe's starting credits and source restrictions.
- Apple already has the transcript: try retrieving it with PodText.
- I want discovery and a few episode unlocks each month: compare Readpodcast's credit rules.
- I want to process files locally: consider Whisper if you can handle setup and compute.
- I primarily transcribe live meetings: check Otter, keeping its lifetime import cap in mind.
A transcript must also be usable for your task. Our podcast transcription overview explains the workflow; the SRT and VTT guide covers timed exports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a completely free way to transcribe podcasts?
Whisper can run on your own machine without a service minute quota, but it requires setup and compute. Hosted services offer different free allowances and restrictions. Retrieving an available Apple transcript through a tool such as PodText is another option.
Does Podtyper give 30 free minutes every month?
No. Podtyper includes your first 30 minutes after signup. Longer episodes may produce partial transcripts based on your remaining minutes. Free PDF/TXT exports include Podtyper branding.
Is Otter's free file-import limit monthly?
No. The Basic plan currently lists three lifetime audio/video file imports. Its 300 monthly transcription minutes and 30-minute conversation limit are separate restrictions.
Which free tool is the most accurate?
This comparison does not establish an accuracy winner. Audio quality, language, speaker overlap, and names affect results. Podtyper's separate small English read-speech benchmark reports its sample and limitations; it does not compare all these services.
Can I get a transcript without coding?
Yes. Browser-based tools can accept supported public episode links, and some retrieve existing transcripts. Check account requirements, episode caps, and whether the format you need is included.
Read our published accuracy benchmark for its evidence and limitations, or start with Podtyper's first 30 minutes free.