Audio to Text Online Free
Transcribe MP3, WAV, and M4A files with AI. No upload, no watermark, no sign-up.
Convert any audio file into text instantly. Generate transcripts, download SRT files, or create subtitles for your podcasts and voice memos. Your audio is never uploaded to a server. No sign-up, no watermark.
- No upload
- No watermark
- AI Whisper Model
- SRT / VTT export
- TXT export
How do I transcribe audio to text for free?
Drop your audio file (MP3, WAV, M4A) into the editor above. The AI Captions tab opens automatically. Click "Generate Captions", and the AI will transcribe the speech into text locally on your device. Once finished, you can export the text as a plain TXT file or as timed subtitles (SRT/VTT).
- Price
- Free, no credits and no watermark
- Account required
- No
- Audio uploaded to a server
- No, transcribed locally in your browser
- Input formats
- MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, OGG, FLAC, and video audio tracks
- Output formats
- Plain text (TXT), SRT subtitles, VTT subtitles
- AI Model
- Whisper AI (WebAssembly, runs on your CPU)
- Max file size
- 1 GB per imported file
- Privacy
- 100% private. Files never leave your device.
What is the ToolDeck audio transcription tool?
ToolDeck Audio to Text is a free, browser-based tool that uses the OpenAI Whisper AI model to convert speech into written text. Unlike cloud-based transcription services that charge by the minute and upload your files to their servers, ToolDeck runs the AI directly on your device using WebAssembly. This means your confidential meetings, podcasts, and voice memos stay 100% private.
It automatically generates accurate timestamps, making it perfect for creating SRT subtitles for video players or YouTube. Because it runs on the full editor, you can also pair your audio with an image to turn it into a video before exporting.
Transcription terms you should know
- Audio Transcription
- The process of converting spoken words in an audio file into a written text document using AI or manual typing.
- SRT file
- A SubRip Subtitle file. It contains the text of the audio along with precise timestamps (e.g., 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:24,500). Perfect for video captions.
- VTT file
- Web Video Text Tracks. Similar to SRT, but designed specifically for HTML5 web browsers and often used for online video players.
- Diarization
- The process of separating different speakers in an audio file (e.g., Speaker 1 vs Speaker 2). ToolDeck currently provides the text without auto-diarization.
How to transcribe audio in 4 steps
- 1
Import your audio
Drop an MP3, WAV, M4A, or OGG file into the editor. It loads entirely in your browser and is never uploaded to a server.
- 2
Generate AI text
Open the AI Captions tab (it opens automatically). Click "Generate Captions" and watch the AI transcribe your audio in real-time.
- 3
Review and edit
The transcription appears as text blocks on the timeline. Read through the text to fix any typos or missed punctuation.
- 4
Export your text
Go to Export and download the transcription as a plain TXT file for reading, or as an SRT/VTT file for subtitles.
What you get with this audio transcriber
100% Local AI
Powered by OpenAI Whisper running via WebAssembly. Your audio files, interviews, and meetings stay strictly on your machine.
Export SRT / VTT
Get perfectly timed captions. Upload the generated SRT files directly to YouTube, Premiere Pro, or other editors.
Multiple Formats
Transcribe MP3s, voice memos (M4A), high-quality WAVs, or even extract the audio directly from a video file.
Timestamps included
The AI automatically detects exactly when a sentence begins and ends, creating the perfect timestamps for subtitles.
Fast on Modern PCs
Uses multi-threading (Web Workers) to process audio faster. Chrome and Edge on desktop give the best performance.
No Sign-up
Just open the page, drop your file, and get your text. No email walls, no watermarks, no daily limits.
Who uses an audio-to-text tool?
Podcast Transcription
Turn long podcast episodes into readable blog posts, SEO articles, and show notes.
Meeting Notes
Record a voice memo during a meeting and instantly get a text summary of what was discussed.
Interview Transcription
Transcribe interviews for journalists, researchers, or HR professionals without paying expensive services.
Voice Memos
Convert quick voice memos or brainstorming sessions into text documents for easier searching.
Class & Lecture Notes
Record a lecture and turn it into study material. Export as TXT and copy-paste into Notion or Word.
Subtitles for Audio
If you are making an audio-only video (like a lyric video), you can generate SRT files for the lyrics.
What this transcriber does well, and where it is limited
| Audio type | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clear speech, single speaker | Works perfectly | For a podcast or voice memo, the accuracy is extremely high. |
| Technical jargon & accents | Manual fixes needed | AI may misspell scientific terms or struggle with heavy accents. Edit the text on the timeline. |
| Heavy background noise | Poor accuracy | The AI might ignore speech if there is loud music or traffic noise. Clean your audio first. |
| Multiple people talking at once | Overlapping text | It will try to transcribe both, but the output will be jumbled. Use separate tracks for better results. |
| Extremely long files (1+ hours) | Memory limits | Browsers can crash with huge audio files. Split the file into 15-minute chunks first. |
Tips for perfect transcriptions
Trim before transcribing
If your audio has 5 minutes of silence at the start, cut it out using the Trimmer before running the AI to save time.
Use high-quality audio
A 128kbps MP3 is fine, but a clear WAV file will always give you the best transcription accuracy.
Check the spelling
AI is not a dictionary. Always read through the generated text to fix names, brands, and homophones (there, their, they're).
Export SRT for video players
If you want to use the text as subtitles on a video player, export the SRT file, not the TXT file.
ToolDeck vs Cloud audio transcribers
Cloud transcribers charge you money and upload your audio to their servers. ToolDeck is free, unlimited, and runs completely in your browser.
| Feature | ToolDeck | Typical cloud transcribers |
|---|---|---|
| Your audio is uploaded to a server | Never | Usually yes |
| Cost | Free | Paid subscription or per-minute |
| Sign-up required | Not required | Yes |
| Time limits | None from ToolDeck | Often limits (e.g., 30 mins max) |
| Export SRT/VTT | Yes | Varies by plan |
| Requires internet during AI | No, once page is loaded | Yes |
| Speaker labels (Diarization) | No | Some tools |
Audio to text FAQ
Transcription Basics
How do I convert audio to text online for free?
Drop your audio file into the editor above, click "Generate Captions" in the AI tab, and wait a few moments. The AI will transcribe the audio and display the text. You can then export it as a TXT, SRT, or VTT file.
Is this audio-to-text tool really free?
Yes. ToolDeck does not charge for transcriptions, requires no account, and adds no watermark. The only limit is your browser’s memory (files up to 1 GB are supported).
Can I export timestamps (SRT file)?
Yes. The AI automatically detects when words are spoken. When you click Export, you can download the SRT or VTT files, which contain the exact timestamps for every sentence.
What is the difference between TXT and SRT?
A TXT file contains just the text (like a Word document). An SRT file contains the text PLUS timecodes, so it can be used as subtitles on a video.
Formats and Limits
What audio formats can I transcribe?
You can import MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, OGG, and FLAC files. You can also import an MP4 video file if you want to extract the audio from it.
Can I transcribe a 2-hour podcast?
The AI runs in your browser, so a 2-hour file requires a lot of RAM. We recommend using a desktop PC with at least 8GB of RAM. If the browser crashes, split the audio into 20-minute chunks.
Does it support other languages?
Currently, the built-in model is highly optimized for English. It can recognize Spanish, French, and German, but with lower accuracy.
Does it separate speakers?
No. The AI does not automatically label "Speaker 1" and "Speaker 2". It transcribes the text continuously.
Privacy and AI
Is my audio uploaded to a server?
No. This is the biggest advantage of ToolDeck. The AI model (Whisper) downloads to your browser and runs locally. Your audio file is never sent to the cloud, making it safe for confidential meetings.
Can I use this offline?
Yes, once the page and the AI model have fully loaded, you can disconnect from the internet. The transcription will continue to work because it runs locally.
Is the AI 100% accurate?
No AI is 100% accurate. For clear English speech, it is usually 90-95% accurate. You should always review the text and fix typos before publishing.
Your audio never leaves your device
There is no upload step and no account. AI transcription happens in your browser using WebAssembly. You can check this yourself: open your browser developer tools, go to the Network tab, and watch for file uploads while you generate text. You won't see any.
More free audio tools
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Video Cropper
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Video Trimmer
Cut the start and end of a clip.