Transcribe Audio and Video in Many Languages
Upload an audio or video file, or paste a link, and ScreenApp turns the spoken words into a text transcript in whichever of its 99 supported languages your recording is in. the language is detected automatically per file, and a recording that switches languages partway through is still transcribed.
You get a transcript you can search, edit in the browser, and export, instead of replaying the recording to find a quote.
What you get:
- A transcript in any of 99 languages
- the language is detected automatically per file, including a recording that switches languages partway through
- Speaker labels and timestamps for the languages marked on the language list; other languages transcribe as text only
- Export as PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT
- Translate the transcript or captions: transcript and caption translation
- Ask AI questions about the recording and get answers that point to the moment it happened
- Free plan: one recording of up to 45 minutes, with AI chat on it
How to Transcribe a Multilingual Recording
- Upload or paste a link: Drag in your video or audio file (MP4, WebM, MOV, AVI, MKV, WMV, and FLV, or MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, OGG and FLAC) or paste a link from YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and most other public video links (Twitch, Loom, Dropbox, Google Drive, Pinterest, X, Threads, Douyin, Kuaishou, Bilibili) through a generic importer.
- Let it transcribe: The audio is converted to text, and every sentence gets a timestamp.
- Search, edit, export, translate: Read the transcript in the browser, edit it, export it, or translate it into another language.
Accuracy depends on the audio and the language spoken. Clean, single-speaker audio with no background noise transcribes best; a distant microphone or overlapping speakers will have more gaps. See how we measure accuracy by language.
Multilingual Transcription vs Other Apps
| Feature | ScreenApp | HappyScribe | Otter.ai | transcri.io |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Languages transcribed | 99 | 60+ | 6 | 100+ |
| Free trial | one recording, up to 45 min | 10 min | 300 min/month | 8 min per file |
| Export formats (entry tier) | PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT | TXT, SRT | Not stated | Not stated |
| Translation | transcript and caption translation | 80+ languages | Not stated | Not stated |
| Entry paid plan | $19/month annual | $8.50/month annual | $8.33/month annual | €4/month |
Sources, checked 2026-09-13: screenapp.io/accuracy#languages, github.com/screenappai/screenapp-new/blob/main/apps/web/src/app/api/files/[id]/transcript/export/route.ts, github.com/screenappai/screenapp-new/blob/main/apps/web/src/features/microtools/ScreenTranslator.tsx, screenapp.io/pricing, screenapp.io/help/how-many-minutes-can-i-record, happyscribe.com/pricing, otter.ai/pricing, transcri.io/en/multilingual-transcription
- vs HappyScribe: HappyScribe transcribes 60+ languages and translates into 80+, with a 10-minute free trial. ScreenApp covers 99 languages for transcription and translation, with one full recording free rather than a short trial.
- vs Otter.ai: Otter’s language support is limited to 6 languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and Chinese). ScreenApp transcribes 99.
- vs transcri.io: transcri.io lists 100+ languages but caps its free tier at 8 minutes per file. ScreenApp’s free plan covers a full recording of up to 45 minutes.
Who Needs Multilingual Transcription
International businesses transcribe customer calls, interviews, and meetings recorded in the language the participants actually spoke, without translating the audio first.
Academics and researchers transcribe interviews and field recordings collected across different countries and languages, then keep every transcript in one library.
Media producers and subtitlers transcribe footage in whichever language it was shot in, then use the transcript as the base for subtitles and captions.
Language learners and teachers transcribe lessons and native-speaker recordings, then read the transcript alongside the audio to check vocabulary.
Global teams send recordings from offices in different countries and get transcripts back in the language each recording was made in, then translate the ones they need to share more widely.
Podcasters and video creators transcribe episodes recorded in a non-English language to write show notes and captions for viewers who watch without sound.
FAQ
What languages does the multilingual transcription tool support?
ScreenApp transcribes 99 languages. Speaker labels are available for the languages marked on that list; other languages transcribe as text only.
Does the tool automatically detect the language I’m speaking?
Yes. the language is detected automatically per file, so you do not need to set a language before uploading. See the language list for what is currently supported per language.
Can it transcribe a recording where speakers switch between two languages?
Yes. A recording that switches languages partway through is still transcribed, since the language is detected automatically per file rather than set once in advance.
Can the transcript be translated?
Yes. See the translator for how transcript and caption translation works, working from any of 99 languages.
How accurate is transcription in languages other than English?
Accuracy is measured by language on the accuracy page, which lists every supported language and which ones also get speaker labels. Accuracy drops with background noise, overlapping speakers, or a distant microphone.
Is there a free way to try multilingual transcription?
Yes. The free plan includes one recording of up to 45 minutes, with the transcript and AI chat on it. See the pricing page for current plans.
What formats can I upload?
Common video and audio formats are supported; see the supported file types help article for the full list. You can also paste a link instead of downloading the file first.
Is it safe to upload recordings for transcription?
Yes. Uploads are encrypted in transit and at rest, and recordings are not used to train AI models. Security controls are published on the trust center.
