Check How Close a Transcript Gets to Word-for-Word
ScreenApp does not have a dedicated verbatim or word-for-word mode. Upload a recording or paste a link and the transcription engine returns a transcript, but it does not reliably keep every “um,” repeated word, or false start. On most audio the output reads close to a clean transcript rather than an exact capture of every sound made.
For work where the precise wording matters, treat that transcript as a strong first pass, not a certified verbatim record. You still need to check it against the audio for the lines where phrasing counts, which is what the playback sync and custom vocabulary tools below are for.
What you get with every recording:
- A transcript with speaker identification and timestamps, in 99 languages
- inline transcript editing, including AI proofreading
- clicking a moment in the transcript jumps the player to that point in the recording, so you can listen to the exact moment behind any line
- custom vocabulary for transcription, so names and terms that keep coming out wrong are recognized correctly next time
- AI chat with any recording, useful for flagging a passage that needs a second listen
- Export as PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT
- Free plan: one recording of up to 45 minutes
How to Check a Transcript for Word-for-Word Accuracy
- Upload or import the recording: Add an audio or video file, or paste a link. ScreenApp transcribes it automatically.
- Play it back against the text: Click any line in the transcript to jump the player to that moment and listen for anything the transcript smoothed over, such as a filler word, a stutter, or a false start.
- Fix what’s missing: inline transcript editing, including AI proofreading, or ask AI chat to fix a line, and add a recurring name or term to custom vocabulary so it transcribes correctly the next time.
Accuracy depends on the audio: a clear recording with one person speaking at a time needs the least checking, and background noise or crosstalk needs more. See how we measure accuracy.
Word-for-Word Transcription: ScreenApp vs Other Apps
| ScreenApp | Rev | Amberscript | GoTranscript | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbatim style | One AI transcript, close to clean-read; check it against the audio yourself | Human transcription is clean by default; a verbatim add-on to capture every word, filler, and nonverbal | Clean Read and Verbatim transcription available, on the human service | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Turnaround | Minutes | 12 hours or less (human) | 5 business days, or 1 business day with a rush order (human) | 5-day, 3-day, 1-day, or 6 to 12-hour |
| Price | Free plan: one recording, up to 45 min; paid plans from $19/month annual | $1.99/min (human) | €1.85 (human) | Rates behind a linked spreadsheet, not shown on the pricing page |
| Speaker labels | speaker identification, click a speaker label to rename it, match it to a team member, or reassign a single segment | Automatic | Not stated | Not stated |
Sources, checked 2026-09-13: screenapp.io/accuracy, screenapp.io/pricing, screenapp.io/help/how-many-minutes-can-i-record, rev.com/pricing, amberscript.com/en/pricing, gotranscript.com/pricing, screenapp.io/help/how-to-edit-speaker-labels
- vs Rev: Rev’s human transcription is clean by default, with a verbatim add-on to capture every word, filler, and nonverbal for $1.99 a minute. ScreenApp has one AI transcript and no separate verbatim add-on, so you check the wording yourself with playback sync.
- vs Amberscript: Amberscript’s human service offers Clean Read and Verbatim transcription available, at €1.85 with a turnaround of 5 business days, or 1 business day with a rush order. ScreenApp’s AI transcript is ready in minutes, without a human review step or a style to pick.
- vs GoTranscript: GoTranscript’s pricing page does not state a verbatim option or a per-minute rate; turnaround runs 5-day, 3-day, 1-day, or 6 to 12-hour depending on the tier. ScreenApp’s transcript is AI-generated and ready in minutes, with custom vocabulary and playback sync to help you check it.
Who Needs a Word-for-Word Check
Legal teams reviewing a deposition or recorded statement need to know exactly what was said, including a hesitation or a correction that could matter later. ScreenApp’s timestamps and playback sync make it fast to jump to the exact moment and confirm the wording before it goes into a filing.
Qualitative researchers coding interview or focus-group data often need to see where a participant paused, restarted, or corrected themselves, since that can be part of the analysis. Because the default transcript does not reliably keep every one of those, researchers should treat it as a draft and confirm the passages that matter against the recording.
Clinicians and compliance reviewers documenting a consultation or an internal investigation sometimes need the patient’s or employee’s own words, not a paraphrase. Custom vocabulary helps with clinical terms and names that a general model would otherwise misrecognize, and playback sync lets a reviewer confirm a specific line before it goes in the record.
Journalists verifying a quote before it runs in a story play the exact moment back rather than re-listening to the whole interview, and use AI chat to flag anything that reads oddly enough to warrant a second listen.
HR investigators checking a call or meeting recording for the precise phrasing an employee used can search the transcript for a term, jump to that point in the audio, and rename speakers so the record is clear about who said what.
FAQ
Does ScreenApp have a true or certified verbatim transcription mode?
No. There is no verbatim toggle and no certified transcript service. The AI transcription engine does not reliably preserve every filler word, repetition, or false start, so the output reads close to clean rather than an exact capture of every sound. If you need a certified verbatim transcript for a court or official filing, use ScreenApp’s transcript as a first draft and have a certified professional produce the certified version.
What does the default transcript keep and what does it drop?
It reliably keeps the words spoken, speaker identification, and timestamps. It does not reliably keep every “um,” “uh,” stutter, or false start, and it may smooth a repeated word into a single instance. Anything where the exact phrasing matters should be checked against the audio.
How do I check a transcript for a missing filler word or false start?
Click the line in the transcript. clicking a moment in the transcript jumps the player to that point in the recording, so you can listen to that exact moment and confirm what was actually said, then note or correct anything the transcript smoothed over.
Can I fix names and terms that keep transcribing wrong?
Yes. custom vocabulary for transcription, which helps on future recordings. It does not retroactively rewrite a transcript that already exists.
Is ScreenApp accurate enough for legal or medical documentation?
Accuracy is AI-generated and depends on audio quality; see per-language WER on /accuracy. ScreenApp’s transcript includes timestamps and speaker labels, which help with review, but it is not a certified transcript. Many legal and clinical uses still require a human to verify the exact wording before the document is relied on.
What is the difference between word-for-word and a clean transcript?
Word-for-word (or verbatim) transcription is meant to capture every sound the speaker makes, including filler words, false starts, and repetitions. A clean transcript removes those and reads like normal prose. ScreenApp’s default output already leans toward clean, so if what you actually want is a readable transcript, see non-verbatim transcription.
How many languages does ScreenApp transcribe?
99 languages. See the full list and per-language accuracy.
Is there a free way to try this?
Yes. The free plan includes one recording of up to 45 minutes. Paid plans start at $19 a month billed annually.
Is my recording private?
Recordings you upload are encrypted in transit and stored with AES-256, on SOC 2 Type 2 infrastructure, and are not used to train AI models. Security controls are published on the trust center.
