Turn a Zalo Voice Message into a Transcript
Zalo has no way to connect to your conversations and pull a voice message automatically: there is no Zalo integration. To get a transcript, you first need the audio as a file, either saved from the chat or recorded while it plays.
Reading the text back is faster than replaying a voice message to catch one detail, and it gives you a written record of what was said.
What you get:
- speaker identification, useful for group chats and messages with more than one speaker
- Timestamps on every segment, for pointing to a specific moment
- Export as PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT
- transcript and caption translation, so a voice message in another language reads in yours
- AI chat with the transcript, so you can ask a question about it instead of replaying the whole message
- Free plan: one recording of up to 45 minutes
How to Transcribe a Zalo Voice Message
- Get the audio off Zalo: Open the conversation, long-press the voice message, and use Zalo’s forward or save option to get the file onto your device. If there is no save option for that message, play it on speaker and record it instead, using the ScreenApp mobile app or your browser’s microphone recorder.
- Upload the file: ScreenApp accepts MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, OGG and FLAC for uploads, so most saved Zalo voice messages work without converting anything first.
- Read the transcript: The transcript, with speaker labels and timestamps, is ready a few minutes later. Export it as PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT, or ask the AI a question about the content.
Accuracy depends on the recording, not just the transcription engine, and it also depends on the language. Vietnamese is one of the languages where accuracy is currently lower than average. A voice message saved directly from Zalo transcribes more cleanly than one re-recorded off a speaker in a noisy room. See how we measure accuracy.
Zalo Audio Transcription vs Other Tools
| Feature | ScreenApp | Otter.ai | Notta.ai | Rev |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | one recording, up to 45 min | 300 min/month | 120 min/month | 45 min/month |
| File upload transcription | Yes | 3 lifetime imports (free) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Speaker identification | Yes | Yes (Basic plan) | Included | Not stated |
| Export formats | PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT | mp3, txt, pdf, docx, srt (Pro, Business and Enterprise plans, with bulk export) | TXT, DOCX, PDF, or XLSX | Not stated |
| Paid plan | $19/month annual | $8.33/month annual | $8.17/month annual | $25.49/month annual |
Sources, checked 2026-09-13: github.com/screenappai/screenapp-new/blob/main/apps/web/src/app/api/files/[id]/transcript/export/route.ts, screenapp.io/pricing, screenapp.io/help/how-many-minutes-can-i-record, otter.ai/pricing, notta.ai/en/pricing, rev.com/pricing, notta.ai/en/lecture-summarizer
- vs Otter.ai: Otter’s free plan caps uploads at 3 lifetime file imports, after which Pro costs $8.33 a month billed annually. ScreenApp does not cap the number of uploads on the free plan, only the length of the one free recording.
- vs Notta.ai: Notta’s free plan runs 120 minutes a month with Included speaker identification, and Pro is $8.17 a month annually. ScreenApp adds AI chat and translation on the transcript at no extra cost.
- vs Rev: Rev’s free AI transcription covers 45 minutes a month, and its Essentials plan is $25.49 a month annually. ScreenApp’s free plan includes speaker labels and export on the one free recording.
Who Uses Zalo Audio Transcription
Business teams in Vietnam who rely on Zalo for work chats turn voice messages into text for records that are easier to search, forward, and reference than replaying audio.
People saving a conversation turn a voice message into text so they have a written copy that does not depend on the Zalo app or account staying around.
Multilingual communicators transcribe a voice message in one language and translate it, so participants who speak different languages can read the same conversation.
Community moderators investigating a reported message get a written record they can quote from directly, rather than describing what they heard.
Families and friends abroad turn a long voice message from home into text they can read anywhere, without needing to be somewhere quiet enough to listen.
Anyone sent a long voice message who would rather read it in a few seconds than listen to the whole thing.
FAQ
Can ScreenApp automatically transcribe my Zalo voice messages?
No. Zalo conversations are private, so there is no way to connect to them and pull a message automatically. You need to save the voice message as a file first and upload it, or play it on speaker and record it if Zalo gives you no save option for that message.
How do I save a Zalo voice message to transcribe it?
Open the conversation, long-press the voice message, and select the forward or save option. On Android, the file usually saves to your Downloads folder. On iOS, use the share menu to save it to your Files app or send it directly to ScreenApp.
What if I can’t save the voice message directly?
Play it on speaker and record it instead. The ScreenApp mobile app can record your phone’s speaker while the message plays, or you can use your browser’s microphone recorder if you are near a computer.
Is transcribing a Zalo voice message free?
Yes. You can upload a Zalo voice message and get a transcript without paying anything or creating an account. The free plan covers one recording of up to 45 minutes.
How accurate is the transcription, especially for Vietnamese?
Accuracy depends on the recording and the language. Vietnamese currently sits among the lower-accuracy languages on ScreenApp, so speaker labels and timestamps still help even where individual words are missed. A voice message saved directly from Zalo transcribes more cleanly than one re-recorded off a speaker, especially in a noisy room. Full per-language figures are on the accuracy page.
Can ScreenApp identify different speakers in a Zalo group chat?
Yes. If the recording includes multiple speakers, speaker identification detects and labels each person in the transcript.
What audio formats does ScreenApp accept for Zalo messages?
ScreenApp accepts MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, OGG and FLAC. Zalo voice messages typically save in a common audio format that uploads without any conversion.
Can I translate a Zalo voice message after transcription?
Yes. Once the transcript is generated, transcript and caption translation lets you read it in any of the 99 supported languages.
