Transcribe lectures into searchable notes
Transcribe lecture recordings to text free. Searchable notes from class audio or video, with no signup and no upload. Runs in your browser.
Drop your video or audio file here
or click to browse. It’s free, no signup.
MP4 · MOV · WebM · MKV · AVI · MP3 · WAV · M4A and more
🔒 100% private: transcription runs in your browser. Your file is never uploaded.
A transcript turns a 90-minute lecture into something you can search, skim, and quote. Drop in the recording from your phone, laptop, or course platform and FreeTranscribe writes it out for free, with no account and no upload.
Use it to revise before exams, catch what you missed, build study notes, or add captions to lecture videos for accessibility.
Recording and downloading lectures
- Recording it yourself: a phone recorder app near the front of the room captures far clearer audio than a laptop at the back. Ask the lecturer first, because many courses have rules about recording.
- Course platforms: if your school’s video platform lets you download lecture videos, the MP4 works directly. If downloads are disabled, respect that.
- Long lectures are fine. Processing runs at roughly twice the speed of the audio on a modern laptop, and text appears as it goes.
Turning the transcript into study notes
- Use the plain-text output to search for keywords and paste sections into your notes.
- Use the Timestamps tab to jump back to the exact moment in the recording.
- Want a summary? Paste the transcript into your notes app or AI assistant. FreeTranscribe itself only transcribes.
How it works
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Drop your file
Nothing is uploaded. The file stays on your device the whole time.
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AI transcribes locally
OpenAI’s Whisper model runs in your browser, so no server ever sees your file.
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Copy or download
Plain text, or timestamped SRT and VTT subtitles ready to use anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Can it handle technical terms and names?
Whisper knows a lot of vocabulary, but unusual names, formulas, and jargon may come out misspelled. Skim the transcript and fix key terms; the text box is editable.
Will it work on a noisy classroom recording?
It copes with some background noise, but distance from the speaker matters most. Use the “Accurate” setting and record as close to the lecturer as you can.
Is it free for students?
It’s free for everyone, with no student account, trial, or minute limit.