Amazon Transcribe review

Amazon Transcribe is the default speech-to-text option inside AWS. It runs on what Amazon calls a multi-billion parameter speech foundation model for both streaming and recorded speech, and it offers features across 100+ languages, including automatic punctuation. You can train custom language models, add custom vocabulary, redact sensitive content automatically and flag toxic speech. The medical side is HIPAA-eligible and connects to AWS HealthScribe for clinical documentation. Billing is per second of audio with no minimum, and the free tier covers 60 audio minutes a month for the first 12 months, though not redaction or custom language models. Rates differ by AWS region and the page loaded them with a script, so we could not confirm a USD rate and marked pricing as pending. Setup requires an AWS account, IAM permissions and a region choice, which adds steps compared with a single-key API, but it keeps audio and transcripts under your existing AWS controls.

Who it is for

Teams already on AWS that need streaming and batch transcription inside their AWS account.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Streaming and batch transcription on a multi-billion parameter speech foundation model
• Features across 100+ languages, including automatic punctuation
• Custom language models and custom vocabulary
• Automatic content redaction and toxicity detection
• AWS HealthScribe and a HIPAA-eligible medical service

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free tier of 60 audio minutes a month for the first 12 months
• Strength: Billed in one-second increments with no minimum
• Strength: Runs inside existing AWS accounts, IAM and billing
• Weakness: Rates are set by region and were not shown in the fetched page
• Weakness: Free tier ends after 12 months and excludes redaction and custom models
• Weakness: No published streaming latency figure

Key facts

• Free tier: 60 minutes a month for 12 months
• Billing: One-second increments, no minimum
• Languages: 100+

Where it ranks

Amazon Transcribe is No. 10 in our Best Speech-to-Text APIs verdict.