Transcription pricing: free, one file or Unlimited

Transcription pricing without minute counting. Read the first 5 minutes of every file for free, open one whole file for $4.99, or take Unlimited for $9.99 a month and cancel in one click.

Free

For trying Kotosay on your own recordings.

$0No card needed
Files3 a day
Transcribed per fileFirst 5 minutes
Transcription modelStandard
Edit and copyIncluded
TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTTNot included
TranslationNot included
PaymentNone
CancellingNothing to cancel

Single file

For one long recording, without a plan.

Coming soon
$4.99once, for one file
Files1 file
Transcribed per fileUp to 10 hours
Transcription modelMost accurate
Edit and copyIncluded
TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTTIncluded
TranslationIncluded
PaymentOnce
CancellingNothing renews

Single file is not available yet. Leave your email and we send you one message when it is.

Unlimited

For people who record every week.

Coming soon
$9.99a month$119 a year, pay once a year
FilesNo limit
Transcribed per fileUp to 10 hours
Transcription modelMost accurate
Edit and copyIncluded
TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTTIncluded
TranslationIncluded
PaymentMonthly or yearly
CancellingCancel in one click

Unlimited is not available yet. Leave your email and we send you one message when it is.

Compare Free, Single file and Unlimited

FeatureFreeSingle fileUnlimited
Price$0$4.99 once$9.99 a month or $119 a year
Without an accountFirst file, first 5 minutesNot includedNot included
Files3 a day1 fileNo limit
Transcribed per uploaded fileFirst 5 minutesUp to 10 hoursUp to 10 hours
YouTube linksFirst 5 minutesUp to 3 hoursUp to 3 hours
Transcription modelStandardMost accurateMost accurate
Files at the same time113
Spoken languages90+90+90+
Edit the transcriptIncludedIncludedIncluded
Copy the textIncludedIncludedIncluded
TXT, DOCX and PDFNot includedIncludedIncluded
SRT and VTT subtitlesNot includedIncludedIncluded
Translation of uploadsNot includedIncludedIncluded
Receipt by emailNot includedIncludedIncluded
CancellingNothing to cancelNothing renewsIn one click, any time
DevicesAny deviceYour account3
Audio deleted after transcription24 hours24 hours24 hours

Free

Price
$0
Without an account
First file, first 5 minutes
Files
3 a day
Transcribed per uploaded file
First 5 minutes
YouTube links
First 5 minutes
Transcription model
Standard
Files at the same time
1
Spoken languages
90+
Edit the transcript
Included
Copy the text
Included
TXT, DOCX and PDF
Not included
SRT and VTT subtitles
Not included
Translation of uploads
Not included
Receipt by email
Not included
Cancelling
Nothing to cancel
Devices
Any device
Audio deleted after transcription
24 hours

Single file

Price
$4.99 once
Without an account
Not included
Files
1 file
Transcribed per uploaded file
Up to 10 hours
YouTube links
Up to 3 hours
Transcription model
Most accurate
Files at the same time
1
Spoken languages
90+
Edit the transcript
Included
Copy the text
Included
TXT, DOCX and PDF
Included
SRT and VTT subtitles
Included
Translation of uploads
Included
Receipt by email
Included
Cancelling
Nothing renews
Devices
Your account
Audio deleted after transcription
24 hours

Unlimited

Price
$9.99 a month or $119 a year
Without an account
Not included
Files
No limit
Transcribed per uploaded file
Up to 10 hours
YouTube links
Up to 3 hours
Transcription model
Most accurate
Files at the same time
3
Spoken languages
90+
Edit the transcript
Included
Copy the text
Included
TXT, DOCX and PDF
Included
SRT and VTT subtitles
Included
Translation of uploads
Included
Receipt by email
Included
Cancelling
In one click, any time
Devices
3
Audio deleted after transcription
24 hours

Very heavy use of Unlimited, around 300 hours a month, may be moved to a slower lane, and it is never blocked.

Secure checkout. Prices are final and include all taxes.

Payment and your data

On every plan, we delete your audio automatically 24 hours after transcribing it, and your transcripts stay until you delete them.

GUIDE · 3 min read

How transcription pricing works on Kotosay

Transcription pricing without a per-minute rate

Transcription pricing per minute is common with human services, and a transcription rate per hour works the same way, so a long month costs more. Instead of transcription rates per minute, Kotosay keeps its transcription prices to two simple routes. Single file is one price for one recording, paid once. Unlimited is one flat price for one person, whatever you record, so your transcription cost stays the same in a quiet month and a busy one.

What the free plan covers

Your first file needs no account and shows its first 5 minutes in full. A free account then gives you 3 files a day, and the first 5 minutes of each one are transcribed. A longer file is still accepted. Its first 5 minutes appear right away, and the rest stays locked until you unlock the file or choose Unlimited.

Reading, editing and copying are free on every plan. The editor keeps the timestamps when you fix a word, and the text copies into any document.

What Single file includes

Single file is for one recording without a subscription. It unlocks that one file in full: up to 10 hours for an uploaded file and up to 3 hours for a YouTube link. Downloads as TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT open for that file, and an uploaded file can also be translated.

You start it from the result of a file. After the free preview, choose the Single file button, pay once, then choose the same file again and Kotosay transcribes all of it. Nothing renews, and the transcript stays in your account until you delete it.

What Unlimited includes

Unlimited transcription on Kotosay means files up to 10 hours, 3 files processing at once and use on up to 3 devices, such as a phone, a laptop and a work computer. Translation into another language and downloads as TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT both come with it.

Minutes are not counted on Unlimited. Very heavy use, around 300 hours a month, may be moved to a slower lane, and nothing is ever blocked.

Which plan fits your recordings

The transcription price depends on how often you record and what you need at the end, a text to copy or a file to download.

  • A reporter with a short phone interview now and then. The free account covers the first 5 minutes, and Single file unlocks a longer call.
  • A student with one 90 minute thesis interview. Single file transcribes the whole recording and gives a DOCX for the appendix.
  • A podcaster who posts every week with captions on YouTube. Unlimited covers each episode, with SRT and VTT downloads.
  • A researcher with a stack of interviews to code. 3 files at once and DOCX exports make Unlimited the easier route.

TipThe MP4 to MP3 converter and the audio converter cost nothing on any plan. They run in your browser, need no account and have no daily limit.

Renewal and cancelling

You cancel Unlimited in one click from your account, at any time, and the plan keeps running until the end of the period you paid for. Your renewal date is in your account at any time. Every payment comes with a receipt. Single file never renews, so there is nothing to cancel.

Refunds

You can get your money back within 14 days of a payment, as long as the service was not used. For Unlimited, that means you have not transcribed, translated or exported a file, or downloaded subtitles, in that paid period. Renewals follow the same rule. For Single file, it means the file was not transcribed in full, translated, exported or subtitled after the purchase. The refund page explains the details.

Payment and age

Payment runs through a secure checkout, where you confirm that you are 18 or older and accept the terms. Prices show in euros in eurozone countries and in US dollars everywhere else, and they are final prices including taxes. If anything about a payment is unclear, write to support, and we answer within 24 hours.

Billing questions

How much does transcription cost per minute?

On Kotosay nothing is charged per minute. Unlimited is a flat $9.99 a month, or $119 paid once a year, for files up to 10 hours each. Single file costs $4.99 once for one whole file. A busy month costs the same as a quiet one, however much you record.

How much does it cost to transcribe one hour of audio?

One hour of audio costs $4.99 as a Single file, paid once, or it is included in Unlimited at $9.99 a month. On a free account the first 5 minutes of that hour are transcribed at no cost, and the rest stays locked until you unlock the file or choose Unlimited.

What is the difference in price between AI and human transcription?

Human transcription is usually charged per minute of audio, because a person types every word. AI transcription is affordable and works whenever you need it, and on Kotosay it comes as one flat price. Choose a human service for court records, and check names and numbers in AI text before you publish.

What is Single file?

Single file is a one-off purchase for one recording, without a subscription. For $4.99 it unlocks that file in full, up to 10 hours for uploads and 3 hours for YouTube links, with TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT downloads and, for uploads, translation. Nothing renews after it.

Should I take Single file or Unlimited?

Single file suits one long recording now and then, for example one thesis interview or one recorded meeting. If you record every week, Unlimited covers every file up to 10 hours with no minute counting, for $9.99 a month or $119 a year. Both include every download and translation of uploads.

Is there a monthly plan with unlimited transcription?

Yes. Unlimited costs $9.99 billed monthly, or $119 if you pay once a year. It covers files up to 10 hours, 3 files at once and 3 devices, with translation and every export format. You cancel in one click, and every payment comes with a receipt.

Can I cancel at any time?

Yes. You cancel Unlimited in one click from your account, whenever you like, and it keeps working until the end of the period you paid for. Your renewal date is in your account at any time, so you have time to decide. If anything is unclear, support answers within 24 hours.

Do you offer refunds?

Yes, within 14 days of a payment when the service was not used. For Unlimited that means no file transcribed, translated, exported or subtitled in the paid period. For Single file it means the file was not transcribed in full, translated, exported or subtitled after the purchase. The free preview lets you test first.

Which payment methods are accepted?

Payment runs through a secure checkout, which shows the methods available in your country. Prices are in US dollars, or in euros in the eurozone, and they include all taxes. After each payment you get a receipt by email, so every charge is easy to follow in your own records.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. Your first file needs no account and shows its first 5 minutes. A free account then gives you 3 files a day with the first 5 minutes of each, and you can read, edit and copy every transcript. The free account has no payment step, so no card is needed.

What is the difference between yearly and monthly?

Only how you pay for Unlimited. Monthly costs $9.99 each month, with a receipt every time. Yearly means you pay $119 once a year, and your renewal date is in your account. Both include exactly the same features, and both cancel in one click.

Is Unlimited really unlimited?

Unlimited has no minute count. It is made for one person, with files up to 10 hours, up to 3 files processing at once and use on up to 3 devices. Very heavy use, around 300 hours a month, may be moved to a slower lane, and your files are never blocked.

Can I share my account with a colleague?

Unlimited is a plan for one person, and it works on up to 3 of your own devices, such as a phone, a laptop and a work computer. For a colleague, a separate account keeps each person's files, transcripts and settings apart, which also helps with privacy.