Transcribe: private, on-device voice transcription for iPhone
Transcribe is a voice recorder and transcription app for iPhone and iPad. It turns meetings, lectures and interviews into text on your device, with a live transcript while you record. After a one-time language download it works offline, and there is no account to create.
Unlimited recordings and full transcription are free. On devices that support Apple Intelligence, Pro adds AI summaries, action items and Ask AI.
Frequently asked questions
Does Transcribe work offline?
Yes, after a one-time download. Transcription uses speech models that Apple's Speech framework downloads to your device the first time you use a language. Once a language is downloaded, recording and transcription work without a connection, including in airplane mode. The first use of each language needs an internet connection for that download.
Is my audio uploaded anywhere?
Transcribe does not upload your recordings or transcripts to a server. There is no account, and recordings and transcripts are stored on your device. Transcription and AI features run on-device using Apple's Speech and Foundation Models frameworks. See the privacy policy for details.
Which languages does it support?
Transcribe can transcribe in 22 languages, and AI summaries are available in 16. Your device's default language is free; other transcription languages are part of Pro. The app interface is available in fewer languages than it can transcribe. Availability of a given language depends on what Apple's speech models support on your device.
Can it record phone calls?
No. iOS does not let any App Store app record phone calls, and Transcribe does not either. It records through the microphone, so it works for in-person meetings, lectures, interviews and your own voice notes.
How does it compare to cloud transcription apps?
The main difference is where processing happens. Cloud services send audio to remote servers; Transcribe processes it on your iPhone or iPad, so it works offline after the language download and has no per-minute billing or usage caps. Cloud services may offer features Transcribe does not, such as speaker labels or team collaboration. Choose based on whether privacy and offline use, or those features, matter more to you.
What is free and what is Pro?
Free: unlimited recordings with no time limit, full on-device transcription of every recording, transcript copy and sharing, marking moments, and the recording tools Name Ping, Time Box and Coverage Checklist. Pro adds additional transcription languages, export to MP3, PDF and subtitle files, sharing the original audio, and encrypted, scheduled library backup. On devices that support Apple Intelligence, Pro also unlocks AI summaries, action items, chapters and Ask AI. Current prices and plans are shown in the app and on the App Store page.
Do the AI features work on every iPhone?
No. Summaries, action items, chapters and Ask AI need a device that supports Apple Intelligence (for example iPhone 15 Pro or newer, or an iPad with an M1 chip or newer) with Apple Intelligence turned on, and a Pro subscription. Recording and transcription work on any iPhone or iPad running iOS 26 or later without Apple Intelligence.
Is there a Mac version?
Not yet released. Transcribe is currently available for iPhone and iPad.
What export formats are supported?
You can copy or share the transcript as text for free. Pro adds sharing the original audio (M4A), MP3, PDF and subtitle files (SRT), plus whole-library backup that can be encrypted.
Does it label different speakers?
Not currently. Transcribe produces a single continuous transcript and does not label who said what. You can mark moments while recording and jump back to them later.