Voice Memo to Text: Transcribe Voice Recordings
Turn an iPhone voice memo, an Android recorder file or any voice recording into an editable transcript. Choose the file, pick the language and download text, Word or subtitles. Free in your browser with OpenAI Whisper and no install, up to 20 minutes and 200 MB per file. For other audio files, use audio to text. 99 languages.
For longer files and cloud historyFor longer files and cloud historyExplore UnlimitedGet the voice memo off your phone
Whisper Web transcribes the audio file, so the first step is saving the recording where your browser can open it. On a computer, AirDrop, email or a cloud drive can move the file from the phone.
On iPhone, open Voice Memos, tap the recording, open the share sheet and choose Save to Files. Apple's guide says "By default, recordings are exported in .m4a format", which the browser can read. If you chose Options > Editable when exporting, Apple saves QuickTime Audio instead, so use the default export. On a Mac, drag the memo from the Voice Memos app to the desktop.
On Android, recorder apps usually save M4A, MP3 or WAV. Use the app's Share or Export option to send the audio file, not a link to a transcript inside the app. For M4A details and codec problems, see M4A to text.
When the phone's own transcript is not enough
Newer phones can show a transcript inside the recorder app for some languages and devices. Use Whisper Web when you need the text somewhere else: a Word file for a report, SRT captions for a clip, a language the app does not transcribe, or a recording made on another phone.
The free path runs in the browser. The memo is processed on your device and does not need an account, which suits personal notes, interviews and client voice messages. The draft is a set of timed segments: replay one when a name or number looks wrong, correct it, then download.
- Ideas and to-do lists you recorded while walking or driving.
- Interviews and field notes captured on a phone.
- Lectures and meetings recorded with Voice Memos.
- Voice messages you saved as audio files.
Free limit and longer recordings
Free transcription runs in your browser for a file up to 200 MB and 20 minutes. It does not require an account. Most memos fit. A long lecture or a two-hour interview can be split into parts under 20 minutes, or sent to Unlimited. Unlimited is the published Unlimited plan: US$20 per month, or US$120 per year (shown as US$10 per month when billed yearly). Each Unlimited file can be up to 10 hours or 5 GB, and a Unlimited batch can include 50 files. Choosing Unlimited uploads the file for cloud transcription.
Transcribe a voice memo in 3 steps
Step 1
Save the memo as a file
Export the recording from Voice Memos or your recorder app with Save to Files, Share or Export. M4A, MP3 and WAV all work.
Step 2
Choose the file and language
Select the audio here and pick the spoken language or automatic detection. Free files up to 200 MB and 20 minutes are processed in the browser.
Step 3
Edit and download
Fix names and numbers against the audio, then download TXT, Word, JSON, SRT or VTT, or copy the text into your notes app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Whisper Web really free? Do I need an account?
In free local mode, audio is processed in your browser and is not uploaded. No account is required. Each file can be up to 20 minutes and 200 MB. There is no daily file-count limit. For longer files, Whisper Web Unlimited offers optional cloud processing with a per-file limit of 10 hours and 5 GB.
What is the official Whisper Web site?
The official Whisper Web site is https://whisperweb.dev. Other domains may use a similar name. Free local mode on whisperweb.dev runs in your browser without an account; each file is limited to 20 minutes and 200 MB.
Does my audio leave my device?
In free local mode, audio is processed in your browser and is not uploaded. Model files still download over the network the first time you use a model. Whisper Web Unlimited is an optional cloud workflow for larger files (up to 10 hours and 5 GB per file).
What if a result says Whisper Web but the address is different?
If a result says “Whisper Web” but the address is not whisperweb.dev, it is not the official Whisper Web site. Open https://whisperweb.dev to use free local transcription in your browser (20 minutes / 200 MB per file, no account).
How do I transcribe a voice memo to text?
Save the voice memo as an audio file, choose it on this page, select the spoken language and start. Review the transcript, then copy it or download a document or subtitle file.
Can I transcribe iPhone Voice Memos?
Yes. Tap the recording in Voice Memos, open the share sheet, choose Save to Files and select that .m4a file here. You do not need to convert it to MP3 first.
How do I get a transcript of a voice recording on Android?
Use your recorder app's Share or Export option to save the audio as M4A, MP3 or WAV, then open the file in Whisper Web. The transcript is created from the audio, so it does not depend on the app's own transcript feature.
Is voice memo transcription free?
Yes, for recordings up to 20 minutes and 200 MB each, with no account and no daily file-count limit. Unlimited costs US$20 per month or US$120 per year and handles files up to 10 hours or 5 GB in the cloud.
Is my voice memo uploaded?
On the free path the browser processes the file on your device and does not upload it for transcription. Unlimited uploads the recording when you choose cloud transcription for a longer file.
Can it transcribe a voice memo in another language?
Yes. Whisper Web supports 99 languages and keeps the text in the spoken language. To get English text from a memo in another language, use the audio translator.
Can I turn a voice memo into notes or a summary?
Transcribe it here first, then paste the text into your notes app or an AI assistant to summarize it. For a full note-taking workflow, read how to turn voice memos into text privately.
What if the voice memo will not open?
Export it again with the default format. Some apps save an editable or proprietary format that browsers cannot decode; an M4A, MP3 or WAV copy usually works.