Speech to text
HappyScribe: review, pricing, data and alternatives
HappyScribe helps people working with audio recordings produce transcripts, subtitles, and translations. It also supports meeting summaries and lets users have a transcript reviewed by a professional. A free tier exists; the first paid plan costs £102 per year. Access and transparency score: 65/100, #7 of 15 in its category.
What is HappyScribe?
HappyScribe helps people working with audio recordings produce transcripts, subtitles, and translations. It also supports meeting summaries and lets users have a transcript reviewed by a professional.
According to its documentation, HappyScribe lets you:
- turn audio recordings into text
- create and correct subtitles
- translate transcripts
- produce meeting summaries
- have a transcript reviewed by a professional
We file it under Speech to text, the category of tools to transcribe audio to text, and it also overlaps with subtitles and dubbing and meeting assistants. The category lists 15 verified tools on this site.
The publisher is Happy Scribe Limited, based in Ireland.
Who is it for?
It is mostly useful to these profiles: video creators, podcasters, researchers, and translators. The need it covers is simple to state: transcribe audio to text.
HappyScribe is a good candidate if:
- you want to try before paying
- you plan to connect it to your tools or automations through its API
- you also work from your phone
- you must keep your data in Europe or on your own machine
The best test is a concrete case from your daily work: if the tool does not beat your current method within a week, move on to an alternative.
How much does HappyScribe cost?
Pricing model: freemium (limited free use, then paid). A free plan is offered, usually limited in volume or features.
The first paid plan costs £102 per year (Basic, billed annually; displayed price of 8.50 pounds per month), according to the pricing page, checked on October 24, 2026.
To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.
Data and privacy
According to its privacy policy, data is processed in the European Union.
Hosting in the European Union makes GDPR compliance easier, without exempting you from reading the terms of use.
Exporting your content: yes (details on the official site). Being able to get your data back makes switching tools easier later.
Three habits apply to every AI tool:
- turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
- use a work account separate from your personal account
- review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it
Platforms, languages and API
HappyScribe runs on: web browser, iPhone and iPad, Android, and API.
Interface languages are not specified.
A public API lets you call it from your own programs or an automation tool, and plug it into an AI agent.
How we scored it
Our 65/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.
| Criterion | Points | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 25/30 | free tier, published price, French interface |
| Openness | 20/30 | API, data export, open code |
| Trust | 20/40 | identified publisher, declared hosting, age, presence in reference lists |
The full calculation is explained on our method page.
Comparison with alternatives
HappyScribe against other tools in the speech to text category:
| Tool | Free | Entry price | API | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HappyScribe | Yes | £102 per year | Yes | 65 |
| Whisper | Yes | $0.01 pay as you go | Yes | 95 |
| AssemblyAI | Yes | $0.15 pay as you go | Yes | 78 |
| Rev | Yes | $0.25 pay as you go | Yes | 75 |
| Wispr Flow | Yes | $12 per month | Yes | 73 |
| Vibe | Yes | not published | Yes | 68 |
| Deepgram | Yes | $0 pay as you go | Yes | 65 |
| Sonix | No | $10 pay as you go | Yes | 60 |
Verdict
HappyScribe is a decent option; compare its price and terms with the category leaders.
Strengths
- Free tier to try it
- Public API
- Data hosted in the EU
- Available on many platforms
Alternatives
- Whisperfree tier
- AssemblyAIfree tier
- Revfree tier
- Wispr Flowfree tier
- Vibefree tier
- Deepgramfree tier
Categories and jobs
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is HappyScribe free?
Yes, a free plan exists, with usage limits. The first paid plan costs £102 per year.
Where is HappyScribe data stored?
According to the publisher, in the European Union.
Does HappyScribe have an API?
Yes, a public API is documented.
What are the alternatives to HappyScribe?
In the same category: Whisper, AssemblyAI, Rev, and Wispr Flow.
HappyScribe or Whisper: which one to choose?
HappyScribe starts at £102 per year, Whisper at $0.01 pay as you go and our score is 65/100 for HappyScribe and 95/100 for Whisper. Try both on the same task before paying.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score