speechnotes.co

Speechnotes review

Live notetaking built around the chrome browser.

TechRadar Verdict

It might not be sophisticated, but it is free. And, for those that just need to quickly dictate some thoughts or quotes, it might be fine. Just don’t expect it to understand you entirely or output subtitle files.

Free functionality

Works on Chrome and Android

Won’t process recordings for free

Lacks output formats

Limited security

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We’ve all loaded an app on to our mobile devices that claimed to be ‘free’, only to discover that the key functionality was disabled or effectively kneecapped.

Speechnotes confronts those cynical expectations by providing some very useful functionality that you can use for free on Android mobile devices or any computer that runs the Chrome browser.

But is this repurposing of the Google Speech engine worth your time, even it is free?

• Want to try Speechnotes? Check out the website here

Basic functionality on Speechnotes is free, and it is possible to use it without spending any money whatsoever.

For those that want to support the developer, Rehavat Ilan, Speechnotes Premium can be purchased through the Chrome Web Store for $9 per year. That enormous investment nets you the joys of continuous unlimited dictation and voice-typing, voice-typing on any website, quick editable stamps with the extension, and you don’t see adverts.

You also get Premium access to our support, and you can make feature requests. And, you can enjoy all future upgrades as they appear.

A new feature released recently is Speechnotes Files, an audio and video file transcription service that you can send files that are then transcribed by software.

That service is charged at only 10 cents per minute or less, making it highly affordable.

This service requires you add credit to then use to transcribe, and you can buy in 45 minute, 120 minute, 10 or 20 hour blocks. Each is charged at the same rate, so buying 20 hours costs $120, and ten hours $60.

For the purpose of this review, we'll be concentrating on the standard Speechnotes, but at just $4.50 to buy some credit it doesn't cost much to try out Speechnotes Files.

As a welcome gift, Speechnotes is offering 10% extra time on the first purchase.

This being a software solution, Speechnotes Files has a quoted 95% accuracy for high-quality audio, but more typically 80% is what most users should expect.

Systems that use human transcribers can often hit 98 or 99%, but they only cost much, much more per minute of audio.

Supported file formats include aac, m4a, avi, mp3, mp4, mpeg, ogg, raw, flac, wav, mov and  amr, and they don’t accept physical media.

As web-based applications go, this is a remarkably simple one designed to work well on just about any hardware that Chrome can run.

The application page has an icon-based menu on the left, workspace in the centre, and some reminders of how to cope with punctuation on the right.

One critical icon is the microphone, as that activates the app to listen and transcribe whatever is said to the work area.

The first time you click this icon, the app will ask for permission to access the microphone, and once that is provided, you can start.

Once you’ve completed a session, you can click another icon to get the words spoken back to you. It’s our experience that listening to typed or transcribed contents is an excellent way to find faults, as you can often notice things that scanning visually misses.

The captured words can be saved as a text file or Word document, emailed, printed, uploaded to Google Drive and are automatically saved on the system.

It’s possible to open a session and insert the cursor for changes or additions, allowing for much longer documents to be created over multiple uses.

It isn’t meant for many recording sessions, as there isn’t any folder structure to organise the stored files.

The languages supported are those that Google assistant understands, and that includes a wide range of regional English, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic, along with various other European and Asian languages.

Android App

Alongside the Chrome browser solution, Speechnotes is also available as an Android app that should work on any modern Android phone or tablet with a microphone.

What’s slightly confusing about the Android solution is that it works differently to the Chrome app, as you can’t verbalise punctuation.

Instead, as you capture a note on the phone or tablet, a punctuation keyboard is provided on the screen where you can punch them in by hand.

This difference offers a speed advantage, but also annoying if you use the Chrome solution and then try to use this, as they require slightly different skills to master.

But the other elephant in this room is that already built into Android, and using the same core technology is a feature that allows the insertion of spoken words into any application using the microphone icon on the screen keyboard.

We also noticed that notes created on the phone do not appear on the Chrome App, or vice versa, disappointingly.

A limitation with this tool is that it only has two output formats, text files and Word documents.

It is also possible to copy the text to the clipboard, enabling it to be pasted into any other suitable software that is running on the system. And, if you save to Google Drive, it will automatically use the text format rather than giving you a choice.

It seems odd, given its connections to Google, that generating a Google Doc isn't an option.

For our testing, we read out the classic short poem “No Man Is An Island” by John Donne, and even our first attempt was a reasonably successful exercise.

Some of the mistakes it made were down to our pronunciation since we don’t often use words like ‘promontory’ around our office.

What needs some adaptation is that for the contents to be correctly formatted all punctuation must be explicitly added. Therefore, if you want to start a new section, you must say ‘new line’ or ‘new paragraph’ for the system to do that.

There isn’t any logic that assumes long pauses are the start of a new section or grammatical logic that understands why question marks are required.

And, they don’t list all the possible punctuations it understands, but they chose to include on the list that you can add a smiley face.

The inference, if you aren’t getting it, is that this tool was probably intended for quickly generating emails without a keyboard and its fine for that purpose.

Overall, as the Google technology that it is based, it’s not incredible, but it is useable.

The only security the system offers is that used by Google. Depending on how the users Google account is set up, that could range from being reasonably secure to almost negligible. If you choose not to bother with Google two-factor authentication then your account won't be well protected, and any note you take with this system won't be either.

Final verdict

Speechnotes isn't the most sophisticated solution available, but not everyone is looking for 100% accuracy and the ability to translate cockney rhyming slang.

What Speechnotes offers is a no-frills means to turn live speech into typed words, and with that modest objective, it is mostly successful.

Our only real complaint is that the Chrome tool and the Android app demonstrate no single design thinking or even a common repository for notes taken.

Where the Chrome app has value, the inherent functionality of Android makes that version of Speechnotes a bit redundant. But if you have very occasional needs to rapidly convert spoken words into text, Speechnotes might be useful to you on both platforms.

• We've also highlighted the best transcription services

Mark is an expert on 3D printers, drones and phones. He also covers storage, including SSDs, NAS drives and portable hard drives. He started writing in 1986 and has contributed to MicroMart, PC Format, 3D World, among others.

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Speechnotes

Learn about Speechnotes voice typing service for businesses and individuals. Includes info on Speechnotes, pricing, key info, and FAQs.

Updated on November 21st, 2023

The SMB Guide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Speechnotes is a voice recognition platform for businesses and individuals to seamlessly take notes through dictation. Its key solutions include voice typing, auto save capability, and an instant translator.

Pros: Amazing transcription capabilities and editing is allowed prior to the sentence being typed.

Cons: Unable to delete typos with verbal command.

Bottomline: Superb voice recognition platform to enable easy dictation processes.

Key Information:

What is speechnotes.

Speechnotes is a voice recognition software for businesses and individuals. Features include voice typing, auto-save capability, and an instant translator.

Is there a free trial for Speechnotes?

Speechnotes software offers a free plan and its paid packages starts at $1.90 per month.

What are some Speechnotes alternatives?

• Dragon by Nuance .
• e-Speaking.com .
• Google Docs Voice Typing .
• Just Press Record .
• Microsoft Bing Speech API .

Speechnotes Review 2024: What It Is, How to Use It & Is It Worth It?

Transcribe audio and video, dictate notes, and save time on typing .

High accuracy speech recognition

Secure and private transcription

No installation required

Speechnotes Description

Starting price

Speechnotes Detailed Review

Diving deeper into Speechnotes, it's clear that this tool is a game-changer for many. It's not just for those who find typing tedious or challenging; it's also a godsend for professionals like authors, students, and anyone who needs to convert spoken words into text efficiently. The tool operates directly in your Chrome or Edge browser, which means there's no need for hefty installations or high-end hardware. It's accessible on PCs, laptops, and Chromebooks, though it might be hit or miss on mobile devices.

Speechnotes stands out for its simplicity and ease of use. You don't need to create an account or log in, which means you can get started right away. The auto-save feature is a lifesaver, ensuring you never lose a word of your hard work. Plus, the ability to export to Google Drive or download documents directly to your computer adds to its convenience. However, the lack of a login system means you can't access your documents from other computers unless you've exported them, which could be a minor inconvenience for some.

Accuracy is one of Speechnotes' strong suits, with the platform boasting over 90% accuracy for clear dictation or recordings. This is thanks to the speech recognition AI engines from Google and Microsoft that power the tool. The transcription process is swift, delivering results in minutes, which is a stark contrast to the days it might take a human transcriber. Additionally, the tool's privacy measures are commendable, with no human ever laying eyes or ears on your recordings.

The pricing model of Speechnotes is straightforward and user-friendly. At $1.9 per month, billed annually, it's a steal, especially considering there are no hidden fees or automatic renewals to worry about. This fixed pricing ensures you're in control of your subscription, and the promise of a full refund if you're not satisfied adds a layer of trust to the transaction.

However, Speechnotes isn't without its limitations. While it excels at transcribing high-quality recordings, it may struggle with lower-quality audio where a human transcriber might perform better. Also, while the tool does offer speaker diarization, it may not be as adept at differentiating and tagging speakers as a human would be. This could be a drawback for recordings with multiple speakers, such as interviews or group discussions.

The tool also includes a premium plan that unlocks additional features like continuous dictation, commercial use, and access to the development team for support and feature requests. This plan is linked to your account, allowing you to use Speechnotes on any number of machines. For those looking to integrate Speechnotes into their workflow, the tool offers an API, webhooks, and Zapier integration, making it a versatile option for automating transcription tasks.

In terms of community and support, Speechnotes provides various channels for users to get in touch, share issues, and request features. Premium users are guaranteed a response from the developers, which is a significant advantage for those who rely heavily on the tool for their work.

To sum up, Speechnotes is a robust and secure transcription solution that offers a lot of bang for your buck. It's designed to be user-friendly, accurate, and private, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to streamline their dictation and transcription tasks. While it may not be perfect for every scenario, its advantages in terms of price, privacy, and efficiency make it a compelling option for many users.

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Speechnotes Speech to Text

Type with your voice (speech to text) on ANY page across the web, with a click running the most accurate speech recognition tech.

Speech to Text unleashed, type with voice anywhere across the web Stop typing and start dictating with your voice, using the most accurate speech recognition engines Save time and energy — type with voice on any site across the web with this all new game changer extension. - Fast and accurate Speech Recognition - Works on any page, including gmail and others - Keyboard shortcut to start & pause recognition Trusted by millions of users worldwide. We respect & protect your privacy - we use Google's speech recognition engine for Chrome and we do not collect nor share your data. 100% Satisfaction guaranteed. For any inquiry contact us at [email protected]

3.7 out of 5 52 ratings Google doesn't verify reviews. Learn more about results and reviews.

Mark Silvester May 12, 2024

nope not work on every website. simple chat coms on this game and not working.

Marius Codrin Apr 18, 2024

I tap it, start it, does nothing on vivaldi over linux

Yasin Apr 11, 2024

This is a great voice to speech extension.

• Version 3.0.3
• Updated April 3, 2023
• Features Offers in-app purchases
• Report a concern
• Size 12.38MiB
• Languages English
• Developer WellSource Ltd. Rehavat Ilan 8 Givat Shmuel 54056 IL Website Email [email protected]
• Trader This developer has identified itself as a trader per the definition from the European Union.

This developer declares that your data is

• Not being sold to third parties, outside of the approved use cases
• Not being used or transferred for purposes that are unrelated to the item's core functionality
• Not being used or transferred to determine creditworthiness or for lending purposes

This extension listens to you and copies what you said to the clipboard.

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