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Amazon Transcribe
What it is
Amazon Transcribe converts live and recorded speech into text. It handles streaming audio for real-time transcription and media files stored in Amazon S3 for batch processing, with support for 113 languages. Transcripts can include punctuation, formatted numbers, word timestamps, speaker and channel identification, and vocabulary filtering. The service can identify one or more languages in audio without a language code, and users can add custom vocabulary or train language models with domain-specific text. Call Analytics provides sentiment, issue, speech-characteristic, categorization, and generative call-summary insights. Transcribe Medical supports medical dictation and conversational transcription and is HIPAA eligible. Privacy controls include personal information redaction and toxic-content detection. Outputs can be exported as JSON, WebVTT, or SRT, and API access is available. Pricing is paid from $0.01. A free tier includes 60 minutes per month for 12 months; unused minutes do not roll over. The AWS CLI does not support streaming transcription.
For and against
For
- Supports 113 languages and automatic language identification.
- Handles real-time streams and Amazon S3 batch files.
- Provides timestamps, speaker labels, and channel identification.
- Exports JSON, WebVTT, and SRT.
- Offers a free tier of 60 minutes monthly for 12 months.
Against
- AWS CLI does not support streaming transcriptions.
- Free-tier minutes do not roll over.
- Paid pricing varies by AWS Region and volume tier.
The verdict
Amazon Transcribe combines live and batch transcription with language identification, transcript controls, and specialized call and medical options. Check regional pricing and the CLI streaming limitation when choosing an implementation.
Who it suits
It suits developers and teams that need speech-to-text for live streams or recorded audio, including medical transcription and call analytics workflows. Its API, language options, and custom vocabulary tools may also suit specialized transcription needs.
Plans and prices
Free tier
unused monthly usage does not roll over · restrictions apply
Read 1 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Standard Batch
Pay-as-you-go batch transcription · Usage billed in one-second increments · No minimum usage
Read 20 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Standard Streaming
Pay-as-you-go streaming transcription · Usage billed in one-second increments · No minimum usage
Read 20 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Standard pricing
one-second increments · no minimum duration · rates vary by AWS Region
Read 1 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
On the record
- API access
- Yesaws.amazon.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- AWS service integrations
- The product page identifies Amazon Connect Contact Lens and AWS HealthScribe as services used with Amazon Transcribe for call analytics and clinical documentation.aws.amazon.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Call analytics
- Amazon Transcribe Call Analytics provides sentiment, issue, speech-characteristic, categorization, and generative call-summary insights.aws.amazon.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Compliance
- Amazon Transcribe is covered under AWS HIPAA eligibility and BAA requirements.docs.aws.amazon.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Users can add custom vocabulary and train custom language models with domain-specific text.aws.amazon.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- Transcription outputs can use Amazon S3 SSE-S3 or customer-specified AWS KMS keys at rest, while TLS 1.2 encrypts data in transit.aws.amazon.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- JSON,WebVTT,SRTaws.amazon.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Input modes
- The service processes live audio streams for real-time transcription and recorded media files stored in Amazon S3 for batch transcription.docs.aws.amazon.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Batch transcription uses Amazon S3, and AWS provides SDKs and CLI access for supported programming languages.docs.aws.amazon.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Languages supported
- 113aws.amazon.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Language identification
- Amazon Transcribe can automatically identify the dominant language or multiple languages in audio without a specified language code.aws.amazon.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Languages
- Amazon Transcribe provides features across 100+ languages.aws.amazon.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Medical use
- Amazon Transcribe Medical supports dictation and conversational medical transcription and is HIPAA eligible.aws.amazon.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Privacy controls
- Amazon Transcribe can filter vocabulary, redact personally identifiable information, and detect toxic audio content.aws.amazon.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Amazon Transcribe is a fully managed automatic speech recognition service that converts streaming and recorded speech to text.aws.amazon.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Speaker identification
- Yesaws.amazon.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Timestamp support
- Yesaws.amazon.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Transcript features
- It supports automatic punctuation, number formatting, word timestamps, speaker identification, channel identification, and vocabulary filtering.aws.amazon.com · read 1 Oct 2026
