Simon Says

Simon Says is software for transcribing audio and video, with translation and dubbing also available. It supports transcription and translation in 100 languages, and lists 120 included minutes along with a free plan and free trial. New users receive 15 minutes of free credit. Its transcript editor lets users edit, bookmark, annotate, and share transcripts; users can also assemble video by ordering transcript text. Export options include Microsoft Word, video-editing applications such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer, and DaVinci Resolve, plus subtitle formats including SRT and WebVTT. The website supports common production audio and video formats, with files up to four hours long. Online plan import limits range from 5GB to 40GB. Access is listed for web, extensions, iOS, macOS, self-hosted use, and Windows. The maker says Standard and Enhanced on-premises options operate offline without sending data to the cloud. Annual paid plans start at $15/user/mo, billed annually.

Simon Says combines multilingual transcription with transcript editing, translation, dubbing, and a broad set of export formats. Its listed minutes and file-size limits, along with annual plan costs, are worth checking against the amount of material you need to process.

It may suit people who need transcription or translation across many languages and want to edit transcripts or export them to video, audio, and subtitle formats. Its offline on-premises options may suit organizations seeking air-gapped operation.

Simon Says is a transcription and post-production tool for people working with audio or video, especially across languages. Its transcript editing and production exports make it more compelling for media workflows than for occasional, one-off transcription.

Overview

Speech recognition transcribes audio and video, and the service also translates and dubs content in a workflow that includes transcript editing and subtitle work. Speaker labels and timestamps help organize the text; users can bookmark, annotate, and share transcripts, or arrange video by ordering transcript text.

Files can run up to four hours, and online import limits vary from 5GB to 40GB by plan. The combination of language coverage and editing handoff is useful for producers, but the recurring plans charge for annual allowances, so buyers should match their workload to the available credits.

Key features

• Multilingual transcription: Transcription and translation cover 100 languages. That breadth suits multilingual projects, while speaker identification and timestamps add useful structure to interviews and other recordings.
• Transcript and caption editing: Editing, bookmarking, annotation, and sharing make the transcript a working document rather than just a text output. A visual subtitle editor and caption export support caption workflows; ordering transcript text can also assemble video.
• Production exports: Outputs include Word and text documents, Excel, CSV, JSON, subtitle formats such as SRT, WebVTT, SAMI and Avid STL/SubCap, and formats or handoffs for Premiere Pro, Audition, Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer, DaVinci Resolve, EDIUS, Pro Tools, MAXQDA and Lumberjack Ready. Burned-in subtitles and timecodes are also supported. This range is a practical advantage for teams already using these production tools, though buyers who need only plain text may not benefit from it.
• Offline deployment: Standard and Enhanced on-premises options run air-gapped, with no data sent to the cloud. Enhanced is aimed at enterprises, studios, and governments; its appeal is tighter isolation, not a low-cost individual workflow.

Pricing

Simon Says has a free plan and offers new users 15 minutes of free credit. The free allowance is modest for substantial projects. The product also describes 120 included minutes and two hours of monthly transcription; paid allowances vary by plan, so buyers should distinguish monthly usage from annual credits.

• Pay as you go: $15.00 per month, billed $0 base, with transcription charged at $15/hour or $0.25 per minute based on file duration. It includes advanced transcription AI, translation to 100+ languages, the transcript editor, and exports to video editing apps and Word. This suits irregular use because there is no base charge, but frequent processing makes the per-minute cost add up.
• Starter: $180.00 per year ($15.00/month, billed annually) includes 24 hours of credit per year. It is the entry annual option for predictable, moderate use; the annual commitment and finite credit are trade-offs.
• Pro: $396.00 per year ($33.00/month, billed annually) includes 48 hours per year and a 20GB maximum file size. It doubles Starter's annual credit and raises the import ceiling, but still caps annual processing.
• Pro+: $1,500.00 per year ($125.00/month, billed annually) includes 360 hours per year, a 40GB maximum file size, and priority support. Its larger allowance and support suit heavier production workloads; it is a substantial step up in annual cost.
• Standard and Enhanced: Both offer air-gapped offline operation and Mac installation; Enhanced adds Mac and PC support and priority support. Both have custom pricing, making them organization-focused rather than straightforward self-serve choices.
• On-premises credit licenses: The trial with 5 hours of credit costs $100.00 per once; the 100-hour license costs $2500.00 per once. Each license expires one year after activation, so unused credit does not remain available indefinitely.

A free trial is available. Subscribers can cancel from their profile at any time, and cancellation stops renewal. Users retain ownership of account data and can delete it when they choose.

Platforms

Simon Says supports extension, iOS, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows. Its Mac app has a universal build for Apple silicon M1, M2, and M3, as well as Intel Macs. This mix accommodates desktop and browser-based workflows, with self-hosted and offline options for organizations with stricter data requirements.

Who it's for

Simon Says is best suited to video and audio professionals, multilingual teams, and organizations that need transcript-to-editing or caption workflows. The many production exports and offline deployment options give it a clear role in those settings. Someone who only needs occasional plain-text transcription may find its production breadth unnecessary and should focus on the free allowance or pay-as-you-go cost before choosing an annual plan.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Transcription and translation in 100 languages, plus dubbing, serve projects that cross language boundaries.
• Pro: Speaker labels, timestamps, transcript editing, subtitle tools, and extensive production exports connect transcription to later work.
• Pro: Air-gapped on-premises plans support organizations that cannot send files to the cloud.
• Con: Annual plans constrain users to set yearly credits, and the larger file limits arrive on more expensive tiers.
• Con: The $15/hour pay-as-you-go rate can be costly for recurring, high-volume work; Pro+ costs $1,500.00 per year.

Alternatives

For a broader directory of tools, browse Transcription Software or Podcast Transcription Software.

• Happy Scribe is worth considering for its free plan, which includes unlimited meeting recordings, 45 minutes per recording, and a 10-minute AI trial.
• Notta is a fit for someone who wants a free allowance of 120 transcription minutes per month on one seat, with Android and web among its supported platforms.
• MacWhisper is a Mac-focused alternative with a free transcription and subtitle-export plan, plus a €64 one-time Pro purchase.
• Superwhisper offers a free plan for voice-to-text in apps and meeting recording and transcription across Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
• Vosk is a free alternative for users seeking offline speech recognition across mobile, server, and self-hosted platforms.
• Transkriptor may suit an individual who wants a defined monthly allowance: its Lite plan costs $9.99 a month and includes 300 minutes.
• Aiko is another option for readers considering transcription software.
• Picovoice Leopard is another option for readers considering transcription software.

Verdict

Choose Simon Says if multilingual transcription needs to feed directly into transcript editing, subtitles, or established production software; its language coverage and export breadth are the strongest reasons to use it. Look elsewhere if your needs are occasional and simple, or if a fixed annual credit allowance and the cost of heavier use do not fit your workload.