A Descript alternative that transcribes on your computer
Descript is a cloud editor for podcasts and video that transcribes files once they have uploaded. TrueScribe transcribes your recordings on your own Windows or Linux machine, with no upload, no account and no subscription, and hands the text on for the next step.
| TrueScribe | Descript | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows and Linux | macOS 14 or later, Windows 11 or later, and the web in a Chromium browser |
| Where transcription runs | On your computer | On Descript's servers, after the file has uploaded to the cloud |
| Speaker identification | Yes, in Pro, with NVIDIA Nemotron 3 on Windows and Linux | Yes, automatic detection for files up to 5 hours; you name each voice once |
| Translation | Yes, in Pro: AI translation into 25 languages on your computer, with the original kept | Caption translation into more than 60 languages, paid with AI credits; proofreading on Business and Enterprise plans |
| Export formats | TXT, SRT and WebVTT; Pro adds DOCX, PDF, Markdown, JSON and CSV | Transcripts as DOCX, TXT, RTF, Markdown and HTML; subtitles as SRT and VTT |
| Price and licence | Free; Pro is a one-time purchase for up to three devices | Free plan with 60 media minutes a month; subscriptions per person from $16 a month billed annually ($24 monthly) |
| Account required | No | Yes |
Your recordings stay on your device
Media files are decoded and transcribed locally. There is no upload step and no processing account. If you choose a cloud model for a feature, the content that feature needs leaves your device; that is your decision, not the default.
A transcript, not a video edit
TrueScribe turns a recording into a transcript you review, correct, search and export. Play back against the waveform, correct the text with undo and redo, search your library and ask AI Research about a transcript. Pro adds speaker detection and naming, local translation, batch transcription, watch folders, media links and richer exports.
No subscription
Free covers unlimited local-file transcription, editing, search and TXT, SRT and WebVTT export. Pro is a one-time purchase for up to three devices.
When Descript is the better fit
If you edit podcasts or videos by editing their text, record with remote guests, or need AI voices, captions and clips, Descript is built for that. TrueScribe does not edit audio or video; it transcribes recordings on your computer and hands the text on.
Sources
Checked on 28 October 2026. Details about other products can change; their own pages are the authority.
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