An f4x alternative that transcribes on your own computer
f4x, now part of f4 by audiotranskription, uploads interviews to the provider's servers in Germany and bills transcription by the minute. TrueScribe transcribes on your own Windows or Linux computer, with no upload and no per-minute fees.
| TrueScribe | f4 (f4x) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where transcription runs | On your computer | On the provider's servers in Germany |
| Upload required | No | Yes, encrypted |
| Pricing | Unlimited local transcription for free; Pro is a one-time purchase | Prepaid hour quotas billed by the minute, plus an f4 licence |
| Transcription languages | The wide range of languages Whisper covers | 48 languages |
| Qualitative coding and analysis | Not included | Included in f4 |
Interviews stay on your machine
Media files are decoded and transcribed locally. There is no upload step and no processing account, so the recording never reaches a transcription provider. If you choose a cloud model for a feature, the content that feature needs leaves your device; that is your decision, not the default.
No minute counter
Free covers unlimited local-file transcription with every available transcription model, plus editing, search and TXT, SRT and WebVTT export. Pro is a one-time purchase for up to three devices.
Speakers and languages
Pro detects speakers locally and lets you name them and correct who said what. TrueScribe detects the spoken language automatically or uses the one you select.
When f4 is the better fit
If you code and analyse interviews in f4, or your institute already licenses it, transcribing inside the same tool is convenient. TrueScribe does not include qualitative coding; it hands your transcript on as text, subtitles or, with Pro, documents.
Sources
Checked in October 2026. Details about other products can change; their own pages are the authority.
More comparisons
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- Otter.ai
A cloud meeting assistant with a subscription. TrueScribe transcribes recordings locally.