The Best Speech-to-Text Software for Online Meetings

Struggling to keep up with note-taking during online meetings? With the right speech-to-text apps and voice typing features, you can convert your meeting discussions into text files for easy review.

In this article, we'll explore the built-in transcription features of popular platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. But that's not all—we'll also introduce you to an alternative for capturing and organizing meeting notes that could save you and your team valuable time. For more on how to effectively use transcription tools in your meetings, check out How to Get a Summary from Transcript Files and Can ChatGPT Do Speech to Text?

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How Does Speech-to-Text Apps Work?

Speech-to-text software uses advanced speech recognition technology to convert spoken words into text. By analyzing the unique sounds of your voice and matching them against a database of linguistic patterns, the software accurately transcribes speech in real-time.

While there are various speech-to-text apps available, they all operate on similar principles. This technology has become integral in numerous applications, such as:

• Live transcription of speeches and lectures: Offering real-time captions for accessibility.
• Closed captioning for online videos: Ensuring content is accessible to a wider audience.
• Voice typing and voice recognition for search engines: Enabling hands-free search capabilities.
• Automated customer service systems: Providing efficient voice-driven support.
• Voice-to-text input for documents: Allowing hands-free writing in tools like Google Docs.

For remote professionals and teams, a speech-to-text app is invaluable during online meetings. Real-time transcription helps participants stay on track with discussions, especially in cross-cultural teams where language differences can pose a challenge. Additionally, having a saved transcript allows team members to review meeting content later.

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The Best Speech-to-Text Software for Online Meetings

When it comes to converting speech into text during online meetings, you need speech-to-text apps that are reliable, accurate, and offer more than just basic transcription. Below are five top speech recognition software options that can enhance your productivity and streamline your meeting workflow:

Zoom

Zoom’s live transcription feature is widely used for its convenience and ease of access. While primarily focused on real-time captions during meetings, Zoom also offers post-meeting transcript downloads, making it a solid choice for teams needing straightforward transcription solutions.

Key Features:

• Live transcription and automated captions during meetings.
• Post-meeting transcript download for easy review.
• Integration with various third-party apps for enhanced functionality.

Best For: Teams that need reliable, easy-to-use transcription directly within their video conferencing platform.

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Tactiq

Tactiq goes beyond basic speech-to-text tools by offering a powerful combination of real-time transcription and AI-driven insights, making it the ultimate choice for professionals who demand more from their meeting notes. Unlike other tools, Tactiq doesn’t just transcribe—it intelligently identifies and highlights key elements like action items, insights, questions, and decisions. With easy integration across popular platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, Tactiq simplifies your post-meeting processes and team collaboration.

Key Features:

• Real-time transcription with AI-generated highlights, automatically focusing on what matters most.
• Smart summarization of key points, enabling quick reviews and efficient decision-making.
• Deep integration with tools like Google Drive, Notion, and Confluence, making collaboration and content management seamless.
• Flexible transcription options, including the ability to upload and transcribe audio files, so you can manage meeting content your way.

Best For: Teams and professionals looking to efficiently turn meeting discussions into actionable plans without sifting through lengthy transcripts.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams provides built-in transcription and live captioning, making it a strong option for organizations already using the Microsoft 365 suite. While its transcription features may not be as advanced as specialized tools, it offers secure, cloud-based storage of transcripts and integrates smoothly with other Microsoft apps.

Key Features:

• Built-in live transcription and captioning during meetings.
• Integration with Microsoft 365 tools.
• Secure cloud storage and easy access to transcripts.

Best For: Organizations already using Microsoft 365 that need integrated transcription capabilities.

Google Meet

Google Meet offers live captioning to provide real-time transcription during meetings. While it lacks advanced features like automatic summarization or integration with external tools, it’s a convenient option for teams already embedded in the Google Workspace ecosystem.

Key Features:

• Real-time live captioning during meetings.
• Simple and user-friendly interface.
• Seamless integration with Google Workspace apps like Google Docs and Drive.

Best For: Teams using Google Workspace who need basic transcription features integrated with their existing tools.

Trint

Trint is designed for users who need powerful transcription and content management features. It offers real-time transcription, collaborative editing, and easy integration with video editing software. Trint is particularly popular among journalists and content creators who need to turn audio and video into polished content quickly.

Key Features:

• Real-time transcription and collaborative editing.
• Integration with video editing tools like Adobe Premiere Pro.
• AI-driven content management for easy search and retrieval.

Best For: Content creators, journalists, and professionals who need to convert and manage multimedia content.

Otter.ai

Otter.ai is a powerful speech-to-text software that provides real-time transcription for online meetings. It’s equipped with advanced features like speaker identification and collaborative tools, making it a popular choice for teams that need accurate and interactive meeting transcripts.

Key Features:

• Real-time transcription with speaker identification.
• Seamless integration with popular video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Google Meet.
• Collaboration features, including the ability to highlight, comment, and share transcripts.
• Searchable transcripts with options to edit and export in various formats.

Best For: Teams and professionals who require detailed and collaborative meeting transcripts, especially in environments with multiple speakers and the need for follow-up actions.

tl;dv

tl;dv is a versatile speech-to-text software designed for remote teams who need more than just basic transcription. This tool not only transcribes your online meetings in real-time but also allows you to timestamp key moments, making it easier to review and share specific parts of a discussion. With its integrations with platforms like Zoom and Google Meet, tl;dv is a go-to option for teams that want to capture, summarize, and efficiently distribute meeting content.

Key Features:

• Real-time transcription with customizable timestamps to highlight important moments.
• Ability to tag team members in specific parts of the transcript for easy follow-up.
• Integration with video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Google Meet.
• Option to generate summarized versions of transcripts for quick reviews.

Best For: Remote teams and professionals who need a robust tool to capture detailed meeting notes, highlight key moments, and ensure that actionable items are easily accessible and shareable.

Notta

Notta is a user-friendly speech-to-text software that offers real-time transcription for online meetings. It stands out for its multi-language support, making it a great option for teams that operate globally. Notta integrates smoothly with popular conferencing platforms, providing an easy way to capture and manage meeting content across different languages.

Key Features:

• Real-time transcription with support for multiple languages.
• Seamless integration with platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.
• Ability to edit, highlight, and organize transcripts for easy access and review.
• Options to export transcripts in various formats, including PDF and TXT.

Best For: Teams and professionals who require multi-language transcription capabilities, particularly those working in international or multilingual environments, and who need a straightforward tool for capturing and organizing meeting content.

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Wrapping It Up

Using speech-to-text tools for your online meetings is both easy and convenient, thanks to the built-in transcription features of popular platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. While these tools offer basic transcription capabilities, they may not fully meet your needs when it comes to post-meeting analysis and collaboration.

For those who need more than just a simple transcript, Tactiq offers advanced AI-powered features that highlight key insights, action items, and decisions in real-time, making post-meeting reviews more efficient. Download the free Tactiq Chrome Extension today.