TranscribeMe Reviews: Can You Get Paid to Type?

Nowadays, it seems to be many people’s goal to freelance and have home-based jobs. Over the past decade, with the advances in technology, this has become more attainable than ever. However, one of the problems they face is determining whether an opportunity is a work-from-home scam or not.

TranscribeMe is a company that many people look to if they enjoy typing. It’s widely known that online transcription jobs can offer some of the best solutions to make money online from home every month.

While there are plenty of resources out there, it’s best to conduct your own research to see if a job is legitimate or not – TranscribeMe reviews an be helpful. Read our comprehensive TranscribeMe review to determine if TranscribeMe is an appropriate side hustle for you.

What Is TranscribeMe?

TranscribeMe is a company that outsources transcription and translation to people interested in working from home. Those interested in transcribing audio are asked to do the following:

• Listen to audio and video files
• Produce text to match what they are hearing

Each step of the process is completed right on their website.

Once you gain experience in their transcribing roles, you can apply for proofreading and editing jobs as well. All of these data entry transcribers are hired in a freelancer / independent contractor capacity.

How Does TranscribeMe Work?

Audio files are divided and split into sections that will depend on the overall length of the original audio file. The smaller split audio files are then posted onto the TranscribeMe job board called “Workhub,” and this is where the transcriber comes in.

All of the transcriptions are crowdsourced to humans, and it will be their job to type everything they hear as accurately as possible. Everything you listen to is played through the onsite transcription software, and once this task is complete, you submit your work.

The transcriptions you provide will be manually compared to the audio file to ensure accuracy. Once each of the split sections are transcribed, they will be combined together to match the original audio source before distributing it back to the client.

Is TranscribeMe Legit?

Online reviews seem to vary and provide different stories. However, TranscribeMe is legit. In fact, as far as work from home companies go, TranscribeMe is possibly one of the most popular transcription companies out there due to its straightforward nature.

When it comes to working for TranscribeMe, there is one thing you should not underestimate — how tough a transcription job can be. It’s quite a tricky skill and sometimes time consuming to master, so if you want to earn some cash, it’s worth honing this skill before you consider working with TranscribeMe.

If, however, you want to enhance your skills on the job, TranscribeMe is also open to working with beginners, and there are no arduous tests to pass before joining.

We couldn’t find any reviews suggesting this was a work at home scam or claims of any other scams relating to TranscribeMe for that matter.

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What Is the TranscribeMe Application Process?

The hiring process for TranscribeMe is a simple one, and you don’t need any prior experience, live in a certain location, and there are no specific equipment requirements. However, you must have a high school diploma, speak and write fluently in English, have access to internet (high-speed internet helps) via Google Chrome, and have fast typing skills.

Apply for the Job. The first step you need to take is to register online. You will need to fill in some basic information — there is nothing intrusive, and no need to fill out your work history.

TranscribeMe Overview. The next step is watching a short explanation video that will guide you through the whole application process. You’ll also learn how the transcription process works and how to navigate the TranscribeMe website.

Entrance Exam. The final step is the entrance TranscribeMe exam. While the word “exam” may strike fear into some, this one is rather easy. You will only need to answer two multiple-choice quizzes on their styling guide. Just be sure to review their style guide before testing to give yourself the best chance. You must score 100% on this portion.

Then you also have to transcribe three audio clips that are around six minutes long. You have three attempts to retest if needed. You need to score at least 98% on this portion in order to get accepted.

Should your transcription pass the accuracy requirements, you are accepted into the program. Then, you can start making money online each month, all while working from home!

If you want to hit it out of the park, try out the best headphones and foot pedals to ensure precision and typing speed.

What Does TranscribeMe Pay?

So, now that you know that TranscribeMe is legit, you may also wonder how much they pay.

There are a ton of TranscribeMe reviews out there, and every one of them says different things about what TranscribeMe pays. Well, here are the real figures!

TranscribeMe boasts $15 to $22 per audio hour for regular transcription services.

That translates to $0.25 to $0.36 per minute depending on your speed.

However, if you are very accurate, you can qualify for TranscribeMe’s Special Teams where you can transcribe medical, legal, and other specialty topics due to their complexity and uncommon terminology. These pay on average between $60 and $70+ per audio hour.

With little to no experience and having the ability to work at home, the pay rate is decent.

Please note that the industry standards say that it takes 4 to 8 minutes to transcribe 1 minute of audio. This is why it’s so important to be efficient. The more quickly you can decipher and transcribe the audio, the more you will get paid. For those who don’t know, a foot pedal may increase your audio transcription speed.

TranscribeMe does offer the occasional opportunity for special requirement files as well, which will require that you speak another language. This means that if you’re multilingual, you can potentially begin earning money above the normal rate.

TranscribeMe makes payments weekly via PayPal. Providing you have a minimum of $20 in your account, you can request a payment. You should know that they do not offer other payment methods at this time.

On average, you could make between $150 – $250 in extra income per month. So while it won’t pay the mortgage, it is an excellent side hustle option.

Privacy and System Requirements

TranscribeMe takes privacy seriously, dividing content into sections or micro-tasks to ensure no transcriber has access to full audio files. Instead, the content is crowdsourced. Any project could have a handful of transcriptionists converting audio into written content. TranscribeMe then puts it all together for the client.

The good news is you don’t need special equipment to work for TranscribeMe. You just need a computer, a stable internet connection, and a Chrome browser. In addition, TranscribeMe suggests you have a quality pair of headphones or earbuds, and they allow foot pedals if you already have one, but they aren’t required.

TranscribeMe Reviews

Check out the good and the bad according to those on Glassdoor. 

The Good

• “Work from home, flexible, do it when you want” 
• “Freedom to work whenever you like although there is a quota system now.” 
• “Flexible hours and can take tests to advance”

The Bad

• “Really hard to pass entry exam and low pay” 
• “You have to take exams to advance and get on specialty teams to make more money.” 
• “Despite my typing an average of 95 wpm, their page requirements took a minimum of 20 hours per week to complete, even weeks after training was complete.”

Similar Options to TranscribeMe

TranscribeMe isn’t the only option for freelancing transcribers. Here are other options too.

Upwork

Upwork is a marketplace for freelancers. You can create a freelancer profile and offer transcription services. On Upwork, businesses post their need for a transcriptionist, and you can use your credits or ‘Connects’ to bid on the job.

Because other freelancers are bidding for the job, too, you may have to go through an interview, depending on what the business owner wants. You may also find it’s hard to get a good-paying gig on there because of the large amount of competition, some who lowball the offers.

Fiverr

Fiverr is another freelancer marketplace that brings together business owners and freelancers. On Fiverr, you create a profile and ‘gigs.’ You can create a basic gig and then upsell with two higher gigs, such as for a larger work count, or include services like editing.

Buyers view your gigs and decide if they want to work with you. They can message you through the platform, and all work and payment go through it too. Fiverr has over 4.2 million buyers that come through daily, giving you many opportunities to get in front of buyers.

Rev.com

Rev.com is similar to TranscribeMe, as it crowdsources its transcribing needs. It has opportunities for new transcribers and pays weekly through PayPal. Rev.com also offers job opportunities for captioning and translating.

CrowdSurf

CrowdSurf is just like TranscribeMe, offering transcribers small files to transcribe. This makes it easy to fit small bits of work in during your free time. To work for CrowdSurf, you must have a Work Market account. 

Transcribers on CrowdSurf transcribe anything from important interviews to cartoons to make it more accessible for everyone. In addition, CrowdSurf provides all the necessary training to succeed.

Casting Words

CastingWords is another crowdsourced opportunity for transcription. Like TranscribeMe, they break up large audio files into smaller bits and farm them out to many transcribers. But, again, you can work as little or as much as you want, and they have a graded pay scale that pays freelancers more per hour as their quality of work improves.

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TranscribeMe Pros and Cons

Pros

• You can work as much as little as you want on your own schedule
• You don’t need expensive equipment to get started
• Offers competitive pay for the industry and pays weekly via PayPal

Cons

• There’s no guaranteed work will be available when you can work
• It can be hard to get work when you first start
• You get only two chances to pass the test

Transcription Challenges

Transcription can be a great way to make money, but it’s not without challenges. Here are the most common issues transcriptionists face.

Background Noise

If the audio isn’t clear because of too much background noise, it can take longer to transcribe it. If you constantly have to review the audio to decipher what’s being said while accounting for the background noise, it can decrease your hourly rate because transcribing takes more time when it’s unclear.

Poor Annunciation

If the speaker doesn’t annunciate their words well, it can be hard to tell what they’re saying. This, too, can decrease your productivity as you go back and forth trying to determine what they’re saying. Fortunately, you can use the context of the words around what you couldn’t understand, but there’s a higher risk of mistakes with poorly annunciated words.

Unfamiliar Vocabulary

If you’re transcribing for an industry you aren’t very familiar with or happen to have a speaker with a more extensive vocabulary than yours, it could be hard to understand what’s being said. As a result, you may spend time looking words up or risk making more errors.

Benefits of Working for TranscribeMe

Good Work-Life Balance

Because you can work your transcription job whenever you want, you can maintain a good work-life balance because you’re in charge. You decide when you work. For example, if your kids have a soccer game, you can choose to go and work hours later that night when they are sleeping. This can make it much less stressful to work and have a family.

You can Earn Extra Income

Whether you work full-time or stay at home with the kids and want to earn extra income for the household, you are in charge of how much you make. If you need more money, you can work more, and if you’re in a good position with your budget, you can work less. Because you get paid weekly, controlling your income as needed is easy.

You can Start Working Right Away

The TranscribeMe application process is simple, allowing you to start working right away if you need money. This is a great option for parents who stay home and need money fast or anyone who wants to start a side hustle to contribute to the household income. There are few barriers to working right away, making it a great way to start.

FAQs

How Flexible Are TranscribeMe’s Working Hours?

You set your own hours when working for TranscribeMe. The key is whether work is available when you log in, which can vary daily.

How Long Does It Take to Get an Interview After Applying to TranscribMe?

TranscribeMe doesn’t require an interview. Instead, their interview is an exam. Once you pass the exam (you get two chances), they’ll activate your account usually within a couple of days.

How Often Does Transcribe Me Pay Out?

TranscribeMe pays via PayPal weekly, but you can request a payout if you have $20 in your account.

Does TranscribeMe Offer Health Insurance?

Transcribers on TranscribeMe are independent contractors, so there are no insurance benefits. You are responsible for insurance, taxes, and other benefits. 

TranscribeMe Review: Boost Your Income as a Transcriptionist

Overall, TranscribeMe is legit and can be a great addition to your existing income as a part-time job where you have a flexible work at home job. You probably would not be able to use TranscribeMe as a full-time job, though. The availability of jobs would not provide a sufficient income, unlike what some TranscribeMe reviews may say.

Glassdoor gives TranscribeMe a 3.5 star overall review, among other work at home jobs.

There are many higher-paying jobs out there, or you can build up your own business.

However, if you are looking for a work from home job to add to your portfolio and a job where you work alone, TranscribeMe could be one of the better options available. It’s easy to sign up for, flexible to your schedule, and available all over the world.

Start making extra money with TranscribeMe today!

Check out the video review below from NoScamReviews talking about TranscribeMe if you want to learn more.

Have you ever used TranscribeMe to make extra money? If not, will you start after reading this TranscribeMe review? Let us know in the comments!