The three most searched transcription tools in 2026 are VOCAP, Otter.ai, and Descript. Each has a different focus: VOCAP combines transcription with intelligent analysis, Otter specializes in real-time meetings, and Descript is a text-based video editor.
In this comparison, we analyze in detail pricing, accuracy, AI features, integrations, and use cases to help you choose the right tool for your situation.
Quick summary: VOCAP wins on price and AI analysis. Otter excels at real-time transcription. Descript is ideal if you need to edit video.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | VOCAP | Otter.ai | Descript |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per hour | From €0.50 | ~€1.50 | ~€2 |
| Accuracy | 95-98% | 90-95% | 93-96% |
| AI analysis | Complete (Claude) | Basic | No |
| Auto summary | Yes | Yes | No |
| Task extraction | Yes | Limited | No |
| Real-time | No | Yes | No |
| Video editing | No | No | Yes |
| Zoom integration | Yes | Yes | No |
| Free trial | 30 min | 300 min/month | 3h/month |
| Transcription engine | OpenAI Whisper | Proprietary | Proprietary + Whisper |
Pricing Comparison
Price is one of the most important factors when choosing a transcription tool, especially if you transcribe large volumes of audio.
VOCAP - Most affordable
- Credits: 1h for €1.99, 5h for €7.99, 12h for €14.99, 30h for €29.99
- Subscriptions: Starter 5h (€7.99/mo), Pro 15h (€14.99/mo), Business 40h (€39.99/mo)
- Effective price: €0.50 - €1 per hour depending on plan
- Included: Transcription + complete AI analysis (summary, tasks, decisions)
Otter.ai - Limited free plan
- Free: 300 min/month (30 min per file limit)
- Pro: $16.99/month (1200 min/month) ≈ €15.50
- Business: $30/month per user
- Effective price: ~€1.50 per hour (Pro plan)
Descript - Most expensive for transcription only
- Free: 3h of transcription/month
- Creator: $15/month (10h transcription)
- Pro: $30/month (30h transcription)
- Effective price: ~€2 per hour
Price winner: VOCAP
With prices starting at €0.50/hour (subscription) and AI analysis included, VOCAP offers the best value.
Accuracy Comparison
VOCAP uses OpenAI Whisper, the most advanced transcription model available. Whisper was trained on massive multilingual data, achieving 95-98% accuracy with good quality audio across 50+ languages.
Descript also offers good accuracy (93-96%) with a hybrid approach using both proprietary and Whisper models.
Otter.ai uses a proprietary engine optimized primarily for English, with accuracy ranging from 90-95%.
Accuracy winner: VOCAP
OpenAI Whisper provides the highest accuracy available in any transcription tool today.
AI Features
Beyond basic transcription, AI features can save you hours of work.
VOCAP - Complete analysis with Claude AI
VOCAP integrates Anthropic Claude to analyze each transcription. It automatically generates:
- Executive summary: Key points in 2-3 paragraphs
- Tasks / Action items: Commitments and next steps identified
- Decisions made: What was agreed during the conversation
- Key points: Main ideas structured
- Notable quotes: Relevant phrases for reference
- Tone analysis: Assessment of conversation climate
All included in the price, no extra cost.
Otter.ai - Basic analysis
Otter offers automatic summaries and action item extraction. These features work well in English but have limited functionality in other languages.
Descript - No content analysis
Descript doesn't include intelligent content analysis. Its focus is video editing, not text processing.
AI analysis winner: VOCAP
The only one with comprehensive AI analysis using Claude, included in the price.
VOCAP in Detail
VOCAP
Whisper transcription + intelligent analysis with Claude AI
VOCAP combines the best of both worlds: the most accurate transcription on the market (OpenAI Whisper) with cutting-edge intelligent analysis (Anthropic Claude). Get not just text, but insights.
Ideal use case: Professionals who need to transcribe meetings, interviews, or content and want to automatically extract useful information.
Pros
- Best market price
- AI analysis included (no extra cost)
- Highest accuracy (Whisper)
- Automatic Zoom integration
- 30 free minutes to try
Cons
- No real-time transcription
- No native mobile app
- No speaker identification
Otter.ai in Detail
Otter.ai
Real-time transcription focused on meetings
Otter is one of the most well-known tools, especially in the English-speaking market. Its main differentiator is real-time transcription during Zoom, Teams, and Meet meetings. Watch text appear as you speak.
Ideal use case: Teams that work exclusively in English and need to follow meetings in real-time with automatic notes.
Pros
- Real-time transcription
- Speaker identification
- Native Zoom/Teams/Meet integration
- Complete mobile app
Cons
- Limited multilingual support
- Higher price than VOCAP
- Basic AI analysis
- Very limited free plan
Descript in Detail
Descript
Text-based video/audio editor
Descript isn't primarily a transcription tool: it's a video editor where you edit by deleting text. The transcription is the means, not the end. Delete a word from the text and it disappears from the video.
Ideal use case: Podcasters, YouTubers, and content creators who need to edit video/audio and want a more intuitive way to do it.
Pros
- Text-based video editing
- Automatic filler word removal
- Social media clip generation
- Speaker identification
Cons
- High price for just transcription
- Steep learning curve
- No AI content analysis
- Requires app installation
Verdict: Which to Choose
General rule: If you want more than just text (summaries, tasks, decisions), VOCAP is the best choice. If you need real-time transcription, Otter. If you need to edit video, Descript.
Choose VOCAP if...
- You want intelligent analysis (summary, tasks, decisions) included
- You're looking for the best price per hour
- You transcribe Zoom meetings and want automatic summaries
- You don't need real-time transcription
- You value accuracy above all else
Choose Otter.ai if...
- You work exclusively in English
- You need to see transcription appear in real-time
- You want automatic speaker identification
- Your team already uses Otter (network effect)
Choose Descript if...
- You're a podcaster, YouTuber, or content creator
- You need to edit video/audio, not just transcribe
- You want to automatically remove filler words
- You create clips for social media
Try VOCAP free
30 minutes of transcription with complete AI analysis. No credit card required.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper: VOCAP, Otter, or Descript?
VOCAP is the most affordable option with prices starting at €0.50/hour (subscription) or €1/hour (credits). Otter costs approximately €1.50/hour and Descript around €2/hour. Additionally, VOCAP includes AI analysis at no extra cost.
Which has the best accuracy?
VOCAP offers the best accuracy (95-98%) thanks to OpenAI Whisper, the most advanced transcription model available. Descript achieves 93-96%, while Otter.ai ranges from 90-95%.
Which includes AI analysis features?
VOCAP is the only one that includes comprehensive AI analysis (Claude): generates executive summaries, extracts tasks, identifies decisions, and analyzes tone. Otter has basic analysis, and Descript doesn't include content analysis.
Can I use all three tools for free?
Yes, all three offer free trials: VOCAP gives 30 minutes without credit card, Otter offers 300 minutes/month (with 30 min per file limit), and Descript allows 3 hours/month. VOCAP is the only one that includes complete AI analysis in the free trial.