SpeakWrite
SpeakWrite is a privately held, Austin-based transcription service founded in 1997 that delivers human-powered, 99–100% accurate voice-to-text transcription in approximately three hours to legal, law enforcement, protective services, and other professional clients across the US and Canada.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SpeakWrite does
SpeakWrite is a privately held, Austin-based human-powered transcription services company founded in 1997 that converts audio dictations, interviews, phone calls, videos, virtual meetings, PDFs, and text messages into written documents. It operates a managed workflow platform that routes submitted work to a vetted network of US and Canadian-based typists working 24/7/365, delivering completed documents in approximately three hours with company-stated accuracy of 99–100%. The technology stack runs on Microsoft Azure Government Cloud, supporting HIPAA and CJIS compliance for legal, law enforcement, protective services, financial, insurance, and investigative clients. Notable proprietary components include the patented PhotoNotes™ feature for embedding photos into transcripts, an AI-generated Document Summary capability, and an External API for partner integrations.
The company's commercial model is pay-as-you-go, per-word pricing (1.5 cents single-speaker, 2.25 cents multi-speaker) with no contracts, no monthly fees, and a free trial offering the first three minutes of audio or first page of PDF. Distribution spans a self-serve web portal, iOS/Android/Windows apps, a toll-free dictation line (1-800-DICTATE), an enterprise sales tier with team management and spending caps, and a developer API integrated with platforms including Clio, OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox. A Spanish translation and transcription add-on is offered at $9 per audio minute or $16 per page.
SpeakWrite serves a base of 60,000+ clients across seven primary verticals — legal, law enforcement, protective services, financial advisors, insurance adjusters, private investigators, and general business — with named customers including Chula Vista Police Department and multiple law firms. The company is bootstrapped (no disclosed funding rounds or institutional investors), operates with 11–50 employees, and has begun layering platform features (API, AI summaries, Clio integration) onto its traditional service business.
SpeakWrite firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SpeakWrite
- Legal name
- SpeakWrite Transcription Services
- Website
- https://speakwrite.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SpeakWrite is a privately held, Austin-based transcription service founded in 1997 that delivers human-powered, 99–100% accurate voice-to-text transcription in approximately three hours to legal, law enforcement, protective services, and other professional clients across the US and Canada.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SpeakWrite industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Transcription Services
- NAICS
- Court Reporting and Stenotype Services (561492), Document Preparation Services (56141), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Transcription & Data Capture (Audio/Video to Text) (BPAAAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Speech Recognition, Dictation & Medical Transcription Platforms (HLACAAAI), Dubbing & Voiceover Production (Casting, Recording, Lip-Sync) (MPAHAFAB)
Keywords
Where SpeakWrite is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SpeakWrite business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- English Transcription - Single Speaker: Per-word pricing for English audio/video files with 1 speaker. Minimum 100 words per submission. Charged only for completed work with no monthly fees or contracts.
- English Transcription - Multi Speaker: Per-word pricing for English audio/video files with 2 or more speakers. Higher rate than single speaker due to increased transcription complexity.
- Text/PDF Transcription: Per-word pricing for text-based files, PDFs, and documents submitted for transcription.
- Spanish Audio/Video Translation & Transcription: Per audio minute pricing for Spanish to English translation and transcription. Minimum 1 minute. $9 per audio minute.
- Spanish Written/PDF Translation: Per submitted page pricing for documents written in Spanish to be translated to English or vice versa. $16 per submitted page with 1 page minimum.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | English Single Speaker Audio/Video Transcription at 1.5 cents per word |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | English Multi-Speaker Audio/Video Transcription at 2.25 cents per word |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Text-Based/PDF Transcription |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Spanish Audio/Video Translation & Transcription at $9 per audio minute |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Spanish Written/PDF Translation at $16 per submitted page |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Trial |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
SpeakWrite product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SpeakWrite provides 100% human-powered transcription services that convert audio dictations, interviews, phone calls, videos, virtual meetings, PDFs, and text messages into formatted written documents with 99-100% accuracy and approximately 3-hour standard turnaround. The service is delivered through a web portal, mobile/desktop apps, a toll-free dictation line, and an External API for integration into customer workflows, supported by a network of vetted US and Canadian-based transcriptionists working 24/7/365.
Product overview
SpeakWrite is a human-powered transcription service platform offering a core transcription service with 99-100% accuracy and approximately 3-hour turnaround. The platform operates through a Mobile & Desktop App available on iOS, Android, and Microsoft, plus a Web Portal and External API for developer integration. Additional offerings include Spanish Translation & Transcription, Enterprise Accounts for team management, and numerous features including PhotoNotes (patented photo insertion), Document Summary (AI-generated summaries), Closed Captions, Audio Trim, Templates, Timestamps, View & Listen, Word Lists, and Urgent Job expedited service. Pricing follows a Pay-As-You-Go model with no contracts or monthly fees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SpeakWrite Transcription Services Core human-powered voice-to-text transcription service that converts audio dictations, interviews, phone calls, videos, virtual meetings, PDFs, and text messages into written documents with 99-100% accuracy and approximately 3-hour turnaround. Designed for legal, law enforcement, financial, insurance, protective services, and other professional users.
- Mobile & Desktop App Free downloadable application for iOS, Android, and Microsoft Windows that enables users to dictate, upload audio files or PDFs, link to Dropbox or Google Drive, and access SpeakWrite transcription services from smart devices and desktops.
- External API Developer platform exposing SpeakWrite transcription as an API, enabling organizations such as Clio to integrate automated job submission, transcript delivery, and custom workflow automation directly into their internal systems.
- Spanish Translation & Transcription Bilingual translation and transcription service translating Spanish audio/video to English or English to Spanish at $9 per audio minute, and Spanish written documents at $16 per submitted page. Supports verbatim translation for multilingual documentation needs.
- Enterprise Accounts Team and organization management offering including Team Manager, Billing Manager, Spending Cap, Spending Cap Manager, Productivity Reports, and Workflows features, with dedicated enterprise account management for larger organizations.
- Free Trial Complimentary trial offering the first 3 minutes of audio or first page of PDF transcribed at no charge, allowing prospects to evaluate service quality and turnaround before committing.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3-hour standard turnaround for English transcription vs. days/weeks for manual typing
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use SpeakWrite
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
SpeakWrite technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability6 records
Feature11 records
SpeakWrite partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CliocoreSpeakWrite integration with Clio, the industry-standard legal practice management software used by more than 150,000 legal professionals globally. This integration enables Clio users to automatically route completed transcription files directly into their Clio account, streamlining documentation and improving matter management.
- Microsoft Azure Government CloudcoreInfrastructure partnership using Microsoft Azure Government Cloud for data center operations, security, and compliance. Every facet of data transfer and storage stays housed in US data centers, supporting CJIS compliance requirements for law enforcement and government clients.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SpeakWrite competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Sonix: Sonix is an AI-first transcription platform with per-minute pricing for business and media users. It overlaps with SpeakWrite in the audio-to-text category but lacks human-service depth.
- Speechmatics: Speechmatics provides enterprise-grade AI speech recognition APIs and multilingual transcription. Competes with SpeakWrite in the developer/API segment targeting enterprise workflows.
- Otter.ai: Otter.ai is a venture-backed AI transcription leader targeting meeting notes for business users. It competes in adjacent segments but lacks the regulated-vertical human-service depth that anchors SpeakWrite.
- Trint: Trint offers AI transcription with editorial workflows targeting journalists and media. Comparable to SpeakWrite on the editing/transcript-management experience and per-minute pricing.
Direct peers
- GoTranscript: GoTranscript is an overseas human transcription provider competing on cost with per-minute pricing. It targets similar SMB and academic segments as SpeakWrite, though with different labor economics.
- TranscribeMe: TranscribeMe provides a hybrid human/AI transcription marketplace with academic, legal, and business focus. Comparable to SpeakWrite in serving professionals needing document-grade accuracy across multiple verticals.
- 3Play Media: 3Play Media specializes in video accessibility services including closed captioning and transcription. Comparable in targeting regulated compliance (ADA, FCC) similar to SpeakWrite's CJIS/HIPAA positioning.
- Rev: Rev is the largest direct competitor offering both human and AI transcription services for legal, media, and business verticals. It competes head-to-head with SpeakWrite on per-word pricing, accuracy claims, and turnarounds.
- Way With Words: Way With Words provides human transcription services with per-minute pricing to legal, media, and research clients. Directly comparable to SpeakWrite on model, target verticals, and accuracy claims.
Regional players
- Escribano Transcription Services: Escribano provides transcription services to legal and law-enforcement verticals similar to SpeakWrite. Comparable on vertical focus but operates as a US regional player rather than national platform.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SpeakWrite social profiles
Digital presenceSpeakWrite compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
SpeakWrite financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SpeakWrite leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SpeakWrite funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SpeakWrite M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SpeakWrite
What does SpeakWrite do?
SpeakWrite provides 100% human-powered transcription services that convert audio dictations, interviews, phone calls, videos, virtual meetings, PDFs, and text messages into formatted written documents with 99-100% accuracy and approximately 3-hour standard turnaround. The service is delivered through a web portal, mobile/desktop apps, a toll-free dictation line, and an External API for integration into customer workflows, supported by a network of vetted US and Canadian-based transcriptionists working 24/7/365.
Is SpeakWrite a public or private company?
SpeakWrite is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SpeakWrite founded?
SpeakWrite was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SpeakWrite based?
SpeakWrite is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does SpeakWrite make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. English Transcription - Single Speaker is the primary driver. The others are english Transcription - Multi Speaker, text/PDF Transcription, spanish Audio/Video Translation & Transcription and spanish Written/PDF Translation.
Who are SpeakWrite's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Sonix, Speechmatics, Otter.ai and Trint. Direct peers are GoTranscript, TranscribeMe, 3Play Media, Rev and Way With Words. Escribano Transcription Services is listed as a regional player.
Does SpeakWrite have an API?
Yes. SpeakWrite offers an External API that enables organizations to integrate transcription services directly into their internal systems. The API allows for custom development, job submission automation, and transcript delivery customization. Authentication uses API Keys generated through the Member Account Dev Portal. The platform empowers organizations to integrate SpeakWrite into their workflows, similar to the Clio integration for legal practice management. Developer documentation is at external-api.speakwrite.com/index.html.
What industry is SpeakWrite in?
SpeakWrite's product category is Transcription Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAAAKAI, Transcription & Data Capture (Audio/Video to Text), with a secondary code of HLACAAAI, Speech Recognition, Dictation & Medical Transcription Platforms. Its NAICS code is 561492 and its SIC code is 7374.