Looking for a Sonix alternative?
Per-hour AI transcription pricing made sense when AI was expensive. The costs moved; flat plans pass that through.
Free: 60 min per 30 days, files up to 30 min / 50 MB · Paid plans: 10 to 100 hrs, files up to 2 GB. Big video? Upload just its audio track: same transcript, much faster upload.
Encrypted in transit · audio & video auto-delete in 30 days · never used to train AI
Optional settings
Set this for the most accurate result on quiet or mixed audio.
Get a second copy translated into another language (Pro).
Uncommon words the AI might misspell. List them so they come out right.
Last updated 21 July 2026
Some veteran transcription platforms still price AI transcription by the audio hour, a model from the era when speech AI was genuinely costly to run, often alongside enterprise features like team workspaces and large integration catalogs that the pricing supports.
For individuals and small teams, the math favors flat plans: Trustample's Basic works out around $1.20 per audio hour and Pro around $0.95, with AI summaries, chat, translation and content actions inside the price rather than metered on top. If you don't need enterprise workflow features, you may be subsidizing them.
Teams should think twice before leaving enterprise platforms, though. Shared workspaces, permissions, integration catalogs and admin controls take real work to build, and if your organization depends on them, the per-hour premium is buying something concrete. Trustample today is for the individual or small operation that needs accurate transcripts, a good editor and the AI layer at a flat, predictable price.
Trustample vs Per-hour AI platforms at a glance
| Trustample | Per-hour AI platforms | |
|---|---|---|
| Effective cost/hour | ~$0.95–$1.20 on flat plans | Commonly several dollars per hour |
| Pricing model | Flat monthly pools | Per-hour, or subscription + per-hour |
| Editor | Synced click-to-replay, autosave | Typically strong synced editors too |
| AI features | Included in plans | Often metered or tiered add-ons |
| Team features | Single-user today | Often a category strength |
| Free tier | 60 min/month, renews every 30 days | Often a short one-time trial |
This column describes the category in general. See the note at the end of this page.
How it works
- 1Export your transcripts as DOCX or TXT while your current account is active, so your history stays readable wherever you go.
- 2Pull down any original media files you still need from the platform's storage into your own.
- 3Transcribe one representative recording on Trustample's free tier and compare the editor, accuracy and exports before touching your existing subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why do some platforms still charge per hour?
Partly legacy pricing from when speech AI was expensive, and partly enterprise positioning: team workspaces, integrations and admin features need revenue to support them. Individuals who don't use those features carry the cost.
Is more expensive transcription more accurate?
Not meaningfully, because engine quality has converged across serious tools. Differences you'd notice are in workflow, language handling and what happens after the transcript. Free trials exist precisely so you can test with your own audio.
What would I give up moving to Trustample from an enterprise platform?
Multi-user workspaces and integration catalogs. Trustample is single-user today, with team features on the roadmap. If shared folders and admin controls are essential now, an enterprise-focused platform earns its price.
What does a careful switch from a per-hour platform look like?
Start with your data: export transcripts and download any media you still need while the account is open. Then run one representative file through the free tier and compare side by side. Only cancel once the comparison has settled the question for your audio.
Related pages
The volume-plans comparison
What Does It Cost?The full pricing picture
Audio to Text60 free minutes to test with
Explore everything in Compare or browse all transcription tools.