Local WebGPU Accelerated Free Forever Open Source

Free Audio Transcription
That Never Leaves Your Browser

Transcriber I Hardly Knew Her — AI-powered speech-to-text transcription with flexible processing options. Run 100% locally with WebGPU acceleration, or use server-side transcription for mobile devices. No cloud storage, complete privacy.
Your audio and transcripts stay private. Always.

Start Transcribing Free

No account required • Works offline • Unlimited use

Why Private Audio Transcription Matters

Every major transcription service uploads your audio to their servers. Your medical notes. Legal consultations. Therapy sessions. Business meetings.

They say they delete it. Some probably do. But why risk your sensitive audio data?

We built TIHKH because we needed transcription we could trust. Everything runs locally using WebAssembly and OpenAI's Whisper AI model — the same technology powering premium transcription services, but completely private.

How to Transcribe Audio in 3 Simple Steps

01

Upload Audio or Record

Drop an MP3, WAV, M4A, or OGG file, or record directly in your browser. Your microphone data stays private.

02

Choose Your Processing Mode

Local mode: AI runs in your browser with WebGPU acceleration. Server mode: Fast processing for mobile devices.

03

Export Your Transcript

Read, edit, copy, or export your transcription as text. It's completely yours.

Technical note: Local mode leverages WebGPU for faster processing when available. First use downloads the Whisper AI model (~75MB). After that, local transcription works completely offline.

Who Needs Private Audio Transcription?

Healthcare Providers

Transcribe patient notes and medical dictation without HIPAA compliance concerns — no data ever leaves your device.

Journalists & Reporters

Protect confidential sources with transcription that never touches external servers.

Lawyers & Legal Teams

Preserve attorney-client privilege with secure, local transcription of depositions and consultations.

Therapists & Counselors

Keep therapy session notes completely confidential with browser-based transcription.

Academic Researchers

Transcribe research interviews and maintain full control over sensitive participant data.

Privacy-Conscious Professionals

Anyone who values data privacy for meeting notes, voice memos, and audio content.

Free Local Transcription vs. Cloud Transcription Services

Transcriber I Hardly Knew Her

  • Local or server processing options
  • WebGPU accelerated for fast local transcription
  • Free forever — no hidden costs
  • Unlimited transcription minutes
  • Works completely offline (local mode)
  • Open source (MIT License)
  • Mobile-friendly with server option

Otter, Descript, Rev, etc.

  • Cloud-only processing
  • No GPU acceleration control
  • $10–30/month subscription
  • Usage caps and limits
  • Internet connection required
  • Proprietary, closed source
  • Your audio stored on their servers

Cloud transcription services like Otter.ai, Descript, and Rev offer great products. But if privacy matters for your audio content, uploading sensitive recordings to third-party servers is a risk. TIHKH gives you professional-quality transcription with zero data exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions About Free Audio Transcription

Is the transcription service actually free?
Yes, completely free. No trial period, no credit card, no hidden fees. Since all transcription processing runs in your browser, we have no server costs to pass on to you. Transcriber I Hardly Knew Her is free forever.
How accurate is the AI transcription?
We use OpenAI's Whisper model — the same AI technology powering most premium paid transcription services. Transcription accuracy is comparable to services charging $10-30/month.
What audio file formats are supported?
TIHKH supports MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG, WebM, and most common audio formats. You can also record audio directly in your browser using your microphone.
Does audio transcription work offline?
Yes! After the first use (when the browser downloads the 75MB Whisper AI model), transcription works 100% offline. No internet connection required.
Where is my transcription data stored?
All data is stored locally in your browser's IndexedDB. You can export or delete your transcripts anytime. We literally cannot access your data — it never leaves your device.
Is this transcription HIPAA compliant?
Since no audio data ever leaves your browser, there's no server-side storage or transmission to worry about. Your audio recordings and transcripts remain entirely on your local device, making it ideal for healthcare providers who need to maintain patient privacy.
Can I self-host this transcription app?
Absolutely. Transcriber I Hardly Knew Her is open source under the MIT License. Clone the repository from GitHub and run it on your own infrastructure.
Does transcription work on mobile devices?
Yes, TIHKH works on mobile browsers. On devices with WebGPU support, you can use local transcription. Otherwise, use server-side transcription for fast, accurate results without taxing your device.
How long does transcription take?
With WebGPU acceleration, expect near real-time processing on modern devices. Without GPU, roughly 1-2 minutes of processing per minute of audio. Server-side transcription is consistently fast regardless of your device.
How do you make money if it's free?
We don't — this is a passion project built for ourselves and shared with the community. We may add optional paid features in the future, but the core transcription functionality will always remain free.

Start Transcribing Audio for Free

No sign-up required. No credit card. Just private, accurate transcription.

Launch Transcriber Free

View source on GitHub | Open source under MIT License