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10 Companies Hiring Beginner Transcriptionists (No Experience Needed!)

Updated: 2 days ago

Looking for a flexible way to make money from home—even with zero experience? Transcription might just be your next favorite side hustle.


Whether you’re a fast typist, a detail-lover, or just want to work at your own pace, transcription offers a low-barrier entry into the world of remote work. And the best part? You don’t need any special gear to get started—just a laptop, headphones, and a solid internet connection.


Here are 10 legit companies that hire beginner transcriptionists and actually pay you to type. Let’s dive in!





CrowdSurf focuses on helping the hearing-impaired by providing real-time captions and transcriptions for online media. They offer short, manageable clips—most under 10 minutes.

  • Pay: Up to $0.20 per media minute (~$12 per audio hour)

  • Platform: Sign up through Work Market

  • Great for: Beginners who want bite-sized tasks and quick wins


Crowdsurf homepage

A UK-based company that hires globally, GoTranscript is beginner-friendly and offers a mix of audio and video transcription projects.

  • Pay: Up to $0.60 per audio minute (~$36 per audio hour)

  • Payouts: Weekly via PayPal or Payoneer

  • Bonus: Top transcribers can earn over $1,200/month


GoTranscript Crowdsurf homepage


Quicktate is all about short-form audio—voicemails, memos, and medical notes. You start small but can level up to iDictate, their higher-paying partner site.

  • Pay: Roughly 1 cent per 4 words

  • Requirement: $20 background check fee

  • Perk: Weekly PayPal payouts


Quicktate homepage

4. Rev

Rev is one of the most popular names in the transcription game. They offer transcription, captioning, and even subtitling jobs.

  • Pay: $0.30 to $1.10 per audio minute

  • Monthly Earnings: Average $245; top earners make $1,500+

  • Gear Needed: Just a laptop and internet—no fancy tools


Rev homepage

Perfect for people who want to work on their own schedule, Scribie lets you pick and choose files after passing a short test.

  • Pay: $5 to $20 per audio hour

  • Perk: Daily PayPal payouts

  • Extra Help: Comes with automated transcripts to speed things up


Scribie homepage

TranscribeMe is great for total beginners. You’ll start with short clips (less than 5 minutes) and work your way up.

  • Pay: $15–$22 per audio hour

  • Payouts: Weekly via PayPal

  • Tools: Use Google Chrome and a stable internet connection


TranscribeMe homepage

While not strictly a transcription company, Upwork is a massive freelance marketplace where many clients post transcription jobs. Beginners can start with low-competition gigs to build their portfolio.

  • Pay: Varies based on client, but many pay $15–$30/hour

  • Perk: Long-term clients and room to grow your freelance career

  • Tip: Use keywords like “transcription entry-level” to find easy-start projects


Upwork homepage


CastingWords is known for offering flexible transcription work with a clear grading system. Higher-quality work earns higher pay, even for beginners.

  • Pay: $0.085–$1.00+ per audio minute depending on quality score

  • Application: Simple grammar test to get started

  • Bonus: U.S. and international applicants welcome


CastingWords homepage

GMR Transcription focuses more on academic, legal, and business transcription. They require a little more time commitment, but the pay is solid.

  • Pay: $15–$25 per audio hour (can be more for complex files)

  • Requirements: Must pass a test, and U.S. applicants only

  • Note: Requires a minimum commitment of 4 hours of audio per month and they only hire through job boards.


GMR homepage


Tigerfish has been around for over 30 years and works with a wide variety of clients, from market research to media companies.




  • Pay: Around $0.005–$0.007 per word

  • Application: Requires a test transcription with specific formatting

  • Perk: Great for people who enjoy detailed, polished work


TigerFish homepage


💡 A Quick Tip About “Audio Hour” Pay

When you see pay rates like "$20 per audio hour," remember: transcribing one hour of audio can take 3 to 4 hours of actual work—especially when you're just starting out. Be patient, take breaks, and focus on accuracy. With time, you’ll get faster and can move into better-paying gigs!


🎯 Final Thoughts

Transcription is one of the most beginner-friendly online jobs out there. Whether you want a side hustle that fits into nap time, study breaks, or late-night hours—there’s something here for you.

So, which company are you going to try first?

Let us know in the comments! And if you found this helpful, share it with a friend who's looking for their next side hustle!


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