How to transcribe a voice memo to text
Get the memo out as a file, then pick one of three ways. One-off memo: Nerpa's free web tool - drop the file at nerpa.work/tools/free-transcription, no signup, up to 35 minutes, text with timestamps in seconds. Record regularly: the Nerpa Mac app - unlimited transcription that runs on your Mac, plus summaries for every recording. Never upload anything: local Whisper (whisper.cpp or MacWhisper) - free but fiddly.
Step 1: get the memo out as a file
Transcription tools work with files, so first export the memo:
- On Mac: open Voice Memos, right-click the memo, choose Export - you get an .m4a file. (Where memos actually live on disk is a story of its own - see where Voice Memos are stored on Mac and the local-files guide.)
- On iPhone: tap the memo, share it - to yourself via AirDrop, Mail, or Files. The .m4a arrives as a normal file.
- Other recorders: any MP3, M4A, WAV, OGG, OPUS, FLAC, AAC - or a video file (MP4, MOV, WEBM, MKV) - works just as well.
Way 1: the free web tool (no signup)
For a memo you need once, this is the whole answer:
- Open nerpa.work/tools/free-transcription in any browser, on Mac, iPhone, or Windows.
- Drop the file or pick it from Files. Pass the quick human check.
- Read the text - with timestamps and speaker labels - right on the page. Copy it, or download as TXT, SRT, or VTT.
The limits are simple: up to 35 minutes and 200 MB per file, 3 files per day, no account. And the file handling is stated plainly: audio is deleted right after transcription (within 24 hours at most), the text stays available for 24 hours, nothing is used for training, and the transcription runs on Nerpa's own hardware - not a third-party cloud AI.
Transcribe your memo now
Free, no signup: drop an MP3, M4A, WAV, or video file up to 35 minutes and get text with timestamps in seconds.
Latest stable release. Requires macOS 12+
Way 2: the Mac app, for regulars
If voice memos are part of your week - dictations, walking notes, interviews - the browser dance gets old. The Nerpa Mac app does the same transcription on your Mac, with no length limit and no per-day cap, and wraps it in a workflow:
- Record in the app, or drop a memo onto the library - it transcribes locally, with speaker labels.
- Every recording gets an automatic title and summary; decisions and action items come from calls it records itself (it captures meetings without a bot joining).
- The raw audio stays in a plain folder on your Mac - your file, standard format, forever.
Local transcription is unlimited and free; AI extras run on a simple credits plan (from free to $80 lifetime).
Way 3: fully local Whisper
The zero-upload route, for sensitive material:
- Install whisper.cpp from the command line, or a wrapper app like MacWhisper.
- Pull the model you want (larger = better on names and accents, slower on older Macs).
- Point it at the memo file and wait.
Three ways compared
| Free web tool | Nerpa Mac app | Local Whisper | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signup | None | Free account | None |
| Length limit | 35 min / 200 MB, 3 per day | Unlimited, on-device | Unlimited |
| Timestamps + speaker labels | Yes, with TXT/SRT/VTT export | Yes | Timestamps; labels rarely |
| Audio leaves your machine | Yes - deleted right after, EU-run own hardware | No (local transcription) | No |
| Summaries / action items | No | Yes | No |
| Effort | None | Install once | Real setup |
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free way to transcribe a voice memo?
Yes - Nerpa's free web tool: MP3, M4A, WAV, and video files up to 35 minutes and 200 MB, no account, up to 3 files per day, with TXT, SRT, and VTT export. The Mac app adds unlimited on-device transcription.
How do I transcribe a voice memo on my iPhone?
Share the memo from Voice Memos, open the free transcription tool in Safari, and upload the file. It works in the browser, needs no app install, and returns copyable text with timestamps.
What happens to my audio after transcription?
With the free tool the audio is deleted as soon as the text is ready (within 24 hours at most), the text is kept for 24 hours, and nothing is used for training. Transcription runs on hardware operated by Nerpa, not third-party cloud AI. The Mac app keeps raw audio only in a local folder on your Mac.
Voice memo vs meeting recording - which tool should I use?
A one-off file is what the free tool is for. If you record calls regularly, the Mac app is the better fit: it records the meeting itself, transcribes on-device with no limit, and adds summaries, decisions, and action items.