5 Best Websites to Find Transcription Work in 2021
I started my freelance journey doing freelance transcription work. I kind of walked into it really. I am a very fast, accurate typist and I was in the right place at the right time, when someone stated the company they worked for needed more transcriptionists.
Since that time, I’ve evolved into someone who not only still transcribes but also summary writes, edits, writes blogs and website and book content, and more. I also still do work for that original company that hired me to transcribe for them over 16 years ago.
However, for some of you who are looking to get into freelance transcription work as part of your freelance journey, you may be wondering where to begin to find such work. Well, have no fear. In this article I will guide you to the best transcription sites I’ve found for finding freelance work.
Now I will warn you that you won’t get rich working for these transcription sites. You will always do better working directly for a client who is looking to get content transcribed. However, most clients generally go to these transcription sites to have their content transcribed rather than directly to a transcriber because it’s cheaper. Therefore, working for the companies below will offer you the most regular work and consistent paychecks.
I would suggest that you sign up for and get accepted to at least two of these sites in order to keep your schedule filled with work. Occasionally, these sites don’t have work for a day or so and it’s nice to have a backup to go to when that happens.
Another thing to be aware of is the fact that you will have to pass a transcription test on almost all sites before you’re accepted as a transcriptionist for them. However, in most cases, you don’t have to have any experience as a transcriptionist because most sites will train you on their style of transcription.
Rev
Rev is a company that I work for occasionally when I have a gap in work between clients or when I just want to make some extra cash. They are a really great company to work for and usually have work in the queue for anyone who wants it.
They have a scale that they use to grade its transcribers that is very easily seen in your Dashboard once you are accepted as a transcriptionist for them. They are also very easy to work with in that they will let you know what you need to improve if there is improvement needed.
As you become more established with them and prove your competency, you become eligible to work on jobs that will pay you more that are only reserved for those with exceptional skills.
Rev is one of my favorite companies to work with because, unlike some transcription companies, you can work whenever you want. You are not locked into a certain amount of time per week. This is especially important for freelancers like me who often have projects from clients that require my full attention for weeks at a time. When I am in between jobs, I head over to Rev to fill in some financial gaps and boost my rating with them.
TranscribeMe!
TranscribeMe! is another site that I’ve worked for in the past. They pay very well and you can work whenever you want, which is the flexibility that a freelancer needs. I highly recommend TranscribeMe! especially for the experienced transcriber.
They have very high standards and passing their entrance exams can be quite challenging even for a writer like me, so this is not the site for someone who does not have great command of the English language or a great work ethic.
I also highly recommend that once you pass the entrance exams you regularly fit in jobs from TranscribeMe! into your schedule because if you stay away too long, you will have to retake those tough entrance exams and just because you passed them the first time, doesn’t mean you will the second time. Trust me on that one.
That being said, TranscribeMe! offers a steady stream of transcription work on a fairly regular basis. Clients that use TranscribeMe! are from many different industries and offer plenty of variety for the freelance transcriptionist.
Daily Transcription
Daily Transcription touts itself as paying higher rates than Rev, TranscribeMe!, and others. I have not worked with them yet (I’m considering adding them to my freelance pool) but they look very promising and are frequently referred to in lists for freelance transcription work.
They also allow you to work whenever is best for your freelance schedule and pay you weekly. Like the other sites, you will take an entrance exam and they will offer training, feedback, and coaching on your work.
Daily Transcription is open to all levels of transcriptionists from the beginner to the advanced. However, they are looking for people who are detail-oriented, can adhere to strict deadlines, and have a penchant for perfectionism. If that sounds like you, you might want to give them a try.
UpWork
Although not strictly a transcription site, UpWork is a great place to look for freelance transcription jobs. With UpWork you could actually wind up working directly for the transcription client, which could lead to a long-term freelance transcription position with them if they like your work. You may also wind up working for a transcription company like the ones described in this article. The variety is endless.
UpWork is a great place to look for transcription clients that you can make your regular clients. As stated a moment ago, finding transcription clients here is a great way to build up your client base for your freelance transcription business. So, don’t overlook this option just because it’s not a site dedicated to transcription work.
Transcription Outsourcing, LLC
Transcription Outsourcing, LLC is another transcription website that looks to be very promising for getting great quality transcription work and pay rates. They, like most transcription companies, require transcriptionists take an entrance exam and pass with 95% accuracy to be considered as a transcriptionist for their company.
Transcription Outsourcing, LLC only hires transcriptionist from the United States so if you’re located anywhere else in the world you’ll have to try one of the other sites in this article.
Transcription Outsourcing, LLC provides transcription for all kinds of industries from medical to academic to law enforcement to legal to financial sectors. Although I, myself, have not yet worked with this company, they seem to be very oriented towards industries with high-standards and tight deadlines.
I would recommend this site to any transcriptionist that has some experience and wants to up their freelance transcription work game.
Conclusion
These are just 5 of the top transcription companies that I would recommend for finding freelance transcription work. There are many others out there as well but just make sure you do your due diligence before choosing a company to work for.
Be wary of transcription companies that don’t require onboarding tasks like entrance exams, typing skills tests, and English competency tests. Sites that don’t require those items may be scams or at the very least pay terribly and require a set time commitment from you.
However, once you find a transcription site or two or three that you want to work for, you can be well on your way to building your income and status as a professional transcriptionist on your freelancers life journey.
Do you already do freelance transcription work? If so, let us know about your experience with these sites and others that you find. Which ones do you love and which ones do you hate? Help us and others find the best places for freelance transcription work by posting in the comments below.
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Veronica Buhl is a freelance social media manager and author, who has been a writer, editor, proofreader, summary writer, and transcriptionist for some of the top motivational and self-improvement speakers in the world. She has also helped numerous clients develop their websites, blogs, and social media presence in order to promote their businesses, non-profits, and projects. She is the author of the book, Making Your Business A Social Media Superstar, and is co-author of the book, The Massage Disadvantage. Her official website can be found at www.veronicabuhl.com
