Can You Really Earn In Scribie In 2023? (Honest Full Review)
Scribie is a leading A.I. generated transcription service that allows freelancers to work online at home. Whether you’re looking for part-time online work or a full-time work-from-home job, Scribie seems to be a convenient solution to earning money. But can you really earn in Scribie in 2023?
You can earn in Scribie in 2023, but you won’t make enough money to replace a regular wage. Scribie pays between $5 and $20 per audio or video hour. This means you get paid per task, and an average task is 4 hours long. So, earning with Scribie is acceptable as a side hustle but not a full-time job.
Scribie has an extensive database of transcribers, many of whom are freelancers and people who need to earn some extra cash. Most people have heard about becoming a transcriber, and it seems like a good way to make extra money, but what do sites like Scribie offer, and does it really pay?
Table of Contents
What Is Scribie? Does It Really Pay?
Scribie has been around since 2008 and is a transcription service with more than 50 000 transcribers.
Scribie offers academic, legal, marketing, podcast, and video transcription, among other transcription services. Scribie uses freelancers to transcribe files for them but pays so little that it doesn’t even cover a minimum wage.
Although Scribie pays per audio hour, it can sometimes take up to 4 hours or more to transcribe one audio file. This means that you’ll be earning $5 or $10 for four hours of work. In addition, audio files can often contain multiple speakers, background noise, and other distractions, making transcribing an audio or video file a lot more complicated.
Transcribing is a challenging task. You need to be focused and accurate and don’t have much room for error. If you consider the difficulty of transcribing, the time it takes to transcribe one file, and what you get paid for it, Scribie does not seem like a great place to freelance.
Scribie could work for those based outside the U.S. and possibly have a weaker currency and a low cost of living. Besides this, Scribie is considered one of the lowest-paying transcription companies to work for.
According to Scribie, if you join as a freelancer, you can earn $400 per month if you are a beginner transcriber. Intermediate transcribers could make $800 monthly, and advanced transcribers could make up to $1600 monthly. These figures are based on working 8 hours every day.
How Does Scribie Work?
Scribie offers two types of plans for their customers. This is the automated plan and the manual plan. The automated plan costs $0.10 per minute of transcribing and offers between 80-95% accuracy with a minimum order of $1 per file.
The manual plan costs $0.80 per minute of transcribing and has a 99% accuracy rate. Customers can also request a customized plan depending on what kind of transcription needs they have. Scribie has an easy platform for their customers; all that is required is they upload their files, pick a plan, make payment, and then download the completed document.
Scribie hires freelancers continuously to transcribe audio and video files. If you want to join Scribie, you must complete an application form via their website. This application involves a couple of steps: signing up, creating a profile, taking a test, and then waiting for your application to be approved.
Here’s how you can join Scribie:
Sign Up
To start working with Scribie, you’ll need to create an account. To create an account, you must enter your name and email address and choose a suitable password. Once you’ve entered all the relevant details, you’ll need to click and accept the terms and conditions and click “sign up” to complete your application.
Email Confirmation
Once Scribie receives your online form, they will send you confirmation via email. Once you receive the confirmation email, click on the link, and you’ll be taken to the profile creation page.
You may also get a popup block stating that you need to link your PayPal account before continuing to set up your profile. In this case, connect your PayPal account first and then continue to the profile creation page.
Profile Creation
Once you receive the confirmation link in your mailbox, you’ll be asked to complete your profile. This requires you to choose a new password and enter more details, like adding a secondary email address, phone number, and residential address and selecting your email notification preferences. Once complete, click “save,” and your profile will be updated.
Test Taking
Once you have completed your Scribie profile, you can navigate to the test section on your Scribie dashboard and start taking the transcription test. Scribie also offers a few practice tests for you to try out before taking the actual test.
If you have experience in transcribing, you could skip this step and move on to taking the actual test, but if you haven’t had any experience in transcribing, you may want to do a couple of practice tests before taking the actual test.
Confirmation
After you’ve taken the test, it will be evaluated by Scribie, and then you’ll be notified if you have met the requirements and passed the test to become a Scribie transcriber. If you do not pass the transcription test, you can re-take the test to see if you can pass it. Scribie allows you to take the test up to ten times.
The application process can take some time. Scribie gets lots of applicants and they’ll need to determine which applicants have the skills to complete their transcription tasks.
What Is The Transcription Process?
If you’re a transcriber for Scribie, you’ll be using their four-method manual transcription service and are required to transcribe a document. All transcription documents need to meet a 99% accuracy rate.
The four-step method that you are required to follow includes these steps:
- File splitting. File splitting is the first step in the manual transcription process, and it involves splitting the audio file into 6-minute intervals.
- Raw transcription phase. Raw transcription involves playing back the audio for each part of the file until it is transcribed accurately as possible. If anything is incomprehensible, it is displayed as blanks in the transcription document.
- Review phase. Once the transcription is complete, the document is reviewed and checked for accuracy. This also involved playing the audio again and filling in any blanks that could be filled in. Speaker tracking and time stamps are added to the document during this phase.
- Proofreading phase. After the review phase, all the audio files are put together and checked for the third time.
- Quality check. The quality check is the final step in the transcription process and involves proofreading and sending the document to the customer.
As a transcriber for Scribie, you can log in to your account at any time and choose a file to transcribe, review, proofread, and submit it. Once your file has been accepted, Scribie will credit your account for completing the transcription.
Scribie will never assign transcription tasks. Transcribers have the freedom to choose the files they want to transcribe.
What Is The Scribie Transcription Bonus?
Scribie offers freelancers a bonus as an incentive to keep working for them. Transcribers get a $5 bonus per 3 audio hours per month. This gets paid into your account for the previous month’s work on the first of each month.
Scribie’s referral program pays transcribers when they refer clients to join Scribie. Transcribers earn a 5% referral and a 2.5% commission when they refer friends and family members to Scribie to become transcribers.
The Pros And Cons Of Using Scribie
Potential transcribers have many transcription companies to choose from, and while most are pretty easy to join, they all have their drawbacks. Scribie is quite well known so many people join Scribie hoping to make enough money, but this isn’t always the case.
Before joining Scribie, consider the pros and cons of transcribing for Scribie and if this is a company you’d like to work for.
The Pros And Cons Of Working For Scribie | |
Pros | Cons |
A large number of freelancers so it’s a trusted companyFree to joinNo signup feesAllows you to work remotelyA flexible work-from-home opportunity that fits into your scheduleMany different types of transcription tasks to choose fromIf you fail the transcription test, you have up to 10 chances to redo it | Payments are only through PayPal.You will receive a grade, and if your grading drops, you won’t receive any more tasks.Low payNo guarantee of jobsLong registration processAudio can be poor quality with lots of background noiseDifficult transcription test |
Other Legit Site Recommendations That Really Pay
Scribie does not pay enough to make a living, but they aren’t the only transcription company that hires freelancers. Other good options include Transcription Outsourcing, GMR, REV, Otter, and Trint.
Why should you work harder when you can work smarter? If Scribie isn’t for you, these transcription companies may be more what you’re looking for, and they pay better!
Transcription Outsourcing (Now Ditto Transcripts)
Transcription outsourcing is an American Transcription service that handles all kinds of transcription work. Clients can choose the timeframe for their projects to be completed and have different prices for different transcription services.
Transcription Outsourcing is always open to welcoming skilled transcriptionists to their team, and it is an excellent opportunity for those looking for remote work. To join Transcription Outsourcing, you’ll need to pass an initiation test with a 95% pass rate.
You’ll be tested on spelling, grammar, and a narrative file with one person and a multiple-person interview. The type of test will depend on what kind of transcription you want to do.
Transcription Outsourcing pays differently for different types of transcriptions. The following are the general pay rates for different types of transcriptions:
- Medical transcriptions – $0.07 – $0.10 per line
- Legal and law enforcements transcriptions – $0.80 – $1.10 per minute
- Academic, business, and financial transcriptions – $0.80 – $1.10 per minute
In some cases, transcription outsourcing has paid up to $5 per minute if a higher turnaround time is required or if the transcription task is very complex. However, unlike Scribie, this transcription company promises to pay fairly compared to their competitors and pay on the 1st of the month and the 15th of the month.
The only downside to Transcription outsourcing is that they only accept applicants based in the U.S. and, in some cases, are more likely to hire freelancers with transcription experience. Besides this, transcription outsourcing also doesn’t allow you to contact them to follow up on your application, and some of their turnaround times may be hard to meet.
What Does Transcription Outsourcing Pay?
Transcription Outsourcing pays between $0.80 – $1.10 per minute of transcribing. Medical transcripts pay less and pay per line instead of per minute. Medical transcripts are $0.07 – $0.10 per line.
Who Is Transcription Outsourcing Suitable For?
Transcription Outsourcing is not for new or beginner transcriptionists but is more suitable for those with experience in transcription work. Since Transcription Outsourcing specializes in key areas of transcription, freelancers with absolutely no experience may not be considered.
Why Work For Transcription Outsourcing?
Transcription Outsourcing offers better rates than other transcription companies, and they also pay freelancers twice a month which is better than having to wait an entire month to get paid.
GMR
GMR transcription is a well-known transcription company that hires typists and freelancers to perform various transcription tasks. On their website, you’ll find a few job openings that you can apply for. These jobs range from a general transcriptionist to a certified translator and a transcriptionist/translator in a specific language.
GMR is based in California and is currently only open to hiring U.S. freelancers. GMR is always looking for new transcribers and translators, but they also have a few other requirements for those looking to join their team. These requirements include:
- Computer with antivirus software
- M.S. Office package
- Internet with reliable connectivity and high-speed connection
- High-quality headphones
- Need to pass the probation period and the transcription test
The probationary test is the most challenging part of joining GMR. This portion of the application requires you to transcribe a 2-hour audio which takes beginner transcriptionists 8 hours to complete. Unfortunately, this is not a paid task, so it may not suit you.
What Does GMR Pay?
GMR pays per audio minute, and this is between $0.70 – $1.25. It’s difficult to determine the monthly earning potential, but GMR states that their freelancers earn between $1000 – $3000 monthly. Experienced transcribers will likely make more as they can work through audio files faster.
Who Is GMR Suitable For?
GMR is suitable for both beginner and experienced transcribers, but experienced transcribers will have a better chance of earning more through GMR than beginners.
Why Work For GMR?
GMR offers excellent rates compared to other transcription companies. It’s a good way to make a little bit of extra cash, and the more you work for them, the more you will get paid.
Rev
Rev offers transcription services to individuals, businesses, and developers. Rev was founded in 2009 and employs freelancers as well as permanent employees. Freelancers that work for Rev can apply to be a transcriptionist, subtitlers, translators, and captioners.
Rev pays according to the type of tasks you complete. Transcriptionists can earn $0.24 to $0.90 per audio minute, and captioners can earn $0.45 to $0.75 per audio minute. So what does this translate to per hour?
On average, if you can transcribe 20 minutes of audio per hour, you can make between $8 and $15. While this amount isn’t amazing, it can help you pay for a few luxuries or is a nice little addition to your piggy bank.
Rev suggests that, on average, freelancers earn $240 per month, but some earn around $1500 per month.
What Does Rev Pay?
Rev pays between $0.24 and $0.90 per audio minute. The amount you earn on Rev depends on how many weekly tasks you take.
Who Is Rev Suitable For?
Rev is great for freelancers and beginner transcriptionists.
Why Work For Rev?
Rev accepts beginner transcriptionists as long as you pass their test. It’s great for earning a small amount of extra cash and could help you have a bit more income at the end of the month.
Otter (Used TranscribeMe instead)
TranscribeMe is one of the easiest transcription companies to join, and they usually have very short audio files you need to transcribe. Files are anywhere from 10 seconds to 1 minute. This platform works on a crowdsourcing principle so one audio file can be split into multiple pieces for many transcriptionists to transcribe.
The only requirements TranscribeMe has for those who want to join their team are the following:
- Fluent in English
- High school diploma
- Excellent grammar and punctuation
- Good listening skills
What Does TranscribeMe Pay?
TranscribeMe has a base rate of $15 per audio hour but this could change for different projects. More experienced transcribers can earn $22 or $60 for special projects; some projects even pay up to $100 per audio hour.
Who Is TranscribeMe For?
Transcribe me is best for entry-level transcribers.
Why Work For TranscribeMe?
The pay is relatively good compared to other transcription companies. TranscribeMe also has a community where you can ask questions and offer excellent support for their transcribers should you need it.
Trint (Used Averbach instead)
Averbach is an excellent transcription company to join. To join Averbach as a transcriber, you’ll need excellent attention to detail, proficiency in written and spoken English, and be able to hear words accurately when they are spoken with different accents.
Transcribers also need to meet the following criteria:
- Meet deadlines
- Manage their work schedule on their own
- Communicate via email
- Pass the transcriber test
- Have a high-speed connection
- Have a PayPal account
- Accurately transcribe tasks
What Does Averbach Pay?
Averbach pays $1.00 per audio minute for most files. Same-day and overnight files pay $1.50 per audio minute. This averages to $20-$30 per hour for experienced transcribers.
Who Is Averbach Suitable For?
Averbach is suitable for beginner and experienced transcribers.
Why Work For Averbach?
Averbach lets you work flexibly and offer help and support so you can become a better transcriber. Their pay is competitive and there aren’t too many requirements to become a transcriptionist for Averbach.
FAQs About Scribie
Scribie doesn’t offer competitive rates compared to other transcription services, but you may still want to try them out to earn extra cash. This being said, you may have a couple more questions regarding Scribie, including its safety and if they have an affiliate program.
Which Countries Can Join Scribie
Scribie is open to anyone worldwide, provided you have a valid and verified PayPal account to receive payments. Any country can join Scribie, and Scribie does not only accept U.S. applicants.
Can You Work From Your Phone With Scribie?
You could use your phone to record sounds, and it can be used to enhance the audio that needs to be transcribed, but you’ll need a laptop and headphones to complete the transcription document. You won’t be able to transcribe if you are only using your phone.
Is It Safe To Use Scribie
Scribie is a legitimate transcription company, and it’s safe to use. On sites like Trustpilot, they don’t have the best reviews or reputation, but they are verified companies with many transcribers working for them.
This being said, it’s always best to be cautious when signing up to join any company and sharing your personal information. However, because Scribie is a legitimate website, you won’t be scammed if you apply to be a transcriber through their official website and not via an external job posting or advert.
The earnings from the affiliate link are paid into your Scribie account, and you’ll need to request the funds to be transferred to your PayPal account to cash it out. The only terms applicable to the affiliate program are:
- Anyone can be invited to join Scribe as long as they aren’t already registered
- Avoid spamming people with invites; this can lead to Scribie suspending your account
- Don’t invite yourself
Does Scribie Have An Affiliate Program
Scribie has an affiliate program and pays you through an affiliate link. This link can be shared with customers or posted on a blog, website, or YouTube channel. If anyone joins through the affiliate link and places an order on Scribie you will receive a 5% commission.
This commission is paid when the transcripts are delivered to the customer. Each person that wants to use an affiliate link will have a unique link that can be shared on social media platforms too.
Is Being A Transcriber For Scribie Difficult?
Transcribing can be challenging because it requires a certain amount of accuracy. In many cases, you must achieve 95-99% accuracy for each task. Many transcription companies do not have any room for error, and if there are too many errors in your work, you’ll unlikely receive more tasks to complete.
Many audio and video files can also be inaudible, which may take longer to decipher. When transcribing, you’ll need to playback a file multiple times to make sure you transcribe it correctly. This type of work is time-consuming and can become very repetitive.
Scribie also works with a grading policy, and if your accuracy drops and there are all kinds of errors in your transcription document, you may not be able to transcribe for Scribie anymore.
How Does Scribie Compare To Rev And TranscribeMe?
Scribie, Rev, and TranscribeMe accept applications from beginner transcriptionists and those who have little to no experience in transcribing. Scribe offers the lowest pay for transcription work, while Rev and Transcribe me offer slightly better rates.
Scribie, Rev, and TranscribeMe are well-known, but Rev is quite popular. The average pay with Rev and TranscribeMe is roughly $245 per month, while Scribie claims that the average transcriber earns $400 per month despite Scribie offering lower rates.
Rev and TranscribeMe are excellent alternatives to Scribie but the best way to determine which platform is suitable for you is to sign up for all three and decide which ones are easier to earn extra cash from.
It’s also important to consider that you may not pass the transcription test with all three, so it’s best to apply at a few transcribing companies to increase your odds of getting accepted, and it’s always better to have more options.
Wrap Up
Scribie has earning potential, and you can make some extra cash, but you can’t earn a livable income working for Scribie. Transcribing is also no easy task, and you’ll be trading large amounts of your time for low pay, and many would consider this a compromise that isn’t worth it. There are better ways to make money online, so it’s best you skip Scribie!
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