Cockatoo
Cockatoo is an AI transcription tool that converts audio and video files into text with timestamps and speaker labels. It is mainly used for meeting minutes, podcast transcripts, interviews and subtitle files, with exports to DOCX, PDF, SRT or TXT.
#55 in Video & Audio ToolsTranscription SoftwareFree plan
Who it's for
Best for
Podcasters and video editors who need SRT subtitles with speaker labels
Administrative staff who turn recorded meetings into written minutes
Not for
Editors working with damaged or noisy audio who need every file to come back- Yearly subscribers who want unused paid months back after cancelling early
Free plan$0
Pro$29.99/mo
Team$15.99/seat/mo
Features
Audio and video to text
Audio and video files are converted into written transcripts, with timestamps and speaker labels attached to the text.
Export formats
Finished transcripts export as DOCX, PDF, SRT or TXT files, covering both document and subtitle formats.
Language coverage
Transcription is offered in more than 90 languages, and the site advertises 99.8% accuracy for the output.
Translation and subtitles
The platform also handles AI translation and subtitles, including PDF, Word document, presentation and spreadsheet translation.
Free account
A free account opens transcription, translation and Canvas without a credit card before any paid plan is chosen.
What users say
Pros
- Transcripts come back highly accurate and ready for final export.
- Interview recordings are transcribed quickly, so the file is ready to work on shortly after upload.
- Dutch and Franco-Arabic recordings transcribe accurately, which matters for non-English interview work.
- Uploading a file and picking the language is the whole setup before a transcript appears.
- Recordings are turned straight into Word documents and meeting minutes without retyping.
- Subscription pricing remains cost-effective for high-volume audio and video transcription.
Cons
- Many uploaded files never move past storage and stay untranscribed after the interface update.
- Roughly half of uploaded dictations return a false file-fault error instead of a transcript.
- Difficult or noisy audio came back as a repeated two-word phrase instead of the actual speech.
- Cancelling a yearly subscription ends access that day, so paid months already bought are lost.
- Emails about missing files and lost months go unanswered, and the contact page has gone offline.
- Renewing a yearly plan costs far more than the heavily discounted introductory rate.
A selection of the review sources we used:
Summarized from public user reviews and community discussions. View details
Global Traffic Rank
Top 1M
Alternatives
Rank#55 in category#9 in category#13 in category#14 in category
Free planYesYesYesYes
ProAccurate output, fast results, little editing, many languagesAccurate, fast transcripts and a generous free tierCuts typing on long recordings, handles accents, quick call notesGenerous free plan, accurate summaries, video replay, Ask Fathom